This message was originally sent to all international students and scholars by email on April 15, 2025

Dear International Huskies,

We are writing today with additional information on the changing U.S. immigration landscape related to international student visa revocations and terminated SEVIS records. Over the past week hundreds of international students at universities across the U.S. have had their visas revoked and/or their SEVIS records terminated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with no notice provided to the university.

Unfortunately, international students at UConn have also been impacted by these actions. We want to explain in more detail what a SEVIS record is, and how ISSS is responding to these actions. We also want to assure you that we are closely monitoring SEVIS for record changes while coordinating support for impacted students. You will be contacted directly by ISSS should your SEVIS record be impacted as described; it is not necessary to contact ISSS to request a verification of your SEVIS status.

Background Information

• The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, is a federal database with records for each student and exchange visitor in the U.S. on an F-1/F-2 or J-1/J-2 visa. When you are admitted or invited to UConn and request an I-20 form (F-1) or DS-2019 form (J-1), UConn creates a record for you in SEVIS. UConn is required to use SEVIS as a condition of sponsoring your visa. Your SEVIS record has all the information that is listed on your I-20 or DS-2019 form, plus additional information that must be kept up to date per federal visa regulations.

• Each SEVIS record has a “status”. Before you arrive in the U.S., your SEVIS status is in “initial” status. After you arrive and check in, UConn updates the status to “active”. When you finish your program, your SEVIS record is “complete”. However, in some cases your record could be updated to “Terminated”- this can happen if you intentionally or unintentionally do something that is not permitted under the F/J visa regulations, or if you leave your program before completing.

• In the recent cases of SEVIS terminations/visa revocations, the government has terminated student SEVIS records without communicating with schools about why the actions were taken.

• Factors that appear to put students at a higher risk of SEVIS termination include having a prior arrest or documented criminal activity, public participation in political activism, or having a prior visa revocation.

• The legal consequences of having a government-terminated SEVIS record are unclear, and students in this situation should work with legal counsel to understand the implications for their legal status in the U.S.

What is ISSS doing in response?

• Every day, multiple times per day, ISSS staff review student, scholar and OPT lists in the SEVIS database to look for changes in SEVIS status.

• If ISSS identifies a SEVIS record that was terminated by the government, they will contact the student/scholar and their academic department by email as soon as possible.  While having a terminated SEVIS record will not impact a student’s academic status, it will prevent them from working in the U.S. and may limit access to services where the immigration status needs to be verified, like at the DMV.

• ISSS will provide the impacted student with a list of immigration attorneys and guidance on how to engage with the immigration attorney.

• ISSS works with a team of campus partners who are working to evaluate academic and support options for each student or scholar and provide logistical and emotional support. Students can expect to receive support from ISSS, Dean of Students, The Graduate School, their academic departments and others.

• Each student or scholar case is different, and the options available to each student or scholar will also be different.

• In general when a student’s record is terminated the following happens:

• Student loses all on- and/or off-campus employment authorization.

• Student cannot re-enter the United States on the terminated SEVIS record.

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents may investigate to confirm the departure of the student.

• Any associated F-2 or M-2 dependent records are terminated.”

 

What can you do during this time?

• All students and exchange visitors on F/J visas, and their dependents, must carry evidence of your registration in the U.S. at all times.  For most, this evidence is your I-94 admission record. You should print your I-94 record here, and keep a copy of this with you. Click on “Get Most Recent I-94″ to print your record.

• Review the F/J visa regulations here: https://international.global.uconn.edu/maintaining-status/ so that you can make sure to follow all regulations while in the U.S. F and J visa rules are also printed on page 2 of the Form I-20 and on the back side of the Form DS-2019.

• Think about who you would call in the event of an immigration emergency like an arrest or detainment and keep this person’s telephone number with you. This might be a family member or an attorney; it should be someone who can make phone calls and arrangements on your behalf. Also keep the number of your home country’s embassy or consulate with you, if your country has diplomatic relations with the U.S.

•  Be aware of your social media usage and any public political activism or support. You may find this guide to social media usage for noncitizens helpful.

• Attend an Immigration Q&A on Tuesday, April 15, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm with Immigration Attorney Dan Berger, from Green and Spiegel. Attorney Berger will be providing information, not legal advice about the current immigration landscape.  Find additional information and join the meeting here.

Travel this Summer:

Many students have questions now about whether they should travel abroad during the summer break.  This is a personal decision to make but may be influenced by certain factors.

• There have been reports of possible travel bans for international students and scholars from specific countries. UConn does not know when or if these travel bans will be published, which countries will be included on final lists, and what type of travel restrictions each country may face.

• Every time you return from a trip abroad you are putting yourself before a federal immigration officer at a U.S. Port of Entry when you seek entry to the U.S.  If there is anything in your personal history that could be problematic (a history of arrests in the U.S., a prior terminated SEVIS record, evidence of unauthorized employment or other concerns) you could be pulled into secondary inspection and be asked to explain your actions.

• If renewing a visa, consular officers have indicated that they are paying more attention to social media profiles, and students who have prior terminated SEVIS records may face extra scrutiny during the visa renewal process.

• Students and scholars seeking entry to the U.S. should be aware that all electronic devices will be subject to search/review.

• Do not forget to obtain an up-to-date travel signature from ISSS before you depart and ensure that your U.S. visa is unexpired and that your passport will be valid at least six months beyond your return date.

University Resources

• International students and visiting scholars can visit the Center for International Students & Scholars website for updated guidance on travel concerns and emerging trends related to their immigration status, and to connect with international advising staff who can provide individualized guidance
•  General student support is also available from the Dean of Students Office and The Graduate School.

We also want to remind students of the mental health support services available to them:

International students at UConn Storrs and the regional campuses:

• Office of Student Care and Concern – 860-486-8777

• Student Health and Wellness Mental Health – 860-486-4700
• Student Health and Wellness Immediate Support Services – 833-308-3040

International employees, including graduate assistants represented by the GEU at UConn Storrs and regional campuses:

• Employee Assistance Program – 1-800-676-HELP (4357) (for employees, including graduate assistants)

I hope to see you today at the Immigration Q & A.

 

Best regards,

___________

Arthur Galinat (pronounce my name)

(he/him/his)
Director, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
UConn Global Affairs
Center for International Student & Scholars (CISS)
2019 Hillside Rd., U-1083
STORRS, CT 06269-1083
PHONE: 860.486.3855  |  FAX: 860.486.5800

EMAIL: arthur.galinat@uconn.edu | http://international.global.uconn.edu

This message was originally sent by email on 4/13/2025

Dear International Huskies,

I’m writing with information about an important upcoming event on Tuesday.  ISSS will host attorney Dan Berger from Green and Spiegel, an immigration law firm on Tuesday, April 15 from 3:30-4:30 pm for a virtual Immigration Q & A with international students and scholars. This will be open to all international students and scholars and is a good opportunity to ask any outstanding questions you may have.  You should submit your questions in ADVANCE.  Submit your questions here.

Get more information and join the Webex from the event calendar page.

This message was originally sent by email to the Council of Deans on April 10, 2025.

Dear colleagues,

We are writing to update you on UConn’s response to recent federal actions impacting international students across the U.S. As you may know, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has terminated hundreds of Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records of international students in the U.S., which has implications for their immigration status. The Department of State (DOS) has also revoked a number of international student visas, restricting their ability to seek entry to the U.S.

Unfortunately, international students at UConn have also been impacted by these actions. The university has not received any notifications from the federal government regarding SEVIS terminations or visa revocations; their cases were discovered through a university SEVIS record audit. While only a small number of UConn students have been affected, the impact for these students is considerable. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and the university, through its International Student and Scholar Services unit, continues to monitor SEVIS closely for changes to student records and coordinate support for impacted students. This process will include notifying Deans and Department Heads when students in their programs have experienced a DHS SEVIS termination or DOS visa revocation leading to loss of status.

In February, UConn established a rapid response team to address immigration policy changes impacting our community. The team is co-chaired by Rae Alexander, Assistant Vice President for Global Affairs, and Fany DeJesus Hannon, Dean of Students, and includes representation from the Office of the General Counsel, The Graduate School, the Division of Student Life and Enrollment, University Communications, UConn Police and Human Resources. We understand that there are multiple conversations happening on campus about this important issue, and we invite you to send your inquiries to Rae Alexander, rae.alexander@uconn.edu, to ensure your questions and concerns reach the team.

Further communications and resources for international students and the UConn community are forthcoming. Thank you for your continued support of our international community during this challenging time.

Best regards,

Rae Alexander, Assistant Vice President for Global Affairs
Dr. Fany DeJesus Hannon, Dean of Students

This message was originally sent by email to the university community on April 10, 2025. 

Dear Colleagues and Students,

In light of issues related to immigration enforcement nationally and ongoing discussions around potential policy and legal changes at the federal level in this area, the University has, understandably, received numerous questions and concerns from faculty, staff, and students.

UConn is a global community with students, faculty, and staff from throughout the world. We want to do all we can to share information and resources that may be useful to those community members who are impacted, or potentially impacted, during this challenging time.

To that end, we have created a webpage listing helpful legal resources and community partners who can provide assistance to students and employees in need of help related to their immigration status. We will update the site as additional resources are identified.

One of the questions that is most frequently asked has to do with the University providing or funding legal representation for employees and students who may be accused of being out of compliance with immigration laws.

The University cannot devote resources to funding or otherwise supporting what would be considered the personal costs of individual students and employees based on their association with UConn. This would be using public resources to provide a private benefit not available to the general public.

Although the University is prohibited from offering legal representation or financial assistance for legal representation, we remain committed to doing anything we can to support our students, faculty, and staff on this or any issue.

If an employee requires general guidance about their employment-based visa sponsorship, please do not hesitate to reach out to Alison Cutler or Christene Cooper in Human Resources.

For such guidance related to student visa sponsorship, please see the Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS) website for information or email International@uconn.edu.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support for one another during this challenging time.

 

This message was originally sent by email to the university community on April 10, 2025.

To the University Community,

UConn prides itself on being both one of Connecticut’s greatest assets and a global university. We attract outstanding students from our state as well as students, faculty, and staff from more than 100 other countries to engage in world-class research and scholarship in our state. UConn faculty, staff, and students contribute to Connecticut’s future and help to change the world for the better through advances and innovation in a multitude of fields.

As a follow-up to last week’s message on immigration resources and information: You may be aware of recent reports of student visa revocations and SEVIS record terminations disrupting the lives and academic careers of international students and scholars in the U.S.

These actions have touched UConn as well, and while the number of impacted students here is small, consequences for those impacted are significant. UConn, through its International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) unit, monitors the SEVIS records of our international students and visiting scholars on F and J visas daily, auditing records for any changes initiated by external government officials.

At the first sign of a change, the ISSS will email the student or visiting scholar to inform them of the update and ask them to visit the Center for International Student and Scholar Services (CISS) to meet with a staff member who can connect the student to legal resources and university support services.

ISSS will also notify the student or scholar’s department head and dean so that the student’s academic unit can provide appropriate support. Each student or visiting scholar’s situation is unique, and support for each case is coordinated through ISSS in collaboration with many campus partners, including the Dean of Students Office, The Graduate School, the Division of Student Life and Enrollment, the Cultural Centers, academic deans, and department heads.

UConn Health’s International Office administers a separate SEVIS program and will follow similar procedures. To date, no cases have impacted international students and scholars at UConn Health.

Our university units are working together to prepare our campuses and respond as quickly as possible to this rapidly evolving situation. In February, UConn established a rapid response team to address immigration policy changes impacting our community. The team is co-chaired by Rae Alexander, Assistant Vice President for Global Affairs, and Fany DeJesus Hannon, Dean of Students. It includes representation from the Office of the General Counsel, The Graduate School, the Division of Student Life and Enrollment, University Communications, and UConn Police.

We understand that there are multiple conversations happening on campus about this important issue. We invite you to send your inquiries to Rae Alexander, rae.alexander@uconn.edu, to ensure your questions and concerns reach the team.

You may be asking what you can do at this time:

• International students and visiting scholars can visit the Center for International Students & Scholars website for updated guidance on travel concerns and emerging trends related to their immigration status, and to connect with international advising staff who can provide individualized guidance.

• Undocumented students can reach out to the Dean of Students Office and view the Undocumented Student Resources webpage.

• General student support is also available from the Dean of Students Office and The Graduate School.

• UConn employees who have questions about their employment-based visa sponsorship can reach out to Alison Cutler or Christene Cooper in Human Resources.

• The International Office at UConn Health is responsible for all visas for international students and staff/faculty employed through UConn Health. Reach out to Kaitlin Dornenburg, Department of Human Resources, for assistance.
• All UConn faculty and staff can reach out to Rae Alexander, Assistant Vice President for Global Affairs, with general questions or concerns about changing immigration policies and their impact on our community.

We also want to remind students of the mental health support services available to them:

International students at UConn Health:

• Student Behavioral Health

International students at UConn Storrs and the regional campuses:

• Office of Student Care and Concern – 860-486-8777
• Student Health and Wellness Mental Health – 860-486-4700
• Student Health and Wellness Immediate Support Services – 833-308-3040

International employees, including graduate assistants represented by the GEU at UConn Storrs and regional campuses:

• Employee Assistance Program – 1-800-676-HELP (4357) (for employees, including graduate assistants)

International employees at UConn Health:

• Employee Assistance Program

Finally, we encourage everyone to bookmark the new Legal Resources and Community Partners webpage, which will be updated as information and resources are confirmed.

If you have not been directly impacted by what has been happening in the U.S., now is the time to check in on your friends and fellow Huskies who may be feeling scared and isolated. Now is the time for us as a community to support each other.

 

 

 

This message was originally sent by email to the university community on January 28, 2025. 

Please find a message from President Maric and Provost D’Alleva on the UConn Today website regarding recent executive orders and other actions taken by the federal government.

This message was originally sent to students and scholars by email on March 11, 2025.

Dear International Huskies,

I know that many of you are making your travel plans now for spring break and summer vacation international travel, so I’m writing with some reminders and with information about recent immigration updates. An earlier version of this message was originally sent on February 17, 2025.

Join us tomorrow online or in-person at the CISS in Storrs for an International Student Meeting/Q&A Session.
March 12, 3:00 pm.  International Student Meeting/Listening Session at CISS, rm 202.  Register online and submit questions in advance.

For those students who will be traveling internationally

1. Submit a Travel Information Record every time you travel internationally.  Do this before you depart the U.S. even if you do not need a travel signature.
2. Travel with the following documents in your carry-on bag, every time you travel internationally:
   1. Unexpired Passport
   2. Unexpired F or J visa
   3. Form I-20/Form DS-DS-2019 with travel signature

Check page two of your current form I-20 (or page one of your form DS-2019) to determine if you already have a valid signature.  As a reminder, travel signatures are valid for one year from date of issue (for current students and scholars).  You must still report your travel even if you do not require a travel signature.

If you plan to travel during a break period and need a travel signature, you must submit a travel information record through the ISSS website. Once processed, you will be notified with instructions for retrieving your I-20 with travel signature through the ISSS portal.

If your visa has expired and you need to apply for a new visa, it may be best to postpone your travel until a later date when there is more time to complete this process. Spring break is only one week and does not leave any time for administrative processing or visa issuance delays.

Recent Immigration Updates:  

Over the past few weeks, the ISSS has been fielding inquiries from international students and scholars questioning if recent executive orders will affect international travel plans. ISSS and the university are closely monitoring recent executive orders and their potential impact. In the event a new order is issued that impacts international travel, the ISSS will communicate this with international students and scholars as soon as possible.  While it is possible a new order impacting international travel could be issued, there is no way of knowing what the exact scope will be or what potential exceptions might be included.  Therefore, it is important that you assess the potential risk for you personally and make your travel decisions accordingly.

Please note that section 2 of the Executive Order 14161 directs the Secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State to issue a joint report within 60 days (by March 20, 2025 at the latest) “identifying countries throughout the world for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA.”  This report could lead to travel bans and reduced access to visas for international students and scholars from the countries identified, though as mentioned earlier there may be exceptions or special protocols to any potential ban put in place.

Know that ISSS continues to monitor the situation and send you any updated information on travel.

Best regards,

Arthur

___________

Arthur Galinat (pronounce my name)

(he/him/his)
Director, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
UConn Global Affairs
Center for International Student & Scholars (CISS)
2019 Hillside Rd., U-1083
STORRS, CT 06269-1083
PHONE: 860.486.3855  |  FAX: 860.486.5800

EMAIL: arthur.galinat@uconn.edu | http://international.global.uconn.edu
Facebook: @UConnGlobal  | Instagram: @uconn.global

This message was originally sent by email on March 14, 2025.

Dear International Huskies,

As many of you will start your spring break this weekend, I’m writing with some last-minute announcements and reminders. While there are no classes next week, the CISS in Storrs and ISSS staff will still be working a regular schedule and will be available to international students and visiting scholars.

TAX FILING
If you earned income in 2024 and you need to file a tax return, get started this week!  Nonresident Aliens have two options to help you file your tax return:
Option 1 – Schedule an appointment with the UConn VITA program.  Schedule an appointment and submit the online Appointment Intake Form now so that you will be eligible for an appointment after spring break. Do not wait, schedule your appointment now.

Appointment: https://accounting.business.uconn.edu/vita-program/
Appointment Intake Form: https://vita.business.uconn.edu/vita-appointment-intake-form/

Option 2 – Email international@uconn.edu for a Sprintax discount code and use Sprintax to file your tax return.  This is a great option for students at regional campuses or who live far from Storrs.

Spring Break Work Hours
For those students who will stay on-campus during Spring Break, you are eligible to work more than 20 hours during university break periods including Spring Break (officially March 16 – March 23, 2025). I recognize that the vacation spans two pay periods.   As always students should track their hours.

Report International Travel to UConn – Review Travel Guidance
Submit a Travel Information Record every time you travel internationally.  Do this before you depart the U.S.  Travel with the following documents in your carry-on bag, every time you travel internationally:

• Unexpired Passport
• Unexpired F or J visa
• Form I-20/Form DS-DS-2019 with travel signature

Please review our Spring/Summer 2025 International Travel Guidance message to see important immigration updates.  If there are any changes in U.S. immigration policy in the coming weeks we will notify students by email right away with guidance.

Have a wonderful spring break!
Best regards,

Arthur

___________

Arthur Galinat (pronounce my name)

(he/him/his)
Director, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
UConn Global Affairs
Center for International Student & Scholars (CISS)
2019 Hillside Rd., U-1083
STORRS, CT 06269-1083
PHONE: 860.486.3855  |  FAX: 860.486.5800

EMAIL: arthur.galinat@uconn.edu | http://international.global.uconn.edu
Facebook: @UConnGlobal  | Instagram: @uconn.global

This message was originally sent by email on 2/24/2025

Dear Students and Scholars,

Given the many recent executive orders, ISSS has received questions from international students and scholars about whether they will be asked to verify their immigration status to government officials. We have prepared this guide to help you determine when it may be beneficial to carry your original immigration documents and how to access copies of your documents. Additionally, President, Radenka Maric, and our Provost, Anne D’Alleva sent out a message to the university last month. Please read this message to better understand our commitment to all our international students and scholars: “UConn will continue to support and value every member of our community.”

There are times an international student or scholar may be required to verify their immigration status in the U.S. This is most common when applying for a government benefit like a driver’s license or a Social Security Card. There may also be times a student or scholar is stopped within the U.S. by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official and asked for their immigration status. There is a rule that CBP officials are allowed to conduct stops anywhere within 100 miles of any U.S. land or sea border. ACLU: Know Your Rights – This article explains the 100-mile border zone and CBP’s warrantless stop capabilities. This guide below is a reminder of topics covered in the CISS Welcome Program and can help students and scholars in the event they need to verify their immigration status in the event you are not traveling with your original immigration documents.

Original Immigration Documents

When you are traveling internationally, traveling within the U.S. by air, rail or bus, or traveling within the U.S. and will be away from campus for several days, it is important to carry your original immigration documents. Otherwise, we don’t recommend you carry the original documents on a day-to-day basis at UConn. If your documents are ever lost or stolen it could create a more serious hardship for you, so unless you find yourself in one of the situations above, keep these documents safe.

• Unexpired Passport
• F-1 or J-1 Visa Stamp (can be expired or unexpired)
  • Canadian and Bermudian citizens will most likely not have a visa stamp in their passports. Students and scholars who changed status within the U.S. will also not have a visa stamp (see below).
• Form I-20 or DS-2019
  • These forms verify your student or scholar status at UConn and clue the officer in to your F-1 or J-1 status. For F-1 students working an internship or job using OPT or CPT the I-20 also confirms the worksite on page two. Students and scholars traveling internationally need a travel signature on their I-20 or DS-2019.
• I-94 Admission record
  • The I-94 is similar to a “receipt” for entering the U.S. and verifies the date a student or scholar arrived in the U.S., their visa status and their “admit until” date (the date they must depart the U.S.). The “admit until” date for all students and scholars should be “D/S” or Duration of Status. This means that so long as a student remains in good status and is enrolled full-time and making normal academic progress they may remain in the U.S. For scholars D/S means you are participating in your J-1 program objectives and engaged in your postdoc or other research/observation experience. Students and scholars will receive a new I-94 every time they enter the U.S. Find your I-94 Admission number here (click on “Get Most Recent I-94”).
• Change of status approval documentation
  • Students or scholars who change their U.S. visa status to F-1 or J-1 from another visa status without leaving the U.S. should keep a copy of the approval notice and the updated I-94 attached verifying their change of immigration status.

Paper Copies of Immigration Documents
Keep a paper copy of your immigration documents in the event your original documents are ever lost or stolen. Keeping a secure, paper copy of the documents below in your backpack or handbag that you use daily, or in the glove box of your car is a good idea in the event you are ever stopped and asked to confirm your immigration status.

Electronic Copies of Immigration Documents

In the event you are asked to confirm your immigration status, and you do not have your original or paper copies of your documents, you can access electronic copies on your smartphone or tablet.

Option 1 – Keep an album in the photo gallery on your phone or tablet with copies of your immigration documents.

Option 2 – Log in to the ISSS Portal to retrieve your documents.

All students can log in to https://isssportal.uconn.edu/ with their NetID and password. From your user profile, under “Records”, scroll down and click on “Submit Arrival Documents”. In the “Attached Documents” section of your Submit Arrival Documents section you can open and download a copy of all the documents below.

All J-1 visiting scholars can log in to the ISSS Scholar Portal. Visit: https://s.uconn.edu/scholarportal and login using your personal email and password, not your NetID. Click on the “Documents” tab, scroll down to “Submit Arrival Documents” you can access all the arrival documents that you uploaded to the ISSS Portal.

It is important to remember that unless you have a history of arrests, criminal conviction or a terminated SEVIS record, it is unlikely you will encounter federal immigration officials within the U.S. The most common occasions are consular officials abroad and CBP officers you may encounter when returning to the U.S. from international travel. As a reminder we ask all students and scholars to report their international travel to ISSS before they depart the U.S. One of the questions we screen for is prior arrests and convictions so that we can guide you to resources and advise you appropriately.

In the event you are ever asked to provide the school contact information to a federal immigration official, you should share the CISS office number 860-486-3855 or if it is outside of business hours you should share the contact information for the UConn Police 860-486-4800.

I know this is a lot of information, but I hope that you find it helpful. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Arthur Galinat

___________

Arthur Galinat (pronounce my name)

(he/him/his)
Director, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
UConn Global Affairs
Center for International Student & Scholars (CISS)
2019 Hillside Rd., U-1083
STORRS, CT 06269-1083
PHONE: 860.486.3855  |  FAX: 860.486.5800

EMAIL: arthur.galinat@uconn.edu | http://international.global.uconn.edu