Effective February18, 2025, the Department of State has revised the visa interview waiver policy, reversing the prior policy update that went into effect on December 21, 2023. You can read more details about the new policy here. You can also refer to NAFSA’s webpage, which provides more in-depth details regarding this change. Please note that this new policy may impact visa application wait times, so please make certain to check information on the websites of embassies and consulates for the most up to date process and wait times for visa renewals.

The Trump administration issued a new executive order on January 29, 2025 to combat anti-semitism. The directive asks universities to monitor students and employees who take part in pro-Palestinian protests. For international students and scholars, any such activity could lead to their deportation from the U.S., as mandated by the White House.

Effective January 20, 2025, a series of Executive Orders have been put in place in addition to federal agency actions with potential impacts for our international community. Due to the fluid nature of these policies, we recommend referring to NAFSA Association of International Educators’ website for more details. Below is a list of the specific Executive Orders, as listed on the NAFSA website. You can read more about each one by clicking on the hyperlink.

• Executive Order: Securing Our Borders. January 20, 2025.
• Executive Order 14160 of January 20, 2025: Protecting The Meaning And Value Of American Citizenship.
• Executive Order 14159 of January 20, 2025: Protecting The American People Against Invasion.
• Executive Order: Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats.
• Executive Order 14150: America First Policy Directive To The Secretary Of State.
• Executive Order: Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government.
• Presidential Proclamation 10888 of January 20, 2025: Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion.
• Executive Order 14157 of January 20, 2025: Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
• Executive Order: Clarifying The Military’s Role In Protecting The Territorial Integrity Of The United States. January 20, 2025.
• Presidential Proclamation 10886 of January 20, 2025: Declaring A National Emergency At The Southern Border Of The United States.

As you make your international travel plans, please keep in mind that we highly recommend that you plan to return to the United States on or before the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025. As context, a new presidential administration can enact policies on its first day (e.g., travel bans). Although ISSS is not aware of nor speculating about any such policies, we are sharing this recommendation to minimize potential disruptions to your travel. We will be certain to message you immediately if we learn of any such policies going into effect.

Please make certain to review the travel page on our website for more detailed information on the documents you should be carrying. Please remember:

• To remain calm if questioned at the Port of Entry (POE) and to answer questions truthfully;
• To review your social media postings to make sure they represent the best version of you;
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have the right to inspect your electronic devices.

We also recommend planning your return trip during normal ISSS business hours, if possible, so you can contact us if anything comes up. Please either stop by or consult with an ISSS advisor if you have any questions or simply to ensure all your documents are in order. You can learn about various ways to contact or meet with us here.

President Biden issued Revoking Proclamation 10315 , revoking the South Africa travel ban effective 12:01 am on December 31, 2021. For more detailed information, please refer to the Department of State website.