Immigration updates from OISS

Dear students and scholars,

As you may already be aware, the new administration in Washington D.C. has been making changes in immigration procedures this week and this is causing genuine concerns among our international community. We are deeply committed to you at OISS and will be following analysis and new developments in connection with any procedural changes affecting F and J visa holders.

OISS recently contacted the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office at LAX and spoke with the section chief after receiving reports from UCSB students and our colleagues across California campuses who reported delays in the customs line. Some students were sent to secondary inspection where they were scrutinized about the details of their records. Eventually everyone was admitted through the border except for a few who had records that violated status such as terminations of the I-20 or DS-2019.

For now, please be prudent with your travel plans. Make sure that all of your immigration documents are current and that you speak with OISS first if you must take an emergency leave of absence. Please also be advised that we expect more scrutiny and delays not only at the borders but at some embassies overseas.

We are deeply committed to our international community here at UCSB and will be following analysis and new developments very closely and communicating updates as they become available. Please share your concerns or visa status questions with OISS in person or through email. For students contact: oiss@sa.ucsb.edu and for scholars contact: J1Scholar@sa.ucsb.edu.

Times like this can be unnerving and if you need additional support, please contact the Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) office located at building 599 or phone: 805-893-4411. For health and well-being, contact the Health & Wellness office at wellness@sa.ucsb.edu or phone: 805-893-2630.

Sincerely,
Simran Singh
Director
UC Santa Barbara
Office of International Students & Scholars