Immigration Updates

As you may have heard, some international students and scholars across the United States and on OU’s campus have recently had their visas revoked and/or their SEVIS records terminated. The records are being terminated by the Department of the Homeland Security (DHS) often without notification to the universities or the affected individuals.

ISSO is checking the SEVIS system multiple times a day to see if there are terminations of any SEVIS records that were initiated by the Department of Homeland Security. When ISSO finds these terminations, it is reaching out to the affected individual immediately by email and by phone.   These terminations are for various reasons but most seem to be linked to a prior arrest or conviction and outstanding warrants. Media reports also suggest that some students and scholars around the United States have been terminated for political and protest activity.

There will be a dedicated ISSO Shares session Thursday, April17th, at 1 pm. Please use this link to join us.

We have prepared answers to frequently asked questions about the implications of visa revocations and SEVIS terminations.

• What should I do if I receive a Visa Revocation Letter?
  Please contact the International Students and Scholars office (ISSO) at [email protected] or call 248-370-3385 to inform us immediately so that one of our advisors can provide guidance and recommendations. It is very important to consult the ISSO office advisor without any delay.
  
  
• How will I know if my SEVIS record has been terminated?
  If your SEVIS record is terminated, you will be notified by the ISSO. We are reviewing SEVIS records multiple times a day to identify any SEVIS records that have been terminated by the Department of Homeland Security. If you have not heard from ISSO, your record has not been terminated.
  
  
• What should I do if ISSO notifies me that my SEVIS record has been terminated?
  If you receive this notification, please be sure to contact the ISSO so that one of our advisors can help you decide on next steps. If your SEVIS record has been terminated and you are employed either on campus or off campus it is important to stop work immediately.

Recommendations:

• Avoid unreliable sources of information.Social media and news outlets may not provide accurate information about policy changes nor address important differences about the many different visa types.
  
  
• Always, be careful of scammers.The DHS will never contact you by email or phone and request any payment of fees or fines, or gift cards or any payments over the phone or emails. Should you receive a call, get the name of the individual agency and badge number and contact the ISSO.

This is a confusing time. You are a valued member of the Oakland Community.  Please remember that ISSO is here to support you (walk in hours are M-Th 1 to 4, 248-370-3358, weekly ISSO shares) the Graham Counseling Center is a valuable to listen to you and help you.

ISSO will be hosting two travel-focused ISSO shares on Thursday, 04/03/2025, at 1 p.m. and on Tuesday, 04/08/2025 at 10 a.m. In preparation for these ISSO shares, please review the travel message posted under "General travel this summer (March 17, 2025)". Since we published the above travel message, there have been reports of phones, computers and social media being scrutinized at Ports of Entry in which information found was deemed derogatory and has led to travelers with valid visas being turned away at the border. Please be careful with your social media posts, what is on your phone, and sharing posts.

Also, we had hoped by now, to have more definitive information on any travel restrictions so we could best advise you on your travel plans. At this writing, there has been no announcement of a travel ban however there have been reports in the media about three categories of restrictions. See the Reuters article on the subject.

Please understand that this is a draft list reported by the media and that things may change in the coming few weeks, with countries coming off of this list or, with additional information about how these changes are actually affecting travelers. It could also be implemented quickly.

Please attend one of the ISSO shares or contact our office with any questions or concerns. This is a difficult time. We value you and what you bring to our campus, our city and our country. We look forward to meeting with you online!

Sincerely,

International Students and Scholars Office

If you are traveling outside of the U.S. soon or for the summer, please review the documents you will need to enter back into the U.S.

• Passport valid at least six months into the future upon entry
• Valid I-20 (F visa holders) or DS-2019 (J visa holders)
• Make sure the I-20 or DS-2019 is signed for travel and that it is also signed by you on the front page
• Valid (unexpired) visa in your passport is needed upon re-entry to the U.S.
• Students, print out your course schedule to show you are enrolled for the upcoming fall term
• Visiting scholars should take a letter from your OU faculty member that indicates your ongoing program of research

If you are seeking to renew your U.S. visa while outside the U.S., please check the U.S. Department of State visa wait time website. These wait times are not exact. They are an estimate. 

On 18 February 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced a change to the practice of waiving the interview requirement for people applying for visas to enter the United States. To be eligible for an interview waiver, visa applicants must:

• have previously held a visa in the same category that expired less than 12 months prior to the new application.
• apply in their country of nationality or residence
• have never been refused a visa (unless such refusal was overcome or waived); and have no apparent or potential ineligibility.

This change will mean that wait times for visa appointments and processing may be much longer than expected. If you need to apply for a new visa, plan extra time for visa processing. Not all U.S. embassies/consulates offer interview waivers.

Currently, there are no travel restrictions (travel bans), although the current administration has set up a 60-day review process to identify countries that may be subject to a later travel ban. Based on that timeline, this review process ends around March 21. If any changes are announced, Global Engagement will update its information.

If you have any concerns as a student or scholar regarding travel outside of the United States or otherwise, please contact the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) at [email protected].