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The Office of International Services (OIS) is working both in-person and virtually. The fastest way to reach us is by email: oiss@yu.edu

Regular Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Friday: 9:00 am to 2:30 pm
The office is closed on Saturday and Sunday
In case of an emergency, outside of regular business hours, you can reach a staff member by calling the 24-hour Security number: 212-960-5200

Posted 2/3/2025

(NAFSA) Updated Frequently 

NAFSA is compiling information and links to executive actions by the President and administrative actions by federal agencies related to international education, during the Trump-Vance administration (January 20, 2025 - January 20, 2029).

Posted 1/7/2025
President Biden has declared to remember the life and legacy of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th president of the United States, and has issued an

Accordingly, all USCIS offices will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 9. We will reschedule all naturalization ceremonies, interviews, and appointments set for that day, and promptly inform those affected.

All applicants with biometric appointments scheduled for Jan. 9 will receive a new notice within three weeks. Applicants can also reschedule their appointment using the biometric services appointment rescheduling tool on their USCIS online account before their scheduled appointment.

live assistance will also be closed. USCIS will remain available. Additional information is available on the.

Posted 1/7/2025

Effective 12/9/2024: J-1 Exchange Visitor Skills List updated - Certain Countries Removed Retroactively

On Monday, December 9, 2024, the US Department of State published , updating the Exchange Visitor Skills List. The new Skills List becomes effective on December 9, 2024, and is retroactive.

• J-1 and J-2 nonimmigrant exchange visitors who were subject to the Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence requirement (INA 212e) at the time of their admission to the US or acquisition of J status based on designations in a previously published Skills List, will no longer be subject to this requirement if their country of citizenship or legal permanent residence is not designated in this revised list, regardless of the notation on their US entry visa in the passport or Forms DS-2019.
• Some countries removed from the Skills List include the People’s Republic of China, India, Brazil, Turkey, and South Korea, among others. Please review the to determine if your country, has been removed.

Background: Some participants in J-1 Exchange Visitor programs, and their J-2 dependents, become subject to the Two-Year Physical Presence Requirement, which has consequences following completion of their programs. There are multiple ways a person can become subject, including: funding from their home government, certain U.S. and international government agencies and organizations; participation in the Fulbright Program; medical residency programs; and working in a field/profession listed on the Exchange Visitor Skills List for their home country (country of citizenship or last legal permanent residence upon entry to the US or change of status to J-1/J-2).  Individuals who are subject to the Two-year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement are obligated to return to their country of citizenship or last legal permanent residence for an aggregate period of two years upon completion of their J program, and are prohibited from changing immigration status within the United States, obtaining H, L or K status, or adjusting status to US permanent resident until the requirement is satisfied or waived.

• This notice does not remove the application of the Two-year Physical Presence requirement to J-1s and J-2s whose subjectivity is based on criteria other than the Skills List (such as funding source or type of exchange program). 

J-1 exchange visitors with questions should contact the Office of International Services at oiss@yu.edu.

12/11/2024

The Office of International Services (OIS) has been receiving inquiries about international travel over the winter break. As of 12/11/2024, there have not been any official changes to the F-1 regulations by the incoming administration. The OIS travel information section on the OIS website has been updated to include a few additional documents that we believe are prudent to carry with you. Please take a moment to review it.

The F-1 regulations require all students to report to school on time. Therefore, the OIS is advising all new students to report to campus for orientation, and no later than the "start of classes" date noted on page 1 of their I-20, and all continuing students to return to school by the first day of their spring semester. Please carefully consider your travel plans. If your arrival or return to school is delayed, there is a chance you could have difficulty at the border.

The OIS will post future updates on this webpage. Please contact with any questions or concerns.

Posted 3/4/2024 On January 31, 2024,  adjusting filing fees for certain immigration and naturalization benefit applications. The new filing fees will be effective April 1, 2024. , which includes a summary of the rule and a full New Fee Schedule Table.

These fee adjustments are in addition to the adjustments made to premium processing fees due to inflation which . Updated premium processing fees go into effect on February 26, 2024. 

USCIS will also be releasing new forms for each of these applications to coincide with the effective date of the new fee amount. 

Highlighted fee updates include:

Update to premium processing time as of April 1, 2024:

In addition to premium processing fee increases, USCIS is also adjusting its premium processing timelines effective April 1, 2024. As of that date, premium processing will account for business days instead of calendar days (business days being Monday-Friday, excluding ).

• The premium processing time for Form I-129 (H-1B/E-3/TN/O-1) will change from 15 calendar days to 15 business days.
• The premium processing time for Form I-539 and Form I-765 (e.g., for F-1 OPT or STEM OPT) will change from 30 calendar days to 30 business days.
• Please note that premium processing is an optional service to expedite the government processing time.
• USCIS processing timelines do not account for USPS mail delivery time or EAD card production time. 

When filing an application with USCIS, it is important to check the filing instructions on the  for the form type you are filing. You should make sure that you are paying the correct application fee(s), and if you are filing a paper application you should use the correct version of the application form and the correct mailing address.

If you have any questions about the USCIS fee increases, please contact oiss@yu.edu

New Proceedure to Request a Social Security Letter to Work on Campus - 12/7/023

OIS letter requests have increased dramatically this term. To work more efficiently and provide the highest level of service, we created a new application process to request the OIS letter.

Effective immediately, students who need a social security number to work on-campus should submit an OIS letter request on the ¶¶Òõapp University International Student Portal. There is a new link on the home page: . 

Students applying for the SSN for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), or Optional Practical Training (OPT) do not need this letter. This letter is only for students working on campus. Complete SSN application instructions are at the bottom of the .

Increase in Student and Exchange Visitor Visa Fee May 30, 2023

The US Department of State (DOS) published a final rule announcing an increase to certain nonimmigrant visa application processing fees, including student and exchange visitor visa fees (F, M and J). The cost for student and exchange visitor visas will increase from $160 to $185 and will take effect on May 30, 2023.

For additional information regarding the Final Rule on Nonimmigrant Visa Fee Increases, please refer to  

Student Visa Applications

Student (Fand M) visas for new students can be issued up to 365 days in advance of the start date for a course of study. However, students will not be allowed to enter the United States on their student visa more than 30 days before the program start date.    Please keep in mind that validity period of the F-1 visa is based on diplomatic reciprocity, not the length of the program of study.

4/27/2023: J Exchange Visitor DS-2019 forms can be signed and sent electronically!

A Department of State (DOS) interim final rule published at  allows digital signing and electronic transmission of exchange visitor Form DS-2019, effective April 27, 2023.

Exchange visitors and their J-2 accompanying spouses and dependents, if any, should print out their Forms DS-2019 after their sponsors transmit them electronically and sign them with ink. They must continue to present paper Forms DS-2019 at U.S. embassies or consulates when they apply for a J-1 or J-2 nonimmigrant visa and at the U.S. port of entry to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program. They should continue to use printed Forms DS-2019 when applying for a social security number or driver’s license and if they depart and re-enter the United States. Sponsors should advise exchange visitors that they may not reprint their initial forms if they are lost, stolen, or damaged.

The Department of State has informed U.S. embassies and consulates and CBP of the Interim Final Rule to minimize confusion as exchange visitors travel to the United States.

Special Student Relief (SSR) is different from Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and is available for students from select countries who are experiencing emergent circumstances (natural disasters, war, national financial crises). Students can check their eligibility for SSR on . If you believe you qualify for Student Special Relief, please email oiss@yu.edu for assistance.