The information contained on this page is provided for informational and tracking purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. Policies may have changed since the original posting was made. If you have specific questions about your own immigration status, please reach out to the Office of International Students and Scholars so that a staff member may assist you.
This page will be updated regularly to provide information to UMBC’s international student and scholar community regarding changes to federal immigration policy that could impact international students and scholars.
The most recent updates appear at the top of the page. Posts are labeled to indicate whether the update affects all international students and scholars or a particular group.
Whenever possible, the source of the information is included at the bottom of the post. Sources include government agencies, professional organizations, trusted media outlets, and respected law firms.
Recent Visa Revocations and Status Terminations
Audience: F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, H-1B employees, all noncitizens
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has escalated immigration enforcement actions against noncitizens across the country. The Secretary of State cancelled the visas of multiple individuals for the stated reason that their continued presence in the country “would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
More recently, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), began terminating the SEVIS immigration records of international students who are alleged to have criminal records or whose visas have been cancelled by the Department of State. In some cases, neither students nor their schools are being notified of these terminations.
UMBC conducts daily audits of all SEVIS immigration records it manages, and will inform affected students and scholars of changes to their immigration status as quickly as possible. Any UMBC student or employee who receives a communication from the U.S. Department Homeland Security or U.S. Department of State regarding the validity of their visa or immigration status should contact the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) immediately.
Any member of the campus community who has concerns that they may be at risk of status termination or visa revocation is encouraged to speak with a qualified immigration lawyer who specializes in deportation defense. Such attorneys may be located through the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Posted: April 10, 2025
DHS Screening of Social Media Activity for Antisemitism
Audience: F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, H-1B employees, all noncitizens
On April 09, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin considering antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests.
Posted: April 10, 2025
New Registration and Document-Carry Requirements
Audience: F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, H-1B employees, all noncitizens
Executive Order 14159, issued on January 20, 2025, directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to require all noncitizens in the United States to register with the government, under section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. § 1302).
While this law has been on the books for many years, until now there was no formal process to comply with the rule apart from mandatory fingerprinting when applying for a visa abroad or submitting certain applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In addition to the registration requirement itself, noncitizens are required to carry with them proof that they have satisfied the requirement, a policy known as the “document-carry” requirement. Both the new registration requirement and the document-carry requirement are set to go into effect on Friday, April 11, 2025.
Registration Requirement
Most people in F-1, J-1, or H-1B status already met the registration requirement when they applied for their visa and for entry to the United States. Proof of compliance with the registration requirement for most individuals is the Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, which is available online for those admitted at a U.S. port of entry, or in paper form attached to the Approval Notice issued to those who filed a change of status application within the U.S.
Among those who will need to take action to meet the new registration requirement are those who last entered the U.S. before they were 14 years of age. At UMBC, this is likely limited to individuals in F-2, J-2, or H-4 dependent status, based on a parent’s principal F-1, J-1, or H-1B status. Anyone who is the parent of an F-2, J-2, or H-4 status child who is (1) under 14 years of age and (2) was not registered (or fingerprinted, if required) when applying for their visa must register within 30 days of arrival. And anyone who is the parent of an F-2, J-2, or H-4 status child who last entered the U.S. before reaching 14 years of age is now required to register their child with DHS within the 30 days following their child’s 14th birthday.
There is a helpful guide to this new requirement available here from Cornell Law School, Penn State Dickinson Law, and the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. Additional resources from NAFSA: Association of International Educators are available here, and a detailed write-up of the new requirements is available from Klasko Immigration Law Partners here.
Document-Carry Requirement
In addition to meeting the registration requirement, all noncitizens in the U.S. are required to carry proof that they have done so. As noted above, for the vast majority of individuals, their I-94 Arrival/Departure Record is their official proof of compliance with the registration requirement. Individuals can and should download a copy of their most recent I-94 record as soon as they enter the U.S. after a trip abroad. In order to ensure compliance, individuals in F-1, J-1, H-1B, and other nonimmigrant statuses are required to carry a paper copy of their I-94 record with them at all times.
We recommend printing out a copy of your I-94 record from the online system and placing it in your wallet or purse so that it is always with you. In addition, individuals in F-1 status are advised to carry a copy of their Form I-20 with them, and those in J-1 status should carry a copy of their Form DS-2019 with them at all times. Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) should always carry their green card (Form I-551) with them. Additional information about the document-carry requirement is available from NAFSA here.
Posted: April 10, 2025
State Department Provides Update on Visa Interview Waiver Eligibility
Audience: F-1 students, J-1 Exchange Visitors, H-1B employees, all other nonimmigrant visa holders
On February 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State issued updated guidance regarding which applicants for U.S. visas may qualify for a waiver of the in-person interview requirement. This update supersedes previous guidance issued in December 2023. The update lists particular visa types that are eligible for waiver of the in-person interview, including A, G, NATO and TECRO visas.
Relevant to international students and scholars, “applicants who previously held a visa in the same category that expired less than 12 months prior to the new application” are also eligible for an interview waiver. Additionally, such applicants must: be applying for the visa renewal in their country of nationality or residence (home country), never have been refused a visa in the past, and have no apparent or potential ineligibility issues.
Crucially, this policy update establishes that consular officers have the authority and discretion to waive the in-person interview requirement, but they “may still require in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis or because of local conditions.” The update recommends that visa applicants “check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about visa application requirements and procedures, and to learn more about the embassy or consulate’s operating status and services.”
Our advice continues to be that students and scholars should plan ahead as much as possible for any necessary visa renewals. Because the U.S. Department of State now makes the requirement for an in-person interview a discretionary decision by consular officers, applicants should not assume that their in-person interview will be waived. Moreover, visa appointment wait times can fluctuate drastically without warning.
Source: U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs
Posted: February 20, 2025
Changes to U.S. Department of State’s Visa Appointment Wait Time Information
Audience: F-1 students, J-1 Exchange Visitors, H-1B employees, all other nonimmigrant visa holders
In January 2025, the Department of State updated its Visa Appointment Wait Time system to change what data is available and how it is presented. Previously, users could search for a specific U.S. Embassy or Consulate by city name and view the associated wait times for visa appointments, as well as the processing times for applicants eligible for interview waivers. In its place is a Global Visa Wait Times page listing all U.S. consulates and the wait time for interview-required Students and Exchange Visitors (such as F and J), Temporary Workers (such as H, O, and P), and Visitors, (B-1/B-2), among others. Information about processing times for those with interview waivers no longer appears on the site, although the site directs users to check the “individual Embassy or Consulate website to determine if your case is eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview.”
Our advice continues to be that students and scholars should plan ahead as much as possible for any necessary visa appointments. Wait times can fluctuate drastically without warning. Remember that once you are admitted to the US, you are not required to maintain a valid visa– instead your focus should be on maintaining valid immigration status.
Source: Klasko Immigration Law Partners
Posted: January 27, 2025
Review of Immigration-Related Executive Actions Issued So Far
Audience: F-1 students, J-1 Exchange Visitors, H-1B employees, all other nonimmigrant visa holders
Many of the executive orders issued in the first week of the new administration have concerned immigration. However, few of the orders announced so far appear to directly impact international students, scholars, and employees (F-1, J-1, H-1B, etc.).
Notably, no travel bans were announced. However, the administration is ordering enhanced scrutiny of those applying for visas and for entry to the US. Because wait times for visas will likely increase, it is more important than ever to carefully evaluate the need to travel internationally. If you are planning international travel, especially if your visa is expired, you should consult with an ISSS advisor ahead of any travel. International students should visit the Contact Us page for assistance from an advisor, and J-1 EVs and H-1B employees should contact the International Scholar Coordinator.
The links below provide summaries of the executive actions issued so far, as well as some predictions about actions that could be announced in the coming weeks and months.
Sources: Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, Berry Appleman & Leiden