News Items

United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland added to Europe Travel Restriction to U.S.
As a further extension of Presidential Proclamation 9984, the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland have been added to the list of European countries from which travel to the U.S.…
ISO Resources related to MIT Spring 2020 Semester/COVID-19
Dear International Students, We all read President Reif’s letter yesterday, March 10, announcing the transition of course instruction from on-campus to online, with both the understanding of the health concerns…
Entry to U.S. from Most European Countries Suspended for 30 Days
The United States Government announced that it is suspending entry into the United States for certain foreign nationals who have been physically present in the Schengen area (which includes most…
MIT Medical Resources on Coronavirus
MIT Medical has a dedicated webpage on resources and links for guidance on Coronavirus, including a helpful FAQ.  This webpage will continue to be updated so it is recommended you check back regularly.Continued…
MIT Coronavirus Resources
MIT Medical Resources on CoronavirusMIT Medical has a dedicated webpage on resources and links for guidance on Coronavirus, including a helpful FAQ.  This webpage will continue to be updated so…
USCIS Proposes to Adjust Fees to Meet Operational Needs
The US Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) will publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to adjust the fees charged by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for certain benefit applications.
USDHS Guidance on Additional Scrutiny of F-1 OPT/STEM OPT and Relationship to Degree Field
On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued new Policy Guidance to schools indicating that additional scrutiny is being placed on determination of the “direct relationship between…
MIT Joins Peer Institutions in Filing an Amicus Curaie Brief in US Supreme Court in Support of the DACA Program
The MIT Office of the General Counsel issued a statement on its webpage outlining that MIT joined the "friend of the court" brief with 18 peer institutions issued on October…
SCAM ALERT: SSN status, Calls from Government, Courier companies
There are recent reports of new scams targeting international students: 1) scammers posing as an officer from their home country Consulate or police through social media or phone; 2) Calls…
Update on OPT Processing Delays
The ISO continues to monitor F-1 Optional Practical Training processing times as approval timelines have been delayed as compared to previous years. These processing delays are affecting all OPT applications…
President Reif: Immigration is a Kind of Oxygen
MIT President L. Rafael Reif released a letter to the MIT Community addressing the important role immigration, and immigrants, play in the U.S. and at MIT.
SEVP Announces Changes to Program Fees
On May 23, 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule to adjust fees charged by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to international students,…
3Q: Supporting MIT international students experiencing processing delays this summer
David C. Elwell, Associate Dean and Director of the MIT International Students Office, talks about impact of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processing delays impacting international students seeking to…
The Tech: ISO responds to work authorization delays affecting international students’ internships
As of Sunday, 43 graduate students and two undergraduate students have filed Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization applications, David Elwell, associate dean and director of MIT’s International Students Office…
Work authorization delays interfere with international students’ summer internships
International students at MIT and many other universities who applied for Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization are experiencing widespread government processing delays, preventing them from starting their summer internships.
US State Department to Collect Social Media Information from US Visa Applicants
Effective May 31, 2019, the U.S. Department of State has updated is nonimmigrant (DS-160) and immigrant (DS-260) visa applications forms for all applicants at U.S. Embassies/Consulates worldwide.
Changes to U.S. Sanction Rules on Cuba
The U.S. Department of Treasury and the U.S. Department of Commerce announced changes to the Cuba Sanctions Rules, effective June 5, 2019. Changes include ending group people-to-people travel to Cuba…
USDHS increases SEVIS Fees
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced, effect June 24, 2019, that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program fees charged to international students, exchange visitors, and SEVP-certified host institutions…
USDHS Suspends Air Transportation between the US and Venezuela
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State announced that it is immediately suspending indefinitely all commercial and cargo flights between the United States and Venezuela.
USCIS Completes H-1B Cap Selection Process for FY 2020
On April 10, USCIS completed the random selection process ("lottery") as it has received sufficient H-1B petitions for both the regular 65,000 cap and the 20,000 US-earned advanced degree (Masters…