25 April 2025
Dear University Community:
In our update of April 8 to the university community, Provost Weber and I described how the university was supporting mgm casino international students whose visas had been revoked and whose SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records had been terminated by the federal government. From the time we first learned of this situation we have been in contact with the affected students and recent graduates to advise them and provide supportive resources.
We are continuing to work with all the affected students on an individual basis to develop academic plans that address their personal goals and unique situations. The university is encouraging impacted students and recent graduates to retain immigration counsel. Out of respect for student privacy, we cannot share specific information about their cases.
In addition, we are making resources available to affected students through the student emergency funding to address critical food, housing or transportation needs. Please note that mgm casino emergency funds are not intended to support students’ legal costs.
We are grateful to the many colleagues across campus who have expressed their concern and support for our international students. Many students have shared their positive experiences of outreach and support from members of the mgm casino community.
For more information and future updates, please consult our detailed Q&A below. This resource, which is updated frequently, helps explain the current issues and processes and is based on the questions and concerns we have heard from our students and faculty. We also provide links to authoritative sources including the American Immigration Lawyers Association. We hope this will be helpful to our students as well as to our faculty and staff.
Sincerely,
Nojin Kwak
Vice Provost for International Education
We’re grateful for the care and concern expressed by so many in our community. We have compiled our frequently asked questions and resources to share. Please be advised that the FAQs and resources on this page are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended as legal advice. The information on this page is true to the best of our knowledge as of 4/24/2025.
A visa is an official document stamped on a page in someone’s passport granting permission for a specific time and purpose, like work, travel, or study. F-1 and J-1 visas are nonimmigrant visas issued to individuals entering the U.S. for studying and are granted by the Department of State. Holders of these visas use a valid visa stamp along with an I-20 (for F-1) or DS-2019 (for J-1) to pursue their academic programs in the United States. The ISS office provides immigration advice and benefits processing to these visa holders and complies with the rules put forth by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
If a visa is revoked, it becomes invalid from the date it was issued. A consular officer or the Secretary of State can revoke a visa at their discretion. Once a visa is revoked, it is no longer valid for entry to the United States.
If a visa is revoked, the student will receive a notification from the Department of State or the U.S. embassy or consulate where the visa was granted. The notification may go to the email address provided at the time of the visa application. Visa revocation notices only go to the F-1 or J-1 student; the ISS office is not notified of a visa revocation separately.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), termination of a student’s SEVIS record could indicate that the nonimmigrant no longer maintains F or J status. Designated school officials (DSOs) may terminate F-1 students who do not maintain their status, though recently the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been terminating SEVIS records directly. Some consequences after a SEVIS record termination are that the student loses all on- and/or off-campus employment authorization; the student cannot re-enter the United States on the terminated SEVIS record; and ICE agents may investigate to confirm the departure.
The ISS office is reviewing SEVIS records daily to identify any SEVIS records that have been terminated by the Department of Homeland Security. If we find that a student's record has been terminated, we will notify them immediately.
At this time, there is no way for students to check their SEVIS record status. The ISS office is checking for SEVIS terminations daily and informing those who are impacted.
The ISS office is working with all impacted students and their academic departments to discuss options for their academic plans and provide support.
Students whose SEVIS status is terminated can no longer work on or off campus.
The ISS office is working with all impacted students who are on their period of post-completion OPT or the 24-month STEM extension. Impacted students should reach out to their employer to make them aware of their status change.
Enrolled F-1 and J-1 students are eligible to apply for Student Life Emergency Funds, the Steven L. Shaw Memorial International Student Emergency Fund, which provides financial support during times of crisis or an emergency. Anyone can to the emergency fund. Please note that this is not a fund supporting students’ legal costs, but to be used for expenses such as utilities, rent, and/or food. Students may also utilize Blue Table for emergency food support and Counseling Services for mental wellness support.
Travel is a personal choice and inherently carries some risk. ISS encourages students to carefully plan travel with ample time to accommodate for any potential delays. When considering travel, international students should first check if they have the required documents to return to the U.S. If a student's visa has expired, they must renew it before they can re-enter the U.S. Students should factor in visa appointment wait times at the embassy or consulate where they will be renewing their visa. Lastly, students who have specific questions about their travel should speak with ISS.
The provides free legal services through its statewide network of community-based service providers. Students can and are encouraged to access the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s directory.
The university abides by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.
We are dedicating additional staff resources to ensure that all students who need to speak to an international student advisor are able to. Due to the unique variables of each student's situation, advising is done best in a one-on-one setting between the student and the international student advisor.