Dear international students and scholars,
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. As a result, we strongly recommend that students and scholars from these countries who are currently outside the country re-enter the U.S. prior to June 9.
The Proclamation indicates that individuals from the designated countries with valid entry visas issued prior to June 8, 2025 shall be generally permitted to enter the U.S. in that status with the valid entry visa after June 9, 2025.
(See U.S. Customs and Border Protection Carrier Liaison Program memo dated June 7, 2025 confirming valid entry visas issued prior to June 8, 2025 can be accepted).
Individuals from these countries who are already within the U.S. will NOT be subject to the travel restrictions as long as they remain in the U.S. Their valid U.S. entry visas and immigration status within the U.S. are not revoked by this Proclamation. We recommend that students/scholars from the designated countries do not depart the U.S., even with a valid entry visa, as it is unclear if they will have any 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.
The full Proclamation is posted here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/restricting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-united-states-from-foreign-terrorists-and-other-national-security-and-public-safety-threats/
The International Students Office (ISO) and International Scholars Office (ISchO) are reaching out to the students and scholars who are affected directly by the new restrictions. We understand the concerns and uncertainty that these changes in U.S. immigration policy may create for all of 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. Please be sure to contact your advisor at the International Students Office (ISO) or the International Scholars Office (ISchO) if you have any questions or need support in navigating this change.
Sincerely,
Penny Rosser, Director, MIT International Scholars Office
David C. Elwell, Associate Dean/Director, MIT International Students Office