Announcements
June 24, 2025
Visa appointments resume with new screening policy announced
The U.S. Department of State recently announced that consulates may resume new visa appointments for F, M and J applicants. If you have been unable to make a visa appointment, please start checking your consulate daily for new appointment availability. If no appointments are available before fall classes start, you must make an appointment for the first available slot, then follow that consulate’s instructions for requesting an expedited appointment.
Under updated guidance, the U.S. Department of State will conduct a “comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence” for F and J applicants renewing their visas, as well as those requesting the visa for the first time. NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, has an updated page that describes the process for this expanded screening and vetting of F, M and J visa applicants:
- All F, M or J visa applicants who are otherwise eligible for the visa will be initially refused under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 221(g), commonly known as “administrative processing” so that posts can review the applicants’ social media.
- Consular officers are instructed to review the entire online presence of applicants, not just social media.
- Consulates are instructing applicants to set their social media accounts to “public” to facilitate this screening process.
- Once the screening process is complete, and assuming no adverse information was found, the applicant will be notified that they have been approved and given further instructions on receiving the visa stamp.
As posts start reopening appointments and this process becomes more clear, we will make appropriate updates to our Immigration and International Travel FAQ.
May 28, 2025
Visa appointment capacity paused
The U.S. Department of State has instructed consulates and embassies to temporarily pause the addition of new interview appointments for F, J, and M visa applicants until further guidance is issued regarding “expansion of required social media screening and vetting” on the screening of applicants’ social media.
While additional details are not yet available, we understand that current visa appointments are generally being honored at this time. OIS is closely monitoring this development and will soon be collecting information from newly admitted students to assess how many individuals may be impacted by this pause.
May 22, 2025
OPT and STEM OPT Employment Requirement
OIS is monitoring reports that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) may be contacting individuals participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM Optional Practical Training (STEM OPT) about their SEVIS records and the allowable unemployment period.
The requirement to maintain employment while on OPT or STEM OPT has been in place since 2010. Under current regulations, individuals on OPT may be unemployed for an aggregate of no more than 90 days, and individuals on the 24-month STEM OPT extension may be unemployed for an additional 60 days for a combined aggregate of 150 days. This requirement is explained in detail on the OIS webpages covering OPT and STEM OPT.
Individuals on F-1 visas are responsible for tracking and reporting their unemployment days through the SEVP portal. However, at this time, OIS is also sending targeted reminders to those individuals who are approaching their maximum period of unemployment. If you are nearing your maximum period of unemployment, please make an appointment with an OIS advisor to discuss your options. It is important not to exceed your unemployment days, and there is no grace period for departing the U.S. after the unemployment period ends.
Remember to comply with all reporting requirements during OPT and STEM OPT, including U.S. address changes.
April 28, 2025
After conducting two town halls for international students and scholars where OIS and Student Legal Services discussed the SEVIS termination issue as well as what to consider regarding travel, OIS posted Frequently Asked Questions based on questions received in the town hall. OIS will update this resource periodically.
April 1, 2025
NC State Community:
Late in the day on March 25, 2025, the university learned that the Student Exchange and Visitor Program records of two international students had been terminated by the U.S. government.
NC State did not initiate these terminations and was not directly notified of these changes. Our Office of International Services (OIS) contacted the students to advise them about the potential consequences of these changes and provide resources for them. OIS staff also contacted government officials to confirm the terminations. In consultation with their home country embassies and private immigration attorneys, both students made the decision to depart the United States.
We are deeply concerned about the lack of communication from federal agencies and the impact of these actions on our international students. We are committed to assisting these two students in any way we can, including completing the semester from abroad.
Our NC State international students, faculty and staff remain critically important members of our community and we deeply value the talent, ideas and insight that they bring to our campus.
Related Resources:
University Student Legal Services
Counseling Center
Immigration and Travel Information for Current International Students
Immigration and Travel Information for Current Exchange Visitors and Student Interns