Dear international students and scholars:

On Jan 27, an executive order on immigration was issued. We are writing to you today to provide information on what this might mean for you. While the executive order is broad in its scope, certain parts will have greater significance than others.  Our goal is to support anyone impacted by this order to the best of our abilities.

Below we highlight four key parts of the executive order:

• Entry is restricted for citizens from certain countries. The order will "suspend entry into the United States" of both nonimmigrants and immigrants from at least seven countries for 90 days from the date the order was signed. Those countries are Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Libya. Despite earlier confusion, the White House has now clarified that permanent residents are not included and will be permitted entry into the U.S.

• If your country is not one of the seven, there is no change in your ability to enter the U.S.  However, because of the flurry of activity this month and lingering ambiguity around these orders, we strongly advise our students and scholars to follow this issue as it develops. International Student & Scholar Services is monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as we learn more. In the meantime, continue to follow our office’s recommendations for travel in and outside of the U.S.

• Visa Interview Waiver program. Previously, the U.S. has allowed the citizens of certain countries to receive a nonimmigrant visa (F-1, J-1, etc.) without an in-person interview under a “Visa Interview Waiver” program. This system has been suspended under this executive order for citizens of all countries. Everyone must now apply in person and be interviewed for a visa at a U.S. consulate. This will likely lead to increased processing time when applying for visas. As always, visit your country’s U.S. consulate website for instructions on applying for a visa.

• Federal judge blocks order. You may have heard that a judge has blocked this order.  A federal judge’s ruling has prevented the government from deporting some arrivals who are stranded at airports by the presidential order. But this ruling says only that people cannot be removed; it does not let them enter the country. It also does not affect those individuals from the listed countries who are currently outside the U.S.

Some of you may have already seen President Spina’s announcement on Porches or read his blog in response to the situation. To borrow from Dr. Spina’s message, we are mindful that you might be experiencing uncertainty and distress about what this means for you and your families but please know the University of Dayton and Center for International Programs are here to support you.

ISSS is monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as we learn more. If you would like to speak to our staff, please call or visit our office and someone from our team will be happy to meet with you. UD and ISSS will do all that we can to help you stay connected, informed, and on track to graduate.

Sincerely,
Your friends in the Center for International Programs