Visa & Immigration Basics

If you cannot arrive in the U.S. for the academic term start date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019, you will need to defer your immigration document to a future academic term. Below are the steps to defer your immigration document with the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS).  Admission deferral There is a […]

Students and scholars must apply for and obtain a valid visa stamp (also simply referred to as a “visa”) before entering the U.S.

What is visa revocation? Visa revocation means your visa (in your passport) is no longer valid for re-entry into the U.S. Visa revocation could lead to termination of your SEVIS record (F and J visa holders) and therefore, termination of your immigration status. If you receive a notice from the government that your visa is […]

Sometimes students and scholars visiting the U.S. confuse the term “visa” with the concept of “immigration status”. It is important to know the differences between these important words.

If your visa has expired and you are traveling outside the U.S., you must apply for a new visa stamp through the same process as your initial visa application, in order to re-enter the U.S.

The U.S. Department of State may use a security clearance process when deciding whether to grant or deny a U.S. visa. This is called administrative processing, or, a Security Advisory Opinion (SAO).

This benefit allows certain nonimmigrants with expired visas to re-enter the U.S. after visiting a “contiguous territory” for 30 days or less.

Primary immigration status holders may bring a spouse and/or children to the U.S. in dependent status. Applicants for dependent status must demonstrate a lawful spousal or parent-child relationship to the primary immigration status holder. Spouse and children status is dependent on the primary visa holder’s status.

NAFSA: Association of International Educators provides a comprehensive list of immigration terms and their definitions.