Immigration FAQ
U.S. Immigration FAQs for International Students and Scholars
Last updated January 7, 2026
We have heard from many Harvard community members concerned about recent U.S. immigration enforcement actions, including the federal government’s actions targeting Harvard’s ability to enroll and host international students and scholars. We know this is a very difficult time, and we are monitoring the situation closely. While there are still many unknowns, we are providing answers to some of the most immediate questions and concerns. We will continue to update these FAQs as more information becomes available.
Know Your Rights
In accordance with longstanding policy, the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) expects U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to check in with HUPD first and to have a valid warrant before undertaking any enforcement action on campus. HUPD must comply with validly issued judicial warrants.
Members of the Harvard community should immediately contact HUPD at 617-495-1215 if they see federal immigration authorities on campus. See this FAQ from the Harvard Immigrant and Refugee Program for more details on Harvard’s policies regarding ICE on campus.
ICE agents must present a valid judicial warrant or get your permission to enter your home or dorm.
If ICE agents come to your on-campus home, you may keep the door closed and ask if they have a warrant. If they do not have a warrant, you have the right not to let them in (opening the door could be seen as granting permission for them to enter and to search your space). If the agents say they have a warrant, you may ask them to slide it under the door so you can read it.
Let the agents know that you are not obstructing their process, but you need to consult with campus authorities.
Immediately contact HUPD (617-495-1215) and, if the agents provide a warrant, the Office of General Counsel (OGC) (617-495-1280). Wait for HUPD to arrive so that they may verify the agents’ information and warrant, if they provide one, before opening the door. Ask for the agents’ names, identification numbers, and agency affiliation and write them down.
You have the right not to sign any paperwork provided by ICE agents who ask to enter your private space without speaking to a lawyer first. See below (“Can Harvard find me an immigration attorney?”).
Just like at your home or work, you do not have to answer questions or sign documents if immigration agents stop you in a public area, and you can request to leave at any time. You have the right to refuse a search. Without your permission, agents can only “pat down” your clothing if they suspect you have a weapon.
You do not need to answer questions about your immigration status, where you were born, or when or how you came to the United States, and you do not need to show identification documents from your home country.
Government agencies conduct routine periodic “site visits” relating to employees in H-1B status under the Administrative Site Visit and Verification Program (ASVVP) established by USCIS in 2009. H-1B site visits were paused from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and have since resumed.
Under the program, H-1B site visits are conducted by the Fraud Detection and National Security directorate (FDNS) of USCIS. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) may conduct similar visits for employees who are working at Harvard based on the STEM OPT extension. During a site visit, the inspector is typically charged with verifying the existence of the employer; the validity of the information the employer provided in the H-1B petition or STEM OPT I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT Students (STEM OPT I-983); and whether the foreign national is working in compliance with the terms of the H-1B approval and STEM OPT I-983.
In accordance with STEM OPT regulations, site visits aim to ensure that STEM OPT employees receive structured and guided work-based learning experiences and to reduce the potential for abuses of the STEM OPT extension. During the site visit, DHS’s practice is to confirm that information reported on the employee’s Form I-983 concerning the training opportunity is accurate. Employers and employees may be asked to provide documentation.
The visits may occur wherever the employee has listed as their work address in immigration records, including at physical offices or remote work locations.
It is ordinary for the government to conduct H-1B site visits without advance notice. STEM OPT employers are generally given 48 hours’ notice of a site visit, but these visits, too, may be unannounced. Departments should request to see government ID if an individual represents that they are from the FDNS or HSI and are present to conduct a site visit. Departments should cooperate if an FDNS site visit occurs for one of their H-1B sponsored scholars or an employee working on STEM OPT. If the site visit relates to an H-1B hire, you should promptly contact the HIO advisor who prepared the H-1B for the scholar or who assists you with visa advising. If the site visit relates to a STEM OPT hire, please contact the Office of General Counsel.
Harvard will not share personal information with immigration authorities except as required by law or legal process (such as a subpoena or warrant). This includes students’ and employees’ personal information, academic records, or unpublished research.
If the University is required to provide this information to comply with a subpoena or warrant, it will notify affected students unless the University is prohibited from doing so.
More information is available in this advisory from the University’s Office of the General Counsel.
HUPD does not inquire about the immigration status of faculty, students, or staff and does not investigate alleged violations of federal immigration laws. Law enforcement officials are expected to check with HUPD before entering the Harvard campus and must obtain a warrant for immigration-related activity.
During regular office hours (Monday to Friday, 9 am-5 pm Eastern), the student or scholar should contact their HIO advisor, email internationaloffice@harvard.edu, or visit our virtual on-call advising hours before making any travel plans (or prior to their departure from the US).
For after-hours emergencies, we have a dedicated emergency number (617-495-5400) that must only be used for immigration- and visa-related emergencies that require an immediate response from the HIO when the HIO and University offices are closed.
Travel
The situation remains extremely fluid.
If you are among the Harvard-sponsored students and scholars affected by the June 4 and December 16, 2025 proclamations that together restrict entry into the U.S. by foreign nationals from more than 30 countries:
- Your visa status should remain intact if you are currently inside the United States on a valid visa—you may continue your studies, research, employment, and other activities.
- Be aware that if you leave the U.S. or if you are already outside of the U.S. and you try to enter/re-enter, you could be prevented from entering the U.S. while entry for nationals from your home country remains suspended.
We advise all international students and scholars who may be planning to travel outside the U.S., or planning to enter/re-enter the U.S., to carefully assess their individual situation and considerations. When in doubt, call one of the offices below that fits your personal situation.
- International students and scholars sponsored by Harvard should contact their HIO advisor prior to departure to discuss any international travel plans.
- Foreign nationals not present on a Harvard-sponsored visa should arrange a consultation with the Harvard Representation Initiative (HRI) prior to departure to discuss their individual circumstances and U.S. immigration questions.
- For Harvard-related travel abroad, individuals should contact Global Support Services (GSS) for questions related to their destination’s safety and security, health, culture, and country-specific (non-U.S.) immigration requirements. GSS is a resource for all students, faculty, staff, and researchers and can advise on international travel registration, International SOS, student pre-departure requirements, travel resources, and more.
We recognize the uncertainty of the situation and encourage you to be as flexible as possible with your travel plans.
International travelers may face added scrutiny and enhanced screening at U.S. ports of entry. The U.S. government asserts broad authority to search all electronic devices at the border. Review OGC’s guidance about border security measures at ports of entry and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research’s U.S. arrival guidance for foreign students and exchange visitors.
If you are outside the U.S., attempt to enter or re-enter, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) takes you into secondary inspection, understand that you will not have access to your cell phone or computer during the time you spend in secondary inspection. Accordingly, if you are traveling to the U.S. and you have concerns that you may encounter difficulties at the border, you should consider (1) sharing travel plans, including flight information and your scheduled arrival time, with a family member or friend; (2) advising this travel contact that you will confirm your arrival with them when your flight lands and again after you have passed through CBP; and (3) sharing HIO’s contact information with that travel contact, so that they may call HIO if meaningful time has passed since your flight arrived and they have not heard from you.
Yes, you may continue to travel within the U.S.
As always, see our guidance on travel within the U.S. and consider discussing your travel plans with your HIO advisor. Travel is a personal decision, and your HIO advisor can answer questions you may have about traveling at this time.
Generally, you should always carry digital or printed copies of your travel documents when traveling within the U.S. and all of your physical documents when traveling internationally. Additionally, we recommend that you print out and carry a copy of the June 20, 2025, preliminary injunction and the June 23, 2025, preliminary injunction with you.
See our Travel & Re-entry page for guidance on travel within the U.S. and outside of the country, as well as what to do if you have an issue while traveling, including losing your travel documents or experiencing an immigration-related emergency.
Visa Applications, Interviews, and Revocations
Yes, if you are currently applying or renewing your visa, we encourage you to continue with the normal application process. We have created an online survey for you to update the HIO on where you are in this process. Your survey responses will help the HIO provide valuable status updates to the Harvard School you will be attending, so that we can do our best to support you.
Note: If you have a passport issued by one of the nations that were named in the June 4 and December 16, 2025 presidential proclamations that together restrict entry into the U.S. by foreign nationals from more than 30 countries, the State Department will likely decline to consider or advance your application for a first or renewed visa. If you are a dual national with a passport issued by another country that is not one of the 30 listed nations, then you should make clear to the consular official that you intend to travel on and present that other passport at a U.S. port of entry. Contact your HIO advisor to discuss your particular circumstances and whether you might be eligible for an exception from the entry restrictions.
Although we did not receive guidance from the State Department directly, we were aware of the news reports in which a State Department official confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a directive to U.S. embassies and consulates on May 27, 2025, not to “add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued.” According to the media reports, the temporary pause on scheduling new visa interviews was to allow the State Department to consider implementing more expansive social media vetting practices that could ultimately be applied to all student visa applicants. On June 18, 2025, Secretary Rubio instructed U.S. embassies and consulates to resume scheduling F, M, and J visa appointments, keeping in mind the additional workload that will be required to complete expanded social media screening and vetting for all F, M, and J applicants.
This directive affects all U.S. higher education institutions, and the new requirements expand upon existing visa processing practices. The State Department has asked student visa applicants to provide social media account information on their visa applications dating back to 2019.
The June 18, 2025, cable includes updated guidance requiring consular officers “to conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting of all FMJ applicants, including online presence, to identify applicants who bear hostile attitudes toward our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles; who advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to U.S. national security; or who perpetrate unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence.” This guidance covers new and returning/renewing applicants. Consular officers may request applicants to set their social media accounts to “public,” and the cable indicated that “limited access to, or visibility of, online presence could be construed as an effort to evade or hide certain activity.” The review should “include a review of the applicant’s entire online presence – not just social media activity…” and “include a check of any databases… (e.g., LexisNexis or local equivalents).”
Additionally and based on existing practices, the State Department has indicated that the process of issuing visas to some individuals may be delayed due to "further administrative processing," which can occur after the visa interview. See the HIO’s Administrative Processing FAQs for more information. You may also want to review the State Department’s information on visa refusals and denials.
On December 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced that H-1B applicants and their H-4 dependents will also be subject to a required online presence review as of December 15. Beginning on that date, all applicants for H-1B, H-4, F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to set the privacy settings on all social media profiles to “public” to allow for vetting, according to the Department of State.
No, unfortunately we cannot help arrange a visa appointment. We encourage you to contact your embassy or consulate promptly now that appointment scheduling has been resumed. It’s important to make your appointment as soon as possible, in order to protect against any unexpected delays or challenges in the processing of your visa application. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s June 18, 2025, directive instructing consular officers to “conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting” of all F, M, and J applicants’ online presence will likely lead to scheduling and processing delays. It did, however, instruct consular officers to prioritize J-1 physicians and “F-1 students seeking to study at a U.S. university where international students constitute 15 percent or less of the total student population….”
Although we have not received guidance from the State Department directly, we are aware of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's press statement, in which the Department of State intends to work with DHS to "aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students" and "enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications" from China and Hong Kong.
We will update you once we know more. In the interim, current and future students and scholars from China and Hong Kong should contact their HIO advisor with any questions and concerns.
In April 2025,12 international students and recent graduates had their F-1 records terminated in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). As of April 26, 2025, all 12 of those Harvard students and recent graduates have since had their F-1 records reverted to active status. We have been in communication with these students.
We have a protocol in place for checking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records daily. We promptly notify individuals of any revocations and refer them to legal assistance. To protect their privacy, the University will not publicly disclose the identity of any person whose visa is revoked. The same goes for individuals who have had their visa status reactivated.
For individuals who have had their visas revoked or reinstated, we are not aware of the details of these actions or the reasons for them, but we understand that similar actions have been occurring at other institutions across the country.
A change in visa status does not automatically affect a student's academic status at the University. Impacted students should consult with their dean of students and/or registrars for questions related to academic program requirements and their dean of administration for work-related questions. Impacted scholars, e.g. postdocs, should consult with the postdoc office, faculty affairs, or their human resources contact, as appropriate.
We will continue daily SEVIS record checks and will notify any affected students and scholars immediately.
On September 19, 2025, a presidential proclamation ("Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers") was announced that impacts H-1B visa holders. This proclamation announces a 12-month suspension of entry into the United States for persons in H-1B status, unless a $100,000 fee is paid to the government. The suspension of entries began at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
On September 20, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shared additional guidance that clarified who is impacted by the presidential proclamation. The updated guidance from DHS states:
"This proclamation only applies prospectively to petitions that have not yet been filed. The proclamation does not apply to aliens who: are the beneficiaries of petitions that were filed prior to the effective date of the proclamation, are the beneficiaries of currently approved petitions, or are in possession of validly issued H-1B non-immigrant visas. All officers of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services shall ensure that their decisions are consistent with this guidance. The proclamation does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to or from the United States."
The proclamation provides that the government may grant exceptions, but the situation remains fluid as guidance and rulemaking are anticipated in the coming weeks.
On October 20, USCIS issued additional guidance clarifying the presidential proclamation on H-1B petitions, which imposed a new $100,000 fee in certain cases.
According to the new guidance, the fee does not apply when a beneficiary inside the U.S. is granted a petition requesting:
- Amendment
- Extension
- Change of status to H-1B from another visa category (e.g., F-1 or J-1)
Beneficiaries of such approved petitions will not incur the fee if they travel outside the U.S. and apply for a visa based on the approved petition or seek to reenter the U.S. on a current H-1B visa. Likewise, the proclamation does not prevent any holder of a current H-1B visa from traveling in and out of the U.S.
However, if the beneficiary is outside the U.S. or is ineligible for an extension, amendment, or change of status, the $100,000 fee would apply.
H-1B visa holders should consult with your HIO Advisor to discuss the specifics of their particular case. We will continue to monitor updates closely and share information on our website as it becomes available.
Federal Lawsuit
On May 22, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it was revoking Harvard’s ability to sponsor foreign students and scholars. The University filed a lawsuit against the government on May 23, 2025, seeking to overturn DHS’s unlawful action. Along with the complaint, Harvard filed a motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to restore its F-1 and J-1 programs, which the federal court granted. On June 20, 2025, the court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the May 22, 2025, summary revocation while the case continues.
Separately, the government also notified Harvard on May 28, 2025, that it had initiated an administrative review of Harvard’s ability to sponsor F-1 visas for international students. Harvard has submitted its response to the Department of Homeland Security’s Notice of Intent to Withdraw the University’s SEVP certification. The review remains in process.
On June 4, 2025, the federal government issued a proclamation suspending the entry into the United States of any new Harvard student on an F or J visa. The proclamation also directs the Secretary of State to consider revoking existing F or J visas for current Harvard students who meet the proclamation’s criteria. As President Garber indicated in his June 5 and June 6 messages to the Harvard community, the University promptly amended its lawsuit and petitioned the federal court to issue an emergency order halting enforcement of the proclamation, which the court granted that same day. On June 23, 2025, the court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the June 4 proclamation targeting Harvard’s international students and scholars. Unless stayed or reversed on appeal, the June 20 and June 23 injunctions will remain in effect for the duration of the lawsuit.
On July 10, 2025, Harvard received several subpoenas from DHS seeking a wide range of information about Harvard’s international students.
On July 23, 2025, Harvard received communications from the State Department in which the Department suggested it wishes to conduct an evaluation of the J-1 visa program that it administers.
A full legal resolution is still pending, but while the case proceeds, our SEVP certification remains intact, and our international students and scholars can continue their academic and research activities at Harvard.
Harvard will continue to protect its international community and support students and scholars as they apply for U.S. visas and travel to campus. The University will also continue to comply with the applicable Exchange Visitor Program regulations.
The lawsuit is not over because the government continues to threaten Harvard’s F-1 and J-1 programs through ongoing regulatory proceedings, even as the government stipulated to the court on August 6, 2025, “that the May 22 letter” in particular “will not be used to revoke Harvard’s SEVP certification or Exchange Visitor Program designation.” While the case proceeds, the Court’s injunctions remain in place, our SEVP certification remains intact, and our international students and scholars can continue their academic and research activities at Harvard.
The government continues to engage in regulatory processes, separate and apart from the May 22, 2025, letter, that could result in the revocations of Harvard’s F-1 program certification and/or J-1 Exchange Visitor Program designation—and indeed it acknowledged this in its stipulation it filed in court on August 6, 2025. The government’s position is that its stipulation about the May 22 letter resolves this part of the litigation. Yet so long as the government pursues its unlawful and retaliatory investigations of Harvard’s F-1 and J-1 programs, Harvard will proceed with the lawsuit.
While the case proceeds, the federal court’s orders block the government from acting on both DHS’s revocation of Harvard’s SEVP certification and the June 4, 2025, presidential proclamation suspending entries for Harvard’s new international students and scholars. This means that we can continue issuing visa-related documents, and the University can continue enrolling and hosting international students and scholars.
The federal court's actions do not represent a final decision. Harvard’s SEVP certification remains active for now, but full legal resolution is still pending. Additionally, the government continues its administrative reviews of Harvard’s F-1 and J-1 visa programs.
On May 28, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent a letter to Harvard notifying us of their intent to withdraw our SEVP certification via a process of administrative review. This is a separate measure from those in the lawsuit.
We regard this action as yet another instance of unlawful retaliation against the University.
Harvard has submitted its response to the Department of Homeland Security’s Notice of Intent to Withdraw the University’s SEVP certification. We are engaging in the administrative process in good faith and as required by law. We will continue to provide support to our international students, who are deeply valued members of our community.
On July 23, 2025, Harvard received communications from the U.S. State Department invoking the Department’s authority to conduct a review of Harvard’s J-1 visa program.
Yes. The court’s orders ensure that international students and scholars remain in lawful status and can continue their academic and research activities at Harvard while the case proceeds. Similarly, recent alumni on OPT and STEM OPT can still work, and new students and scholars can continue with their efforts to obtain F-1 and J-1 visa stamps to facilitate their travel to the United States later this year.
The federal court's rulings are not final. Harvard’s SEVP certification remains active for now, but full legal resolution is still pending. Additionally, the government continues its administrative reviews of Harvard’s F-1 and J-1 visa programs.
Separate from the lawsuit, but related: If you are among the Harvard-sponsored students and scholars affected by the June 4 and December 16, 2025 presidential proclamations restricting entry into the U.S. by foreign nationals from more than 30 countries, your visa status should remain intact if you are currently inside the United States on a valid visa. You may continue your studies, research, employment, and other activities. However, if you are outside of the U.S., and you try to enter/re-enter, you could be prevented from entering the U.S. while entry for nationals from your home country remains suspended.
Yes. Under the federal court’s orders, both the June 4 presidential proclamation suspending Harvard F-1 and J-1 entries and DHS’s May 22, 2025, attempt to revoke Harvard’s SEVP certification are blocked, pending further developments in the case. This means Harvard can continue issuing the Form I-20s and DS-2019s that are necessary for obtaining F and J visas, respectively. Visa issuance ultimately remains subject to individual U.S. consulate procedures.
The federal court's rulings are not final. Harvard’s SEVP certification remains active for now, but full legal resolution is still pending while the case proceeds. Additionally, the government continues its administrative reviews of Harvard’s F-1 and J-1 visa programs.
Separate from the lawsuit, but related: If you are among Harvard-sponsored students and scholars affected by the June 4 and December 16, 2025 presidential proclamations that together restrict entry into the U.S. by foreign nationals from more than 30 countries, your visa status should remain intact if you are currently inside the United States on a valid visa. You may continue your studies, research, employment, and other activities. However, if you are outside of the U.S., and you try to enter/re-enter, you could be prevented from entering the U.S. while entry for nationals from your home country remains suspended.
Yes. The court’s decision delays enforcement but does not eliminate that risk. The University is pursuing permanent legal remedies to protect the status of its international community.
Not all J-1 researchers at affiliated hospitals are sponsored through the Harvard J-1 program. You should review your Form DS-2019 document and see if “President & Fellows of Harvard College” or “Harvard University” is named as your visa sponsor. If another organization is your sponsor, the June 4, 2025, presidential proclamations restricting Harvard student and scholar entries do not apply to you.
If you are sponsored by Harvard, then the June 4 proclamation restricting Harvard student and scholar entries could well affect your status. But due to the court’s orders, Harvard’s F-1 and J-1 programs remain in place for now, and the government is “enjoined from [g]iving any force or effect to [DHS’s] May 22, 2025 Revocation Notice” and “enjoined from implementing, instituting, maintaining, enforcing, or giving force or effect to the Presidential Proclamation.” A full legal resolution is still pending.
Separate from the lawsuit, but related: The June 4 and December 16, 2025 presidential proclamations that together restrict entry into the U.S. by foreign nationals from more than 30 countries and supporting guidance issued by Customs and Border Protection indicate that the entry ban does not apply to persons who were in the country or had a valid visa issued on or before June 8, 2025. We are also tracking news reports of expanded travel restriction that could ban or limit travel to the U.S. for certain categories of foreign nationals from additional countries.
On July 23, 2025, Harvard received communications from the U.S. State Department in which the Department invoked its authority to conduct an evaluation of Harvard’s J-1 visa program .
Harvard will continue to protect its international community and support its students and scholars as they apply for U.S. visas and travel to campus this fall. The University will also continue to comply with the applicable Exchange Visitor Program regulations.
Yes, for now, you can still work.
The court's rulings are not final. Harvard’s SEVP certification remains active for now, and the presidential proclamation to restrict foreign student visas at Harvard is blocked for now, but a full legal resolution is still pending. Additionally, the government continues its administrative review of Harvard’s F-1 visa program.
Separate from the lawsuit, but related: The June 4 and December 16, 2025 presidential proclamations that together restrict entry into the U.S. by foreign nationals from more than 30 countries and supporting guidance issued by Customs and Border Protection indicate that the entry ban does not apply to persons who were in the country or had a valid visa issued on or before June 8, 2025. We are also tracking news reports of expanded travel restriction that could ban or limit travel to the U.S. for certain categories of foreign nationals from additional countries.
The HIO is offering individualized advising, timely updates, and legal support resources. The University is also engaging with immigration attorneys and federal agencies to ensure continuity and clarity for affected students and scholars.
Resources
The HIO is the primary U.S. immigration resource for international students and scholars whose visas are sponsored by Harvard, and we are committed to keeping our community informed. Our website provides information, resources, and important updates. If you cannot find the information you need, contact your HIO advisor and arrange a time to discuss your concerns.
We will email our international student and scholar community regarding U.S. immigration updates, and we will post them to our What’s New page. We recommend bookmarking that page and checking back regularly.
Similarly, the Harvard Representation Initiative (HRI) is a resource available to advise foreign nationals not present on a Harvard-sponsored visa (such as Green Card holders, DACA/Undocumented, and individuals on Temporary Protected Status) and address their U.S. immigration questions.
The Harvard Representation Initiative (HRI) is a pro bono legal clinic offering immigration consulting, referrals, and in some cases, representation. Harvard community members who are concerned their immigration status is at risk can contact hri@law.harvard.edu.
Additionally, many immigration lawyers have contacted Harvard to offer their legal representation services to international students and scholars. The HIO and HRI can connect you, as appropriate.
We recognize the emotional strain that these events and the weight of uncertainty are placing on all of us. If you would like to speak with a counselor or a mental health professional, contact one of the resources listed below.
- For students: Counseling and Mental Health Services
- For employees: Employee Assistance Program
- For students and employees traveling abroad: International SOS
For more information, see the University’s Support Resources in Times of Crisis webpage.
It’s best to check in privately and let them know you’re there if they want to talk. For international students and scholars sponsored by Harvard, you can recommend that they reach out to their HIO advisor. Similarly, the Harvard Representation Initiative (HRI) is a resource available to advise foreign nationals not present on a Harvard-sponsored visa (such as Green Card holders, DACA/Undocumented, and individuals on Temporary Protected Status) and address their U.S. immigration questions.
Don’t inquire about someone’s immigration or visa status unprompted or have a conversation that involves sensitive information in a setting where others may overhear. You can also point someone in a challenging situation to the University’s Support Resources in Times of Crisis webpage, which has additional resources, including mental wellbeing and community support services.
Many consular offices have been in contact with Harvard offices to ask about sharing names of students and scholars from their countries. We understand their reasons for wishing to have this information, but federal law and Harvard policy limit our ability to disclose certain information concerning our students to third parties.
General information on the number of Harvard students and scholars (including post-docs) from each country is available on our statistics webpage. You can filter by country, student, scholar, and Harvard School.
Additionally, we encourage all Harvard’s international students and scholars to consider proactively contacting their embassies/consulates in the United States (view a full list) to inform them of their presence in the United States, share their contact information, and learn about what support the consular offices can provide.