Dear Campus Community,
I am writing to update you on recent travel restrictions that affect certain members of our campus community.
The information contained in this communication is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. If you have specific legal questions about your own immigration status, please seek assistance from a private immigration attorney.
On June 4, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation establishing “full” suspension of entry to the United States for nationals of 12 countries and a “partial” suspension of entry to the United States for nationals of seven additional countries effective June 9, 2025.
During the spring 2025 semester, 54 UMBC students were citizens of one of the designated countries. An additional 32 students who were admitted and already confirmed their intent to enroll at UMBC for the fall 2025 semester may no longer be able to join our campus community due to the new travel restrictions.
Countries subject to the “full” suspension include:
- Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
A “full” suspension constitutes a restriction on entry into the United States and applies to most immigrant and nonimmigrant visa holders with limited exceptions for:
- Certain diplomatic and official visas;
- Certain immediate relative immigrant visas (spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens);
- Adoptions by U.S. citizens;
- Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran;
- Dual nationals applying with a passport nationality not subject to a suspension;
- Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees;
- Afghan SIVs;
- Participants in certain major sporting events; and
- Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs).
Countries subject to a “partial” suspension include:
- Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela
A partial restriction mostly applies to the issuance of immigrant visas and B-1, B-2, F, M and J nonimmigrant visas with limited exceptions for:
- Certain immediate relative immigrant visas (spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens);
- Adoptions by U.S. citizens;
- Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran;
- Dual nationals applying with a passport nationality not subject to a suspension;
- Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees;
- Participants in certain major sporting events; and
- Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs).
Applicability:
According to a June 7, 2025, news posting made by the U.S. Department of State,
This Presidential Proclamation only applies to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date AND do not hold a valid visa on the effective date (June 9, 2025). Foreign nationals, even those outside the United States, who hold valid visas as of the effective date are not subject to the Proclamation. No visas issued before June 9, 2025, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation.Visa applicants who are subject to this Presidential Proclamation may still submit visa applications and schedule interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States.
Support:
International students and scholars from the designated countries should consult with the Center for Global Engagement before making arrangements to travel outside of the United States.
The Center for Global Engagement will continue to monitor White House and U.S. Department of State communications for any updates on this proclamation.
We encourage you to refer to the guidance below and contact the Office of International Students and Scholars if you have any questions, concerns, or if you simply want to talk with an advisor. We are here to support you.
Please check your email regularly and refer to our website for announcements regarding future updates to immigration and visa policies. Additionally, we recommend reaching out to a private immigration attorney if you have specific legal concerns.
Guidance:
- Nationals of the designated countries should fully understand how this proclamation applies to their individual circumstances before planning travel outside of the United States.
- Individuals holding active F, H, or J immigration status should contact the Center for Global Engagement prior to planning international travel.
- Individuals in other immigration statuses should contact a private immigration attorney prior to planning international travel.
- Individuals who are considering changing their current immigration status should consult with a private immigration attorney about how the proclamation may impact their future intended status.
- Nationals from one of the designated countries may continue to schedule visa interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States.
Additional information and resources related to immigration and other federal policy updates are available on UMBC’s Federal Orders and Actions Page.
Sincerely,
David L. Di Maria
Vice Provost for Global Engagement