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
Campus Message on International Travel
Audience: F-1 students, J-1 Exchange Visitors, H-1B employees, all other nonimmigrant visa holders
Dear Campus Community,
I am writing to address ongoing questions and concerns received from students, faculty, and staff regarding international travel.
First, it is important to acknowledge that each traveler’s circumstances are different. As has always been the case, individuals must seek to understand their own circumstances and potential risks prior to traveling.
Second, 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.
1. Carry and make copies of valid immigration documents
Whether you are traveling to the U.S. or another country, it is imperative that you understand both entry and exit requirements for that country as well as any requirements for conducting your intended activities, such as study or research. Travelers are strongly advised to check with the embassy of the country to which they are traveling, or transiting through, prior to departure.
U.S. immigration law requires nonimmigrants and lawful permanent residents, 18 years of age and over, to carry evidence of their immigration status at all times. This is particularly important to note as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has called on all state and local authorities to assist with enforcement of immigration laws.
2. Expect processing delays when applying for a new visa to return to the U.S.
Due to an increase in the number of visa applicants requiring in-person interviews, the introduction of enhanced vetting and screening as well as an ongoing federal hiring freeze, visa processing may take longer than travelers experienced in the past. Further complicating this matter is the fact that the U.S. Department of State has apparently ceased updating visa appointment wait times at various consular posts. Please note that, as a result, the Center for Global Engagement is not currently able to assist travelers with projecting U.S. visa processing times.
Travelers needing to obtain a new visa or renew their current visa in order to reenter the U.S. should ensure they have an in-person visa interview appointment date confirmed, if required, prior to departing the U.S.
3. “Enhanced vetting and screening” practices may increase your chances for secondary inspection
The Trump administration’s reintroduction of enhanced vetting and screening practices at U.S. consulates and ports of entry significantly increase the risk that international travelers may experience greater scrutiny of visa applications, prolonged visa processing times, and more intense questioning when seeking to enter the U.S.
Travelers should seek to identify and weigh the risks associated with international travel based on their personal circumstances. Failure to carry proper documentation, evidence of prior legal issues, including certain traffic violations, and prolonged stays outside of the U.S. may all result in issues for travel. If travelers have questions about their specific circumstances, then they should contact a qualified immigration attorney.
4. Expect inspection of personal property without a warrant at U.S. ports of entry
At U.S. ports of entry, such as international airports and border crossings, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has broad authority to both search and seize travelers’ personal possessions, including electronic devices, without a warrant. Specifically, CBP may perform the following:
interrogate any person seeking to enter the U.S. to determine their eligibility for admission;
search the property of any person seeking to enter the U.S.; and
copy data for further inspection.
While the above focuses on the U.S., other countries have similar authority that may even permit government officials to conduct warrantless searches far beyond the regular customs enforcement area.
Considering the sensitive nature of certain research and technologies as well as personal privacy concerns, travelers are advised to only take electronic devices and data required to perform their intended activities abroad. Additionally, travelers should understand what items are prohibited or restricted from entering the U.S. and any countries they may be visiting or transiting through. Please visit UMBC’s Office of Research Protections and Compliance’s Export Control and Travel Page for additional considerations and tips related to international travel and restrictions on transferring controlled items or technologies.
5. Understand that your social media profile and activity may be searched
Many countries, including some of the most popular tourist destinations, have lèse-majesté laws prohibiting criticisms of the host country’s government. Violation of these laws can result in fines, detention, deportation, and denial of eligibility to visit the country in the future.
Given the rise of social media, a growing number of governments have also implemented fake news laws designed to address online manipulation and news the country’s government deems to be untrue. More recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has made it easier for governments to monitor social media postings and other online content.
While freedom of speech is a core value of the United States, travelers should be fully aware of how their participation in certain activities and expressions of speech may expose them to risks that could compromise their immigration status. According to Axios, more than 300 international students had their visas revoked during the first three weeks of the U.S. government’s new Catch and Revoke initiative, which uses AI to assist with the review of social media accounts.
6. Prepare for possible travel bans
The New York Times reported on an internal Trump administration memo indicating that certain countries could soon be subject to a revised travel ban. As reported, the proposed ban would include three tiers: Red, Orange, and Yellow.
Countries in the “RED” category, which could face a full travel ban, may include: Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Countries in the “ORANGE” category, which could face higher scrutiny, may include: Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan.
Countries in the “YELLOW” category, which would have 60 days to address concerns from the administration or risk being elevated to one of the two higher categories may include: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, São Tomé and Principe, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Turkmenistan, and Vanuatu.
It is currently unknown when or if the new travel bans will be implemented. Still, there remains a very real risk that nationals of the listed countries who are outside the United States when the ban is announced may be unable to return, even with a valid visa stamp. It is also possible that additional countries could be included.
Individuals who do not hold U.S. citizenship and who are planning to travel abroad and reenter the U.S. must assess their personal risk tolerance for international travel given the possibility that they may be unable to reenter the U.S. as a result of a future travel ban. Moreover, such travelers should plan ahead for how they would be able to continue their studies or employment from outside of the U.S.
Summary of recommendations
Ensure you carry valid immigration documents with you when you travel within the United States and abroad. It is also highly recommended that you make copies of these documents in the event they are ever damaged, lost, or stolen.
If you need to obtain a new visa prior to returning to the United States and require an in-person visa interview, do not make international travel plans until you have an in-person visa appointment confirmed.
Be prepared for questioning by CBP officers upon your return to the United States.
Understand that CBP officers may search your personal possessions without a warrant. This includes data, such as messages, files, and photos, stored on electronic devices as well as information you have shared on social media.
If upon arriving at a U.S. port of entry you are referred to secondary inspection (i.e., additional screening), remain calm and provide clear responses to the questions asked.
Assess your personal risk tolerance for possibly being unable to return to the U.S. in the event that travel restrictions are imposed and potentially change your travel plans if you feel that you may be at risk.
Resources for university travelers
The International Travel Guide, published by Business Services, is designed to assist university travelers with planning university-sponsored international travel. It includes guidelines for obtaining pre-approval and submitting reimbursement requests.
The Office of International Students and Scholars is available to consult on immigration-related travel issues for individuals holding F-1, H-1B, and J-1 immigration status.
UMBC’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides employees with access to free confidential counseling and connections to attorneys who can help with a variety of issues, including immigration concerns.
UMBC’s International Travel Registry provides real-time, location specific security alerts to students, faculty, and staff traveling internationally on university business. Additionally, travelers registering their travel will be notified of how to enroll in UMBC’s comprehensive international travel insurance and assistance policy, which provides coverage for medical and non-medical issues that may arise during travel.
UMBC’s Office of Research Protections and Compliance provides detailed information related to export control and considerations for international travel.
Sincerely,
David L. Di Maria, Vice Provost for Global Engagement
Posted: April 1, 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