**Please note: on March 18, the U.S. Department of State posted a news alert announcing the suspension of routine visa services in most countries around the world. Please check individual embassy or consulate websites for their current operating status and instructions for emergency/urgent services if needed. An unexpired visa is always required to enter the U.S. as an F or J nonimmigrant with the exceptions of citizens of Canada or Bermuda, and circumstances where automatic visa revalidation applies.

TRAVEL FROM CHINA: On January 31, 2020 President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation to suspend entry for certain individuals travelling to the United States from China. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued supplemental instructions for impacted travelers, which can be accessed here. This restriction applies to nonimmigrant visa holders (for example, F, J, H-1B and B) who were physically present in China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau) during the 14-day period preceding entry.  

TRAVEL FROM IRAN: On February 29, 2020 an additional Presidential Proclamation suspended entry for nonimmigrant visa holders traveling to the U.S. from Iran due to the spread of the novel Coronavirus. This restriction applies to nonimmigrant visa holders (for example, F, J, H-1B and B) who were physically present in Iran during the 14-day period preceding travel to the U.S. 

TRAVEL FROM SCHENGEN AREA: On March 11, 2020 President Trump announced a new Presidential Proclamation suspending entry for nonimmigrant visa holders traveling to the U.S. from countries in the European Schengen Area. This restriction applies to nonimmigrant visa holders (for example, F, J, H-1B and B) who were physically present in the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding travel to the U.S. Note: the European Schengen area includes: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.  Although President Trump reportedly said this entry ban would last 30 days (from its effective date of 11:59pm on March 13), the proclamation language itself states that it “shall remain in effect until terminated by the President.”

TRAVEL FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: A March 14, 2020 Presidential Proclamation has suspended entry for nonimmigrant visa holders traveling to the U.S. from Ireland and the United Kingdom, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe. This restriction applies to nonimmigrant visa holders who were physically present in the UK or Ireland during the 14-day period preceding travel to the U.S.

TRAVEL FROM CANADIAN AND MEXICAN LAND BORDERS: Homeland Security published Federal Register notices on March 24 temporarily limiting travel from Canada and Mexico to the US through land ports of entry to “essential travel.”  According to these notices, essential travel does include travel to attend educational institutions and travel to work in the U.S. This restriction has subsequently been extended “until the CDC Director determines that the danger of further introduction of COVID-19 into the United States from covered aliens has ceased to be a serious danger to the public health.”

TRAVEL FROM BRAZIL: A Presidential Proclamation and amendment on May 24 and 25, 2020 has suspended entry for certain travelers to the U.S. from the Federative Republic of Brazil. This restriction is effective at 11:59pm on May 26, 2020 and applies to nonimmigrant visa holders who were physically present in Brazil during the 14-day period preceding travel to the U.S.

Please note that these are public health travel restrictions based on the origin of travel, not the nationality of the traveler. Students and scholars with valid, multiple-entry visas, regardless of country of citizenship, may still be able to travel internationally, though as with any international travel, we recommend consulting with OIS prior to departure.

International students, scholars and family members with questions about how these restrictions impact them should contact OIS at ois@ncsu.edu. Please continue to monitor NC State’s response to the coronavirus here and OIS’ FAQ here.

Travel Ban 4.0

A Presidential Proclamation expanded the Trump Administration’s current travel ban on January 31st. Travel Ban 4.0 will become effective on February 21, 2020 and is expanded to include visa and entry restrictions on immigrant visa holders from six additional countries including Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan and Tanzania. Please note, this does not apply to nonimmigrant F, J or H-1B visa holders. Travel Ban 3.0 is still in effect for certain citizens of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen and Somalia. Note that the restrictions in both Travel Ban 3.0 and 4.0 are country-specific. A detailed summary of both travel bans is available through the Association of International Educators.

As always, international students and scholars are encouraged to consult with OIS before travelling internationally and applying for a new visa.

Unlawful Presence: New USCIS Guidance for Students and Exchange Visitors

On August 9, 2018, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued finalized policy guidance on unlawful presence for students and exchange visitors, which revised previous guidance issued on May 10, 2018.

OIS has been closely monitoring this development.  Unfortunately, it is still unclear exactly how this guidance is being interpreted by USCIS, as well as other immigration agencies such as the Student and Exchange Visitor Program office (manages SEVIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (interior enforcement), and Customs and Border Protection (control of entry to U.S.).  The Department of State has issued some clarifying guidance for the purposes of visa adjudication.  In addition, a lawsuit was filed in October 2018 challenging the legality of this new interpretation.  While the lawsuit waits for its court date, the new policy remains in effect, and it is important to consider when advising students.

New Unlawful Presence Policy Guidance for F, M, and J students and scholars:

The new guidance makes significant changes to the way in which unlawful presence is calculated and accrued for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors. If you have engaged in unauthorized employment or otherwise violated your status, USCIS may decide that you began to accrue unlawful presence the day after that violation of status.  Depending on how much unlawful presence you accrue, you may be subject to a 3-year or 10-year bar on returning to the U.S. once you have departed. This also applies to your F-2 and J-2 dependents.

What is “unlawful presence” and why is it important?

Unlawful presence is defined as presence after the expiration of the period of stay authorized by the Department of Homeland Security, or any presence without being admitted or paroled. Unlawful presence may have severe negative consequences for any future U.S. visa applications or attempts to adjust status to permanent residency, depending on how much unlawful presence was accrued before departing the United States.

Penalties for unlawful presence are determined by duration: unlawful presence of 180-364 days can result in a 3-year bar; 365+ days can result in a 10-year bar. Individuals who then reenter or attempt to reenter the United States without being admitted or paroled are permanently inadmissible. Waivers are rare.

Key elements of the revised policy are:

Students and Exchange Visitors who failed to maintain their status before Aug. 9, 2018, will start accruing unlawful presence on August 9, 2018 based on that failure unless they had already started accruing unlawful presence on the earliest of any of the following:

• The day after DHS denied the request for an immigration benefit, if DHS made a formal finding that the individual violated his or her nonimmigrant status while adjudicating a request for another immigration benefit;
• The day after their I-94 expired (if not admitted for duration of status); or
• The day after an immigration judge ordered them excluded, deported, or removed (whether or not the decision is appealed).

Students and Exchange Visitors who fail to maintain their status on or after August 9, 2018, begin accruing unlawful presence on the earliest of any of the following:

• The day after the F, J, or M nonimmigrant no longer pursues the course of study or the authorized activity, or the day after he or she engages in an unauthorized activity;
• The day after completing the course of study or program (including any authorized practical training plus any authorized grace period,
• The day after their I-94 expired (if not admitted for duration of status); or
• The day after an immigration judge ordered them excluded, deported, or removed (whether or not the decision is appealed).

What if I’ve filed for reinstatement?

F nonimmigrants who timely file for reinstatement of that status will have their accrual of unlawful presence suspended while their application is pending. (A “timely filing” is defined as when the student has not been out of status for more than five months at the time of filing.)

(Note that reinstatements for J-1 Exchange Visitors are handled by the U.S. Department of State, not USCIS.)  An F, J, or M nonimmigrant whose application for reinstatement is ultimately approved will generally not accrue unlawful presence while out of status. However, if the reinstatement application is denied, the accrual of unlawful presence resumes on the day after the denial.

How this impacts NC State:

Previously, Students and Exchange visitors did not accrue unlawful presence until a USCIS official or immigration judge made a formal finding of a status violation. That is no longer the case.  It is more important than ever that you be responsible about maintaining your lawful immigration status.

If you have questions about the memo’s effective date and applicability to your individual situation, contact an OIS advisor or an experienced immigration attorney.

The following is an update to a previous post about the Travel Ban.

Students and Scholars –

On June 26, 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Presidential Proclamation 9645, issued by the Trump Administration on September 24, 2017. That proclamation (amended on April 10, 2018 to remove Chad) announced travel restrictions on certain nationals of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and Venezuela. These restrictions replace a central portion of its earlier travel ban, Executive Order 13780, and vary by country. The State Department has been processing visa requests in accordance with the Presidential Proclamation since December 8, 2017.

How this Presidential Proclamation Impacts NC State:

There is no change on travel guidance to our international campus community. Due to the continuing uncertainty regarding the travel ban we still recommend that impacted individuals refrain from international travel if at all possible.

If you need to travel internationally, please make an appointment with an advisor at OIS so that we can advise you on what documentation to travel with and what to do should you encounter difficulty in getting a visa in time to return for classes or if you encounter difficulty at the Port of Entry.

Please also note:

• The Department of State has issued guidance and an FAQ regarding the visa processing under the Presidential Proclamation, including information and statistics related to possible waivers.
• The Department of Homeland Security, or “DHS” (which governs Customs and Border Protection) has also issued an FAQ regarding implementation.
• All international travelers who are citizens of the impacted countries of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen should continue to expect delays during visa appointments and at ports of entry. Consular officers abroad and CBP at all ports of entry will now have to make additional decisions regarding who to admit into the U.S., which will undoubtedly cause additional delays.   
• As always, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will continue to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether the individual is admissible to the U.S.  It is possible that CBP will decide to re-review the grounds on which an individual qualified for an exception or waiver, even if the person already met this burden and obtained an entry visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy overseas. If travel is necessary, we strongly recommend that individuals from any of the affected countries carry extensive documentation showing their eligibility for the relevant waiver or exception.  Please work closely with OIS if you must travel to prepare this documentation.
• The Presidential Proclamation also authorizes the DHS and DOS to grant discretionary waivers of the entry ban where the denial of entry would cause hardship and the foreign national’s entry is in the national interest and entry would not pose a threat to national security. There is no separate application for a waiver. You should disclose during your visa interview any information that might demonstrate that you may be eligible for a waiver.  Note that waiver criteria are stringent and the review process may add significantly to visa processing time.

The Office of International Services, International Employment, and the Office of General Counsel are closely monitoring the government’s implementation of the Executive Order, Presidential Proclamation and related court decision(s), and will provide further information as developments occur. 

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No visas will be revoked as a result of the Presidential Proclamation (P.P.). Individuals from any of the affected countries who are currently outside the U.S. and need a visa to enter may qualify for an exception or waiver and should disclose that information during the visa interview. Nationals from any of the affected countries will not be subject to any travel restrictions listed in the Presidential Proclamation if they fall into one of the following categories:

• • Was in the United States on the applicable effective date of the P.P. for that national:
    • September 24, 2017:  for nationals of Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia who were subject to the prior 90-day entry ban of Executive Order 13780, because they “lack credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.”
    • October 18, 2017 for:
      • 1) nationals of Chad (until April 13, 2018, when Chad was removed from the list), North Korea and Venezuela, and
      • 2) nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen who have a “credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.”
  • Had a valid visa on the applicable effective date of the P.P. for that national;
  • Had a visa which was revoked or marked canceled as a result of Executive Order 13769 (the first ‘travel ban’ order);
  • U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder);
  • Was admitted to or paroled into the United States on or after the applicable effective date of the P.P for that national;
  • Applicant for adjustment of status with valid advance parole;
  • Dual national traveling on a passport from a non-restricted country; 
  • Holder of certain diplomatic or diplomatic-type visas;
  • Was granted asylum in the United States; or admitted as a refugee.

On March 23, 2018, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) launched the SEVP Portal. The portal is a tool that F-1 students on OPT/STEM OPT can use to report changes to their home/mailing address, telephone number and employer information.  The portal is accessible from both mobile devices and computers.

When and How Do OPT Students Gain Access to the Portal?

The SEVP Portal is only be accessible to students whose OPT has been approved and is active.  If a student’s OPT is already approved and active (meaning the student has been issued an employment authorization document (EAD) card and the start date of the EAD has passed), the student should have received an email from SEVP with instructions on creating a portal account. This email came from do-not-reply.sevp@ice.dhs.gov to the student’s email address associated with the student’s SEVIS record (which will be the email address they have checked as “preferred” in their MyPack account). If students are unsure which email address is associated with their SEVIS account, students should monitor all email accounts they have registered in MyPack. Students should check their spam or junk mail folder also to ensure they didn’t miss the email. If a student’s OPT is approved and active, but the student hasn’t received an email from SEVP, the student can contact OIS to request a resend of the email. If a student’s OPT status in SEVIS is still “requested” or pending”, the student will not receive an email until the OPT status has been changed to “approved” which happens when the EAD is issued.

How Do Students Use the Portal?

The SEVP Portal allows students to:

• View details about their post-completion OPT or STEM OPT;
• Report changes to their residential address, telephone number and employer information;
• View and update data on all of their employers in one place.

The SEVP Portal and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) regularly share data. Data entered into the Portal is sent immediately to SEVIS to update the student’s record. Information comes from SEVIS to the Portal only once a day. Therefore, any updates of a student’s information in SEVIS appear in the Portal the next day. The SEVP Portal User Guide provides detailed instructions for using the portal.

• For Students on Post-Completion OPT: Students on OPT are able to add, edit, and delete employer information. Students on OPT should create a Portal account as soon as they receive an email from SEVP and begin reporting employment information using the SEVP Portal. When your employment ends, make sure to update the information in the SEVP Portal by editing the end date of the employment. When you start to work with a new employer, make sure to add a new employer record. OPT regulations require that you report the start and end of your employment within 10 days of occurrence.

• For Students on STEM OPT: Students on STEM OPT cannot add or delete any employers in the SEVP Portal. To add an employer, the student must submit a completed Form I-983 and a New Employer Form to OIS using the STEM OPT Upload Center. To delete an employer from the student’s SEVIS record, the student must contact OIS. Students on STEM OPT can edit some of their employer’s information in the SEVP Portal, but if the student needs to edit any of the read-only fields, the student must contact OIS. IMPORTANT: STEM OPT Students must continue using OIS’s online OPT Validation form to submit their 6-month validation reports. STEM OPT Students should review all STEM OPT reporting requirements listed on our STEM OPT web page.

What Should Students on OPT/STEM OPT Do Now?

Students should familiarize themselves with the information available about the Portal. Please review the following resources provided by SEVP:

• Information about the portal.
• The SEVP Portal User Guide which provides screenshots and detailed step-by-step instructions for using the portal.
• SEVP Portal videos.
• A useful one-page reference sheet on the Portal.

At this time, OIS does not possess any additional information about the Portal other than the information and links provided in this email. Students should not contact OIS to confirm that they created a portal account. If students have any questions about the portal or need assistance, they can call the SEVP Response Center at 703-603-3400.