If you are in the U.S. as an F-1 student or J-1 student or scholar, here are a few important points to remember.
On 2/18/2025, the US Department of State announced changes to the eligibility criteria for nonimmigrant interview waivers, also known as "drop box appointments." If you qualify for a visa interview waiver, you can apply for a visa without an in-person interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
As the new White House administration transitions into office on January 20, 2025, some of you may wonder about potential changes to policies governing U.S. visas and immigration. The International Center (IC) monitors immigration/visa policies and any proposed changes impacting the populations of international students, scholars, employees, and dependents we serve. This includes shifts in policy or regulatory changes proposed by federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security, as well as executive actions or presidential proclamations made by the White House.
On January 29, 2025, Executive Action 13899, entitled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism”, was signed by the President of the United States. The executive action specifically mentions “alien students or staff”. “Alien”, a term that has been recently re-introduced, refers to anyone who is not a citizen or a national of the United States.
Scams are illegal and fraudulent schemes by criminals (scammers) who are trying to get money from you. Scammers will often impersonate actual agencies or companies and may contact you by phone, text or email. These criminals are often very convincing, so it’s important to be very careful so that you don’t lose your money or provide personal information to people who should not have it.
The International Center would like to remind both new and continuing international students and scholars to: