President Trump signed amendments to  into law on Jan. 29, requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain individuals unlawfully present in the United States who have been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or have admitted to having committed acts of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. These offenses are in addition to any “assault of a law enforcement officer offense or any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person.”

See the frequently asked questions (FAQ) below for details about this new law and any impact on international students and scholars at CU Boulder. Please note that FAQs are based on the currently available information in and related to the law.

Frequently Asked Questions

The effective date of the law is Jan. 29.

The new law only applies to individuals who do not have lawful U.S. immigration status or did not have the appropriate immigration documents when they applied to be admitted to the U.S. It does not apply to individuals who have lawful immigration status (such as F-1, J-1, or H-1B status) and used appropriate immigration documents when they entered the United States.

For any criminal charges or arrests, ISSS always advises that the international student or scholar hire an immigration attorney to provide legal advice. Student Legal Services on campus provides to students only limited legal advice regarding immigration matters and legal consultations and representation for some criminal defense issues. ISSS is not able to provide advice regarding personal matters including those related to criminal charges or arrests.

of the act is posted on the .

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

We want you to feel supported, safe, and comfortable during your time at CU Boulder and in the United States. If you need to talk or have any questions, we are here for you. ISSS offers walk-in and remote advising. You can also reach us via our general email account isss@colorado.edu or by phone at 303-492-8057 during normal office hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For our sponsored students, ISSS offers specific walk-in and remote advising and our Sponsored Student Advising team can be reached directly at sponsoredadvising@colorado.edu.

Campus Resources

ISSS wants you to know you can always talk to us or use the other resources on campus. Here are some resources we recommend:

• Students: Use our friendly campus counseling services to talk through feelings of anxiety, loneliness, stress, or just to have someone supportive to talk to.
• Faculty and Staff: Reach out to the Faculty & Staff Assistance Program to set up a time to chat with a trained counselor.

We are glad that you have chosen to be a part of the CU Boulder community. ISSS is here to assist you so please reach out to us if you need anything.

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Presidential Executive Order Establishing Enhanced Vetting and Screening of Individuals Seeking U.S. Immigration Benefits

President Trump issued an  on Jan. 20 instituting increased review of applications for U.S. immigration benefits including visas and admission to the United States.

See the frequently asked questions (FAQ) below for details about this new requirement. Please note that FAQs are based on the currently available information in and related to the proclamation.    

Frequently Asked Questions

The effective date of the executive order was Jan. 20.

The new restriction applies to any individual (foreign national) who applies for a U.S. immigration benefit such as but not limited to visas, admission (entry) to the United States, permanent residency “green card” applications, petitions for non-immigrant temporary status, etc. It does not apply to U.S. citizens. 

No. The executive order does not implement a travel ban. However, it requires that, within 60 days, a report be submitted to the president identifying countries whose citizens should be subject to a full or partial ban on entering the United States.

To carry out the executive order, federal agencies will likely scrutinize all applications more which will slow down the process. There may be delays as well when seeking to be admitted to the United States at the airports or land borders.

No. The new restriction does not require anyone in the United States to depart. The restrictions do not affect the immigration status for those who are already present in the United States. The U.S. government will not ask them to leave the country if they maintain their current immigration status. 

The text of the  is posted on the  in the “Executive Actions” section under “Presidential Actions.”

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

We want you to feel supported, safe, and comfortable during your time at CU Boulder and in the United States. If you need to talk or have any questions, we are here for you. ISSS offers walk-in and remote advising. You can also reach us via our general email account isss@colorado.edu or by phone at 303-492-8057 during normal office hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For our sponsored students, ISSS offers specific walk-in and remote advising and our Sponsored Student Advising team can be reached directly at sponsoredadvising@colorado.edu.

Campus Resources

ISSS wants you to know you can always talk to us or use the other resources on campus. Here are some resources we recommend:

• Students: Use our friendly campus counseling services to talk through feelings of anxiety, loneliness, stress, or just to have someone supportive to talk to.
• Faculty and Staff: Reach out to the Faculty & Staff Assistance Program to set up a time to chat with a trained counselor.

We are glad that you have chosen to be a part of the CU Boulder community. ISSS is here to assist you so please reach out to us if you need anything.

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With the transition in U.S. presidential administration and Congress on January 20, 2025, we understand that this time of change may bring feelings of uncertainty and anxiety.

When immigration-related changes are announced, ISSS reviews the federal policy, regulation, or executive order and will communicate the expected impact on our News & Alerts webpage. You are encouraged to monitor the Immigration Alerts webpage for updates.

• ISSS will do its best to release information in a timely manner. The process of reviewing and publishing information, however is not an immediate process. In addition to our internal review, we also seek guidance from the university’s administration, , team, and international education leaders.

We want to reassure you that you are a valued and integral part of our CU Boulder community. If you are feeling worried or overwhelmed—whether about this transition or any other challenges—you are not alone. 

ISSS is here to provide guidance and support. Connect with us in an advising appointment, or a program, or by .

We also encourage you to prioritize your well-being and take advantage of the many resources available on campus to support you.

Together, we can navigate this time of transition.

• CU Boulder Federal Transition webpage
• Research and Federal Funding website
• CU Boulder Statements
• Submit a question to Buff Info

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Immigration regulations require students in F-1 and J-1 status to be enrolled in a full-time course load each fall and spring semester to maintain nonimmigrant visa status. Full-time enrollment is only required in the summer if it is your first or last semester of enrollment.

Drop Advising Required Hold

Each fall and spring semester a hold is placed on the student records of all students in F-1 and J-1 status to prevent them from dropping a class without prior permission from ISSS and unintentionally falling below full-time enrollment, a violation of status. This hold does not affect a student's ability to add a class or drop classes related to future semester enrollment.

• The hold will be placed on the student records of all students in F-1 and J-1 status on January 30, 2025. It will be viewable in the .

If students in F-1 or J-1 status wish to drop a class after the hold is placed on their record, they must contact an ISSS advisor to request permission to drop the class(es). If dropping the class(es) will not result in under-enrollment, then the Drop Advising Required Hold will be removed for 48 hours in order to allow students to drop the approved class(es).

• Students can meet with an ISSS advisor during advising hours or email ISSS to have the hold removed temporarily.

ISSS will place the hold back on students’ records to prevent the dropping of additional courses.

Exceptions to the Full-Time Enrollment Requirement

ISSS can only authorize a drop below full-time enrollment if the required documentation is submitted to ISSS and a student is eligible for an academic reduced course load, medical reduced course load, or it is the student's final semester and less than full-time enrollment is required to complete the degree (see the Confirmation of Final Semester e-form (available in MyISSS portal).

Contact ISSS with any questions regarding the drop advising required hold and full-time enrollment requirement.

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On December 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of State released an . 

• The Skills List is one of the factors used to determine whether a J-1 exchange visitor and their dependents, if applicable, are subject to the 212(e) two-year home country physical presence requirement.

What is the Skills List?

The Skills List identifies countries that the U.S. government deems to have a critical need for individuals with specialized knowledge or skills in certain fields. If you are a citizen or legal permanent resident of a country on this list and you will be engaged in a field of specialized knowledge or skill associated with that country during your J-1 program, you may be subject to the 212(e) two-year home country physical presence requirement.

The 212(e) Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement

The 212(e) requirement mandates that certain J-1 exchange visitors must return to their home country for a minimum of two years after completing their exchange program in the U.S. This requirement is intended to ensure that countries with critical shortages of certain skills can benefit from the experience and expertise of these exchange visitors.

Key Changes in the Updated Skills List

The updated Skills List removes the 212(e) two-year home residency requirement for J-1 visa holders from several countries, including:

• Brazil

• China

• India

• Indonesia

• Saudi Arabia

• South Korea

• Sri Lanka

• United Arab Emirates 

Please review the ⁠ to see which countries remain on the list.  

J-1 exchange visitors who would have previously been subject to the 212(e) requirement based on the Skills List, are no longer subject to this condition if their country is no longer listed.

• Retroactive release from 212(e) obligations is not available to exchange visitors when only a skill area is removed from the list, but the country itself remains on the list.

• Exchange visitors can still be subject to the 212(e) requirement based on government funding or graduate medical education/training, even if their country is no longer listed.

What Does This Mean for You?

If you are a J-1 exchange visitor and your country has been removed from the Skills List, you will no longer be subject to the 212(e) requirement based on the Skills List. This provides more flexibility for exchange visitors to pursue various U.S. immigration statuses without needing to first fulfill the two-year home country physical presence obligation. 

• You can still be subject to the 212(e) requirement based on government funding or graduate medical education/training.

To learn more about the conditions that make an individual subject to the 212(e) requirement, its impact, and how to fulfill the requirement, review the ISSS 212(e) webpage and contact the ISSS advisor assigned to your department if you have questions. 

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If you plan to travel internationally for winter break, make sure you plan ahead to avoid any complications with re-entry to the United States. One of the most important steps is ensuring that your I-20 (for students in F-1 status) or DS-2019 (for students in J-1 status) has a valid travel signature from our office.

• You do NOT need a travel signature to leave the U.S., but you must have one to re-enter.

Consequences of Traveling Without a Valid Travel Signature

If you travel without a valid travel signature, you risk being:

1. Denied re-entry to the U.S. or
2. Issued an , granting temporary status in the U.S. for only 30 days.
   • If you are issued an I-515A, you must meet with an ISSS advisor immediately to extend your admission beyond the 30-day period.

Return Date for Students

The spring 2025 semester begins on January 13, 2025, and we’re excited to welcome you back! To set yourself up for success, arrive in the U.S. before the semester starts so you’re ready for the first day of in-person classes. ISSS is here to support you, answer your questions, and provide a current travel signature.

• Permission for late arrival is granted by your faculty, and entry into the U.S. is decided by the port of entry officer.

Reminder: Travel Signatures are Valid for One Year!

• Travel signatures are valid for up to one year from the most recent signature date or until the end of your I-20/DS-2019 program, whichever comes first.
• Exception: If you are on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training a travel signature is valid only for 6 months from the date of the signature.

If you already have a valid travel signature, you do not need to request a new one every time you travel outside the U.S.

• F-1 /F-2 Status: Travel signatures are provided at the bottom of page 2 of your I-20 under “Travel Endorsement.”
• J-1/ J-2 Status: Travel signatures are provided in the lower right-hand corner of your DS-2019.

Travel Signature Request Timeline

Plan ahead! ISSS will be closed for winter break, and it is best practice to request a travel signature before leaving the U.S.

• All I-20 and DS-2019 travel signatures are issued electronically.
• ISSS processing time is 2-5 business days.
• ISSS cannot expedite requests. We must process requests in the order they are received.

If you request a travel signature after Spring semester enrollment opens, ISSS will need to confirm you are eligible to enroll in the next term before issuing the travel signature. Be sure to resolve any holds on your account that may limit your future enrollment.

• The Drop Advising Required ISSS hold will not prevent you from registering for coursework in a future term.

How Do I Request a Travel Signature from ISSS?

• F-1 Visa Holders: Complete the I-20 Reprint Request e-form (available in MyISSS portal.)
  • ISSS will email you an I-20 with a new travel signature.
    • Print the I-20, sign it in ink in the "Student Attestation" section at the bottom of p.1 and carry it with you when you travel to the United States.
• J-1 Visa Holders: Complete the DS-2019 Reprint Request e-form (available in MyISSS portal).
  • ISSS will email you a DS-2019 with a new travel signature.
    • Print the DS-2019, sign it in ink in the "Exchange Visitor Certification" section at the bottom of p.1 and carry it with you when you travel to the United States.

What Else Do I Need to Know Before I Travel?

Before you travel, review the Student Travel Handout or Scholar Travel Handout for a complete list of documents you’ll need. These handouts also provide additional travel considerations and instructions on downloading your I-94 upon return.

After re-entering the U.S., ISSS highly recommends checking your I-94 to ensure Customs and Border Protection (CBP) admitted you in the correct status for the correct duration of time.

Additional Resources

• Visa Renewal Information for Students and Scholars
• International Student Travel FAQ for Students on OPT

Resource Tip

• This information is referenced on the ISSS Student Travel webpage and Scholar International Travel & Temporary Absence/ Out of Country webpage.

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As we approach the transition in U.S. presidential administration and Congress on January 20, 2025, we understand that this time of change may bring feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. While changes to U.S. immigration laws and policies may occur in the future, ISSS does not have information about what those changes might be.

We want to reassure you that you are a valued and integral part of our CU Boulder community. If you are feeling worried or overwhelmed—whether about this transition or any other challenges—you are not alone. We encourage you to prioritize your well-being and take advantage of the many resources available on campus to support you.

Please know that ISSS is always here to provide guidance and support. Together, we can navigate this time of transition.

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The ISSS website will be upgraded to a newer version at the end of October/beginning of November. This will result in issues accessing ISSS webpages and files hosted on our website.

• ISSS will have to manually re-link all files currently hosted on our website. It will take a considerable amount of time for us to identify files, re-link them, and determine all the places we referenced the files (e.g., handouts, webpages, forms, email templates etc.).

If you are unable to access an ISSS webpage or file, email ISSS@colorado.edu with “Website Issue” in the subject line.

• Include information about 1) the name of the webpage or file you were trying to access and 2) how you were trying to access it (e.g., through a link in an email; from a webpage, from a specific handout). Provide relevant details as applicable.
  • ISSS will work to resolve the issue with the webpage/file and provide you access to it.

ISSS appreciates your patience and help as we work on the updates associated with this upgrade.

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ISSS fall advising hours begin August 12, 2024. All advising times listed below are in the . Any future changes to advising hours will be announced on our website.

• ISSS will be closed for all university holidays.

General Advising Hours

In-Person Advising at ISSS (C4C, S355)

• Monday, Wednesday, & Friday: 12:30 to 3 p.m.
  • No in-person walk-in advising hours on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

Scheduled Remote Advising Appointments

• Monday: 9 to 11:30 a.m.
• Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1 to 3:30 p.m. & 5 to 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m & 2:30 to 5 p.m.
• Thursday: 7 to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., & 2 to 4:30 p.m.
• Friday: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m

• Select Remote General ISSS Advising Appointment; appointments are only available six days in advance.

Scholar Advising: Search for ISSS Advisor By Department, Research Institute, or CU Campus  

• Contact your assigned ISSS advisor directly to schedule an advising appointment.

Third-Party Sponsored Student Advising Hours

(for students sponsored by Aramco Services, the Kuwait Cultural Office, Embassy of Oman, SABIC, SACM, SCO, or Fulbright)

In-Person Advising at ISSS (C4C, S355)

• Monday, Wednesday, & Friday: 12:30 to 3 p.m.
  • No in-person sponsored student walk-in advising hours on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
  • No in-person sponsored student walk-in advising on Monday, August 19, 2024.

Scheduled Remote Advising Appointments

• Tuesday: 9 to 11 a.m.
• Thursday: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

• Select Remote Sponsored Student Advising Appointment; appointments are only available six days in advance.

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A graduating international student reported the following fake job offer scam--

The student was approached and interviewed by a person who represented himself from the company's recruiting team. After the interview, the student was offered a job and sent an appointment letter to sign. After a discussion with the Hiring Manager, the student signed the offer letter and was asked to provide their passport. They were also sent a digital check and asked to deposit the money in their bank account to purchase work equipment.

How To Avoid a Job Scam

Before you accept a job offer, take these steps to avoid common job scams:

• Search online. Look up the name of the company or the person who’s hiring you, plus the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” See if others say they’ve been scammed by that company or person. No complaints? It doesn’t guarantee that a company is honest, but complaints can tip you off to possible problems.
• Talk to someone you trust. Describe the offer to them. What do they think? This also helps give you vital time to think about the offer.
• Don't pay for the promise of a job. Honest employers, including the federal government, will never ask you to pay to get a job. Anyone who does is a scammer.
• Never bank on a “cleared” check. No honest potential employer will ever send you a check to deposit and then tell you to send on part of the money, or buy with it. That’s a . The check will bounce, and the bank will want you to repay the amount of the fake check.

What To Do if You Paid a Scammer

No matter how you paid — , or , , cash reload card, or — immediately contact the company you used to send the money, report the fraud, and ask to have the transaction reversed, if possible. For specific advice on how to reverse different types of payments, read .

Additional Resources

• Employment-Related Phishing Emails and Scams
• Protect Yourself from Scams

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