Our Commitment to Enrolling International Students and Scholars

May 23, 2025

To our current and future international students, scholars, and recent alumni, 

First and foremost, you belong here. 

As many of you may be aware, the University received a letter on May 22 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoking Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. We understand the extreme anxiety and uncertainty this has caused, and we share your deep concerns. On May 23, Harvard filed a complaint and a motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO). A federal court in Boston has granted the TRO. This means that the government’s revocation of our F-1 and J-1 programs is not presently in effect. The programs are reinstated, pending further legal action. The judge set a hearing for May 29 to decide whether to issue a more enduring injunction. 

For more information, please see the following messages from President Alan Garber: 

The situation is extremely fluid, and we will keep you informed as updates become available. In the interim, we have created an initial set of frequently asked questions regarding the SEVP decertification, and we will update them as the situation develops. 

Thank you for everything you contribute to Harvard and this nation. You matter. Your presence at Harvard matters, and we will fight for you. We look forward to continuing our work in support of you and the promise of an American education enriched by our international community. 

Sincerely,

Harvard International Office & the Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs