Regulatory Information

Exchange Visitors and Exchange Visitor Programs

Fees, Forms, Filing Procedures

Institutional Obligations and Compliance

International Faculty, Staff, Researchers

International Students and Schools

U.S. Immigration Systems, Data, Status, and Concepts

Visas, Travel, Entry

References for Advising on SEH, SSR, TPS, DED

Confused about the different options available to students in an economic crisis? This resource aims to help clarify the potential options available to students: Severe Economic Hardship, Special Student Relief, Temporary Protected Status, and Deferred Enforced Departure. For each option, we break

1993 Legacy INS Letter from Jacquelyn Bednarz on F-1 Reinstatement

1993 Bednarz Letter on F-1 Reinstatement This 1993 legacy INS letter established, among other things, the proposition that "the reinstatement process may be considered to consist of three steps: 1) an admission on the part of the alien that she/he has been in violation of status, 2) a legal

NAFSA Letter to SEVP Requesting COVID Guidance for Academic Year 2022-23

Update: On April 18, 2022, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) extended its March 2020 COVID-19 guidance to cover the 2022-23 academic year. See NAFSA's page SEVP COVID-19 Guidance Sources for details. NAFSA Letter to SEVP Requesting COVID Guidance for Academic Year 2022-2023 In an April

Glossary for Education Abroad Visa Advising

This glossary was designed to support education abroad advisers in understanding common terms used when advising students who need a visa for education abroad. Please visit the NAFSA Shop for an on-demand training course on ' Visa Advising for Education Abroad'. Apostille An Apostille authenticates

USCIS Final Rule Implements Premium Processing Provisions of Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act

Update: A final rule effective February 26, 2024 raises USCIS's premium processing fees. Forms I-907 postmarked on or after February 26, 2024 must be accompanied by the new filing fee, or USCIS will reject the Form I-907 and return the filing fee. The postmark date for filings sent by commercial

Legacy INS Operations Instructions - OI 214.2(f)

Legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Operations Instructions - OI 214.2(f) Source: USCIS web site. Text downloaded and formatted by NAFSA on November 6, 2017. See prior posted version on the WayBack Machine (captured August 24, 2019). Legacy INS Operations Instructions are not

Visa Advising for Education Abroad

International student advisers advise students from all over the world on one immigration process – the process to enter the United States. Education abroad advisers must learn to advise students that travel to any number of countries around the world and keeping up with visa and immigration

Immigration Resources: Ukraine

This page lists immigration and study abroad information resources relevant to individuals impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Page Contents Visas and Entry Immigration Benefits for Individuals in the U.S. U.S. Students Abroad NAFSA and Other General Resources Advocacy Visas and Entry to the

IssueNet Quarterly Summary - Winter 2021-2022

November and December 2021, January 2022 Highlighting the top issues reported through NAFSA IssueNet. Prepared by NAFSA member Lisa Harris. Top Issues SEVP Multiple denials of record reactivations for leaves of absence, due to overly stringent interpretation of guidance; specifics of travel

New Biden-Harris Administration Immigration Policies to Attract New Talent in STEM Fields

On January 21, 2022, the Biden-Harris White House messaged its continuing commitment to attracting new talent in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), and that "the Departments of State and Homeland Security are announcing new actions to advance predictability and