International Student Support

With the change in administration we expect there to be new legal actions and policy that will impact US immigration, travel and document processing. Our commitment to supporting our international students is unwavering. We will be sharing immigration updates and resources related to international student visas, work authorization, and travel on this webpage.


International students are an important part of the USF community, and we will continue to work closely with campus partners to celebrate and uplift the unique and vibrant perspectives of our global community. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to support you. You can always send us an email at isss@usfca.edu, or email and schedule an appointment with your ISSS adviser. 

 

Announcements and Immigration Updates

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President Trump signed an executive order on January 20 requiring enhanced security screening and vetting of foreign nationals applying for U.S. visas, entry into the United States, or U.S. immigration benefits. Federal agencies were also directed to recommend partial or full travel restrictions in the next 30-60 days. It is important to note that this executive order does not implement specific changes to the visa process and travel requirements for international students at this time, but students should be prepared for enhanced screening when applying for visas and re-entering the US. Our office will share more information about travel and visa screening procedures and any restrictions as they are implemented.

The new presidential administration has not announced specific changes to immigration and travel policies. We expect after the inauguration on January 20th there will be policy changes that could include travel restrictions for nationals from certain countries, or delays at the US Ports of Entry (airports and land border entry points) and at US Consulates abroad. While we do not expect changes to affect the majority of international students, students who want to avoid potential travel delays or interruptions should consider re-entering the US by January 19. The safest way to avoid difficulty re-entering the country is to have your complete travel documents in hand when you travel. 

If you wish to change your travel plans for the winter holiday or return to the US earlier, ISSS and our USF colleagues are here to assist you with housing, travel and other considerations. ISSS will be running an airport transfer service from January 14 to 19. If you have any questions or need assistance returning to campus during this time or securing housing, please let us know (isss@usfca.edu or +1 415-422-2654).

ISSS held a discussion for international students after the election to hear from students and share insights. The session was not recorded, please contact ISSS if you have any questions about this session.