Current Immigration and Travel FAQ

• We recommend carrying paper photocopies of your original immigration documents and keeping the originals in a safe place. You may wish to save a digital copy in a safe place such as your email or a cloud-based service as well.
• Currently enrolled F-1 students: Carry a photocopy of your most recent Form I-20, passport, F-1 visa, your most recent I-94 proof of entry, and physical identification (LMU OneCard, LLS Student ID card, U.S. driver’s license, or CA identification card)
• F-1 students on OPT/STEM OPT: Carry a photocopy of your most recent Form I-20, passport, F-1 visa, I-94 proof of entry, your OPT EAD card, and physical identification (U.S. driver’s license or CA identification card).
• J-1 students and scholars: Carry a photocopy of your most recent Form DS-2019, passport, J-1 visa, your most recent I-94 proof of entry, and physical Identification (LMU OneCard, U.S. driver’s license, or CA identification card).

Yes, as long as you are maintaining your status, you may legally remain in the United States with an expired F-1 or J-1 visa. However, if you choose to travel abroad, you must obtain a new F-1/J-1 visa at a U.S. embassy/consulate outside of the United States before attempting to reenter the United States in F-1/J-1 status. Very limited exceptions may be made for brief travel to Canada, Mexico, or other neighboring islands; this is referred to as automatic visa revalidation.

International travel subjects non-citizens to additional scrutiny each they cross a border, which can affect international students and scholars.  F-1 and J-1 visa holders who are in legal status are eligible to depart and reenter the U.S.; however, each U.S. entry is granted at the discretion of U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP).

1. Effective January 1 2026,  the Department of State fully suspended visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries – Afghanistan, Burma, Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – and to individuals traveling on any travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority, for all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories with limited exceptions for:

• Certain diplomatic and official visas
• Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
• Dual nationals applying with a passport of a nationality not subject to a suspension
• Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D)
• Participants in certain major sporting events
• Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs)

2. Also effective January 1, 2026, in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998 on “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” the Department of State partially suspended visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries – Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas with limited exceptions for:

• Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
• Dual nationals applying with a passport of a nationality not subject to a suspension
• Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D)
• Participants in certain major sporting events
• Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs)

3.  Students, faculty and staff on F, J, and other non-immigrant visas from affected countries who are in the United States may remain in the country but are advised not to travel outside the U.S. for the duration of their programs/appointments. Students should contact visasupport@lmu.edu for advice on their unique situations.

If you choose to travel internationally, please carry all required documents in your carry-on/hand luggage (not your checked luggage!) through U.S. customs to facilitate entry in F-1/J-1 status.

Yes. Please review the ACLU Recommendations before traveling as well as information on the Customs & Border Protection website: Border Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has published a helpful document regarding your rights at U.S. ports of entry: Know Your Rights | Enforcement at the Airport | ACLU

Additional information regarding travel can be found on the Department of State website. You can also refer to reliable sources such as U.S. government websites with .gov URLs, and reputable immigration law firm websites. Be aware that social media sources may provide incomplete or misleading information.

You should not be contacted by any government agency regarding termination of your SEVIS record. OISS monitors students’ SEVIS records daily and will immediately reach out to any students whose records have been terminated. If you are contacted by any other source claiming there is an issue with your SEVIS record or your visa, please contact OISS immediately before taking any action so that we can verify the validity of the communication and protect students from scams.

If your record is terminated, OISS will work closely with you and your college or law school to create an individualized plan dependent on your unique situation. LMU is committed to assisting students in completing their semester if at all possible.

As of June 2025, as long as you are maintaining your status, you may legally remain in the U.S. with a revoked F-1 or J-1 visa. However, if you choose to travel abroad, you must obtain a new F-1/J-1 visa at a U.S. embassy/consulate outside of the U.S. before attempting to reenter the U.S. in F-1/J-1 status. This is subject to change and if it does, a communication will be sent to all students and scholars.

Knowing the exact reason for the denied entry can inform you of what steps must be taken in order to resolve the situation at a later time. Review the steps here.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS/ICE) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to replace the “duration of status” (D/S) with a fixed time period for students and exchange visitors and their dependents in F and J non-immigrant status. The proposed rule will require students and exchange visitors to file formal extension applications with USCIS, shorten grace periods, and impose new limits on program changes. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact OISS via VisaSupport@lmu.edu, Drop-In Hour or schedule Advising Appointments.

Important changes in this proposed rule include:

• Replacing F and J Duration of Status (D/S) with specific end dates for permission to stay in the U.S. tied to the I-20 or DS-2019 end date, not to exceed 4 years plus a grace period of 30 days following their program end date
• Replacing the 60-day grace period for F-1 students with a 30-day grace period
• Requiring government (DHS) adjudication of F and J extension of stay requests meeting certain eligibility requirements
• Placing restrictions on changing academic objectives – including when a student might be eligible to transfer to a new school or change to a new program of study
• Prohibiting F-1 students from completing two degrees in the U.S. at the same degree level or from changing to a lower degree level
• Limiting the study of English as a Second Language (ESL) to an aggregate of 24 months (Does not apply to LMU)

We expect that F and J students and scholars who are in good academic standing and have maintained their non-immigrant status will still be eligible to request additional time to complete their degree or program, if necessary.

Currently, the proposed rule does not impact international students or scholars. OISS is monitoring developments closely and will provide updates on our website when additional information becomes available.