A nonimmigrant visa (NIV) affixed to a passport page enables the passport bearer to ask an immigration officer at the port of entry for admission to the United States under the conditions specified for the type of visa the bearer holds.
Nonimmigrant visas are issued by the U.S. Department of State through a U.S. consular office abroad.
 

Nonimmigrant status is a legal condition, not a physical thing. It is also dynamic, not static, which means that a person’s nonimmigrant status must be acquired and maintained, and can be changed or lost.

Documents and electronic records indicate an individual’s immigration status. 

Proving identity is straightforward with an “unexpired foreign passport. Additional identity documents are available. 

The Presidents Alliance created information on SEVIS terminations.  You can view the information here.

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. 

• Passport
• I-20 or DS-2019 (printed and signed)
• I-797 approval notice - bottom portion (H-1B, O-1, E-3)
• Print out of your most recent I-94 (Your I-94 is your “registration document” which by regulation you should always have with you. With increased security precautions, particularly at airports, you should ensure you are in compliance.

Due to an increase in the number of visa applicants requiring in-person interviews, the introduction of enhanced vetting and screening, visa processing delays are expected. Also the U.S. The Department of State is not updating visa appointment wait times at various consular posts, making it difficult to plan. 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.

Effective 2/18/2025, the State Department updated its policy to waive visa interviews for nonimmigrant visa holders. The new policy permits consular officers to waive the in-person interview for applicants who previously held a visa in the same category that expired less than 12 months prior to the new application, Visa applicants must apply for a visa in their country of nationality or residence and have never been refused a visa. The foreign national will be required to complete the DS-160, visa application, and pay all associated visa fees when applying. The visa applicant will be responsible for emailing the consulate to request the waiver. 

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.

Understand that your social media profile and activity may be searched. Ensure your online presence reflects compliance with U.S. laws and visa regulations. Please review the ACLU’s article for preparation tips before traveling.

The only current travel ban is for South Sudan.  The travel environment remains extremely uncertain.  Travel restrictions or bans for additional countries could be executed based on a January 2025 Executive Order.  Should any changes be announced, ISSS will inform impacted UMD community members and post the information on our Immigration News and Updates page..  If a ban is announced, you may be unable to return, even with a valid visa stamp. 

Travelers should seek to identify and weigh the risks associated with international travel based on their personal circumstances.  

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. 

Monitor dates and U.S. entry requirements when considering travel outside of the U. S., as these 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  

“Enhanced vetting and screening” practices may increase your chances for secondary inspection. The 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. In some cases this might involve “secondary inspection”. 

If you are selected for secondary inspection at the port of entry, remain calm and be prepared to produce your immigration  documentation, along with supporting documents for your planned activity in the U.S.  These documents can vary depending on your purpose for entering the US.  

Failure to carry proper documentation, 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 especially around issues of arrest, then they should contact a qualified immigration attorney.  The ACLU offers information on your rights at the airport. You can find the information here.

If you have an immigration emergency, please contact  Sue Dougherty, ISSS Director, (301) 314-1713. For all other emergencies please contact UMD Public Safety and ask to be put in contact with the ISSS. UMD Public Safety can be reached at  301.405.3333.

Fragomen has provided guidance on International Travel Planning for F-1 Students.