Immigration FAQs

U.S. Immigration FAQs for International Students and Scholars

Last updated: May 29, 2025

We have heard from many Harvard community members concerned about recent reports of U.S. immigration enforcement actions. We know this is a very difficult time, and we are monitoring the situation closely. While there are still many unknowns, we are providing answers to some of the most immediate questions and concerns. We will continue to update this page regularly as we learn more.  

For information on recent U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) actions regarding Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, see our SEVP FAQ.

Know Your Rights

Can immigration authorities access campus?

In accordance with longstanding policy, the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) expects U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to check in with HUPD first and to have a valid warrant before undertaking any enforcement action on campus.  HUPD must comply with validly issued judicial warrants. 

What should Harvard community members do if they see ICE agents on campus?

Members of the Harvard community should immediately contact HUPD at 617-495-1215 if they see federal immigration authorities on campus. See this FAQ from the Harvard Immigrant and Refugee Program for more details on Harvard’s policies regarding ICE on campus. 

Can immigration agents enter my dorm room or on-campus residence?

ICE agents must present a valid judicial warrant or get your permission to enter your home or dorm.  

If ICE agents come to your on-campus home, you may keep the door closed and ask if they have a warrant. If they do not have a warrant, you have the right not to let them in (opening the door could be seen as granting permission for them to enter and to search your space). If the agents say they have a warrant, you may ask them to slide it under the door so you can read it.  

Let the agents know that you are not obstructing their process, but you need to consult with campus authorities.  

Immediately contact HUPD (617-495-1215) and, if the agents provide a warrant, the Office of General Counsel (OGC) (617-495-1280). Wait for HUPD to arrive so that they may verify the agents’ information and warrant, if they provide one, before opening the door. Ask for the agents’ names, identification numbers, and agency affiliation and write them down.  

You have the right not to sign any paperwork provided by ICE agents who ask to enter your private space without speaking to a lawyer first.  See below (“Can Harvard find me an immigration attorney?”). 

What should Harvard community members do if they encounter immigration agents off campus?

Just like at your home or work, you do not have to answer questions or sign documents if immigration agents stop you in a public area, and you can request to leave at any time. You have the right to refuse a search. Without your permission, agents can only “pat down” your clothing if they suspect you have a weapon.  

You do not need to answer questions about your immigration status, where you were born, or when or how you came to the United States, and you do not need to show identification documents from your home country.

Does Harvard share students’ and scholars’ personal information with immigration enforcement agencies?

Harvard will not share personal information with immigration authorities except as required by law or legal process (such as a subpoena or warrant). This includes students’ and employees’ personal information, academic records, or unpublished research.  

If the University is required to provide this information to comply with a subpoena or warrant, it will notify affected students unless the University is prohibited from doing so.  

Does HUPD work with ICE?

HUPD does not inquire about the immigration status of faculty, students, or staff and does not investigate alleged violations of federal immigration laws. Law enforcement officials are expected to check with HUPD before entering the Harvard campus and must obtain a warrant for immigration-related activity. 

Who should I contact if I have an immigration emergency?

During regular office hours (Monday to Friday, 9 am-5 pm Eastern), the student or scholar should contact their HIO advisor, email internationaloffice@harvard.edu, or visit our virtual on-call advising hours before making any travel plans (or prior to their departure from the US). 
 
For after-hours emergencies, we have a dedicated emergency number (+1-857-302-3772) that must only be used for immigration- and visa-related emergencies that require an immediate response from the HIO when the HIO and University offices are closed.

Visa interviews and revocations

How many Harvard students and scholars had their visa status terminated? What is their status now? 

In April 2025,12 international students and recent graduates had their F-1 visa status terminated. As of April 26, all 12 of those Harvard students and recent graduates have since had their visa status reverted to active status.  We have been in communication with these students.

We have a protocol in place for checking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records daily. We promptly notify individuals of any revocations and refer them to legal assistance. To protect their privacy, the University will not publicly disclose the identity of any person whose visa is revoked. The same goes for individuals who have had their visa status reactivated.

For individuals who have had their visas revoked or reinstated, we are not aware of the details of these actions or the reasons for them, but we understand that similar actions have been occurring at other institutions across the country. 

A change in visa status does not automatically affect a student's academic status at the University. Impacted students should consult with their dean of students and/or registrars for questions related to academic program requirements and their dean of administration for work-related questions. Impacted scholars, e.g. postdocs, should consult with the postdoc office, faculty affairs, or their human resources contact, as appropriate.

We will continue daily SEVIS record checks and will notify any affected students and scholars immediately.

Why has the State Department paused interviews for student visas?

Although we have not received guidance from the State Department directly, we are aware of the news reports in which a State Department official confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a directive to U.S. embassies and consulates on May 27 not to “add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued.” According to the media reports, the temporary pause on scheduling new visa interviews is to allow the State Department to consider implementing more expansive social media vetting practices that could ultimately be applied to all student visa applicants.

This directive affects all U.S. higher education institutions, and the potential new requirements would expand upon existing visa processing practices. The State Department has asked student visa applicants to provide social media account information on their visa applications since 2019. In April 2025, Secretary Rubio directed U.S. embassies and consulates to scrutinize the social media content of certain applicants for student and other visa types, including for "[e]vidence suggesting a student visa applicant intends to travel to the United States to engage in unlawful activities,” “conduct that bears a hostile attitude toward U.S. citizens or U.S. culture (including government, institutions, or founding principles),” or “advocacy or sympathy for foreign terrorist organizations.” Secretary Rubio’s cable instructed to refer these cases to the fraud prevention unit for mandatory social media vetting. The State Department elaborated that the pause should last days, not months.

If I already have a visa appointment, will it be honored? 

Yes, our understanding is that if you had already scheduled your visa appointment prior to the May 27 directive, the embassy or consulate will still honor your existing appointment. We encourage you to confirm with the embassy or consulate that your appointment will be honored. 

Based on existing practices, the State Department has indicated that the process of issuing visas to some individuals may be delayed due to "further administrative processing," which can occur after the visa interview. See the HIO’s Administrative Processing FAQs for more information. You also may want to review the State Department’s information on visa refusals and denials.

Can Harvard help me get a visa appointment? 

No, unfortunately we cannot help arrange a visa appointment. We’ll keep you updated on the pause, but we urge you to check with your embassy or consulate regularly so that you can make prompt arrangements to schedule your appointment once the pause is lifted. It’s important to make your appointment as soon as possible, in order to protect against any unexpected delays or challenges in the processing of your visa application. 

I saw a State Department press release about revoking Chinese students' visas and increasing scrutiny for future visa applications from China and Hong Kong. What does this mean?

Although we have not received guidance from the State Department directly, we are aware of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's press statement, in which the Department of State intends to work with DHS to "aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students" and "enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications" from China and Hong Kong. 
 
We will update you once we know more. In the interim, current and future students and scholars from China and Hong Kong should contact their HIO advisor with any questions and concerns.

Travel

What documents should I carry with me?

Generally, you should always carry digital or printed copies of your travel documents when traveling within the U.S. and all of your physical documents when traveling internationally. 

See our guidance on travel within the U.S. and outside of the country, as well as what to do if you have an issue while traveling, including losing your travel documents or experiencing an immigration-related emergency.   

Can I travel abroad?

Your decision to travel is a personal matter. If you’re planning to travel outside the U.S., we encourage you to assess your risks, have contingency plans, and consider whether the possibility of a delayed return would affect your ability to resume on-campus research, work, or study. You can consult with the following offices to discuss your travel and make an informed decision: 

  • International students and scholars sponsored by Harvard should contact their HIO advisor prior to departure to discuss any international travel plans.  

  • Foreign nationals not present on a Harvard-sponsored visa should arrange a consult with the Harvard Representation Initiative (HRI) prior to departure to discuss their individual circumstances.

  • For questions related to safety and security, health, culture, or outbound immigration for Harvard-related travel abroad, individuals should contact Global Support Services (GSS). GSS is a resource for all students, faculty, staff, and researchers and can advise on international travel registration, International SOS, student pre-departure requirements, travel resources, and more.

We recognize the uncertainty of the situation and encourage you to be as flexible as possible with your travel plans. 

What happens if I’m detained upon re-entry to the U.S.?  Can my devices be searched?

International travelers may face added scrutiny and enhanced screening at U.S. ports of entry. The U.S. government asserts broad authority to search all electronic devices at the border. Review OGC’s guidance about border security measures at ports of entry and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research’s U.S. arrival guidance for foreign students and exchange visitors.  

If you are outside the U.S., attempt to enter or re-enter, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) takes you into secondary inspection, understand that you will not have access to your cell phone or computer during the time you spend in secondary inspection. Accordingly, if you are traveling to the U.S. and you have concerns that you may encounter difficulties at the border, you should consider (1) sharing travel plans, including flight information and your scheduled arrival time, with a family member or friend; (2) advising this travel contact that you will confirm your arrival with them when your flight lands and again after you have passed through CBP; and (3) sharing HIO’s contact information with that travel contact, so that they may call HIO if meaningful time has passed since your flight arrived and they have not heard from you. 

Resources

What resources are available to international students and scholars at Harvard?

The HIO is the primary U.S. immigration resource for international students and scholars whose visas are sponsored by Harvard, and we are committed to keeping our community informed. Our website provides information, resources, and important updates. If you cannot find the information you need, contact your HIO advisor and arrange a time to discuss your concerns. 

We will email our international student and scholar community regarding any updates, and we will post them to our What’s New page. We recommend bookmarking that page and checking back regularly for updates.  

Similarly, the HRI is a resource available to advise foreign nationals not present on a Harvard-sponsored visa. 

Can Harvard help me find an immigration attorney?

If you need legal assistance, the Harvard Representation Initiative (HRI) is a pro bono legal clinic offering immigration consulting, referrals, and in some cases, representation. Harvard community members who are concerned their immigration status is at risk can contact hri@law.harvard.edu.

How can I be supportive of the international students and scholars in my classroom, lab, or residential setting?

It’s best to check in privately and let them know you’re there if they want to talk and to recommend that they reach out to their HIO advisor. Don’t inquire about someone’s immigration or visa status unprompted or have a conversation that involves sensitive information in a setting where others may overhear. You can also point someone in a challenging situation to the University’s Support Resources in Times of Crisis webpage, which has additional resources, including mental wellbeing and community support services.

I'm struggling to manage this situation. Who can I speak with?

We recognize the emotional strain that these events and the weight of uncertainty are placing on all of us. If you would like to speak with a counselor or a mental health professional, contact one of the resources listed below.

For more information, see the University’s Support Resources in Times of Crisis webpage.