News

Since May 27, 2025, U.S. consular posts abroad have paused scheduling visa appointments for Students and Exchange Visitors, particularly those seeking to enter the U.S. in F-1, M-1, or J-1 visa status. On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued guidance to U.S. consular posts requiring them to conduct expanded social media screening for anyone applying for an F-1, M-1, and J-1 visa to enter the U.S. These are to be implemented by Monday, June 23, 2025. We have reports that interview scheduling has just resumed.

Consular officers must now review the online presence of student and...

On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order entitled “Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University.”

This order does the following three actions:

Suspends entry for anyone coming to the US to study at Harvard University under F, M, or J status. It specifically says that those studying at other universities are not impacted. This proclamation remains in effect until December 6, 2025. By September 6, 2025, a recommendation will be made whether to extend this suspension of entry. Exceptions shall be made where there is a national interest as determined by the Department...

On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” The order imposes stringent travel restrictions on foreign nationals from several countries.

Nationals from these 12 countries are completely suspended from entering the U.S. under any visa category:

AfghanistanBurma (Myanmar)ChadRepublic of the CongoEquatorial GuineaEritreaHaitiIranLibyaSomaliaSudanYemen

Nationals from these 7 countries face partial restrictions, including suspensions on immigrant and nonimmigrant B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas (other non-immigrant visas will have a reduced validity) as well...

Foreign nationals living in the U.S. for 30 days or more are legally required to report any change of address to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within 10 days of moving. This rule does not apply to individuals on A or G visas or ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) visitors, but it does include green card holders. In addition, any individual (U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident) who sponsors a foreign national on a Form I-864 Affidavit of Support (usually through a family-based immigration sponsorship process), and whose sponsorship agreement is still in force, must submit a completed and signed...

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented a new rule requiring all non-US citizens, including permanent residents and visa holders, to register their presence and provide fingerprints if they are in the US for 30 days or more. Failure to do so could lead to criminal consequences.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The rule requires three things:

You must register with the US government and provide your fingerprints;You must carry physical evidence that you have registered with the US government (the rule does not indicate that digital evidence is sufficient); andYou must update the US government within 10 days of...

We have received reports that foreign nationals who are in the United States as students and researchers in the F-1, J-1, and M-1 statuses have received notices in the last few days that their visas have been revoked and that their SEVIS records have been terminated. Most of these individuals have had issues with the police, even if charges were ultimately dropped, or expressed certain political opinions. A terminated SEVIS record usually means that the individual’s status is no longer valid. What remains unclear is whether the individual should leave the U.S. or whether there are legal options for them.

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