The United States is home to some of the world’s most prestigious universities. However, an increasingly politicized and opaque immigration climate is creating unprecedented barriers for F, J, and M visa applicants and their ability to study in the United States. Visa applicants at consular posts are experiencing intensive scrutiny of their applications (including their social media footprint). For those already inside the United States, the government is proactively taking measures (e.g., visa revocations and SEVIS terminations) that have precipitated class action litigation and left affected students confused about the authorization to continue their studies and concerned about international travel. Our expert panelists will explore recent policy and adjudication trends, the impacts of those trends on academic visa applicants/holders, and best practices for navigating these evolving issues.

Featured Topics

• Changes to the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) regarding new social media/Internet presence review policies and procedures, and best practices for minimizing the risk of visa denial
• Getting specific: country-based issues and the targeting of particular universities
• An imperfect combination: heightened vetting and strains on limited resources for visa processing (due to recent staff cuts)
• The fallout from visa revocations and ICE terminations in SEVIS: expanded use of INA §214(b) for visa denials, accrual of unlawful presence, and issuance of NTAs
• What is ICE’s “Student Criminal Alien Initiative”?
• The return of RFEs challenging “Day 1 CPT” programs in petitions requesting change of status, and strategies for overcoming those RFEs

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Recordings will be available approximately two weeks after the live event date. AILA members can access these seminars, with no CLE credit, for free. Recordings are CLE eligible in most jurisdictions and a $35 administration fee is required to obtain CLE credit.

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