Overview

• Admitted students from affected nations are missing campus arrivals after consular slowdowns and new screening procedures disrupted visa interviews.
• Last year more than 5,700 student and exchange visas were issued to people from the 19 restricted countries between May and September; this fall many applicants report logjams and deferred plans.
• The policy blocks most new visas for citizens of 12 countries and imposes tighter rules on seven others, with limited exemptions for green-card holders, dual citizens and some athletes.
• Individual cases underscore the fallout, including an Afghan student denied deferral at Knox College, an Iranian admit postponing Pittsburg State enrollment, a Myanmar student losing a University of South Florida place, and an Iranian scholar’s Penn visit pushed to next year.
• Some students are pursuing alternatives in Europe, and advocates cite reports of a U.S. ultimatum to 36 additional countries to tighten vetting within 60 days, a claim without official updates.