FAQ: Immigration and International Travel

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service provides a searchable, online dictionary (glossary) of common immigration terms. You can also reference the USCIS A-Z index to quickly locate relevant content.

Yes. The new registration rules took effect on April 11, 2025. Non-citizens 14 years of age and older staying in the U.S. for more than 30 days must register with DHS. Parents or legal guardians must register children under 14 and within 30 days after their 14th birthday. The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration created a handout on the process.

OIS will continue to send out alerts to students and exchange visitors with child dependents approaching their 14th year of age.

Yes, all F and J students and scholars are required to report changes of the U.S. address where they reside within 10 days of a move through SEVIS. The process for updating your address through SEVIS is described on our website under “Maintaining your status”.In addition, individuals on F-1 OPT and STEM OPT have regular reporting requirements related to their employment status. Those reporting requirements are described in detail on the following web pages: F-1 OPT and F-1 STEM OPT. 

If you are in nonimmigrant status (e.g., F-1 or J-1 visa holders), you should carry evidence of registration (Form I-94), as well as other documents that confirm your immigration status (i.e. your I-20, DS-2019, valid EAD card, or I-797 Approval Notice). Please see the OIS webpages for maintaining status for students and for exchange visitors. In addition, all individuals must carry adequate identification under REAL ID requirements when flying domestically. When travelling internationally, you can find a list of required documents on the OIS web pages for university-sponsored international students and exchange visitors.

SEVIS stands for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which is a web-based system for maintaining information on nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors (F-1 and J-1) in the United States. SEVIS is overseen by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) within the Department of Homeland Security.

A visa revocation occurs when the U.S. Department of State invalidates a previously issued visa stamp in an individual’s passport. A revoked visa cannot be used for entry into the United States, regardless of its printed expiration date. A student or scholar will usually receive notification from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate regarding a visa revocation. The University is not typically notified when this occurs. The U.S. Department of State typically sends revocation notices to the email address that a student or scholar provided on their visa application, which may or may not be their NC State email. The university is not automatically informed when a student or scholar visa is revoked, but students and scholars may also check the validity of their current visa on the Department of State website.

Typically, the termination of an individual’s SEVIS record is done by the University if a student or scholar has changed their status in the U.S., withdrawn from the University, or has not maintained their immigration status.

Recently, universities across the country reported unexpected SEVIS terminations involving international students and exchange visitors. These cases have primarily involved individuals in F-1 (academic student) and J-1 (exchange visitor) status, both of which are monitored in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

A termination means that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)—part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—has changed an individual’s SEVIS record to inactive, based on a determination that they are no longer maintaining valid nonimmigrant status. 

Please note that the circumstances surrounding SEVIS record terminations are still evolving and OIS staff members actively monitor SEVIS to ensure compliance with immigration policy. If OIS learns that a student or scholar’s SEVIS record was terminated and/or restored by the federal government, someone from their team will contact the student or scholar immediately.

If an employee is approached by immigration enforcement officials requesting information regarding someone’s immigration status, please follow instructions on the Human Resources website. 

With the federal government’s announcement that “enhanced vetting and screening” will occur at embassies and ports of entry, please evaluate the purpose and urgency of any international travel plans in light of evolving U.S. policies for immigration, border security and searches. 

If you’re planning to travel outside the U.S., we encourage you to carefully assess your individual risks, have contingency plans and consider how the possibility of a delayed return would affect your ability to resume on-campus research, work, or study. 

OIS provides additional travel considerations for currently enrolled international students and international exchange visitors on their website and has conducted a number of webinars on this topic. You may seek additional advice by attending drop-in advising or making an appointment directly with your OIS advisor. 

We recognize the uncertainty of the situation and encourage you to be as flexible as possible with your travel plans.

Immigration matters are often complex and vary by personal circumstances. OIS is available to consult on university-sponsored visa compliance and immigration-related travel requirements for individuals holding current F-1 and J-1 visas.

Please note that the University cannot provide legal advice or representation to students or scholars in personal immigration matters, including in connection with visa revocations or SEVIS terminations, and does not endorse any particular attorney or legal service. 

• Enrolled students may contact University Student Legal Services 
• Additional information about private immigration attorneys may be found at AILAlawyer.org and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representatives and Organizations.

Many offices across the University coordinate support for members of our community who are affected by immigration actions.  In addition to OIS and University Student Legal Services, you can find additional support through the following resources:

• If you feel you are struggling with health issues – including excessive stress or anxiety – please do not keep this to yourself or hidden. We encourage you to call or schedule an appointment with the kind and helpful staff members in NC State’s Counseling Center.  Counselors are equipped and eager to help you process the array of emotions and/or stress you may be feeling. In addition to appointments with the Counseling Center, every degree-seeking NC State student is also eligible for up to 12 free counseling sessions with AcademicLiveCare, a telehealth provider. The Counseling Center also has weekly drop-in spaces including International Tea Time.
• The Wolfpack Wellness page includes many links to other resources and programs that offer care and support.  
• If you are experiencing financial hardships, please enroll with the Pack Essentials program. Emergency funding may also be available to help students cope with unexpected financial hardship. 
• If the stress or worry you may be feeling begins to impact your academic performance, please communicate that with OIS and/or your academic advisor. Options and exceptions exist to prevent stressful events from negatively impacting your academic performance