International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is closely monitoring immigration updates, and we have collected critical immigration updates in one place. It is very important that you independently stay aware of official updates from the Federal government. In addition, this is not a substitute for qualified legal counsel. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Note, as of June 5, 2025, ISSS is not aware of any action that significantly changes the compliance requirements or function of F-1, J-1, H-1B, O-1, TN, or Permanent Resident sponsorship under the EB-1 and EB-2 categories.
Resumption of F and J Visa Appointments with Social Media Screening released June 18, 2025
The Department of State has announced that visa appointments have resumed for F and J status. Applicants are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public’ as part of this process.
Presidential Proclamation Orders Travel Bans on 19 Countries released June 4, 2025 effective at 12:01am (EST) June 9, 2025
President Trump has issued a presidential proclamation restricting and banning the entry of certain foreign nationals to the United States.
Entry into the United States for nationals of the following countries as immigrants or non-immigrants is banned with some exceptions: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen.
Entry into the United States for nationals of the following countries as immigrants or non-immigrants on the following B-1, B‑2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas status is suspended and consular officers are instructed to reduce the issuance of new visas in these categories to foreign nationals from these countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela.
Scope and Limitations
As per the proclamation Section 4(a), this proclamation only applies to:
Foreign nationals, “outside the United States on the applicable effective date of this proclamation.”
Foreign nationals, “[who] do not have a valid visa on the applicable effective date of this proclamation.”
As per the proclamation Section 4(b), a series of exceptions exist:
(i) Any lawful permanent resident of the United States;
(ii) Any dual national of a country designated under sections 2 and 3 of this proclamation when the individual is traveling on a passport issued by a country not so designated;
(iii) Any foreign national traveling with a valid nonimmigrant visa in the following classifications: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO‑2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6;
(iv) Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State;
(v) Immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA);
(vi) Adoptions (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4);
(vii) Afghan Special Immigrant Visas;
(viii) Special Immigrant Visas for United States Government employees; and
(ix) Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.
Visa Revocation and Asylum Claims
As per the proclamation Section 6(c), “No immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before the applicable effective date of this proclamation shall be revoked pursuant to this proclamation.”
As per the proclamation Section 6(d), “This proclamation shall not apply to an individual who has been granted asylum by the United States, to a refugee who has already been admitted to the United States, or to an individual granted withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CAT). Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to limit the ability of an individual to seek asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, or protection under the CAT, consistent with the laws of the United States.”
Who to Contact for Help
Please contact Anna Kholod at akholod@utk.edu with detailed information about your situation.
Please contact Cheryl Pile at cpile@utk.edu with detailed information about your situation.
Please contact Morgan Owens at mowens48@utk.edu with detailed information about your situation.
Please contact Morgan Owens at mowens48@utk.edu with detailed information about your situation.
Please contact Morgan Owens at mowens48@utk.edu with detailed information about your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Permanent Residents are excepted from all restrictions as per Section 4(b)(i).
Yes, as per Section 4(a)(ii) this does not apply to foreign nationals with a valid visa. Please note, we still recommend that you carefully follow our travel guides listed below.
No, as per Section 6(c) visa revocation is not part of this proclamation.
No, this does not apply to persons already inside the U.S. per Section 4(a)(i). Note, there may be additional factors impacting petitions adjudicated by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). We do not have further clarification at this time.
We are not completely certain as to how pending visa cases will be handled. As per the proclamation we believe that pending visas will be denied based on the order to consular officers. Certain visa categories are excepted in all cases (such as A-1) and some are excepted for certain countries (such as H-1B for Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela).
Qualified immigration counsel is critical. If you are not sponsored by the University of Tennessee, we recommend that you seek an advisement from an American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) attorney. You can find one in your area using the Find an Immigration Lawyer search.
Notes on Travel
Critical, please review all updates on current travel bans and restrictions before engaging in travel. Regular travel requirements continue to exist. We have guides below on travelling requirements:
USCIS page on Travel while a Permanent Resident
Department of State (DOS) Announcement regarding Chinese Student Visa Revocations released May 28, 2025
Secretary of State Rubio announced in a press release that a new policy would pursue the revocation of student visas for persons from China and Hong Kong. Details regarding the scope, scale, and exact actions to be taken have not been provided. ISSS is actively monitoring this situation and will provide updates as more information is available.
Update on ICE-Initiated Terminations released April 28, 2025
Recent news articles have indicated a reversal from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement that is restoring SEVIS status for international students. ISSS has confirmed that statuses have been restored in SEVIS and is working with students and departments on next steps. Thank you again for your support for our international students and please continue to offer care and resources.
Executive and Regulatory Actions
NAFSA Page on Executive and Regulatory Actions Under the Second Trump Administration
The NAFSA: Association of International Educators has collected updates that are relevant to international educators, students, and scholars. Updates are organized by relevant area.
Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Updates
Spring Break Travel Reminders for International Students (released March 11, 2025)
SEVP has published some helpful reminders for students on F-1 status who plan to travel over spring break.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Updates
DHS Terminating Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan released May 12, 2025
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan. The TPS designation for the country expires on May 20, 2025, and the termination will be effective on July 14, 2025.
DHS to Begin Screening Aliens’ Social Media Activity for Antisemitism released April 9, 2025
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin considering aliens’ antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests. This will immediately affect aliens applying for lawful permanent resident status, foreign students and aliens affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activity.
USCIS Updates Policy to Recognize Two Biological Sexes released April 2, 2025
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that it only recognizes two biological sexes, male and female.