Visas (J-1 & H1-B)

1. Update on Social Media Screening and Visa Appointments

On June 18, the U.S. Department of State announced that it will use new guidelines to review individuals applying for an F, M, or J visa. As part of the review, applicants will be instructed to make their social media profiles public. It was also announced that consular posts will resume scheduling visa appointments for F, M, and J visa applicants.  

If you need a new visa, ISSS continues to advise:

• If you already have a visa appointment, keep it and move forward with the process.

• If you need a visa appointment, keep checking the consulate or embassy website to see if appointments become available. Schedule your appointment as quickly as possible, once visa appointments resume.

• If you are planning to leave the country and will need a new visa to return, you should finalize your visa appointment before you leave the U.S. since your return could be impacted.

ISSS staff continue to monitor and analyze this and other immigration changes and will provide updates as additional information becomes available.

2. Update on Recent Travel Restrictions

On June 4, the White House issued a Presidential Proclamation announcing a ban on entry to the U.S. for citizens of 12 countries: Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Visas, including F and J visas, will be restricted for citizens from 7 additional countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The travel bans went into effect on June 9 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern.

It is important to note:

• This proclamation only applies to individuals traveling to the U.S.

• It does not apply to F-1 and J-1 students and their dependents who are already in the U.S. and maintaining status.  

• There is an exemption for individuals who have a valid visa as of June 9 when the travel restrictions went into effect; however, citizens of the impacted countries who are in the U.S. and maintaining a valid status are strongly advised not to travel internationally.  

• It is possible that there will be further review or changes to the countries and conditions that are affected by visa issuance and travel restrictions to the U.S.

ISSS has reached out directly to students who are citizens of the countries listed in the travel ban. If you are a citizen of one of the countries and you are currently outside of the U.S., please contact us at ISSS@umn.edu so that we can support you.

ISSS will continue to monitor the situation and share information through the Weekly Update as it is available.