Immigration-Related Actions Under the Second Trump Administration

This page highlights executive orders, policy, legislative and regulatory changes enacted by the second Trump administration that alter and affect visa or immigration processing for our international student and scholar community. The News sections is a chronological listing of important information or go to related links in the sidebar under Additional Resources. As always, we encourage members of our community to connect with a ISSO team member with any questions.

News

DOS Resumes Scheduling Visa Interviews

June 24th, 2025

According to media reports, the Department of State (DOS) resumed scheduling visa interview appointments on June 18th after a 3 week pause. During this time, DOS disseminated instructions to consular posts about how to review the social media presence of the visa applicant along with standard eligibility criteria when adjudicating... More

Possible Expansion of the Travel (US Entry) Ban

June 17th, 2025

Several news outlets are reporting that an internal Department of State (DOS) memo issued to consular posts indicated that 36 more countries will be given 60 days to meet the administration's benchmarks and requirements or face either a partial or full entry ban similar to the ban on 19 countries... More

US Entry Banned for Nationals of Certain Countries

June 5th, 2025

President Trump announced a ban on entry to the US of foreign nationals from certain countries in certain nonimmigrant categories who are outside the US effective at 12:01 am EST June 9, 2025, who do not have a valid US visa. See the Proclamation and a White House Fact Sheet... More

US DOS Announces Additional Vetting of Visas for Chinese Students

May 29th, 2025

The US Department of State (DOS) has issued a press release stating they may work with the Department of Homeland Security to revoke visas for some Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in critical fields. DOS states they intend to revise visa... More

Visa Appointments Paused So DOS Can Screen Social Media

May 28th, 2025

See updated news on this topic. Several media outlets are reporting that the US Department of State (DOS) has paused scheduling new visa interview appointments temporarily at consular posts to establish a new protocol to screen social media as part of the visa application review.  Outlets are citing an interagency cable... More

SEVP Warns Graduates on OPT About Exceeding Unemployment Limits

May 18th, 2025

A few recent BU graduates on post-completion OPT have reported receiving letters from the Department of Homeland Security about failing to report their employment information and exceeding allowable F-1 regulatory unemployment timeframes. The letters, sent directly to some graduates via email from SEVP (Student Exchange Visitor Program), asserted that the... More

All SEVIS Records Restored to Active

April 27th, 2025

Over the past few weeks, the ISSO team has been supporting international students and recent graduates with terminated SEVIS records and have connected impacted individuals with: designated BU school contacts for academic assistance, campus resources for wellness support, immigration attorneys for legal consultations, and/or information regarding low bono or pro... More

Reports of Visa Revocations & SEVIS Record Terminations

April 4th, 2025

See updated news on this topic. Many of you are seeing the news about student visa revocations and high-profile student detentions around the US. Historically, the US Department of State would only revoke a student visa if a student were arrested or convicted of a crime in the United States. However, More

International Travel Risk Information Session

March 26th, 2025

Virtual Information Session International Travel Risks on Wednesday, March 26, 3 pm The session featured Elizabeth Goss, CEO and founding immigration attorney of Goss Associates, Stephen Kerr, Associate General Counsel in the BU Office of General Counsel and Jeanne Kelley, Managing Director of the BU ISSO, and covered the following topics: discussion... More

DHS Designates New Form for Registration and Fingerprinting

March 12th, 2025

Following the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) announcement that certain noncitizens in the United States must register and be fingerprinted, the agency released an interim final rule designating a new registration form, G-325R, for that purpose, effective April 11, 2025. According to DHS: Foreign nationals above the age of 14 who... More

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