Dear UMBC Community,

As we move towards the end of summer and begin preparation for the coming academic year, we write today with several important and timely updates on recent federal actions and our work to respond to them. 

Recent ICE Detentions at U.S. Airports

The New York Times reported that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is detaining certain foreign nationals at U.S. airports. This activity has occurred during domestic travel and has impacted individuals whose Form I-94 admission periods had expired, even if they had pending applications to extend, change, or adjust their status. Notably, a researcher from Johns Hopkins University and an instructor from the University of Maryland, Baltimore were recently detained while boarding flights. 

The team in the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) recently shared a communication with potentially affected international employees, providing information and recommended actions. We are closely monitoring these developments and will share updates as more information becomes available. David Di Maria, UMBC’s vice provost for global engagement, and the CGE team are leading our efforts.

Final Rule Ending Duration of Status and Imposing Academic Mobility Restrictions

In July, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that, effective September 15, F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and their dependents will no longer be admitted for an indefinite period. Instead, they will receive a specific "Admit Until Date" (AUD) on their Form I-94, limiting their stay to their program end date—up to a maximum of four years—plus a 30-day grace period. This new “Admit Until Date” (AUD) will appear on the Form I-94 Arrival and Departure Card.

Those requiring additional time for academic objectives must file formal extension applications with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a process previously managed by university officials. They also must receive approval from USCIS for any extension beyond the AUD. This application will require a formal recommendation by an advisor in the Center for Global Engagement and timely filing of a petition for extension of stay on Form I-539 with USCIS. 

F-1 and J-1 students may continue their studies as long as their extension of stay (EOS) application is pending, but only certain types of employment authorization will receive an automatic extension. Students and exchange visitors provided an AUD should familiarize themselves with current USCIS Form I-539 processing times and filing fees, and plan to file EOS applications early to avoid interruptions. 

We recently shared an abbreviated version of this detailed communication about the policy change with campus. The detailed communication outlines transitional provisions to prevent status violations and actions our CGE team is taking to support our international community, including scheduling information sessions and updating digital resources.

Additional Changes to Travel, Immigration and Visa Policies

CDC Travel Restrictions

In an effort to reduce the risk of Ebola importation into the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to extend restrictions on entry for individuals, including U.S. citizens, who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within 21 days of their flight to the U.S. All individuals, including U.S. citizens, who were present in Uganda or South Sudan within 21 days of their flight must enter the U.S. through designated airports for enhanced screening. Travelers should also be aware that several other countries have imposed similar entry restrictions on individuals who recently traveled to the DRC, South Sudan, or Uganda.

Potential OPT Fee

We are aware of a July 30 report from the Wall Street Journal indicating that the federal government is considering imposing a $100,000 fee on applications for Optional Practical Training (OPT). OPT is a program that allows F-1 international students to receive temporary employment authorization in the student’s area of study. As of today, there has not been a formal announcement regarding this potential fee and it is uncertain whether such a change in policy will actually occur. 

B-1/B-2 Visa Bond Program is Now Permanent

The U.S. Department of State published a final rule on August 3 making permanent the B-1/B-2 visa bond program that it piloted in August 2025. Under the new rule, the required bond amounts increased between $5,000 and $15,000 depending upon the country. Currently, the visa bond program impacts 50 countries. While this visa bond program does not directly impact international students and scholars, it does apply to prospective students wishing to visit campus prior to obtaining a student visa and it impacts the ability of students’ family and friends to visit them in the U.S.

USCIS Authorized to Deny Filings Without First Issuing a Request for Evidence

On August 5, USCIS issued a policy alert informing the public that its adjudicators are now authorized to deny immigration benefit applications or petitions without first issuing a request for evidence. Prior to this change, adjudicators generally gave filers a 12-week period to provide any missing documents or address other concerns that might result in a denial of their request.  

Visa Processing Delays

We are aware that admitted international students are experiencing visa processing delays and may be unable to arrive until after the first day of classes. We ask our campus community to be understanding of these late arrivals given the difficult challenges these students are facing in order to join UMBC.  

Research Impacts

On May 29, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed the Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance to revise the federal grants framework. This represents the most significant update to the Uniform Guidance for Federal Awards in decades, impacting over $60 billion in federal research and social assistance programs. These changes could revise the grant review and award process, increase administrative burdens, shift costs, and expand institutional liability — potentially slowing the pace of scientific discovery.

As of July 13, the final day of the comment period, the proposed rule (which was originally proposed to become effective October 1) had received 497,000 comments. Karl V. Steiner, UMBC’s vice president of research and creative achievement and chief research officer, submitted comments on behalf of UMBC. 

We shared a communication about the proposed rule and other important news in June, and we will update the campus community as we receive news regarding the status of the proposed rule. At this time, the OMB is reviewing comments, and the Senate has proposed delaying the rule’s implementation until December 11.

Finally, we recognize the distress caused by the unpredictable nature of federal rulemaking and are committed to keeping you informed as the situation evolves. Thank you for your partnership and dedication to our campus community.

For the latest updates on our response, please visit our information and resources site.

Sincerely,

The UMBC Federal Orders and Actions Core Team

Valerie Sheares Ashby, President
Manfred H. M. van Dulmen, Provost and Senior Vice President, Academic Affairs
Tanyka M. Barber, Vice President, Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer
Kacey Hammel, Chief of Staff to the President
Renique T. Kersh, Vice President, Student Affairs
Paul A. Meggett, Vice President and General Counsel
D. Paul Monteiro, Vice President, Government Relations and Community Affairs
Karl V. Steiner, Vice President, Research and Creative Achievement
Lisa K. Van Riper, Vice President, University Communications and Marketing
David L. Di Maria, Vice Provost, Global Engagement
Yvette Mozie-Ross '88, Senior Advisor to the President for Strategic Priorities and Initiatives
Ana Oskoz, Vice Provost, Faculty Affairs