Compliance Management

Applicability of FERPA to International Students

Applicability of FERPA to international students Does the FERPA privacy act apply to international students, and if so, under what circumstances can a school disclose "personally identifiable records" that FERPA protects from non-consensual release? This page provides basic information about FERPA

ICE-Initiated SEVIS Record Terminations

Since mid-March, NAFSA received numerous reports of SEVIS record terminations initiated by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This page offers some background and frameworks for understanding

Inadmissibility and Removal Based on Ideological Grounds

Possible Grounds of Inadmissibility and Removal Based on Ideological Grounds A number of statutory provisions in the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) might serve as a basis for excluding someone from entering the United States (inadmissibility) or deporting them from the United States

A Primer on U.S. Immigration Concepts (an e-Learning Course)

This program is a valuable starting point for anyone new to international education. Designed for advisers, faculty, and administrators who interact with international students and scholars, this self-paced course introduces you to the foundational processes of how nonimmigrants establish and

Update on Status of SEVP Field Representative Program

Update on Status of SEVP Field Representative Program Following reports from NAFSA members expressing concern about potential changes to the SEVP Field Representative program, NAFSA contacted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) leadership to reiterate the value of the program and encourage

Presidential Memorandum of January 20, 2025 - Hiring Freeze

March 24, 2025

Presidential Memorandum of January 20, 2025 - Hiring Freeze A January 20, 2025 Presidential Memorandum freezes the hiring of federal civilian employees across the executive branch. No federal civilian position that was vacant as of noon on January 20, 2025 may be filled, and no new position may be

Termination of Categorical Parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans

Update: USCIS Alert. April 17, 2025. "On April 14, 2025, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a Preliminary Injunction Order staying parts of the March 25, 2025 Federal Register notice titled, “Termination of Parole Process for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and

Executive Order: Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities

March 24, 2025

Executive Order 14242 of March 20, 2025: Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities Read the executive order on whitehouse.gov Federal Register cite: scheduled for publication on March 25, 2025 Read a White House Fact Sheet on the executive order Stated purpose This

Exclusion or Removal for "Potentially Serious Adverse Foreign Policy" Reasons

If the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe an alien's* entry, proposed activities, presence, or activities in the United States would have " potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences" for the United States, that person can be excluded or deported from the United States

Government Scrutiny of Digital Footprint and Social Media

June 19, 2025

Many students and scholars might not realize that the U.S. government can scrutinize their social media footprint during visa applications, border screenings, immigration benefit requests, or enforcement encounters. What Schools Can Do Schools can help educate students and scholars on social media