A visa is an official document stamped on a page in someone’s passport granting permission for a specific time and purpose, like work, travel, or study. F-1 and J-1 visas are nonimmigrant visas issued to individuals entering the U.S. to study and are granted by the Department of State. Holders of these visas use a valid visa stamp along with an I-20 (for F-1) or DS-2019 (for J-1) to pursue their academic programs in the United States. The ISS office provides immigration advice and benefits processing to these visa holders and complies with the rules put forth by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

• Read more about the duration of status changes. More information will be available as we receive clarity and guidance from DHS. 

Our Travel Ban page has information about who is affected by the 2025 travel bans. 

If a visa is revoked, it becomes invalid from the date the revocation was issued. A consular officer or the Secretary of State can revoke a visa at their discretion. Once a visa is revoked, it is no longer valid for entry to the United States. 

If a visa is revoked, the student will receive a notification from the Department of State or the U.S. embassy or consulate where the visa was granted. The notification may go to the email address provided at the time of the visa application. Visa revocation notices only go to the F-1 or J-1 student; the ISS office is not notified of a visa revocation. 

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), termination of a student’s SEVIS record could indicate that the nonimmigrant no longer maintains F or J status. Designated school officials (DSOs) may terminate F-1 students who do not maintain their status. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has terminated SEVIS records directly.

Some consequences after a SEVIS record termination are that the student loses all employment authorization; the student cannot re-enter the United States on the terminated SEVIS record, and ICE agents may investigate to confirm the departure. 

ISS regularly reviews SEVIS records to identify any SEVIS records that the Department of Homeland Security has terminated. If a student's record has been terminated, we will notify them immediately. 

At this time, there is no way for students to check their SEVIS record status. ISS regularly checks for SEVIS terminations and informs those who are impacted. 

• Failing to maintain your immigration status will result in SEVIS termination. A terminated SEVIS record means that F-1 status has ended and your I-20 is no longer valid. In most cases, the termination of your SEVIS record means that you must plan to immediately depart the U.S. Failure to depart the U.S. after a status violation could result in arrest, detention or deportation.
• You will receive written notice from SEVIS, USCIS or UB’s ISS office.
• ISS will help you understand options and connect you to immigration attorneys or local nonprofits. If DHS starts removal proceedings, you have the right to a hearing and to be represented by counsel.
• Read more about violation of status.

A presidential proclamation issued in September 2025 introduced a new $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions. Starting at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on September 21, 2025, sponsoring employers must include a one-time $100,000 payment with any new H-1B petition. This fee is in addition to existing USCIS filing fees.

The fee applies only to new H-1B petitions. It does not affect renewals, extensions or amendments for individuals inside the United States where the individual is granted such renewal, extension or amendment. "Further, an alien beneficiary of such petition will not be considered to be subject to the payment if he or she subsequently departs the United States and applies for a visa based on the approved petition and/or seeks to reenter the United States on a current H-1B visa."

See "Presidential Proclamation on Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" on the USCIS website at: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/h-1b-specialty-occupations.

The university will maintain flexibility and automatically defer international student admission deposits until at least Fall 2026 for any international student who does not enroll. 

• Yes. UB’s campuses are located in Amherst and Buffalo, both considered safe communities. Amherst has consistently ranked among the safest cities in New York State and the U.S. for towns of its size. See the House Grail 2025 ranking. Buffalo, while a larger city, offers strong neighborhood support systems. UB maintains its own professional on-campus University Police, providing 24/7 patrols, emergency response and crime prevention services
• Visit our Safety page to learn more about UB campus safety measures and resources. 

Despite publicity, the practical effects on most international students are minimal. Impacts may include:

• tighter visa screening, including review of publicly available online content
• periodic, localized immigration-enforcement actions. Thus far, Buffalo has not seen widespread ICE actions, and there has been no ICE enforcement activity on UB’s campuses.

The overwhelming majority of international students study, work and graduate without immigration issues.

• We have no indication that ICE is or plans to be active on UB’s campuses. If questioned, you have the right to remain silent, to ask for a lawyer, and to request to see a judicial warrant before letting anyone enter private spaces. UB can refer you to legal resources and provide emergency contacts. UB does not voluntarily cooperate with federal immigration enforcement unless required by a legal instrument like a judicial warrant.
• Learn more about the rights of visitors to the U.S. on the ACLU website. 

The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits universities from releasing information from a student’s education records without consent, except under specific circumstances. UB will not release immigration-related information to federal immigration officials unless required by law.

• Peaceful protests and expressing opinions are protected under US law. You may participate in peaceful protests; however, understand that there is a greater risk involved as a non-immigrant. If you are arrested, charged, or convicted while participating in a protest, this will likely impact your current and future immigration status, any future immigration or visa applications, and your interactions with immigration and consular authorities. If you participate in a peaceful protest, always pay close attention to your surroundings. If the police issue orders to leave the area or end the protest, comply immediately.
• Visit the U.S. Laws and Your Rights page of our website to learn more about your rights in the U.S.

• Consular officials may review publicly visible social media. Any content that promotes violence, criminal activity, harassment or terrorism can cause problems.
• Visit our Visa Policy Updates page to learn more. 

• Carry their immigration documents at all times, including their passport, I-20 or DS-2019, and a copy of their I-94 (arrival record), and EAD (for students on post-completion OPT and the 24-month STEM extension).
• Study full-time and make normal progress toward their degree
• Never work without proper work authorization.
• Comply with all U.S. federal and state laws.
  • Additional information about maintaining status for F-1 visa holders
  • Additional information about maintaining status for J-1 visa holders

Travel is a personal choice and inherently carries some risk. ISS encourages students to carefully plan travel with ample time to accommodate for any potential delays. When considering travel, international students should first check if they have the required documents to return to the U.S. If a student's visa has expired, they must renew it before they can re-enter the U.S. Students should factor in visa appointment wait times at the embassy or consulate where they will be renewing their visa. Lastly, students who have specific questions about their travel should speak with ISS. 

The New York State Office of New Americans provides free legal services through its statewide network of community-based service providers. Students can and are encouraged to access the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Find a Lawyer directory.

The university abides by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.  

• For an immigration-related emergency, call UPD at 716-645-2227 and explain your situation to the dispatcher. UPD will contact ISS and relay the information, as needed.
• For a health and safety emergency, call UPD’s emergency line, 716-645-2222 (on-campus) or 911 (off-campus). After you have received assistance, notify ISS.
• For routine immigration-related issues, such as requests for updated I-20s, travel endorsements, employment updates, etc., please refer to the corresponding page of our website. While these issues may be important and urgent, they are not considered emergencies. 

Enrolled F-1 and J-1 students are eligible to apply for Student Life Emergency Funds, the Steven L. Shaw Memorial International Student Emergency Fund, which provides financial support during times of crisis or an emergency. Anyone can donate to the emergency fund. Please note that this is not a fund supporting students’ legal costs, but to be used for expenses such as utilities, rent, and/or food. Students may also utilize Blue Table for emergency food support and Counseling Services for mental wellness support.

• F-1 & J-1 international students can speak with ISS.
• UB's international employees can contact UB Immigration Services.