According to the SEVIS Release 6.82.2 Planning Guide (May 21, 2025), SEVIS Release 6.82.2, scheduled for implementation on May 30, 2025, will revise the "Disciplinary Action" page in F-1/M-1 SEVIS RTI in ways that may impact how DSOs report disciplinary action.

A federal district court granted Harvard University's motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) that currently prevents the U.S. government from implementing or giving any force or effect to a DHS revocation of the university's SEVP certification. See NAFSA's page for details and links.

On April 29, 2025 DOS added a new explanatory section to the Foreign Affairs Manual at 9 FAM 402.5-5(C)(1), titled "Intent to Solely Pursue a Full Course of Study." However, the entire new section is unavailable to the public.

NAFSA members reported that certain F-1 students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) received a letter from SEVP titled “Student and Exchange Visitor Program: Notice of Failure to Report Optional Practical Training Employer and Exceeding Permissible Period of Unemployment," advising the students that they’ve “been participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT) for more than 90 days but have not reported any employer information,” and that “If your SEVIS record is not updated within 15 days of the date of this notice, SEVP will set your SEVIS record to “terminated” to reflect the lack of employer information and the potential that you may have violated your status either by failing to timely report OPT employment or by exceeding the permissible period of unemployment while on OPT.” Read more on NAFSA's page.

On May 15, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) sent an alert to J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) Sponsors to inform them that DOS has revised its Incident Reporting Rubric for academic program sponsors by adding the following new incident reporting requirements: Proscribed Antisemitic Actions, Serious Violations of University Conduct Rules, and Terrorist Activity, Endorsing or Espousing Terrorism.

On May 15, 2025 NAFSA joined a statement led by the American Council on Education and endorsed by 52 other organizations affirming the longstanding partnership between the federal government and higher education and urging the current administration reforge this partnership to advance shared national interests.

Listen to live oral argument at the Supreme Court in the Trump v. Casa case regarding the executive order that seeks to seeks to redefine U.S. birthright citizenship by excluding children born in the United States to mothers who are either unlawfully present or legally present but on temporary status (such as tourist or student visas), unless the father is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The hearing will be on the government's request for a stay of the lower courts' nationwide injunctions and will not address the underlying substance or merits of the case. Links to the oral argument are on NAFSA's page on the executive order.

Members have reported instances of USCIS issuing Requests for Evidence (RFEs) to applicants and petitioners applying for immigration benefits. Read NAFSA's primer on the regulatory and policy basis of such requests.

Read the NAFSA IssueNet Quarterly Summary - First Quarter 2025 for highlights of the top issues reported through NAFSA IssueNet in January, February, and March, 2025.

On May 7, 2025 the Transportation announced the implementation of its REAL ID enforcement measures at TSA checkpoints nationwide. Visit NAFSA's REAL ID Act page for a refresher.