The Current Landscape for Student Visas: The Federal Government Gatekeeping U.S. Universities
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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Enjoy access to free seminar recordings as an AILA Member. AILA encourages live attendance for those wishing to ask the speaker questions. CLE credit is included with purchase for live participants.
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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| Product Details | |
| Event Date | November 5, 2025 |
| Format | Web Seminar |
| Length | 90 minutes |
| CLE Eligible | No CLE Credit. |
| Digital Library | Digital goods (MP3, PDF, ZIP, etc.) are available for download for two years after purchase. |
Ban Al-Wardi (DL), Rolling Hills, CA
Ban Al-Wardi is an immigration attorney and Owner of the Law Office of Ban Al-Wardi. She currently serves on AILA's Student Task Force, AILA's Client Resources Committee, and is an Asylum Office Liaison for the AILA Southern California Chapter. Ban received her JD from Pepperdine School of Law (1999).
Bob White, AILA DOL Liaison Committee Chair, Schaumburg, IL
Bob White is a partner in the Immigration Group of Masuda Funai in its Schaumburg, Illinois office. Bob has been practicing exclusively in the employment-based immigration area for more than 30 years. Bob was previously Chapter Chair of the AILA Chicago Chapter. Bob is currently Chair of the AILA DOL Liaison Committee. He is also a member of the AILA Student Visa Taskforce. Bob was selected as 2022 Lawyer of the Year for Immigration (Chicago) by the Best Lawyers publication.
Dan Berger, Northampton, MA
Dan Berger is a Partner at Green & Spiegel leading the Academic and Medical Immigration Team. He is also an Academic Fellow at Cornell Law School, and advises the Talent Mobility Fund on STEM immigration issues. He currently serves on the AILA Department of State Liaison Committee.
Lisa H. York, Aurora, CO
Lisa H. York is the managing attorney/owner of Curray York & Associates in Aurora, CO. She currently serves on the AILA USCIS HQ Benefits Committee, the Student Visa Task Force, and the AILA National Mid-Year Conference Committee. Lisa has special expertise in H-1B visas, PERM, national interest waivers, outstanding research petitions, F-1/J-1s, and cross-border issues.
