Travel Information

There is not an official list for reference, but some majors or areas of research will be subject to additional scrutiny for security reasons.  If the research is in any science area, especially an area which has potential for military applications, there is an increased risk.  

If traveling to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean for 30 days or less, it may be possible to apply to re-enter the U.S. with an expired visa.  See ISS’s page on Travel to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean.  Also see the Revoked Visa section below.

At the port of entry, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has the right to search electronic devices for non-immigrants, permanent residents and U.S. citizens.  See CBPs webpage on Border Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry.  The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has information on Know Your Rights: Enforcement at the Airport.

Information about device search at the border from the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Client Flyer: Electronic Device Searches (March 6, 2025, AILA Doc. No. 2503604)

Expired visas carry more risk than unexpired visas. If your current visa has expired, you need to apply for and obtain a new visa while abroad before re-entering the U.S. Executive order 14161 requires embassies to do extreme vetting and screening of visa applicants.  Also see Automatic Extension of Visa Validity, Visa Applications and Extreme Vetting sections below.

Executive Order 14161 directs federal agencies to vet and screen to the “maximum degree possible” individuals seeking admission to the U.S.  Vetting will happen at the time of visa application and at the port of entry.  We expect this to result in delays in obtaining visas and more people being sent to secondary inspection at the ports of entry.

Make a contingency plan if there are delays, especially if you are currently employed in the U.S.

Any arrest, even without charges, increases the risk level. If you have had any interaction with law enforcement, it is recommended you consult with an attorney to understand the risk factors.

Maintaining status lowers risks.  ISS provides tips on Maintaining F-1 Status and Maintaining J-1 Student Status.  This includes reporting a change of address within 10 days of the change in iHawk.

Prior or current military affiliations may be a risk factor to consider.

Revoked visas carry high risk.  If you have had a visa revoked, it is recommended you consult an immigration attorney to understand the possible consequences.  The Secretary of State has authority to revoke a visa once it has been issued.   The Department of State sends notification to the email address used to apply for the visa.  Notification is not sent to schools. If a visa has been revoked, it is no longer valid (even if it has an expiration date in the future).  One would need to apply for a new visa.  Also see Visa Applications section below.

The Department of State Visa Status Tool may be helpful in determining if your visa has been revoked.  You will need your visa application ID number from the DS-160 visa application as well as your passport number and the location where you applied for your visa.  The tool will most likely indicate "issued" unless the visa has been revoked in which case it should say "revoked" and provide the date of the visa revocation.

Added 6/20/25:  On June 18 the Department of State announced new guidance on social media vetting for visa applications. Student and exchange visitor visa applicants will be asked to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to "public." 

NAFSA: Association of International Educators has a good blog post about things you need to know about social media vetting and implications.

One key factor is that the new system will use the INA 221(g) refusals as the mechanism to conduct enhanced vetting, meaning applicants will see "Refused" status in their official records even when undergoing routine screening.

Any of the above may not immediately result in a visa denial but they could trigger additional review.

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The Department of Homeland Security has announced increased screening of social media.  Social media may be reviewed for “content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic or anti-American activity as a negative factor.”  Support for Foreign Terrorist Organizations is grounds for inadmissibility to U.S.

Any mention of marijuana use on social media can pose issues due to it being federally prohibited even though legal in some states.

On June 4, a Presidential Proclamation was issued restricting entry to the U.S. of individuals from 19 countries.

Quick Summary

Beginning June 9, entry to the U.S. will be banned for ALL immigrants and nonimmigrants from a list of 12 countries.  There is also a partial ban for nationals of 7 countries to enter as immigrants or as nonimmigrants on tourist, student and exchange visitor visas.  There are a few exceptions noted.

This proclamation does NOT apply to individuals currently in the U.S. who are not traveling.

There are a few exceptions such as:

• Lawful Permanent Residents
• Dual Citizens if using a passport from any country outside of the 19 listed
• Afghan Special Immigrant Visas
• Asylees and Refugees

Full Ban Country List

Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar (Burma) Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Partial Ban Country List

Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Unexpired Visas Issued Prior to Ban Still Valid

The US Department of State and Custom and Border Protection both confirmed that valid visas issued prior to June 8, 2025 can be presented at the port of entry for nationals of banned countries.

Department of State Confirmation

Customs and Border Protection Confirmation

Backlogs for visa appointments and delays in visa issuance are expected.   Visa applications often go through “Administrative Processing” while an application goes through additional background and security checks.  These can take weeks or longer and there is no way to expedite the administrative processing process.  

Added 6/20/25:  If there are not any appointments available to arrive on time, it is worth exploring if you are eligible for an expedited appointment.   Some consulates will entertain expedited or emergency visa appointments for students or exchange visitors and some will not.  There are reports an expedited appointment may depend on the percentage of international enrollment being less than 15%.  International students comprised 6.5% of the total student enrollment on the KU Lawrence campus Fall 2024:  https://aire.ku.edu/enrollment

See also Extreme Vetting section below.

Valid visas carry less risk than expired or revoked visas. A visa is the sticker attached inside your passport that you received from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  It must be valid at the time of entry to the U.S. 

If you have had any encounter with law enforcement, it is recommended you check the email address used for your visa application to see if you have gotten notice about a visa revocation.  If your visa has been revoked, it is a high-risk factor that you could be denied entry to the U.S.  See Revoked Visas section below.

On July 8, 2025, the U.S. Department of State revised the visa reciprocity schedules for more than 50 countries. These changes affect certain non-immigrant visa categories, including F-1 and J-1, and may significantly reduce visa validity periods (e.g., from 12 months to 3 months) and limit the number of permitted entries (e.g., from multiple entries to single entry).

As a result, some student visas may now expire before students are legally allowed to enter the U.S. (no more than 30 days before the program start date for F-1 and J-1 visas). Prospective and admitted international graduate students should be aware that these changes could impact their travel plans, particularly when entering or re-entering the U.S. for study. We encourage all affected students to consult the Department of State’s Visa Reciprocity Table to understand the most up-to-date visa validity and entry rules specific to their country of citizenship.

Generally, the passport must be valid at least 6 months into the future from the date of entry into the U.S. at the time of entry.

You must have a valid visa for the appropriate category (F-1, J-1, etc.) at the time of entry to the U.S.  If your visa has expired or is for a different category, you will need to apply for a new visa.  A visa cannot be obtained from within the U.S.  See Applying for a New Visa section below.

Your I-20/DS-2019 should be valid and all information such as major, program level, financial source, and expiration date is current.

F-1 & J-1 students can request an electronic travel signature through iHawk under Student Services. Electronic travel signatures will be ready in 5-7 business days. You can also bring your I-20 or your DS-2019* to ISS for a physical travel signature. Your document will be ready for pick up after 2 business days.  

A travel signature on an I-20 indicates that a Designated School Official (DSO) at ISS has reviewed your enrollment history and confirmed that you are in valid F-1 status to the best of our knowledge, and that you are eligible to travel and re-enter the U.S. as an F-1 student attending KU. It DOES NOT guarantee re-entry to the U.S.

*Students with a DS-2019 issued by a sponsor other than KU will need to obtain the signature from their program sponsor noted in section #2 of the DS-2019.

This is required by law; although it is rarely requested.

There are two different documents. Transcripts are usually the more complete option.

Transcript. Order from the Registrar’s office. This is an official record of your academic record listing all classes taken, grades received, and future enrollment. It also includes the number of transfer credit hours accepted by KU, your degree level, and major. Usually required for visa applications (fees vary from $15.00-$61.00). 

Enrollment Certification. Order online(FREE). The “Self-Service” document does not show classes taken but indicates if you were full time or part time each semester.  You can use the “Form Request” to include more information such as GPA or Good Standing (fee applies for same day processing).

If you are passing through other countries, contact the Embassy of those countries to verify if you need a transit visa.

If traveling with you or separately, they need a valid passport, visa and I-20 or DS-2019 with current travel signature.