Travel reminders, Government policy and practice updates, SEVIS record terminations, and more

Following the April 16 email about immigration issues at Middlebury, we provide some additional information and resources based on questions we have been asked in recent weeks. ISSS will continue to post updates here on our Travel, Regulatory, and Information Updates webpage. This is not intended to be legal advice.

Upcoming ISSS event 

The ISSS advising team will offer drop-in hours for F-1 and J-1 students on Wednesday, April 23, in-person on the Middlebury campus and via Zoom for students and alumni on Middlebury-sponsored employment authorization (OPT, STEM-OPT, or AT). ISSS will send more information to our international community by email soon.

Travel Reminders

• When in the United States: Always carry your immigration documents with you. If asked by a U.S. government official to verify your identity and status, we recommend the following:
  • We advise international students and scholars and U.S. permanent residents traveling within the United States—near or beyond campus or town, or who need to visit an airport—to carry on their person their original identity and immigration/travel documents. These include original (or printed paper copies of) passport—valid 6 months into the future, recent I-94 documentation, I-20 or DS-2019—if applicable, and U.S. visa, if applicable. This is so you can legally and practically prove who you are and verify your status to a government agent, if asked.
    • U.S. legal permanent residents are advised to carry their Permanent Resident Card/Green Card.
    • Individuals in F-1 or J-1 status with questions may consult with ISSS.
    • All others should consult their individual immigration attorney.
• Although we strongly advise you to carry original documents, if you choose not to, always carry a printed/paper version of your current I-94 Arrival Record, as that document confirms your official immigration status in the United States and the date of your last entry in that status.
  • You may obtain your arrival record on the I-94 website.
    • If your immigration status changed since your last entry to the United States, you should carry your Approval Notice in addition to your current I-94 Arrival Record.
    • We recommend storing electronic copies of all your documents on your electronic device.
• When reentering the United States: ISSS recommends that students and scholars postpone any non-essential international travel until further information from the U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security is available. However, if you are already traveling outside the U.S. or plan to do so, we offer some reminders about re-entering the United States:
• See the December 2024 update for the list of required and recommended documents to carry. Carry ALL your original immigration documents with you. Electronic copies will not be accepted at the port of entry.
  • You also may consider carrying the financial documentation used when applying for your visa, proof of enrollment or employment, and evidence of your SEVIS I-901 fee payment for F-1/J-1 statuses.
• After you return to the United States: Review your new I-94 Arrival Record to be sure you entered in the correct immigration status. Contact ISSS if you see that your I-94 does not show an appropriate status notation. If you obtain any new immigration-related documents while abroad, such as a new visa from the U.S. embassy/consulate or a new passport, please be sure to provide ISSS with copies of those documents using our document submission form.
• Other things to keep in mind:
  • Non-essential travel should be considered carefully by international students and scholars on temporary visas and by U.S. legal permanent residents (i.e., green card holders). Please consult with ISSS if you have questions. We may advise you to talk with an immigration attorney.
  • If, despite the risks, you decide to travel outside the United States, ISSS recommends that you obtain travel insurance and purchase flexible or refundable tickets. That way, you can make a final decision whether to travel up until your intended departure date.
  • It is important to be aware that changes in visa processing, re-entry requirements, and country-specific restrictions can be implemented quickly and without much warning for travelers. The U.S. government has also implemented extreme vetting, which can occur at a visa interview or at a U.S. border crossing when leaving, entering, or returning to the United States.

U.S. Government Policies and Practices Updates

• U.S. Department of State – Visa appointment information. 

  • Most international students and scholars will need a valid visa in their passport if they are outside the United States (U.S.) and intend to request entry or re-entry to the U.S. If you will be outside the U.S. and your visa has expired or will expire before your travel date, you will likely need to renew your visa. The exception to that is if you are you are visiting Canada, Mexico, or a contiguous island to the U.S. and are eligible to re-enter the U.S. using “automatic revalidation”. 
    
    Previously the Visa Appointment Wait Times website on the U.S. Department of State’s website contained a search tool that could be used to determine the visa wait time at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate where a person intended to apply for a U.S. visa. On March 11, 2025, the U.S. Department of State posted on that web page a new Global Visa Wait Times page with the word “DEACTIVATED” in the URL. This page continues to show a chart last updated on January 7, 2025.

    Suggested Action: Refer directly to the U.S. embassy/consulate at which you intend to apply for a visa for information about the estimated appointment scheduling and visa processing times. If you will be outside the U.S. in need of a visa renewal, secure an appointment even if it is well into the future beyond your program start date or intended return, as you may be able to request an earlier date. (Once you have an appointment, you may be able to arrange an earlier appointment if the U.S. Consulate has cancellations to fill or offers a method to request an expedited appointment for an earlier date.)

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry
  CBP is legally allowed to inspect electronic devices when an individual seeks to enter the United States. This includes social media that may be accessible from electronic devices.
  • For more information, please see:  
    • CBP’s Border Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry web page
    • CBP’s Inspection of electronic devices tear sheet
    • ACLU’s Can Border Agents Search Your Electronic Devices? It’s Complicated.
  • Suggested Action: Review the links above to be informed, and practice good digital hygiene.
• Update Address within 10 days of any change: Immigration regulations require visa holders to update U.S. address information within 10 days of any move.
  • U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) or individuals in other immigration statuses would need to file the USCIS Form AR-11 Alien’s Change of Address.
  • Current F-1 or J-1 students can update their address using our ISSS Address Update form found on our Forms and Resources page on our ISSS website.
  • Students or alumni on post-completion F-1 Optional Practical Training (or STEM-OPT) or J-1 Academic Training can update their address information using the same ISSS Address Update form.
  • Upon receiving this information for students and scholars in F-1 or J-1 status, ISSS will update the address information in SEVIS on your behalf.

SEVIS Record Terminations

• What happens if my visa is revoked or if my SEVIS record is terminated by the U.S. government?
  • ISSS monitors the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) regularly to determine if there are any changes to any of our international student or scholar records, including sponsored alumni who are currently in the United Status using Optional Practical Training (OPT), STEM OPT, or Academic Training employment authorization.
  • If ISSS becomes aware of a change to an individual’s SEVIS record, the student or scholar will be notified and provided resources.
  • Only F-1 students on OPT or STEM-OPT employment authorization can check their SEVIS accounts directly through the SEVIS Portal. If your employment authorization end date appears to have changed, contact ISSS right away.
  • If a U.S. government official or agency notifies an international student or scholar directly, please contact ISSS as soon as possible, so ISSS can advise you appropriately.
  • Please note that Middlebury cannot intervene in a situation when a student’s or scholar’s status has been changed by a government official, but we can provide information as you consider next steps.
• Are there specific reasons for the government-initiated SEVIS record terminations?
  • The U.S. government is not providing an explanation of the specific reason for individual SEVIS record terminations.
  • A U.S. visa, which is the stamp in the passport that is presented at the border to request authorized entry to the United States, can be revoked for various reasons. This usually does not affect a student’s or scholar’s immigration status while in the United States because the visa is distinct from the immigration status. A visa revocation typically means that the person would need to apply for a new visa on their next trip outside the United States because the existing visa is no longer valid.
  • In the current moment, a visa revocation may lead to a government-initiated SEVIS record termination. The SEVIS terminations may be based on a visa revocation or another reason, which may never be known.

Additional Reminders

• The F-1 student and J-1 exchange visitor regulations have not changed. While the news reflects current government actions affecting international students and other non-U.S. citizens, the legal framework for student and scholar visas remains unchanged. Benefits of those statuses, such as employment authorization, continue as well.
• Middlebury College’s protocol for Responding to Requests from U.S. Government Officials can be found on the Office of the General Counsel’s website.
• Immigration attorneys and ISSS recommend memorizing the U.S. phone number of a trusted friend or family member located in the United States whom you could contact if you needed to make a call and did not have your phone in your possession. Let the person know you are keeping their number as an emergency contact and ask them to be ready to accept a call that may be coming from a potentially unrecognized U.S. government phone number.
• Make sure your phone number and emergency contact information are up to date in Banner Self-Service for students and in Oracle/HCM for employees. For alumni, please make sure your SEVIS record has accurate contact information (U.S. phone number and email).
• ISSS will continue to communicate about any changes in policy or guidance from government agencies that affect our international community. We will post important updates on our ISSS Travel, Regulatory, or Information Updates web page as details are verified and confirmed. If you have not already done so, we recommend that you bookmark this webpage.

Questions or Concerns   

If you have questions or want to verify information you see or hear, please contact the ISSS office via email (isss@middlebury.edu) or schedule an appointment via Calendly with an ISSS advisor. 

Our international students and scholars are valued members of our vibrant global community. We recognize that this is a challenging and uncertain time. We hope this information helps you manage your day-to-day routines and plan for your future. 

The ISSS team is available to support our international students and scholars with their current immigration concerns, and we will continue to offer our usual spring semester offerings and events. We also encourage you to use the resources available on our campuses and in the community if you need additional support.