International Updates: Immigration, Visa & Travel Information

If you are an international student, scholar, or employee at CSU and you have questions about your CSU-sponsored visa, you should contact the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSS) with CSU International Programs as a first step. ISSS is responsible for managing F-1, J-1, H-1B, and other types of visas in which CSU serves as the immigration or visa sponsor. If you are a currently enrolled CSU student you also have the ability to use Student Legal Services, as well as the CSU Counseling Center, at no additional cost to you.

• CSU International Programs/ISSS
  • (970) 491-5917
  • Laurel Hall, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
  • Email Inquiries: [email protected]
  • Schedule an appointment with an International Student and Scholar Advisor
    • Drop-in advising available Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
  • After Hours/Emergency Contact Information: If you need to contact us after hours because of an urgent situation, please contact the CSU Police Department at 970-491-6425.

• CSU Student Legal Services
  • (970) 491-1482
  • Lory Student Center 274, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
  • Request an appointment
  • Know Your Rights

• CSU Health Network
  • 970-491-7121
  • 151 W. Lake Street
  • Confidential counseling services available for all CSU students
  • View appointment and drop-in hours

• International Student Group Meeting with Counseling Services:
  • LSC Room 394, Mondays 4 p.m.-5 pm.

Updated April 22nd, 2025

All international students and scholars should be prepared to verify their identity in the U.S.

Our international community is advised to carry at all times:

• A Colorado State University ID card (RamCard) or State of Colorado ID or driver’s license.
• A copy of their international documents including:
  • Passport/visa
  • I-20 (or DS-2019 if you are a J-1 student or scholar)
  • I-94 (or I-797 notice of action if you have obtained a change of immigration status from one visa category to another.)

If you are not comfortable carrying original official documents – photocopies should be sufficient. For more information about documentation, including a full list of acceptable documents, please see:  Requirements to Carry Immigration Registration Document and Report Change of Address | NAFSA.

Updated April 22nd, 2025

CSU Student Legal Services (SLS) is available as a resource for all CSU students. SLS is funded by student fees and there is no additional charge for students to use this valuable resource.  SLS has a helpful Know Your Rights presentation that details what to do when encountering law enforcement or immigration. This presentation is helpful for all visa-holders, including international employees.

If you have specific questions, you may call SLS at (970) 491-1482 or request an appointment online. SLS is located at Lory Student Center 274 and open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Updated April 22nd, 2025

As a public university, CSU welcomes members of the public to a significant portion of our campuses. However, access is restricted or limited to certain areas on our campuses due to operational, privacy, safety, and security purposes. Federal law enforcement officers are subject to these access restrictions and must adhere to university protocols when entering areas that are not generally open to the public.

Members of law enforcement may not enter limited access or restricted access areas of campus without a warrant or court order. If you are approached by a law enforcement official who seeks entry into a limited access or restricted access area, immediately contact the Office of the General Counsel at (970) 491-6270 or CSU Police Department at (970) 491-6425.

Please visit the Federal Updates website to review which areas are limited or restricted access.

Updated April 22nd, 2025

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may inspect a phone, tablet, computer or other electronic devices. They may also ask you for passwords to review social media accounts. We encourage you to review more information on CBP’s authority to search your electronic devices.

Students are encouraged to be mindful of what they post on digital platforms and social media accounts.

Updated April 22nd, 2025

To date, no executive order has implemented a travel ban. While multiple media outlets reported a draft list for the new travel ban, a final, official report has not yet been released. We will provide guidance to the community if/when a travel ban is confirmed.

Updated April 22nd, 2025

We are aware that some CSU international students have been impacted by visa revocations and SEVIS terminations issued by the U.S. Department of State. We have limited information regarding reasons for revocation.

Any additional affected students are advised to immediately contact the embassy of their home country, and the CSU Office of International Programs at (970) 491-5917 or [email protected]. International employees on a visa who receive a notice of visa revocation should immediately contact the Office of International Programs. We are working with our state and federal elected officials to ensure that our students and employees are informed of all their options.

CSU has not been contacted by, nor has the institution been asked to provide student information to, the U.S. Department of State or Department of Homeland Security. To date, limited information about the visa revocations has been provided to the impacted individuals or CSU. We are working proactively with the students to help them connect with appropriate legal resources and understand their options. CSU is providing this support based on students’ personal decisions.

Updated April 22nd, 2025

No. A visa revocation/SEVIS termination is an immigration issue. Immigration status does not affect student status. Students who have their visas revoked remain CSU students, and any credits earned will remain on the student’s transcript. If an international student has their visa revoked before the end of a semester and needs to return home, CSU will work with the student and relevant faculty and departments to finish the semester’s coursework online. Whether or not the full degree can be finished online will vary by degree program and student circumstances.

Updated April 22nd, 2025

International students and scholars should avoid infractions with civil and criminal law, including minor infractions such as traffic violations. In addition, international students and scholars are advised to be mindful when making personal decisions about participating in any protest or social media activities.

International students should ensure they properly maintain their legal student status. Students can schedule a meeting with an international student advisor if they have any questions about maintaining their status.

Updated April 22nd, 2025

Ultimately, the decision for an international CSU community member to travel abroad is a personal one, weighing the risks and benefits. CSU recommends the following preparations should you decide to travel abroad:

1. All international faculty, staff and students are encouraged to bring printed copies of all immigration paperwork with them if they decide to travel abroad, including an explanation of why international travel was undertaken (e.g., research, collaboration with a partner, personal, etc.).
2. All international students and scholars need to have a valid visa (not expired) to re-enter the U.S. In addition, their passport must be valid for at least six months into the future.
3. International students on F or J visas and J-1 scholars traveling abroad must obtain a valid travel signature on their I-20 or DS-2019 before travel. Travel signatures are handled by ISSS.
4. International faculty or staff on H-1B visas are encouraged to carry their original I-797 approval notice and their two most recent pay statements.
5. Before you travel, connect with an immigration attorney that you can call in case you are detained.
6. Share all travel plans with family or friends and your direct supervisor, if employed.
7. Review your social media accounts.
8. Be aware of any old instances on your record that might be flagged by immigration officials. This could include minor traffic violations.

Updated April 23rd, 2025

A visa is granted by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad and entitles the visa holder to request entry to the U.S. in the category of the visa (student, tourist, etc.). International students requesting a student visa must be accepted into a full-time course of study at an accredited institution. The U.S. institution (such as CSU) supplies the student with immigration documents attesting to their admission into a full-time course of study.

Customs and Border Patrol makes the final determination that a non-US citizen is admissible to the U.S., once the person presents their visa and other immigration documents.

When a visa is revoked after someone is already in the U.S., it means the visa holder would not be allowed to re-enter the U.S. should they leave. A visa revocation alone does not mean the visa holder is in the U.S. illegally.

SEVIS is the federal database of all international students here on visas. Every international student on F or J visas has a record in SEVIS with the specifics of their approval to be in the U.S. (i.e., dates, institution, allowed activities, etc.). The educational institution maintains the SEVIS records for the international students enrolled at their institution. When a student’s SEVIS record is terminated by Homeland Security, it means the student no longer has legal status in the U.S. and would need to leave the country to avoid arrest and deportation. A combination of a visa revocation and SEVIS termination mean the student would need to leave the country and would not be allowed to re-enter without securing a new visa once abroad.

Updated April 22nd, 2025

To CSU’s International Student and Scholar Community,

Hello from the Office of International Programs!

Last week, we informed you that the Department of Homeland Security had begun reversing recent SEVIS record cancellations. While nearly all the SEVIS terminations have been returned to active status, we are aware that a few students have continued to receive emails from the Department of State, informing them that their visa has been revoked.  Should you receive a visa revocation email, please come and speak with International Student and Scholar Services staff as soon as possible.  We need to verify its authenticity and if it’s verified, we need to check your SEVIS status. There have been no new SEVIS terminations, and it is our understanding that students with revoked visas do not have to leave the country. As long as a student’s SEVIS record remains active, a student is still in legal F-1 status and should attend classes in person.

If you receive a visa revocation email from the Department of State, please come see us as soon as possible.  We will continue to work with each of you individually to plan the next steps, including academic planning.

As always, we are here to help, and we will do our best to advise you appropriately during these uncertain times.

Sincerely,

Greg M. Wymer, Director, International Student and Scholar Services

To CSU’s International Student and Scholar Community,

As you may have seen in the news today, the U.S. government has begun to reinstate the SEVIS records of many international students across the country who previously had their records terminated. We have seen this at CSU as well. Not all students who had their SEVIS records terminated have been reinstated, but this is an evolving situation and we will continue to track these developments and impact on the CSU international community.

The International Student and Scholar Services team is in touch with any student whose SEVIS record has changed, including those reinstated. We will discuss options and next steps with all affected students. At this time, we don’t know if all previously terminated SEVIS records will be reinstated, or what criteria are being used to determine which records to reinstate. We will provide updates as we learn more.

Most of our students who had their records terminated in SEVIS also had their F-1 student visas revoked. The reinstatement in SEVIS does not automatically restore a revoked visa. It is not clear at this time if revoked visas will be restored. Without a restored visa, students with a revoked visa who leave the country would not be able to re-enter the U.S. even if their SEVIS status is reinstated/active, unless they get a new visa. If this situation changes and visas are restored, we will communicate those changes to our international community.

Please let us know if you have any questions, we will do our best to advise you appropriately during these uncertain times.

Sincerely,

Greg M. Wymer, Director, International Student and Scholar Services

To CSU’s International Student and Scholar Community,

Recently, International Student and Scholar Services has learned of a number of new types of scams that may be occurring with some of our international students. These calls are claiming to come from USCIS, DHS, ICE, consulates, attorneys, etc. They are making claims that you will be deported, arrested, that your visa has been revoked, etc.

We recently had a student come to us after receiving a call from USCIS, asking him to upload his alien registration number on his USCIS account. The officer identified himself as Daniel Carter, DC451112, gave the student a case number, KR66621, section 163A. He told the student that he did not upload proper documentation about his Alien Registration Number. He also told the student not to use any “mobile gadgets” that can be connected to the internet or wifi; to isolate himself in a room; and not speak to the police or an attorney or come to the college. The call did not come to the student’s phone number registered on SEVIS but to a work phone number.

A second student came in who had received an automated phone message claiming to be from their Consulate, indicating that he needed to report there in person, as soon as possible, in regard to his visa revocation. We are also seeing reports from other institutions about a number of these types of scams aimed at international students, intending to take advantage of anxieties.

Scams directed towards international students and scholars tend to address immigration fraud or passport fraud. Typically, these scams are intended to instill fear in the individual, stating that if they don’t comply, they will be arrested.  If you ever receive any calls such as this, please do the following:

• Record the call if possible.
• Immediately tell someone.
• Contact our office to speak with an International Student Advisor.
• Contact Fort Collins Police.
• Under no circumstances should you wire money to someone if they are requesting funds, or purchase gift cards.

Keep in mind that the U.S. government will never call to demand some sort of payment. If your government is requesting funds, contact family or friends in your home country immediately and have them work on your behalf. These criminal organizations are extremely skillful at conning people out of money. What they tell you may sound convincing. They often have websites developed to verify what they are saying, so that if you search for information, you will find information that appears to indicate what they are telling you is true.

During this confusing time of immigration changes, scammers are taking advantage of international students who are feeling scared and vulnerable. The students above did the right thing by contacting ISSS immediately.

Before wiring any money, purchasing gift cards, or complying with any request – tell someone. This is the best way CSU and the local authorities can help you avoid scams.

Sincerely,

Greg Wymer, Director, International Student and Scholar Services

To: CSU’s international community

Re: International travel guidance

At CSU we care deeply about our Ramily at all times of the year, and we realize that students, faculty, and staff may be excited about planning for upcoming travel for the summer. As we continue to navigate impacts to our international community, we thought it would be helpful to provide extra communication for you all as you plan for your upcoming travels.

Given recent high-profile cases of students and faculty from U.S. universities having a high level of scrutiny by immigration officials when re-entering the U.S., the Office of International Programs would like to offer guidance for our international faculty, staff, and students regarding travel abroad, either now or this summer.

It’s very difficult to generalize any advice regarding travel, as many cases are specific to an individual. Country of origin, place of travel, or reason for travel are a few examples of factors that could impact an individual traveler’s risk of being denied re-entry to the U.S. We understand the State Department has instructed all Customs and Border Protection officials to do a thorough screening of foreign persons entering the U.S., even those with valid visas or with permanent residency status. This vetting may include a search of all electronic devices the traveler has with them. Content on social media accounts is especially being scrutinized. An individual may refuse to unlock their phone or submit devices to screening, but doing so would almost certainly result in the person being denied entry to the U.S. Please note that if a CSU employee or student is detained while re-entering the country, CSU’s ability to assist may be limited.

The Trump administration is considering a “travel ban” though not yet released. Depending on impacted countries, international faculty, staff, and students who attempt to re-enter the U.S. from one of those countries could be denied entry. It is possible that some travelers may be denied entry if they have visited a country on the travel ban list. There is no date for when a travel ban may be announced.

In addition, random visa revocations for foreign nationals have been occurring more frequently. If a visa holder is traveling abroad and has their visa revoked, they will not be allowed to re-enter the United States. Our understanding is that some visa revocations are occurring to persons who had minor traffic citations or charges in a criminal case that have not yet been adjudicated.

Ultimately, the decision for an international CSU community member to travel abroad is a personal one, weighing the risks and benefits. CSU recommends the following preparations should you decide to travel abroad:

1. All international faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to bring all immigration paperwork with them if they decide to travel abroad, including an explanation of why international travel was undertaken (research, collaboration with a partner, personal).
2. All international students and scholars need to have a valid visa (not expired) to re-enter the U.S. In addition, their passport must be valid for at least six months into the future.
3. International students on F or J visas and J-1 scholars traveling abroad must obtain a valid travel signature on their I-20 or DS-2019 before travel. Travel signatures are handled by International Student and Scholar Services.
4. International faculty or staff on H-1B visas are encouraged to carry their original I-797 approval notice and their two most recent pay statements.
5. Before you travel, be connected with an immigration attorney that you can call in case you are detained.
6. Share all travel plans with family or friends and your direct supervisor, if employed.
7. Review your social media accounts.
8. Be aware of any old instances on your record that might be flagged by immigration officials. This could include minor traffic violations.

We will update the community with any changes made by the federal government and how changes will impact our community.

Kathleen Fairfax, Vice Provost for International Affairs | International Programs, Colorado State University

Hello from International Student and Scholar Services,

On March 7^th, our office sent an email to international students, scholars, faculty and staff about the resumption of a law that requires dependents of non-immigrant visa holders to be registered with USCIS and be fingerprinted.  At the time that we sent the message, USCIS did not have the form created to complete this process.

We wanted to make sure you are aware that this form is now available and the instructions to complete this process are now located on the link provided below.

uscis.gov/alienregistration

To comply, the following individuals must register within 30 days of arriving in the U.S. or turning 14:

• Anyone 14 or older who hasn’t been registered and fingerprinted who will remain in the U.S. for 30 days or longer.
• Parents or guardians of dependents under 14 who have not been registered and will remain in the U.S. for 30 days or longer.
• Anyone who will turn 14 while in the U.S. must register within 30 days.  (To clarify, even if a dependent was registered prior to age 14, they must register again when they turn 14.)

Most visa holders who were 14 or older upon arrival were already registered and fingerprinted at the U.S. Port of Entry, so this primarily applies to F-2, J-2, and H-4 dependents who have turned 14 or will turn 14 while present in the U.S.

We have received several inquiries about whether a dependent needs to be registered. Our office has limited information beyond what is available on the USCIS page. We strongly encourage you to review that website thoroughly before reaching out, as it should address many of your questions. That being said, we are always willing to try and answer your questions to the best of our ability.

Greg Wymer, Director, International Student and Scholar Services

To CSU’s International Faculty/Scholar Community on H-1B or J-1 visas,

We are aware that some CSU international faculty and staff are concerned about news reports of visa revocations and increased scrutiny at U.S. ports of entry. So far, we have not heard of any CSU international faculty or staff being impacted. If you receive communication from a U.S. government agency concerning your immigration status, please immediately contact the CSU Office of International Programs at (970) 491-5917 or [email protected]. You may also want to consider contacting the embassy of your home country for assistance.

Our international community is an integral part of Colorado State University, enriching our campus in countless ways. Please know that CSU deeply values our international population and is committed to supporting you to the best of our abilities.

As we navigate this fluid situation, the Office of International Programs is available to provide support to our international community, and we will do our best to answer questions and advise you appropriately based upon the latest available information.

CSU International Programs

• (970) 491-5917
• Laurel Hall, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• J-1 inquiries: [email protected]
• H-1B inquiries: [email protected]
• All other email inquiries: [email protected]
• After Hours/Emergency Contact Information: If you need to reach someone after hours because of an urgent situation, please contact the CSU Police Department at 970-491-6425.

While we cannot provide recommendations on choosing a specific immigration attorney, the American Immigration Lawyers Association provides a list of immigration attorneys under its resources tab. In addition, the Office of the General Counsel is working on obtaining additional legal resources for utilization by our international faculty and staff.

Please continue to check the CSU Federal Updates page regularly to keep up to date with relevant facts and information. We will continue to send updates as more information becomes available.

Kathleen Fairfax, Vice Provost, International Affairs

To CSU’s International Student and Scholar Community,

We are aware that some CSU international students have been impacted by visa revocations and SEVIS terminations issued by the U.S. Department of State.

Affected students are advised to immediately contact the embassy of their home country, and the CSU Office of International Programs at (970) 491-5917 or [email protected]. We are working with our state and federal elected officials to ensure that our students are informed of all their options.

Our international community is an integral part of Colorado State University, enriching our campus in countless ways. Please know that CSU deeply values our international student population and is committed to supporting you to the best of our abilities.

As we navigate this fluid situation, the Office of International Programs is available to provide support to our international students and scholars, and we will do our best to answer questions and advise you appropriately during these uncertain times.

International Student and Scholar Resources:

• CSU Student Legal Services
  • (970) 491-1482
  • Lory Student Center 274, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
  • Request an appointment
  • Know Your Rights

• CSU International Programs
  • (970) 491-5917
  • Laurel Hall, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
  • Email Inquiries: [email protected]
  • Schedule an appointment with an International Student and Scholar Advisor
    • Drop-in advising available Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
  • After Hours/Emergency Contact Information:If you need to contact us after hours because of an urgent situation, please contact the CSU Police Department at 970-491-6425.

• CSU Health Network
  • 970-491-7121
  • 151 W. Lake Street
  • Confidential counseling services available for all CSU students
  • View appointment and drop-in hours

• International Student Group Meeting
  • LSC Room 394, Mondays 4 p.m.-5 pm.

Please check the Federal Updates page regularly keep up to date with relevant facts and information. We will continue to send information and guidance as it becomes available.

International Programs, Colorado State University

Hello from the Office of International Programs!

In recent days, we have had a few students and scholars reaching out to our office to ask for advice about traveling out of the country over Spring Break.

While we do not have any specific updates to share regarding travel and re-entry, we are nearing the 60-day deadline that the President Trump gave to a several federal agencies to report on countries that may pose a risk to the US. After the President receives this report, we are anticipating the implementation of travel restrictions for certain countries, and there is a possibility that this could happen either next week or the following week.

While we cannot predict with certainty if/when this will happen (or what countries/visa categories will be affected), we would encourage you to consider the necessity of your travel and encourage you to possibly reconsider your plans if traveling outside the US is not essential. Depending upon when you plan to re-enter the US, you may encounter some difficulties and/or delays.

Please let us know if you have any questions, we will do our best to advise you appropriately during these uncertain times.

Sincerely,

Greg Wymer, Director, International Student and Scholar Services

Hello from the Office of International Programs!

We are notifying the international community about the resumption of a law that requires dependents of international students, faculty, and scholars in the U.S. to register with USCIS and be fingerprinted. This applies to all individuals in either immigrant or non-immigrant statuses (e.g., F-1, J-1, H-1B, O-1) who are 14 years or older.

To comply, the following individuals must register at https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration within 30 days of arriving in the U.S. or turning 14:

• Anyone 14 or older who hasn’t been registered and fingerprinted who will remain in the U.S. for 30 days or longer.
• Parents or guardians of dependents under 14 who have not been registered and will remain in the U.S. for 30 days or longer.
• Anyone who will turn 14 while in the U.S. must register within 30 days.  (To clarify, even if a dependent was registered prior to age 14, they must register again when they turn 14.)

Most visa holders who were 14 or older upon arrival were already registered and fingerprinted at the U.S. Port of Entry, so this primarily applies to F-2, J-2, and H-4 dependents who already turned 14 or will turn 14 while present in the U.S.

Beginning Feb. 25, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security has indicated that parents of affected dependents must create a USCIS online account for registration. For more details, visit USCIS Account Creation.

Although the registration form/process isn’t yet available, we encourage parents to create a USCIS account to prepare. Please reach out to the Office of International Programs if you have any questions regarding this guidance and we will do our best to answer your questions.

We also want to encourage you to reach out to us as new regulations/guidance are issued; please know that we are always available to answer your questions.

Greg Wymer, Director, International Student and Scholar Services

To CSU’s International Student and Scholar Community,

Recently, international students and scholars have visited the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Office expressing concerns and asking questions about how they should respond if approached by government officials or law enforcement.

CSU’s Student Legal Services (SLS) office does have some resources to help you know your rights as someone who is currently living in the United States.

One such resource is a “Know Your Rights” presentation that students can access easily from their home page.  ALSO, students can stop by the SLS office in LSC 274 and ask for a Red Card—that is the card to assist in asserting rights—a professional staff member will explain the intent of the card before providing the card.

ISSS is also currently working with Student Legal Services to provide an in-person presentation that will give our international community an opportunity to listen and ask questions.  As soon as this has been scheduled, we will let you know the program details.

In the meantime, we want to make sure that all students and scholars are prepared to verify their identity in the US.  To this regard, please be advised that (along with a Colorado State University I.D. card or State of Colorado I.D.) students and scholars are required to carry a copy of their international documents.  These copies should include your passport/visa, I-20 (or DS2019 if you are a J1 student or scholar), I-94 (or i-797 notice of action if you have obtained a change of immigration status from one visa category to another.)  It is not necessary to carry official documents – photocopies should be sufficient.

Finally, please be reassured that we will continue to provide timely advice to our international community as we learn about changes that could impact our students and scholars.

Greg Wymer, Director, International Student and Scholar Services

To CSU’s International Student and Scholar Community,

Hello from the Office of International Programs! As you may know, President Trump has recently issued a number of Executive Orders/Presidential Actions that are to be implemented as soon as possible. We are currently monitoring the news surrounding changes to immigration policy and how it may impact our international community.

We are anticipating that these executive orders may impact our international community; however, universities and immigration attorneys alike are still attempting to review these executive orders and what this means for visiting foreign nationals’ ability to enter and remain in the United States. As this becomes clear to us, we will communicate these changes to you as quickly as we can.

Please be patient as the political landscape surrounding immigration policy is rapidly evolving.  Again, we will let you know as quickly as possible if these changes will impact our international community.

In the meantime, remain confident that you are welcome here and that CSU places a high value on our international community.

To CSU’s International Student and Scholar Community,

Hello from the Office of International Programs! We have been contacted by several academic and student services departments indicating that they have had various international students and scholars expressing their concerns about the results of the recent presidential election on how it may impact their ability to travel and/or renew their visas. At this point, we are unsure how it may or may not impact our international community as it is currently too soon to tell.

Regarding an expired visa, we want to provide clarification that you do not need a valid visa to remain in the United States.

• As long as you have a valid I-20 or DS-2019, and you are maintaining your legal status, it is not required to have a valid visa. The visa is an entry document only – which means that you only need a valid visa when you are entering the U.S. If you have no plans to travel, you will be fine remaining in the U.S. – even if your visa has expired.
• If you are traveling and your visa will be valid at the time you are planning to re-enter the US, there is no need to renew it. The embassies do not have the capacity to renew visas for unexpired visas – we do not suggest that you go to the embassy to try and extend or “renew” a visa that has not expired (unless you hold a J-1 visa that does not match the SEVIS number on your current DS-2019. If you are a J-1 visa holder, please contact our office if you are unsure whether your visa is valid.)
• Regarding an expired visa – if your visa has expired and you are planning on traveling internationally, you will need to go to the US Embassy website and apply for a renewal of your visa.
  • Students and scholars often ask us if they can renew their visa inside the US; unfortunately, visa renewal can only be done outside of the US.
  • If you plan on traveling outside of the US over the winter break, you will need to plan accordingly by contacting the US Embassy in your home country and follow the procedures for renewing your visa / scheduling a visa appointment prior to leaving the US. (Depending on the requirements in your home country, you may or may not need to schedule an interview – many consulates only require that you drop your visa renewal application and documents off in a drop box and do not require an additional interview.)

Finally, if you are planning on traveling outside of the U.S. over winter break, please make sure you plan to return prior to January 20th – the spring semester begins January 21. Please let us know if you have any questions, we are always happy to help!