Travel and Visa

Travel and Visa Policy

Pause in Immigrant Visa Processing

January 16, 2026

On January 14, 2026 the U.S. Department of State posted an announcement relating to a pause in the processing of immigrant visas that will take effect on January 21, 2026.

Who is impacted?

This pause only applies to individuals who are seeking to obtain an immigrant visa allowing them to enter the U.S. and become a...

SEVIS Terminations & Visa Revocations

April 15, 2025

There are confirmed cases of SEVIS record terminations and visa revocations for international students at institutions nationwide, including within the UC system and at UC Berkeley. We understand that this may be causing stress and anxiety, and encourage you to reach out to support, including the Berkeley International Office, for guidance and resources.

A visa revocation is the cancellation of the visa stamp in your passport by a Department of State or a DHS official. A SEVIS record termination...

SEVIS Terminations Reversed

April 28, 2025

As of April 26, 2025, the U.S. government has reversed the termination of SEVIS records for over 1,800 international students studying in the U.S., and has temporarily halted any further terminations. At UC Berkeley, all 23 students with terminated...

Revised Visa Interview Waiver Policy

February 20, 2025

The U.S. Department of State announced a revision to its visa interview waiver policy on February 18, 2025, reversing the prior policy update made on December 21, 2023, which allowed for more applicants to bypass in-person interviews. Specifically, the policy makes the...

(UPDATED) Enhancing National Security By Addressing Risks At Harvard University

June 5, 2025

UPDATE: June 5, 2025: a court blocked the implementation of the Presidential Proclamation below. Under the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), the government is prevented from implementing or enforcing the June 4 Presidential Proclamation. For further reading, the motion is available on CourtListener: Order on Motion for TRO, Docket # 59. In the same order, the court extended its...

Temporary Delay for Scheduling of Visa Appointments for F and J Applicants

May 28, 2025

Updated 05/30/2025

On May 27, 2025, a news report confirmed that the Administration has announced a temporary delay in scheduling new visa appointments for F and J applicants as they prepare a new effort to increase vetting of social media accounts of applicants. While new appointments are on hold, it is important to note that those who already have scheduled visa...

6/4/2025 Presidential Proclamation: Visa Issuance Ban Impacting 19 Countries

June 5, 2025

On June 4, 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation titled "Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats." This executive order introduces new travel restrictions and visa limitations, effective at 12:01 EST on...

Visa Application Guidance Update from Department of State

September 9, 2025

On September 6, 2025 the U.S. Department of State posted a notice indicating that, effective immediately, applicants for visas were to follow new guidance:

Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or...

Presidential Proclamation - Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers

September 19, 2025

Updated 10/20/2025: USCIS has updated its web page on H-1B Specialty Occupations to include updated information on the Presidential Proclamation on Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers. Some notable confirmations include:

The proclamation "does not prevent any holder of a current H-1B visa, or any alien beneficiary following petition approval, from traveling in and out of the United States." In other words, international employees with a current...

Federal Government Shutdown

October 10, 2025

On October 1, 2025, a federal government shutdown began, due to Congress failing to pass legislation to fund the government for the new fiscal year (FY 2026). A U.S. government shutdown can have a range of impacts on international students, scholars, and employees at UC Berkeley, primarily by disrupting the operations of key federal agencies responsible for immigration. The severity of the impact generally depends on the duration of the shutdown, as well as how those agencies are funded. Some of these impacts may include the following:

Visa Issuance: During the lapse...