Federal Government Updates for International Students and Scholars
Recent Updates
June 5, 2025: Travel Ban for Certain Countries Goes Into Effect on June 9, 2025
Updated on June 6, 2025, for clarity
On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the White House issued a Presidential Proclamation and accompanying Fact Sheet that announced restrictions on nationals from certain countries from entering the United States. This “travel ban” begins at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, June 9, 2025.
Q: Which countries are included in the travel ban?
A: There are two sets of countries included in this proclamation, including a ‘full’ suspension for twelve countries and a ‘partial’ suspension for seven other countries.
The ‘full’ travel ban suspends the entry of immigrants and non-immigrants from the following countries: Afghanistan, Burma/Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The ‘partial’ ban suspends the entry of immigrants and non-immigrants under the B-1/B-2, F-1/F-2, J-1/J-2 and M-1/M-2 visa categories from the following countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The above list is not necessarily final and countries can be added or removed at any time in the future. The proclamation specifically orders a review of security and vetting processes for Egypt, although it does not indicate when the review will be completed.
Q: Are there exceptions to this ban?
A: Section 4 of the Presidential Proclamation discusses the scope and limitations of the proclamation. Of note, the proclamation indicates that entry restrictions only apply to those persons who are outside of the U.S. and who do not already have a valid visa on the effective date of the proclamation. In addition, the proclamation provides exceptions to persons who already have lawful permanent resident status (‘green card’ holders) and dual nationals who hold passports with non-designated countries, among other exceptions. Please read Section 4 for other types of exceptions.
Q: Does the ban impact the status of students and scholars already in the U.S.?
A: No. The ban only affects the ability of certain nationals from the listed countries to enter the U.S. It does not impact the ability of those already lawfully inside the U.S. to remain and continue their activities as long as they continue to comply with the terms of their visas.
Q: Does the proclamation revoke the visas of those from one of the affected countries?
A: No. The proclamation explicitly states that it does NOT revoke the validity of any existing visas. While visas may be revoked on other grounds, and at the discretion of the Secretary of State, this proclamation does not constitute a general revocation of visas for citizens from the designated countries.
Q: What are travel recommendations for any student or scholar from a designated country?
A: Because this proclamation was only issued on June 4, international travel for those students and scholars from the 19 designated countries who are already in the U.S. is not recommended, especially if you do not have a valid visa for re-entry. Even if you already have a valid visa, we strongly caution against travel until more information can be obtained on how U.S. Customs and Border Protection will implement the entry restrictions.
Those persons from a designated country who are outside the U.S. and who do not have a valid visa for entry into the U.S. may be unable to enter as planned until the travel restrictions included in this proclamation are modified by the government.
This is a developing situation, and we will continue to make updates when additional information becomes available. Please note that this is general information andnot legal advice. Contact Services for International Students and Scholars at siss@ucdavis.edu if you have questions.
May 29, 2025: Statement from U.S. Secretary of State Rubio About International Student Visas
SISS was alerted yesterday to the statement by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the State Department’s intent to review and potentially revoke the visas of certain students from China. Like other institutions across the U.S., we are monitoring this situation very carefully. Secretary Rubio’s statement did not include any details regarding the scope, timing, or manner in which the directive might be implemented. We will provide updates as additional information becomes available.
If any student is contacted directly by a U.S. consulate about their visa, they should notify SISS with any details.
SISS welcomes and supports all of our international students and continues to advocate for them as members of our UC Davis community. We encourage students to utilize campus resources, including Student Health and Counseling Services, for additional support.
May 28, 2025: News Reports of F and J Visa Appointment Pauses at U.S. Consulates
SISS is aware of news media reports (see e.g., Politico; Reuters) indicating that the U.S. State Department has instructed U.S. consulates to temporarily pause scheduling new visa appointments for F-1 and J-1 students and scholars.
What’s happening:
According to media reports, this pause is to give the government more time to expand its process for reviewing the social media accounts of F and J visa applicants. SISS wants to emphasize that this information is based on media reports, and we are actively monitoring this new and evolving situation.
Based on initial reports, currently scheduled visa appointments can proceed. New appointment scheduling is paused and slots may not become available until permitted by the State Department. It is also possible that the pause may be implemented differently by different U.S. consulates. Visa applicants are advised to obtain guidance from their local consulate about the status of their visa services. Unfortunately, SISS does not have access to this information from consulates.
Guidance for incoming students:
SISS strongly encourages any incoming student and scholar to continue other steps in the visa process, including obtaining a Form I-20 or DS-2019 and initiating the DS-160 visa application, where permitted, even if a visa appointment slot may not be available. We do not have information about the length of any pause, but it will be important to be prepared in the event that new visa appointment time slots become available.
Guidance for current visa holders:
SISS cautions those F-1 and J-1 visa holders who need new visas to return to the U.S. to refrain from international travel until more information is made available from the State Department. Due to the uncertainty regarding the duration of this pause in appointment scheduling, it may be advisable to avoid international travel if you do not already have a scheduled visa appointment.
Learn more about travel while on a visa
SISS will continue to advocate for international students and scholars and their importance to our UC Davis community and mission. Please check back with SISS on our website and updates page as this situation continues to unfold.
Resources
University of California Guidance
- With numerous, quickly evolving federal policy shifts underway, the University of California is working diligently to monitor these developments and seek clarity on a range of issues.
- Updated resources about possible federal immigration enforcement actions on university property:
Previous Updates
Below, and for reference only, are updates that are no longer current or relevant to UC Davis international students and scholars. Please see the top of the page for the current federal government updates.
- April 28, 2025: Terminated SEVIS Records Reactivated
The 23 currently enrolled and recently graduated UC Davis students, who had their SEVIS records terminated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security earlier this month, have had their records returned to active status. As reported in the news media (see, e.g., CBS News, NBC News), on April 24, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security began reactivating the records of thousands of international students in F-1 status whose SEVIS database records had been terminated weeks before.
The UC Davis community should remain aware that while the reversal by the Department of Homeland Security restores these students’ SEVIS records, the government has indicated that it intends to produce guidance in the future that specifies more clearly the circumstances under which SEVIS records may be terminated. SISS will continue to monitor the situation carefully and will advise our international community members as additional information becomes available.
- April 28, 2025: Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Federal Immigration Enforcement Actions
SISS is here to provide information and support to international students and scholars during these uncertain times. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about recent federal immigration enforcement actions.
Q: Can you summarize what happened to student visa holders as referenced by Chancellor May in his message, which was updated on April 27, 2025?
A: In early April 2025, SISS noticed that the Department of Homeland Security had terminated the SEVIS records of a number of international students holding F-1 visas. SEVIS is a federal database system used to manage the immigration status and eligibility of F-1 students to stay in the U.S. lawfully and to engage in work benefits, such as on-campus jobs or practical training. These SEVIS terminations were taking place nationally and were not publicly announced in advance by the federal government. At UC Davis, a total of 23 students saw their SEVIS records terminated through April 10. However, on April 24, the Department of Homeland Security started to return these records to active status. By the evening of April 26, the records of all 23 students were returned to active status. By restoring these records to active status, most students should be able to resume lawful status and continue to engage in their studies and/or employment.
Q: What about other types of visa holders?
A: During this period, only F-1 students were impacted.
Q: Why were SEVIS records terminated in the first place?
A: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not publish guidance that explained how it selected students for termination. However, based on national data and court records from different sources, many students whose records were terminated appear to have had some prior interaction or encounter with police or other authorities that caused their information to be transmitted to national law enforcement databases, even for relatively minor incidents such as driving-related citations.
Q: Is political activity or protest the reason why SEVIS records were terminated?
A: Involvement in political activity and protest may lead to serious immigration consequences, including possible visa revocations. Students should consider involvement in protests carefully. However, we have no indication at this time that this was a major factor for the SEVIS terminations discussed in the Chancellor’s message.
Q: What happens now that SEVIS records have been reactivated?
A: Because these terminations impacted our students in different ways, SISS continues to work with individual students on their specific situations and needs. Some students may have been impacted by temporarily stopping employment or in their ability to travel back to the U.S.
Q: Will there be future events of this nature?
A: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has indicated that they may publish guidelines in the future that specify more clearly the situations and conditions under which they may terminate SEVIS records. However, they also indicated that they do not intend to pursue further terminations based on general information, as they did during late March and early April. SISS will monitor these developments carefully. It is important for students and other community members to be aware of the possible immigration risk posed in the event of serious infractions of the law. Consult with an immigration attorney in the event such incidents do occur.
Q: What guidance is available for UC Davis employees if approached by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide information about a student, employee, or patient?
A: As a UC Davis employee, you are required by federal law and university policy to maintain the confidentiality of personal and personally identifiable information. Faculty and staff have asked what to do if they are approached by a federal immigration officer seeking personally identifiable information about a student, employee, or patient. Campus counsel recommends the following actions to ensure you comply with privacy laws and university policies:
1. Inform the agent that you are not obstructing their process and you need to consult with campus counsel.
2. Ask for the agent’s name, ID number, agency affiliation, and business card.
3. Ask to take a photo of the warrant or subpoena so you can provide it to campus counsel.
4. Call Campus Counsel at 530-754-7111 or UC Davis Health Counsel at 916-734-2288.
5. Call UC Davis Police at 530-752-1727.
Note: This information and more can be found in the University of California's FAQs for UC employees: Handling inquiries about international employees.
- April 7, 2025: Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Federal Immigration Enforcement Actions
SISS is here to provide information and support to international students and scholars during these uncertain times. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the federal immigration enforcement actions described in Chancellor May’s message.
Q: Chancellor May’s message refers to the termination of eligibility for student visa holders. What eligibility is being terminated?
A: Since the end of March, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has terminated the SEVIS records of a number of F-1 international students at institutions across the United States. SEVIS is a federal database system used to manage the eligibility of international students to apply for student visas, enter the U.S. using their visas, and stay in the U.S. in lawful status while studying and receiving practical training. Eligibility for these actions requires a valid SEVIS record, and termination of the SEVIS record removes that eligibility. SEVIS only contains records relating to the F-1, J-1, and M-1 visa categories. No other visa types are included in SEVIS. UC Davis does not sponsor M-1 visas.
Q: Are other types of visa holders affected?
A: At this time, the primary population affected appears to be F-1 student visa holders. SISS monitors all of our records on a daily basis in case of new developments.
Q: Why are SEVIS records being terminated?
A: We do not have published guidance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that explains how they are selecting students for termination. However, based on national data being collected through different sources, many students whose records have been terminated appear to have had some prior interaction with their state law enforcement for various reasons, such as charges or citations relating to driving (DUI, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, etc.), or other misdemeanors such as theft or domestic disputes involving the police. While felonies such as aggravated assault, illegal firearms possession, marijuana and drugs can lead to serious immigration consequences, we have no information at this time these are the sole or predominant factors for selection.
Q: Is political activity or protest the reason why records are being terminated?
A: Involvement in political activity and protest may lead to serious immigration consequences, including possible visa revocations. Students should consider involvement in protest carefully. However, we have no indication at this time that has been a factor for the SEVIS terminations discussed in the Chancellor’s message.
Q: Is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notifying students that their SEVIS records are being terminated?
A: While there are reports that DHS is notifying students that their records are being terminated, this does not appear to be happening consistently. Schools are similarly not being notified. However, international offices like SISS can access SEVIS records and detect when DHS has terminated a record.
Q: How can I confirm that DHS has terminated my SEVIS record?
A: Contact SISS to confirm your record. Unfortunately, at times like this, students are sometimes the target of scams. SISS can always verify the status of your SEVIS record.
Q: What does SISS do if a student’s SEVIS record is terminated?
A: When SISS identifies that DHS has terminated a record, we review the student’s record to confirm what has occurred. We then contact the student directly to inform them of what happened, and meet with them individually to discuss the situation in greater detail and connect them to appropriate resources.
Q: Does a SEVIS record termination mean the student must leave the U.S. immediately?
A: While the student may decide to depart the U.S. immediately, consider obtaining legal advice and guidance before making a decision.
Q: Does SISS offer legal assistance?
A: No. SISS is not qualified to offer legal assistance to any student impacted. However, we can connect students to legal resources such as immigration attorneys.
Q: Does SISS share information about SEVIS terminations with anyone?
A; Data about terminations is treated sensitively to ensure that the privacy of impacted students is protected. Once a student is notified of a SEVIS termination, SISS may also advise appropriate university leadership and personnel to provide resources and support to affected students. SISS may also share aggregate, non-personally identifiable information with the University of California system, as well as professional associations, to facilitate state and national tracking efforts.
Q: If DHS terminates my SEVIS record, does this mean that my admission to UC Davis or my UC Davis degree will be withdrawn?
A: No. Immigration actions taken by DHS are distinct from your academic status. If your SEVIS record is terminated, UC Davis would not be required under law or policy to withdraw your standing as a UC Davis student or alum. If you are in this situation, in addition to working with your SISS advisor, we encourage you to work with your academic advisor to understand your options.
However, SEVIS termination would impact your eligibility to be employed. Any student whose record is terminated must notify their on-campus employer immediately and terminate their employment.- April 7, 2025: Statement from Chancellor Gary S. May on Federal Immigration Enforcement Actions
UC Davis News published Chancellor May's statement on April 5, 2025.
- March 18, 2025: Reports of Travel Ban
As of March 14, 2025, some news sources (New York Times (subscription required) and Newsweek (no cost)) report that the Trump Administration is considering an executive order banning travelers from certain countries from entering the United States. Travel bans generally prevent individuals from entering the U.S., even if they have valid visas, unless the travel ban explicitly allows for exceptions or waivers.
The media reports indicate that as many as 43 countries may be affected, following a three-tiered system that ranges from immediate bans on all travelers (red tier), bans on certain travelers (orange tier), and possible bans within 60 days depending on the listed country addressing specific actions (yellow tier).
SISS is actively monitoring this and will post official details once they are available. No definitive list or guidelines have been published by the White House, and though we expect an official announcement in the near future, no exact date has been determined.
Until an official announcement is made, students and scholars from countries potentially included in an imminent travel ban should consider the necessity of any international travel outside of the U.S. In the event a ban is announced, your ability to return to the U.S. to continue employment or study may be restricted or compromised.