Travel Alert - Electronic Devices
On March 21, 2017 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced enhanced security procedures related to international travel carry-on items. The change applies to 10 specific airports. There is no impact on domestic flights in the United States or flights departing the United States. Electronic devices will continue to be allowed on all flights originating in the United States. For a DHS fact sheet on the new security measures, please click HERE.
Executive Order on Immigration
UPDATE: On June 26, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court responded to the government appeal to overturn the preliminary injunctions by partially allowing portions of the government travel ban to take effect. HOWEVER, their decision exempts (does not apply to) students and scholars who have been admitted to a U.S. school or workers who accept an offer of employment from a U.S. employer. Basically, individuals "who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States" (such as students and scholars admitted to a U.S. school) WILL NOT BE SUBJECT to the 90-day travel ban. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear the case in its entirety in October.
UPDATE: On March 15, 2017, the U.S. District Court in Hawaii issued a nationwide temporary restraining order, preventing the U.S. Government from enforcing the executive order entry bar that was scheduled to go into effect on March 16, 2017.
On March 6, 2017, President Trump signed a revised Executive Order (EO)
on Immigration that will take effect beginning March 16th, 2017. The revised EO affects citizens of six countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Refer to the FAQ section below for more information. As always, if you have any questions or concerns about travel, we invite you to consult with your ISS Advisor.
Travel Advisory:
At this time, ISS recommends that nationals from these six countries not make travel plans to leave the United States until consulting with an
ISS Advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions:
ISS has created this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) resource to provide you with some additional information and resources. We are closely monitoring issues that impact our international student and scholar populations and will update this FAQ as necessary.
Does the Revised Executive Order apply to F-1 and J-1 non-immigrant visa holders?
Yes, the Executive Order (EO) applies to international students from the following six countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. However, it DOES NOT apply to those students who are already within the U.S. on the effective date of the EO or to those students who currently hold a valid student visa.
Note: A DHS executive order FAQ clarifies that "from one of the six countries" means that the EO applies to both nationals and citizens of the six countries.
Note: Refer to information at top of this page regarding the temporary restraining order (TRO) that temporarily prohibits the U.S. government from enforcing the 90-day ban.
How does the Executive Order affect me?
If you are a national of one of the six countries listed, you should be aware of the following provisions:
Effective Date: The new executive order is effective for 90 days, from March 16, 2017 - June 14, 2017.
Visa interview and visa issuance suspension: The Department of State (DOS) will continue to process visa applications until the new executive order becomes effective i.e. until March 16, 2017. DOS has not yet issued guidance on implementation of the revised Executive Order (EO 13780).
Note: Refer to information at top of this page regarding the temporary restraining order (TRO) that temporarily prohibits the U.S. government from enforcing the 90-day ban.
I am not a national of one of the listed countries. Would the Executive Order still affect me?
if you are not a national of the listed countries, you should still be aware of the following:
- Suspension of the Visa Interview Waiver Program (VIWP): If you had previously been able to apply for a visa or visa renewal without an in-person interview, the revised Executive Order (13780) includes language that will likely require most visa applicants to be interviewed in-person.
- Increased Travel Delays: Due to increased scrutiny at POEs (ports of entry) and expected increase of in-person visa interviews at U.S. consulates and embassies abroad, you should expect delays with both visa applications and when traveling to the U.S.
- Continuous Revisions & Reviews: The Executive Order also calls for a review of U.S. visa issuance procedures in all countries as well as visa reciprocity provisions. Such reviews may result in changes in visa application fees, or visa lengths.
I was planning to travel outside the U.S. What should I do?
- At this time, ISS recommends that nationals from these six countries not make travel plans to leave the United States until consulting with an ISS Advisor
- If you are not from one of the six countries and plan to travel please make sure that all your travel documents are in order, including a valid entry visa (F1 or J1). We also recommend that you request and take with you a letter confirming that you are currently maintaining lawful status. For instructions on how to request your letter online, go here.
What can I do to maintain my lawful F1 or J1 status?
As you know, regardless of recent developments, it is always important to prevent any violations of your F1 or J1 status; please review
rules for maintaining lawful F1 or J1 status. In the current environment it becomes particularly important to also avoid activities that may seriously impact your immigration status or future visa applications (e.g. common misdemeanor or felony arrests, including theft, drunk driving, shoplifting and drug possession).