Office of International Students and Scholars

Updated Feb 10, 2025

In the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), we understand that a new presidential administration can bring change and uncertainty.  As happens with every federal election, there can be changes in policy, regulation, legislation and procedures that can impact anyone in the U.S. on a temporary visa (F-1, J-1, H-1B, etc), those without immigration status or those in more tenuous statuses (TPS, pending asylum, etc). Since January 20, 2025 the new presidential administration has signed a number of Executive Orders and other Presidential Actions that are poised to have far-reaching consequences for our international student and scholar populations at Lehigh, but it will take time to understand how these various executive orders will impact the people that OISS supports.  OISS is carefully monitoring updates and changes, and we will update information on this page and communicate with impacted constituents as needed. 

We offer a few guidelines for you to keep in mind when traveling:

• Physical documents are ideal.  Do not rely on electronic copies on a personal device.  Avoid giving anyone access to your personal device (phone, tablet, laptop, etc).
• Be sure to have your original documents with you.  This includes passport, visa, I-20/DS-2019 (if in F or J status), most recent I-94 record, approval notice showing current immigration status (if you changed or extended status in the US).  For current students, we also recommend carrying proof of enrollment such as a printed copy of your unofficial transcript.  For current Lehigh employees, we recommend carrying printed copies of your three most recent pay stubs.
• If you are in F or J status, be sure to request an updated travel signature using the "I-20/DS-2019 Reprint Request" e-form in iHome if you are traveling internationally. Do this at least 2 weeks before you leave the U.S. Travel signatures should be new within 12 months for enrolled students, and new within 6 months for those on OPT or Academic Training.

• If your visa has expired and you need to apply for a new one, give yourself ample time for a visa appointment. If possible, schedule an appointment prior to leaving the U.S. and try to schedule it early in your trip abroad. The Department of State provides a list of wait times for visa appointments. Prepare for delays, as visa wait times and scheduled appointments can change unexpectedly.

   

We encourage you to keep these things in mind, especially if you are gathering information from multiple sources that may offer conflicting accounts of the news:

• Avoid making decisions based on social media and news reports or rumors that predict new policies/regulation.  Legislative and regulatory changes take time.

  • While social media and news agencies may predict what may be implemented in a new administration, please know that, as past experience has shown, not everything that has been talked about during an election will be implemented.  Additionally, there are formal procedures to issue Executive Orders, legislation, regulations and policy changes. While Executive Orders can be issued and implemented quickly, legislation through Congress or new regulations through government agencies must go through formal procedures that can take some time between the proposal, approval, and implementation stages.

• Each international student and scholar immigration situation is unique.

  • We encourage you to speak with your OISS Advisor if you have questions about your specific situation. Do not rely on a google search or your friends for advice.  Read any updates from OISS carefully.  If you are unsure about something, please contact us at intnl@lehigh.edu.

     

You may find the following resources useful:

Lehigh University Immigration Protocols (for international travel or government rep visits)

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA): Know your rights

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA): Find an immigration attorney

President's Alliance Higher Ed Immigration Portal

Please continue to visit this page, as we will update it regularly with any new developments.  OISS will also update students, scholars and other university stakeholders via e-mail when we have more details or when important developments occur.  Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.  We are here to support the Lehigh community.