Dear International Faculty and Scholars,
We are reaching out to you during what we know is a time of significant uncertainty and understandable worry for many in our international community. We want to provide you with the most up-to-date information about what we have learned about recent status terminations for some of our international students, as well as to let you know about resources available to you as members of the international community at UC Santa Cruz.
As of this writing, three UCSC graduate students have had their Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records terminated. To the best of our knowledge, there has not been any Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence on our campus or other law enforcement activity related to this situation. As far as we know, no UC Santa Cruz H1-B faculty, staff, or J-1 scholars have experienced any changes to their status, had their visas revoked, or been denied entry/reentry. We want to emphasize that the information below may affect a very small number of individuals, however, we want to ensure you are aware of these developments.
We know the F-1 actions are generating understandable concern and questions. We also know that it is essential to stay connected to reliable sources of information and to understand what steps are being taken on the campus level. Please know that the International Faculty & Scholar Services (IFSS) team is here to support you during this challenging time and we are committed to providing guidance and ensuring your well-being. While the campus is respecting the privacy of those affected by limiting the information that we release, we want to share with you what we are doing in support of our community members.
Termination of SEVIS Record
IFSS is directly monitoring SEVIS daily for unusual termination activity. In the case of a SEVIS termination, IFSS will reach out to the scholar directly by email with support information and suggest immediately booking an appointment with us. We are providing those affected with resources to navigate the process and are encouraging them to seek legal counsel for further guidance.
Visa Revocations
The Federal government has begun revoking the visas of certain individuals who they deem ineligible for the visa status they currently hold. As of this writing, we have no reports of J Scholar or H-1B visa revocations, but that could change. Historically, in practice, the Department of State will notify the visa holder using the email indicated in the visa application. However, this may not happen.
While IFSS has access to the SEVIS system that provides us with the status of student and scholar SEVIS records, the system does not provide any direct information regarding the status of the visa. We are not notified directly regarding visa revocations. Please be sure to monitor all email addresses for potential notifications, particularly any email address used in a visa application, as you may be notified directly by a U.S. immigration agency such as the Department of State or Department of Homeland Security. Please notify IFSS (ischolar@ucsc.edu) if you receive an email from a federal agency.
Please make sure that your local U.S. address and phone numbers are up to date in iGlobal in the event that IFSS needs to contact you urgently.
Travel
We recognize that many of our international faculty and scholars have plans to travel out of the country to complete research or to visit family in the coming months. IFSS advises caution when considering international travel, and following the appropriate recommended Travel Guidance.
We understand that the current changes surrounding visa policies and the uncertainty they bring can cause significant anxiety and stress. IFSS offers in-person and virtual advising sessions during which you can speak directly with a scholar advisor. We also host drop-in advising with IFSS advisors at our monthly Global Cafe event, including next Wednesday, April 16, 14:00–16:00 in Classroom Unit 101, the Global Engagement Conference Room.
Finally, please know that IFSS will do all we can to support you during this difficult time and continue to be your main source of information for all things related to your visa status. We will continue to provide our international community with information and guidance regarding changing federal policies and post updates on our Immigration Guidance Webpage.
International faculty and scholars make UC Santa Cruz a more vibrant place to learn, live, and work and you will continue to have our support. Should you have any questions about the contents of this message please reach out to IFSS at ischolar@ucsc.edu, or schedule an in-person or virtual advising appointment with your IFSS advisor.
Sincerely,
Lacey Long-Vejar
Director of International Student and Scholar Services
Division of Global Engagement
University of California, Santa Cruz
Phone: 831-459-2858 | global.ucsc.edu