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June 19, 2025: Resumption of F and J Visa Appointments
On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State issueda press release announcing that under newly released official guidance, consular officers will conduct a 鈥渃omprehensive and thorough vetting鈥 of all student and exchange visitor applicants, and that all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be required to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to 鈥減ublic.鈥 The U.S. Department of State also stated that they have directed U.S. embassies and consulates to resume conductin...
June 4, 2025: U.S. Entry Restrictions for Citizens of Certain Countries FAQ
On June 4, 2025, President Trump issued a presidential proclamation instituting new entry restrictions for foreign nationals who are citizens of the certain countries (listed in article). Please see this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for details about these new restrictions.
Living the mission:聽Our聽commitment to聽our聽international community
ISSS at its core is a team of individuals who deeply value international education and exchange. We have been inspired by our own international experiences鈥攂e it travel, coursework, or engagement with loved ones and the international communities around us. We believe in the value of diversity and its ability to create a mosaic of experiences that make us a more dynamic society and have dedicated our lives to serving this mission.While the tone of recent actions at the federal level is disheartening, it does...
General travel advisory
ISSS recognizes and respects the many personal and professional reasons why individuals may decide to travel. Given the current administration鈥檚 strict vetting and enforcement activities, ISSS is providing the following information as an additional resource to consider when assessing the risks associated with travel. This resource contains several considerations but is not exhaustive and is not to be construed as legal advice. Executive actions and policy changes can be swift. It is always at the discretion...
May 30, 2025: Revocation of Chinese student visas
ISSS is aware that the U.S. Department of Statehas issued a press statement that they will "aggressively" revoke visas for Chinese students with ties to the Chinese Communist party or "studying in critical fields." They do not define "critical fields." The press statement also indicates that the U.S. Department of State will implement measures to enhance scrutiny of visa applications from citizens of China and Hong Kong. No further details are provided. Our office is closely monitoring this situation and wi...
May 27, 2025: Important Travel Advisory for Students & Scholars in F & J Status
Originally Published: 5/27/2025,Updated: 6/05/2025The Trump administration has reportedly directed U.S. embassies and consulates to temporarily stop conducting student visa (F-1 and J-1) and Exchange Visitor (J-1) visa interviews and to halt scheduling new visa appointments as it prepares to implement expanded social media screening for international applicants. This includes Exchange Visitor visa appointments for individuals who intend to enter the United States to conduct research, consult, teach, etc. Th...
Optional Practical Training (OPT) and unemployment
Warning: Exceeding the OPT unemployment limit may lead to the termination of your SEVIS record.F-1 students on post-completion OPT or the STEM OPT extension must closely track their days of unemployment to maintain their F-1 status.Post-Completion OPT: Maximum of 90 days of unemployment allowed (including any cap-gap period).STEM OPT Extension: Maximum of 150 days allowed, inclusive of any unemployment accrued during post-completion OPT and the cap-gap period.If you exceed these limits or fail to report you...