ISSS is here to serve the international population and Temple departments and schools. We will continue to monitor and inform the community of any specific and relevant changes in policies or regulations. Know that you are a valued part of the Temple community and we are glad you are here!
Please read the information below regarding your rights and responsibilities during your stay in the United States.
Some of you may wonder about potential changes to policies governing U.S. visas and immigration under the current administration. International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) monitors immigration/visa policies and any proposed changes impacting the populations of international students, scholars, employees, and dependents we serve. This includes shifts in policy or regulatory changes proposed by federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security, as well as executive actions or presidential proclamations made by the White House. Note that some types of changes can be made quickly, whereas other changes would take a significant amount of time to implement. We confer with the University Counsel (Temple University) and Legal Counsel (Temple University Health System) and retained immigration counsel, when additional analysis is needed.
To keep the Temple community informed, we send updates via email, make announcements on the ISSS website, and schedule forums or webinars, when specific changes are announced by the U.S. Government that directly impact the community. While we cannot predict any future courses of action or shifts in policy, we will clarify any changes and potential impacts for the populations we serve to the extent that we are able. To avoid spreading misinformation, we will not address pending legislation, proposed policy changes, unverified news reports, or social media speculation.
As of now, there are no changes that have been implemented that affect the international student, scholar, employee or dependent population served by ISSS.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Maintain status. As you are aware, there are specific requirements for those in a non-immigrant status (F, J, H-1B, etc). It is important to understand and follow these requirements. These are explained in detail on the ISSS website broken down by immigration status.
Ask the ISSS questions. We are here to advise. There are some scenarios where, based on a number of different factors (e.g. degree/major, field of expertise, country of citizenship, immigration history), individualized advice may be merited. It is important to also understand that not all proposed changes apply to you or your visa type or situation.
Apply as early as possible. If you are applying for a visa or for immigration benefits, such as OPT, it is important to apply early. Processing times vary, and are influenced by a variety of factors, including policy and regulatory changes and staffing levels. It is important to factor in potential delays in processing when applying for specific immigration benefits or visas.
Report an RFE. If you have applied for a benefit related to your immigration status and receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) or other unexpected communication from USCIS, you should contact ISSS for assistance to make sure that you provide a prompt and accurate response. This will also help us track the number and details of the RFEs received by our population. While the request may seem simple (for instance, a F-1 student receiving an RFE for their transcripts, after applying for OPT), having an ISSS staff member review it before you respond may save additional time or prevent further requests.
Plan ahead for international travel. If you have planned or are considering travel outside the U.S., make sure you have reviewed any travel related guidance for your visa type. (F and J students, see this webpage; J-1 scholars and employment based visa holders, see this guidance). On occasion, the visa appointment wait times are long at some U.S. embassies and consulates. If you are unable to secure an appointment to renew or obtain a visa stamp prior to travel, it is important to consider that your return to the U.S. may be delayed and to plan accordingly.
Ensure you have your immigration documents while traveling within the U.S. As always, if you are travelling in the U.S., ISSS recommends carrying your immigration documents with you.
Avoid poor sources of information. Consider the source of your information carefully as rumors and misinformation can cause undue concern. For example, social media and news outlets may not provide accurate information about policy changes, nor address important differences in the myriad of visa types.
Realize that your well-being matters. Some individuals may feel apprehensive about changes that might happen in the U.S. We understand that uncertainty can create feelings of anxiety. We encourage you to be mindful of your overall well-being and take advantage of the opportunities at Temple that are of interest to you. This includes wellness resources for students & faculty and staff and recreational sports. Counseling services are available through Tuttleman Counseling Services.
Nonimmigrants and lawful permanent residents must make sure to do these two things. The penalty for not doing so can be severe, under long-standing laws.
- Carry their immigration document - Nonimmigrants and lawful permanent residents must carry their “evidence of registration” document at all times. Usually, this is Form I-94 for nonimmigrants, or Form I-551 (green card) for lawful permanent residents.
- Report address changes within 10 days - All aliens living in the United States (this includes nonimmigrants, lawful permanent residents, and any other individual who is not a citizen of the United States) must report any change of address within 10 days of the address change. Individuals in F and J status should report their change of address to ISSS; we will update your SEVIS record with the new address.
All individuals holding nonimmigrant status (F-1, J-1, H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1, etc) are required to carry a printout of their I-94. Be sure to print out a hard copy of your most recent I-94 copy and put it in your wallet. H-1B holders should also carry a copy of their H-1B Approval Notice. Do not hand your phone or laptop to anyone to look at a PDF of your documents - carry the hard copy.
Visit the ACLU's website at www.aclu.org/know-your-rights
You can download your I-94 at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home
On a daily basis nonimmigrants should carry their I-94 printout, and permanent residents their green card, to comply with INA 264(e). It is also a good idea to carry any relevant status document such as Form I-20, DS-2019, Form I-797, a valid EAD card if autorized for employment, etc. In fact, the I-20 instructions inform students:
"FORM I-20. The Form I-20 (this form) is the primary document to show that you have been admitted to school in the United States and that you are authorized to apply for admission to the United States in F-1 class of admission. You must have your Form I-20 with you at all times. If you lose your Form I-20, you must request a new one from your designated school official (DSO) at the school named on your Form I-20."
In addition to carrying the above, when flying domestically and other activities all individuals must carry adequate identification under REAL ID requirements that go into effect on May 7, 2025. REAL ID will require all individuals to have a REAL ID-compliant identification document for the following federal purposes:
- entering federal facilities
- boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft
- entering nuclear power plants
- "any other purposes that the Secretary [of Homeland Security] shall determine."
Another requirement, related to the "registration" requirement, is that noncitizens living in the United States for 30 days or longer must report to USCIS any change of address, within 10 days of the address change. [INA 265(a) [8 USC 1305(a); 8 CFR 265.1]
USCIS has designated Form AR-11 to be used for this purpose. USCIS's Form AR-11 page states, "we strongly encourage requestors to use the self-service change of address tool available in their USCIS online account when reporting a change of address."
The USCIS page How to Change Your Address contains detailed information and links. It states: "Most people can change their address online using the USCIS self-service change-of-address tool in their USCIS Online Account under the My Account dropdown menu. If you do not have a USCIS online account, see our How to Create a USCIS Online Account page."
The law also provides for severe penalties for failing to notify USCIS about an address change. INA 266(b) states:
"Any alien or any parent or legal guardian in the United States of any alien who fails to give written notice [of an address change] to the Attorney General, as required by section 265 of this title, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not to exceed $200 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. Irrespective of whether an alien is convicted and punished as herein provided, any alien who fails to give written notice to the Attorney General, as required by section 265, shall be taken into custody and removed in the manner provided by chapter 4 of this title, unless such alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that such failure was reasonably excusable or was not willful."
The USCIS Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) tool allows individuals with pending applications, petitions, or requests to update their address online via their MyUSCIS account. This tool removes the need to update addresses in multiple places or submit a paper form. The tool is accessible to all USCIS account holders, regardless of how they submitted their cases. For more details, visit the USCIS page How to Change Your Address.
Remember, though, that F-1 and M-1 students must also continue to inform their DSO of any change of address (8 CFR 214.2(f)(17) and 8 CFR 214.2(m)(18) and J-1 exchange visitors must also inform their responsible officer (RO) of address changes (22 CFR 62.10(d) and 8 CFR 214.2(j)(1)(viii)) so that SEVIS can be properly updated. This also must be done within 10 days of the address change.
In addition, changing an address with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will not change an individual’s address with USCIS and USPS will not forward mail from USCIS. Individuals must update their address information with both USCIS and USPS, and with their DSO (F and M students) or their RO (J exchange visitors).