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International Students & Scholars

Immigration News & Updates

ISSS will highlight recent changes to immigration and what they may mean for you.  We'll keep this page updated with the most recent information and our guidance. If you have any questions, you can contact International Students and Scholar Services.

Summer Travel Reminders/Emergency Card

News, Statements and Press Releases

05/06/2025

04/23/2025

04/09/2025

  • DHS to Begin Screening Alien's Social Media Activity - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin considering aliens’ antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests. This will immediately affect aliens applying for lawful permanent resident status, foreign students and aliens affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activity.

04/07/2025

  • FAQ for International Students and Campus Stakeholder:  What you Need to Know - This FAQ, developed by the President's Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, is intended to inform and support international students and campus stakeholders in light of recent developments involving the termination of student records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). As dozens of colleges and universities have reported widespread terminations, this document aims to address the resulting concerns by providing information, guidance, and access to further resources.

04/05/2025

  • South Sudan Travel Ban - In a statement on Saturday, April 5th, the State Department announced the revocation of all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders.

02/25/2025

  • Alien Registration Requirement - On February 25, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced intentions to enforce a longstanding registration requirement for non-citizens. Guidance from USCIS clarifies that certain non-citizens must be registered and fingerprinted.

    Most nonimmigrants who entered the U.S. at age 14+ are already automatically registered (as evidenced by their Form I-94) and DON'T need to re-register.

    New USCIS guidance requires children who turn 14 while in the U.S. to "re-register" with USCIS within 30 days of their birthday, even if previously registered when entering the country. This may affect, for example, F-2, J-2, H-4 dependents and young F-1/J-1 students who entered before age 14.

    For a detailed guide to what Foreign Nationals need to know about DHS’s new online registration requirement, please review this FAQ from the Fragomen law firm.
     

02/24/2025

  • Partial Vacatur of 2024 Temporary Protected Status Decision for Haiti -  On Feb. 20, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem partially vacated the July 1, 2024, notice that extended and redesignated Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).  The announcement amends the period of extension and redesignation of Haiti for TPS from 18 months to 12 months, with a new end date of Aug. 3, 2025, and makes a corresponding change to the initial registration period for new applicants under the redesignation, which will now remain in effect through Aug. 3, 2025. 

02/05/2025

  • Termination of the October 3, 2023 Designation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status - This notice  terminates the 2023 TPS designation of Venezuela. This termination is effective April 7, 2025. After April 7, 2025, nationals of Venezuela who have been granted TPS under the 2023 Venezuela designation will no longer have TPS. This termination determination does not apply to the 2021 designation of Venezuela for TPS, which remains in effect until September 10, 2025.

01/20/2025

  • Where can I read the Executive order?
    You can read the Executive Order here.  
  • What does the message mean for me?
    On January 20th, the White House released an executive order directing certain federal agencies to identify, within 60 days, "countries throughout the world for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries."  Starting around March 21st, these agencies may issue new travel restrictions.  When considering travel outside of the U.S., keep in mind that entry requirements may change unexpectedly. If you cannot afford interruptions to your studies, research, employment, or teaching due to an extended stay abroad, you should carefully weigh the necessity of traveling outside the U.S.

    Questions regarding this order can be sent to isss_inquiry@umd.edu. This box will be monitored over spring break.
  • How could the EO effect me?
    NAFSA: Association for International Educators assessed the potential ramifications of the EO and determined that visa processing could be negatively impacted. The EO directs federal agencies to issue further guidance and to ensure that applicants “do not bear hostile attitudes” toward U.S. institutions.
  • What are ways I can prepare?
    Students, faculty, and staff should consider executive orders when making international travel plans and as they file for immigration benefits. Carefully prepare applications and apply as early as possible for benefits in the event there are processing delays.  
  • When do you expect to have more information?
    The EO calls for a 60-day review and a report due on March 21, 2025. These measures are under active review by the University and more information will be provided when available.
  • Will this affect the processing of any of my immigration benefits (EAD card, etc)?
    At this time, we do not know whether benefit processing delays will occur. We encourage all students and scholars to apply for the benefits that their immigration status permits. Consider premium processing if you wish to expedite the processing of your application.
  • What is some general advice for international students and scholars on campus now?
    It is a best practice to file immigration applications as early as possible. For example, applications for optional practical training (OPT) can be filed up to 90 days before the program end date. Premium processing is an alternative if you decide to expedite your application.
  • I’m worried about proving my status while inside the US.  What information should I carry with me when moving around the US?  
    The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) lists documents that a person is required to carry as evidence of registration. We suggest that you carry hard copies of the following documents:
    • Copy of I-94 record
    • Copy of your I20/DS2019
    • Copy of Employment Authorization Card (if you have one)
    • Proof of identity such as a US driver's license, state ID card or a copy of your passport; and
    • Report to USCIS any change of your residential address within 10 days of the address change on this USCIS form.  (If you are an F-1 or J-1 enrolled UMD student you can use Testudo to update your address, UMD graduates on OPT authorization can use  iTerp to update the address in SEVIS. )
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