Category: Government Update

May 2, 2023: Updated Guidance on Visa Issuance In February 2023, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) provided updated guidance that consular officers can now issue an F or M student visa up to 365 days in advance of an international student’s program start date. This new guidance does not change the requirement for issuing Forms I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee, or seeking admission…

March 28, 2023: The Department of State announced an Interim Final Rule allowing the digital signing and electronic transmission of DS-2019s beginning April 27, 2023. In effect, this will allow for J-1 students to request and receive their DS-2019 directly through their MyISSS portal.

On January 20: The President of the United States signed a Proclamation revoking the previously signed Executive Order 13780 and Proclamations 9645, 9723 and 9983, collectively referred to as the travel ban. The revocation of these discriminatory bans will allow for the resumption of visa processing by embassies and consulates around the world which had previously been limited by the travel ban.

On June 22, the President signed a Proclamation that extends the suspension of entry to the U.S. of immigrants abroad seeking U.S. permanent residency (adjustment of status) and individuals who present a risk to the U.S. labor market due to COVID-19. This proclamation does not apply to F or J academic visas who will enter the U.S. for the purpose of study. J-1 academic exchange categories, and J-1 professor, research scholar, short-term scholar, and college or university students are excluded…

The UW is partnering across and beyond the University to gain clarity around this proclamation and better understand its impact on Chinese students, scholars, and faculty. These efforts are lead by the UW Offices of Federal Relations, Global Affairs, Graduate School, and Research. The UW is committed to continuing our mission as a global university and to supporting all members of our community, no matter where they call home. We will continue to admit and welcome Chinese students and scholars…

The U.S. President issued a proclamation that suspends the entry into the U.S. of Chinese nationals who either receives/received funding from, currently is or was employed by, studies/studied at, or conducts/conducted research at on behalf of an entity in the PRC that supports the PRC’s  military-civil fusion strategy and is seeking entry under an F or J visa to study or conduct research in the U.S. The U.S. government did not release a list of associated entities that would be…