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Visas, Travel, Entry

Harvard Suit Challenges Revocation of SEVP Certification

Key Takeaway A pair of preliminary injunctions issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on June 20 and June 23, 2025 currently block the Department of Homeland Security's May 22, 2025 revocation of Harvard University's SEVP certification and the June 4, 2025 Presidential

New FAM Provision Focuses on F-1 "Sole Pursuit of Study" Requirement

Summary: On April 29, 2025 DOS added a new explanatory section to the Foreign Affairs Manual at 9 FAM 402.5-5(C)(1), titled Intent to Solely Pursue a Full Course of Study. However, the entire new section is unavailable to the public. The Immigration and Nationality Act at INA 101(a)(15)(F) [8 USC

DOS Adds New Reporting Requirements to EVP Incident Reporting Rubric

In 2025 the Department of State (DOS) added several new incident reporting requirements to its Incident Reporting Rubric for academic exchange visitor program (J-1) sponsors. View and download the current Incident Reporting Rubric from the link on the BridgeUSA Academic Program Sponsor's page, or

SEVP Sends Notices to OPT Students Without Employer Information in SEVIS

In mid-May, 2025 NAFSA members reported that certain F-1 students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) received a letter from SEVP titled “Student and Exchange Visitor Program: Notice of Failure to Report Optional Practical Training Employer and Exceeding Permissible Period of Unemployment,"

Primer on USCIS Authority to Request Interviews and Biometrics

USCIS Authority to Request Interviews and Biometrics Some DHS form instructions, processes, or regulations may specifically require the filer or beneficiary to appear for an interview and/or biometric data collection. DHS regulations also allow USCIS to require any “applicant, petitioner, sponsor

IssueNet Quarterly Summary - First Quarter 2025

IssueNet Quarterly Summary - First Quarter 2025 January, February, March, 2025 Highlighting the top issues reported through NAFSA IssueNet. Prepared by Theresa Johnson, University of Denver and Laure Bordas-Isner, University of Michigan. Top Issues SEVP Issue One: Since mid-March, NAFSA has been

Regulatory Perspectives: Alien Registration Requirement

USCIS rules effective April 11, 2025, require young nonimmigrants who turn 14 while in the U.S. to "re-register" with USCIS within 30 days of their birthday. In this NAFSA Regulatory Perspectives webinar David Fosnocht from NAFSA spoke with attorneys Dena Neese (Goss Associates) and David Ware (Ware

Observations on Court Exhibit of SEVIS Policy on Termination of Records

May 2, 2025

Observations on Ex. 1, SEVIS Notice - Policy Regarding Termination of Records, filed by the government in the case of Arizona Student DOE 2 v. Trump, Case No. 4:25-cv-00175, (D. Ariz.). The SEVP policy document is publicly available in the case's docket on CourtListener, as Document Number 13

Litigation on the SEVIS Termination Issue

Updates: July 1, 2025. Stipulation with DHS Favors 358 Plaintiffs in Georgia Case, Litigation to be Filed Against DOS for Visa Revocations. On July 1, 2025, the Jane Doe 1 et al. v. Bondi et al., 1:25-cv-01998, (N.D. Ga.) case was dismissed, following the court's approval of a Stipulation of

Department of State Plans Comprehensive Reorganization

May 30, 2025

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been communicating about a planned comprehensive reorganization of the Department of State (DOS), in a series of press releases. See: April 22, 2025 press release: Building an America First State Department, Press Statement, Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, April