International Student and Scholar Alerts

Immigration Policies

We remain committed to keeping you informed about developments that may affect you. This page is dedicated to providing resources and guidance as they become available. Please remember to check your Mines email regularly for communications from our office.

U.S. DEPT. OF STATE PAUSES IMMIGRANT VISA ISSUANCE FOR NATIONALS OF 75 COUNTRIES (January 14, 2026)

On January 14, 2026, The U.S. State Department announced a pause on issuing immigrant visas worldwide for national of 75 countries. The pause will go into effect on January 21, 2026.

The covered countries include: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

MAIN POINT:

The pause impacts only immigrant visa issuance and does not affect nonimmigrant visas such as F and J visas.

USCIS PAUSES PROCESSING OF IMMIGRATION BENEFITS FOR NATIONALS OF EXPANDED TRAVEL BAN COUNTRIES (January 1, 2026)

A USCIS Policy Memorandum issued on January 1, 2026, has paused the processing of immigration benefit applications for individuals from specific countries listed in the December 16, 2025 Expanded Travel Ban. Additionally, the government may re-review certain benefits that were approved after January 20, 2021.

MAIN POINTS:

If you have a pending application with USCIS (such as OPT, STEM Extension, or Change of Status), please make an appointment with ISSS as soon as possible so we can discuss your specific situation. Check your USCIS account for status updates.

If you are currently on OPT or a STEM Extension, please keep a very close eye on both your physical mail and email. If you receive any correspondence, contact ISSS immediately.

 

PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION EXPANDS “FULL” AND “PARTIAL” TRAVEL BAN ON CERTAIN COUNTRIES (December 16, 2025)

Presidential Proclamation of December 16, 2025: Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.

Effective Thursday, January 1, 2026, the following countries are subject to a full ban that suspends entry to the U.S. of immigrants and nonimmigrants: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Palestinian Authority Travel Documents, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

The following countries are subject to a partial ban that suspends entry to the U.S. for immigrants and nonimmigrants on B-1,B-2,B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d ‘Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

MAIN POINTS:

The scope of the bans indicates that they are only applicable to nationals from the listed countries who are outside the U.S. as of Janauary 1, 2026, AND do not have a valid visa.

Students and Scholars from the listed countries are strongly advised to check their visa expiration dates and remain in the U.S. It is not clear yet how the bans will be interpreted by Customs and Border Protection.

The bans do not affect domestic travel or current employment authorizations for those within the U.S.

The bans do not revoke visas issued prior to the proclamation effective date.

USCIS PAUSES PROCESSING OF IMMIGRATION BENEFITS FOR NATIONALS OF TRAVEL BAN COUNTRIES (December 2, 2025)

A USCIS Policy Memorandum issued on December 2, 2025 directs USCIS to place a hold on pending benefit requests and conduct a comprehensive re-review of approved benefit requests for certain aliens from countries listed in the June 9 Travel Ban.

The memo is not clear about the definition of benefit requests and we are monitoring the analysis of the language and memo as a whole. We will provide updates as we get them.

MAIN POINTS:

If you are a student or scholar from one of the countries listed in the June 9 Travel Ban, please reach out to ISSS with any questions. Make sure you are checking your email and physical mail for any correspondence from USCIS or our office.

 

US FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN – INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS (October 1, 2025)

The impact of  the current government shutdown on the Mines community will depend on its duration and guidance from the Office of Management and Budget and individual agencies. Mines is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with partners to understand potential impacts. In general, during a federal government shutdown, international students and scholars on F and J visas will experience little impact.  

The following fee-funded or essential services have continued during past shutdowns: 

  • DHS. USCIS application filing and adjudications operations generally continue during a shutdown. However, E-Verify, the CIS Ombudsman, and the EB-5 investor program receive appropriated funds and could therefore be shut down. 
  • ICE. ICE enforcement and removal operations will continue. SEVP is fee-funded, so that office generally continues operations. However, contract employees may be furloughed. 
  • DOS. “Consular operations domestically and abroad will remain operational. This includes passports, visas, and assisting U.S. citizens abroad… All U.S. embassies and consulates abroad will be operational for national security reasons.” 
  • DOL. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) is not fee-funded, so a lapse in appropriations would affect permanent and temporary labor certifications (PERM and LCAs), as well as prevailing wage determinations. OFLC web services such as the FLAG system may be up but functionality to submit applications may be turned off. 

 Please note that applications for work permits and other benefits through USCIS may see delays in processing. Depending on the length of the shutdown and impact on the federal workforce, those delays could increase. 

 

PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION ON H-1B VISAS (Sept. 19, 2025)

The Presidential Proclamation “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers”, issued September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 payment for new H-1B visa petitions. The proclamation application may change depending on agency guidance and litigation outcomes. We will provide updates as they become available.

MAIN POINTS:

Review the following agency guidance for more information:

If you are in the process of applying for an H1B with Mines, please reach out directly to your department and legal counsel for more information about this proclamation.

VISA INTERVIEW WAIVER POLICY UPDATE (July 25, 2025)

On July 25, the Department of State announced an upcoming change to the Visa Interview Waiver Policy that will go into effect on September 2, 2025. Specifically, F and J visa holders will no longer be eligible for a waiver of the visa interview if they previously held a visa in the same category and that visa expired less than 12 months prior to the new application.

The full text of the Interview Waiver Update is available here.

MAIN POINTS:

We advise that if you need to renew your visa after September 2, you plan for an in-person interview AND longer processing times.

Check with the consulate or embassy handling your visa request for the most current information and processing times.

NEW IMMIGRATION FEES ANNOUNCED AND VISA VALIDITY REDUCTION FOR A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES (July 15, 2025)

On July 4, 2025, a new law was enacted that imposes several new immigration fees, including a “visa integrity fee,” a form I-94 application fee, and others.

On or about July 11, 2025, Department of State updated the visa reciprocity lists to reduce the validity of visas going forward to 3 months and only a single entry for a number of countries.

MAIN POINTS:

Plan ahead for the new immigration fees.

Contact ISSS if you have questions on how the new fees and visa validity updates may affect your intended travel and remaining program in the U.S.

PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION ESTABLISHES “FULL” AND “PARTIAL” TRAVEL BAN ON CERTAIN COUNTRIES (June 4, 2025)

Presidential Proclamation of June 4, 2025: Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.

Effective Monday, June 9, 2025, the following twelve countries are subject to a full ban that suspends entry to the U.S. of immigrants and nonimmigrants: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of The Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

The following seven countries are subject to a partial ban that suspends entry to the U.S. for immigrants and nonimmigrants on B-1,B-2,B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

MAIN POINTS:

The scope of the bans indicates that they are only applicable to nationals from the listed countries who are outside the U.S. as of June 9, 2025, AND do not have a valid visa.

Students and Scholars from the listed countries are strongly advised to check their visa expiration dates and remain in the U.S. It is not clear yet how the bans will be interpreted by Customs and Border Protection.

The bans do not affect domestic travel or current employment authorizations for those within the U.S.

The bans do not revoke visas issued prior to the proclamation effective date.

DHS TO BEGIN SCREENING SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY FOR ANTISEMITISM  (April 9, 2025)

Effective immediately, USCIS will consider social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests. 

MAIN POINTS: 

Social media content will be considered when applying for immigration benefits.

Note: All travelers to the United States are subject to Customs and Border inspection, to include electronic devices. See CBP Search Authority information page.

 

USCIS ISSUES INTERIM FINAL RULE FOR IMMIGRATION REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS (March 12, 2025)

Effective April 11, 2025, USCIS  will require nonimmigrants who turn 14 while in the U.S. to “re-register” with USCIS even if previously registered when entering the U.S.

The new registration form, Form G-325R Biographic Information (Registration), is required along with fingerprinting provisions for those subject.

MAIN POINTS:

F2 and J2 dependents who entered the U.S. before their 14th birthday and subsequently turn 14 while in the U.S. will need to re-register within 30 days of their 14th birthday.

Most F1 and J1 Visa holders over 14 years old who were issued an I-94 at a Port of Entry are already registered. It is advised that you carry a copy of your I-94 with you at all times. If you need to print your I-94 visit here.

To learn more details about this requirement and whether you need to register, visit the USCIS Alien Registration Requirement website.

USCIS POLICY UPDATE ON NOTICE TO APPEAR AFTER ADVERSE ADJUDICATIONS (Feb. 28, 2025)

USCIS announced an update to its Notice to Appear “NTA” Policy in a Policy Memorandum to address national security, public safety, and overall integrity of the immigration system. A NTA is a notice to appear before an immigration judge for removal proceedings. The following circumstances could result in a NTA being issued by USCIS:
  • NTA Required by Statute or Regulation
  • National Security Cases
  • Criminal Cases
  • Fraud and Misrepresentation
  • Temporary Protected Status
  • Aliens Not Lawfully Present in the United States or Subject to Other Grounds of Removability
  • Special Circumstances
    MAIN POINTS:
    If you applied for a benefit with USCIS and were denied you could receive a NTA if you have no other grounds to remain in the U.S.
    Make sure you are checking your mail and email regularly and that your address is current with USCIS and ISSS. If you receive any mail from USCIS, please let ISSS or your legal counsel know promptly.
    Meet with ISSS when applying for a benefit of your student visa to learn if this policy may impact you.

    VISA INTERVIEW WAIVER PROCESS AND ELIGIBILITY UPDATED RESTRICTIONS (Feb. 18, 2025)

    The Department of State updated the eligibility criteria for applicants for waivers of nonimmigrant visa interviews. Applicants who previously held a visa in the same category that expired less than 12 month prior to the renewal application (previously 48 months) may be eligible for a waiver of the nonimmigrant visa interview.

    MAIN POINTS:

    There are currently long wait times for some visa interviews. It is important to verify if your visa renewal will require you to attend a visa interview. We advise that you review your visa documents and plan any travel accordingly.

    Note: Each Consulate has discretion to apply the interview waiver authority. Check with the Consulate where you intend to renew for their specific visa waiver information.

     

    EXCHANGE VISITOR SKILLS LIST UPDATES – J1 Visa Holders Only (Dec. 9, 2024)

    The Department of State published an update to the Exchange Visitor Skills List, effective December 9, 2024, (“2024 Skills List”) in the Federal Register. It plans to review the list every three years.

    The modernized Skills List will significantly streamline the visa process for many exchange visitors, making it possible for those who qualify for work visas to continue contributing their talents to U.S. businesses and U.S. innovation.

    MAIN POINTS:

    · You are subject to the two-year home country physical presence requirement based on the Skills List if:

    o you were admitted to the United States in J status or obtained J status on or after December 9, 2024; and

    o your country of legal permanent residence is on the 2024 Skills List; and

    o your field of specialized knowledge or skills is listed for your country of legal permanent residence.

     

    · You are not subject to the two-year home country physical presence requirement based on the Skills List if

    o you were admitted to the United States in J status or obtained J status before December 9, 2024; and

    o your country of legal permanent residence is no longer on the 2024 Skills List.

     

    Pending Waiver Applications, Form DS-3035: For applications submitted by an applicant whose country of legal permanent residence was on a prior Skills List but is not on the 2024 Skills List, the State Department will determine whether the two-year home country physical presence requirement still applies to such applicant for another reason. If the requirement does not apply, the applicant will receive notification of the Department’s determination.

    ISSS will share updates as they are made available. Please note that the government agencies may take additional time to provide further guidance and fully implement the new Skills List.

     

    POSSIBLE UPCOMING FEDERAL CHANGES TO IMMIGRATION POLICIES (Dec. 4, 2024)

    Here is a short list of resources available:

      • Community resources, including local cultural centers, DREAMER resources, legal resources, and mental health resources can be found here: https://mep.mines.edu/resources/community/
      • ISSS is available for immigration advising for incoming, current, and graduated F1 and J1 students.
      • There may be questions about the privacy protections that are in place for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) contributors without Social Security numbers. The 2025-26 FAFSA is now officially open and although the Higher Education Act prohibits the use of data for any purpose other than determining and awarding federal financial assistance, there is no guarantee at this time that data submitted to the US Department of Education as part of the FAFSA process will continue to be protected. Every individual should have as much information as possible before submitting identifying information to the federal government. Please contact the Financial Aid office to discuss FAFSA applications and alternate funding options available.
      • The Counseling Center welcomes students to receive care and support in an affirming space. Counseling visits are a secure, nonjudgmental experience where students can freely express their feelings without fear.
      • Student Outreach and Support is also available for any student facing personal and academic challenges.
      • Undocumented students can find additional information here: https://mepmines.edu/undocumented-students/