As summer break approaches, we want to share this important information & reminders regarding international travel for J-1 Scholars & Students. General Reminders Before You Travel Confirm you can answer ‘YES’ to all of the following questions: Note: If you were new to Penn this Spring, you likely already have a signed DS-2019. Students may…
Weekly Bulletin – May 5, 2025 Essential Updates For the week of April 28 – May 4, there are no essential updates. Upcoming Events Navigating Visa, Port of Entry, and Travel Challenges in 2025Thursday May 15th, 2025 | 9:00am – 10:30am In light of recent developments involving heightened visa scrutiny, unexpected entry denials, and shifting enforcement priorities,…
Effective April 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of State has introduced detailed information on the average wait times for non-immigrant visa applicants. This data reflects the average duration applicants waited for an interview in the previous month, measured from the date of fee payment to the actual interview date. Additionally, the platform continues to display…
Essential Updates – April 28, 2025 Update on SEVIS Status Terminations As of April 26, 2025, International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) confirmed all of the seven previously “Terminated” SEVIS records have now been updated to “Active” status. As of April 26, 2025, Penn has 0 “Terminated” SEVIS records. Other Updates & Reminders Recent developments…
Weekly Bulletin – April 25, 2025 Update on SEVIS Status Terminations As of April 24, 2025, International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) confirmed 3 of the seven previously “Terminated” SEVIS records have now been updated to “Active” status. As of April 24, 2025, Penn has 4 “Terminated” SEVIS records. Reminders Recent developments underscore the importance of…
Weekly Bulletin – April 22, 2025 Update on SEVIS Status Terminations For the week of April 14–20, 2025, Penn has received no SEVIS status termination notifications from the federal government. As of April 20, 2025, Penn has received a total of 7 SEVIS status termination notifications.* *Please note that additional individuals at Penn – beyond…
SEVIS Termination Notices – What You Need to Know as an International Student at Penn Read This First Update on SEVIS Terminations and Support for International Students Begin Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) General Questions about SEVIS Termination Q1: What does a SEVIS termination mean?A SEVIS termination means your F-1 or J-1 immigration record is no…
On April 17, 2025, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) published a policy brief on The Scope of Immigration Enforcement Actions Against International Students. This policy brief dives into the data to paint a picture of the of the arbitrary nature of these visa revocations and SEVIS terminations.
ISSS is closely monitoring recent policy changes announced by the new administration to assess the potential impacts on Penn’s international student and scholar community. Last week, the U.S. State Department issued an announcement that it is taking action to revoke visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and prevent further issuance of visas to South…
On April 8, 2025, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) published a policy brief on Immigration Enforcement Actions Against International Students. This policy brief explains how student visas differ from other nonimmigrant visa types, explores the legal pathways to revoking and terminating a student visa, and explains the due process protections that are available.