US Entry Banned for Nationals of Certain Countries
See more recent news for updated information on topic. 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... More
US DOS Announces Additional Vetting of Visas for Chinese Students
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
USCIS Updates Alien Registration Instructions
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is reinforcing the legal requirement for non-U.S. citizens to register with the U.S. government under Section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1302) in response to the recent Protecting the American People Against Invasion executive order issued... More
DOS Reduces Eligibility for Appointment Waivers for Visa Renewals
See updated news on this topic. The US Department of State has narrowed eligibility for a waiver of the visa interview requirement. A recent DOS announcement reinstates the statutory 12-month post-expiration period for visa renewal applicants. This means that students and scholars travelling to renew their nonimmigrant visa will be required to schedule... More
Welcome, New Students!
Riho Imada (from left) and Akari Noguchi, both students at the Center for English Language and Orientation Programs, and Andrew Burwash (CAS'18) at the International Student Reception, held September 4 at the Trustee Ballroom. Photo by Jackie Riccardi
