Current U.S. Administration and its Actions

May 13, 2025 Message from OIS: Update Regarding Visa Revocations

Dear International Students and Scholars,

You should be aware that the U.S. Department of State has again begun revoking the visas of international students and faculty, as of Thursday, May 8, in Fordham’s case. The process is different from its previous actions: in the current process, while the international student or faculty member’s visa is revoked, their SEVIS record may remain active. This means the international student or faculty member may stay in the U.S. to continue their studies or scholarly work, but if they leave the U.S., they will not be readmitted.

Visa revocation notices are being sent to the email address you used to apply for the visa; therefore it is important for you to check that email frequently, and certainly prior to leaving the U.S. for any reason.* You can check your visa status anytime at: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx (for Visa Application Type, select “NONIMMIGRANT VISA (NIV).”

*If an attorney or law firm filed the visa application on your behalf from the firm’s email address, we strongly encourage you to remain in contact with them to ensure you are informed of any changes in your visa status.

Should you receive a notification from the U.S. Department of State regarding your visa status, please forward it to the Office for International Services (OIS) immediately and contact them at 718-817-3145 or [email protected] for further assistance. 

If you are an international student and decide to remain in the U.S. for the summer rather than travel outside of the U.S., and need housing assistance, please contact the Office of Residential Life for your campus:

Lincoln Center
McMahon Hall, Room 108
212-636-7100 or [email protected]

Rose Hill
Loschert Hall Garden Level
718-817-3080 or [email protected]

As communicated previously, if you have an immigration-related emergency, please contact Fordham Public Safety at 718-817-2222 (Rose Hill) or 212-636-6076 (Lincoln Center). These lines are staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

If you have any questions, please reach out to OIS anytime at 718- 817-3145 or [email protected]. 

Sincerely,

Salvatore C. Longarino
Director, RO and PDSO
Office for International Services

May 12, 2025 Message from the Division of Student Affairs: International Student Summer Housing Reminder

LINCOLN CENTER 
SUMMER HOUSING for INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International students are invited to register for summer housing.

Please contact the Office of Residential Life at Lincoln Center to make arrangements if you need to stay on campus this summer. To expedite the process, please explain when you make contact that you are an international student.

Contacts:

155 West 60th St, Room 108
McMahon Hall
New York, New York 10023

Phone: 212-636-7100
[email protected]
Website

ROSE HILL
SUMMER HOUSING for INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International students are invited to register for summer housing.

Please contact the Office of Residential Life at Rose Hill to make arrangements if you need to stay on campus this summer. To expedite the process, please explain when you make contact that you are an international student.

Contacts:

Loschert Hall Garden Level
441 East Fordham Road
Bronx, NY 10458

718-817-3080
[email protected]
Website

April 9, 2025 Message to the International Student Community:
Fwd: Update on Evolving Political Landscape

Dear International Students, Scholars, and Faculty,

I understand that the evolving landscape around immigration and student visas is causing significant anxiety and concern for many students and families. President Tetlow's message conveyed the University's unwavering support for our international community, and I want to echo that commitment. My office is closely monitoring the situation and is here to provide you with specific and timely guidance to help you navigate these challenges.

As the President referenced in her message, should you encounter an immigration-related emergency, call Fordham Public Safety at 718-817-2222 (Rose Hill) or 212-636-6076 (Lincoln Center). Inform the officer of your immigration emergency, and Public Safety will put you in touch with the University resources appropriate to your situation.

Should such an emergency arise, Fordham is committed to providing support. Fordham has engaged the legal services of an external immigration law firm to provide initial, complimentary legal consultations. These consultations are specifically available to current Fordham students, faculty, and staff facing emergency immigration-related issues, including removal proceedings, visa revocation, and detainment upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry. The initial consultation is intended to offer preliminary legal guidance and assessment of critical immigration situations. The consultation covers the first meeting. Should you need ongoing legal representation, you will need a separate agreement directly with the lawyers, or you may engage an immigration law firm of your choosing. 

Lastly, I encourage you to be aware of scams. We have heard reports that international students are being targeted with fake calls, emails, and letters that appear to be from a federal agency. Such scams threaten deportation unless an immediate payment is made for an immigration violation. Know that federal agencies never contact you to demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or prosecution, nor will federal agencies ask for personal details like your Social Security number, bank information, or passwords over the phone. Should you receive any communication (including email and/or phone calls) from the federal government related to your visa or status, you should immediately contact the Office of International Services for guidance and support. 

If my office can be of any assistance, please reach out anytime. Otherwise, OIS will be back in-touch with updates as necessary.

Thank you,

Salvatore C. Longarino
Director, RO and PDSO
Office of International Services

January 28, 2025 Message to International Student Community:
Requirements to Carry Current Electronic Form I-94 and CURRENT Travel History

As the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intensifies its immigration compliance efforts (for example, see the January 25, 2025 executive order Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats), nonimmigrant students and scholars should review these important requirements and other important guidelines for maintaining immigration status.

Nonimmigrants must ensure they fulfill the following two obligations:

• Carry their immigration registration document – A printout of an electronic Form I-94 meets this requirement (8 CFR 1.4(f))
• To obtain your I-94, access the I-94 Official Website and select “Get Most Recent I-94.” The I-94 electronic record should reflect F-1 (or J-1) as your class of Admission and “D/S” for Admit Until Date. Print the I-94 and carry it with you at all times.
• If you have trouble obtaining your I-94 or if any information appears incorrect, contact [email protected]
• Report address changes within 10 days - All noncitizens in the U.S. must report any change of address within 10 days of the change.
• Email [email protected] to report your new address.

Thus, to comply with INA 264(e), nonimmigrants should carry their I-94 printout at all times. It is also recommended to carry any other relevant status documents with you, such as Form I-20 (for F-1 students), DS-2019 (for J-1 visa holders), or a valid EAD card if authorized for employment under OPT. 

In addition, to prove identity, nonimmigrants should carry a government-issued photo ID.

For more information, please refer to this NAFSA advisory.

December 12, 2024 Message to International Student Community:
Immigration and Travel Considerations Under New Federal Administration

Dear Fordham,

As we prepare for the transition to a new federal administration, we want to remind you that changes in immigration policies, regulations, and procedures may occur. At this time, it is too early to determine if or when these changes might take place or how they might impact Fordham’s international community. The Office for International Services (OIS) is closely monitoring developments and will keep you updated as new information becomes available. Additionally, if you come across any specific information or concerns, please don’t hesitate to bring it to our attention so that we may investigate further.  

In the meantime, we encourage you to keep the following points in mind:  

1. Immigration Situations Are Unique 

Every international student’s circumstances are different. If you have questions or concerns, please contact OIS for guidance tailored to your situation. Avoid making decisions based on social media, news reports, or speculation about potential new policies. Instead, rely on official communications from government agencies and guidance from OIS. 

2. Policy Changes Take Time 

The new administration cannot impose Executive Orders until after the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025. Even then, Executive Orders and new laws may take time to implement. The University will offer timely updates to international students and guidance, if possible, whenever new laws or Executive Orders are finalized. 

(see #3  below) 

3. Winter Travel and Visa Considerations 

With the new administration taking office on January 20, 2025, it is possible that Executive Orders may affect travel or visa processing on or after that date. If you are planning international travel during the winter intersession, we encourage you to:

• Review the OIS International Student Travel web page
• Consider returning to the U.S. before January 20, 2025, if you are unsure about visa requirements or travel risks 
• Be aware that election transitions can temporarily affect staffing levels at U.S.  embassies and consulates abroad, potentially impacting visa processing times.

4. Uncertainty Is Normal During Transitions 

We understand that uncertainty can be challenging, especially during times of transition. Please know that OIS has experience in navigating changes in federal administration and immigration policies, and will do our best to guide you through any changes as smoothly as possible. Our team is here to support you, and will share updates as soon as we have concrete information. Please DO maintain your current legal and valid non-immigrant status at all times. If you have any doubts or questions about your status, please contact OIS at [email protected].

Lastly, for now, even though our University will close on Tuesday, December 24, and reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025, our Department of Public Safety (718-817-2222) has a process to contact OIS officials if there is an emergency during that time.  

On behalf of the entire OIS team, I wish you all happy holidays and a happy, successful, and rewarding new year. 

Salvatore Longarino, Director
Office for International Services

• May 12 - The Division of Student Affairs has sent a message to international students regarding summer housing at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center. You can read the message here.
• May 9 - OIS has been informed that students are receiving emails from U.S. Consulates stating that their visa has been revoked. If you receive an email like this, please contact our office immediately at [email protected] or Fordham's Public Safety
• May 8 - All four previously revoked Fordham University student visas have been restored by the federal government. You can read more in this article from The Fordham Ram: Visa Revocations for Fordham Students Reversed
• Fordham's Counseling & Psychological Services is hosting an International Student Support Group on Zoom on Tuesday, April 29th from 3:00-4:30 PM. Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional students can RSVP HERE.
• April 10, 2025 - Fordham University is one of 86 institutions and associations joining in submitting an amicus brief in the case of AAUP vs. Rubio, which challenges the administration's visa revocations and detentions of noncitizen students and scholars. More details can be found in this press release from the President's Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration announcing the submission.
  
• April 10, 2025 - A federal judge has temporarily reinstated the F-1 status of a Dartmouth College graduate student from China, who was one of dozens of international students whose visas were revoked without explanation last week. The court’s decision allows the student to remain in the U.S. and resume studies while the case continues. OIS will continue to monitor legal challenges to visa revocations and assess their potential impact on our international community.
  
• April 10, 2025 - The Office for International Services (OIS) is aware that some international students’ visas have been affected, including, in some cases, having their participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program terminated by the federal government. Please be assured that OIS continuously monitors SEVIS records for all F-1 and J-1 visa holders. OIS will notify students of any changes to their SEVIS status and connect them with resources as needed. If you are contacted or notified by a federal officer, please notify OIS or Fordham’s Public Safety. Refer to the Protocol for Responding to Requests from Law Enforcement Agencies for further guidance.

Bronx
Emerald Isle Immigration Center no fees
Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice no fees

Brooklyn
The Arab American Family Support Center
CAMBA Legal Services no fees
Catholic Migration Services nominal fees

Manhattan
African Hope Committee, Inc.
Catholic Charities Community Services, Immigration Legal Services no fees
City College Immigration Center no fees
City Bar Justice Center no fees

Long Island
CARECEN some have fees
Migration Office of Catholic Charities sliding scale

Queens
Flushing Immigration Center no fees
Justice for our Neighbors (Flushing Office) no fees

Staten Island
Staten Island Legal Services no fees
College of Staten Island, El Centro, and Project Immigration Center at the Help Centerno fees

Westchester County
My Sister’s Place sliding scale

Rockland County
Rockland Community Development Council for Immigration Assistance

Catholic Charities also has many services for immigrants.

• Office of International Services
• Counseling
• Student Affairs
• Campus Ministry
• Office of Government Relations