New Students: Report Scheduled Visa Interviews/Visa Approvals; U.S. Travel Restrictions

New Students: Report Scheduled Visa Interviews/Visa Approvals; U.S. Travel Restrictions

The following ISO Broadcast Alert email was send to all New Admitted MIT International Students on Monday, June 9, 2025. Please see full text of email below.

ISO Broadcast Alert – Attention New Admitted Students

  1. Please Report to ISO your scheduled Visa Interviews and Visa Approvals in iMIT
  2. Presidential Proclamation Implements U.S. Travel Restrictions for Nationals from 19 Countries effective June 9, 2025

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  1. Please Report to ISO your scheduled Visa Interviews and Visa Approvals in iMIT

The ISO has been receiving a lot of questions about scheduling visa interviews at U.S. Embassies/Consulates in many countries.  While we are receiving reports that many students have been able to schedule interviews, others report that interview slots are not available when checking the scheduling website provided by the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.  

Please note that U.S. Embassies/Consulates make available interview slots available based on staffing resources, and so we recommend that students continue to check daily for new times being made available. 

Students should reserve whatever interview time you are able to secure, even if that date is after the start date of your MIT program of study.  This is necessary as potential requests for ‘Expedited Interviews’ require that an applicant already have an interview time reserved for after the scheduled start date at MIT.

Students can report the status of your entry visa application in iMIT.  Under the “Admission” menu, click the “Visa Interview & Approval” button to access two eforms for you to report:
*Visa Interview Scheduled
*Visa Approved/Received (once you receive your passport back from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate with your approved student entry visa)

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Please keep these eforms updated so that the ISO can track visa processing times at the U.S. Embassies/Consulates around the world.   

  1. Presidential Proclamation Implements U.S. Travel Restrictions for Nationals from 19 Countries effective June 9, 2025

On June 4, 2025, the White House released a Presidential Proclamation titled Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats. 

The proclamation, effective on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, states that it will: 

  • Fully restrict and limit the entry of nationals from: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. This applies to the entry of both immigrants (entering for the first time in immigrant status) and nonimmigrant visa holders (including, F, J, H, E and O visa holders). 
  • Partially restrict and limit the entry of nationals from: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. This applies to the entry of both immigrants (entering for the first time in immigrant status) and nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2 (Business and Tourist Visa Waiver status), F, M, and J visas; and includes dependents in these statuses as well (F-2, M-2, and J-2).  

The Proclamation ONLY applies to foreign nationals of the designated countries who:

·         are outside the United States on the effective date; and 

·         do not have a valid visa on the effective date.

The proclamation indicates that individuals with a valid entry visa already in their passport for their intended status will be able to enter the U.S. prior to Monday June 9, 2025, when the proclamation takes effect. 
The wording also implies that if a student is granted a valid entry visa by the U.S. Embassy/Consulate, that it may also be used to enter the U.S. after June 9, 2025.  We continue outreach to confirm this information.  

Any student subject to the Proclamation currently inside the U.S. prior to June 9, 2025, even with a valid U.S. entry visa, are recommended NOT to travel outside of the U.S. as it is unclear if they will have difficulty when attempting to return to the U.S. 

The Proclamation states that it does not apply to the following individuals:

·         any lawful permanent resident of the United States;

·         any dual national of a country designated under sections 2 and 3 of this proclamation when the individual is traveling on a passport issued by a country not so designated;

·         any foreign national traveling with a valid nonimmigrant visa in the following classifications:  A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6;

·         any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State;

·         immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA);

·          adoptions (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4);

·         Afghan Special Immigrant Visas;

·         Special Immigrant Visas for United States Government employees; and

·         immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.

Additional details, and links to the full Proclamation, are available here:  https://iso.mit.edu/news/presidential-proclamation-implements-u-s-travel-restrictions-for-nationals-from-19-countries/

For New Students From Designated Countries With Scheduled Visa Interviews

The ISO advises that you should plan to attend your scheduled visa interview at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate unless you are informed by the Embassy/Consulate that your visa interview has been cancelled.  If you are notified that your visa interview has been cancelled, please contact your ISO Advisor immediately.  

For New Students From Designated Countries Who Have Already Been Issued your U.S. Student Entry Visa

Per the Proclamation, students who have already been issued your student entry visa will be able to use that entry visa to enter the U.S. to begin your studies.  Please be sure to follow the instructions earlier in this email to report in iMIT both confirmation of your visa interview and that you have received your approved entry visa back from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.  

We understand the concerns and uncertainty that these changes in U.S. immigration policy may create for all our international students and scholars as you pursue your academic and research goals at MIT. 

Please know that MIT leadership, faculty, and staff are here to support you. MIT continues to monitor the situation and will post any new information on the Major Immigration Alerts and Updates webpage and notify the community via email.  Please be sure to contact your advisor at the International Students Office (ISO) if you have any questions or need support in navigating this change.  

Sincerely,
David C. Elwell
Associate Dean and Director
MIT International Students Office

Office of the Vice Chancellor