U.S. Immigration Updates
impacting F-1 and J-1 students
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Check here for updates of proposed and published changes impacting international students.
We will make every effort to keep you informed when a new policy determination is made that may affect you, but there may be a delay in our notification to ensure we have the complete regulatory and policy details.
We welcome your questions and concerns.
Is 'Duration of Status' going away?
Is 'Duration of Status' going away?
Proposed changes to remove the F-1 and J-1 "duration of status" have been published. This means instead of being admitted until the end date on your I-20, students would have a specific end date to their I-94. The proposal is for the period to be the degree length up to 4 years of study. Other elements are included, but no changes would impact F/J students at this time until the regulations are made law and the accompanying processes are established. Over 15,000 comments have been submitted, most critical of the update, so it may take some time before this is resolved. We will keep you up to date if / when this is imminent. In the meantime feel free to talk to Lucy if you have other concerns, and check back before you leave the U.S. to ensure you are taking this into consideration.
Proposed changes to remove the F-1 and J-1 "duration of status" have been published. This means instead of being admitted until the end date on your I-20, students would have a specific end date to their I-94. The proposal is for the period to be the degree length up to 4 years of study. Other elements are included, but no changes would impact F/J students at this time until the regulations are made law and the accompanying processes are established. Over 15,000 comments have been submitted, most critical of the update, so it may take some time before this is resolved. We will keep you up to date if / when this is imminent. In the meantime feel free to talk to Lucy if you have other concerns, and check back before you leave the U.S. to ensure you are taking this into consideration.
U.S. Department of State Announces Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants Should Schedule Visa Interview Appointments in Country of Nationality or Residence
U.S. Department of State Announces Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants Should Schedule Visa Interview Appointments in Country of Nationality or Residence
Students can no longer receive U.S. visas from a third country. See the U.S. Department of State notice here.
Travel Bans for certain countries announced
Travel Bans for certain countries announced
6/6/25: President Trump signed executive orders banning travel from 12 countries (Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen) and a partial ban from 7 additional countries (Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela). Read more here. Students with current immigration status in the U.S. or valid visas are not impacted by this travel ban.
Visa Interview Social Media Checks
Visa Interview Social Media Checks
6/27/25: According to a NAFSA article: "All F, M, and J visa applicants must now set their social media accounts to "public" during the application process. If this is not done, it "could be construed as an effort to evade or hide certain activity." The article further explains: "The new system uses INA 221(g) refusals as a mechanism to conduct enhanced vetting, meaning applicants will see "Refused" status in their official records even when undergoing routine screening." The review intends to identify "potentially derogatory information" including things like "hostile attitudes" toward the United States and political activism."
Continuing students may also be subject to social media checks at the port of entry and as always, we recommend you exercise discretion about what you post on social media.
OPT Work Reporting and the 90 Days of Unemployment
OPT Work Reporting and the 90 Days of Unemployment
F-1 international students have 90 days after the start date of their EAD to find employment. This must be reported in SEVIS within 10 days, or sent to the PDSO for entry. Students who have not found employment by the 90th day are required to leave the U.S. or transfer their SEVIS record to another school for a new degree within that period. There is no additional grace period under these circumstances.
DHS is currently warning students who have not reported employment by the 90th day that their SEVIS records may be subject to termination. Contact Lucy if you have any questions or concerns.
These registration rules only impact students who turn 14 while in the U.S. and do not affect adults who obtained a visa and received a valid I-94 upon entry to the U.S.
President Trump issued this Executive Order on January 29, 2025: Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism In addition, this Fact Sheet was disseminated by the White House
Visa Revocations
Visa Revocations
U.S. laws do give the U.S. Department of State authority to revoke previously approved F-1 or J-1 visas, such as when a student receives a "DUI" citation (Driving while under the influence of alcohol). Students are notified to the email they used when they applied for their visa.
In the case where that email address is no longer in use, students can check this Department of State page to see the status of their visa: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=NIV
If your visa has been revoked, please let the OISVS know. We will discuss the implications and probably refer you to an immigration attorney who specializes in visa revocations.
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