US Universities Advise International Students to Return Before Trump Inauguration

Institutions issue travel recommendations due to potential immigration policy changes under the incoming administration.

Several US universities, including MIT and UMass Amherst, have urged international students to return to the US before January 20, 2025, the day Donald Trump is sworn in as president.
The advisories are precautionary, referencing potential executive orders on immigration and travel, similar to those enacted during Trump's first term in 2017.
Institutions highlight possible delays in visa processing and staffing changes at US embassies during the transition period as additional risks for students traveling abroad.
India is now the largest source of international students in the US, with over 330,000 individuals enrolled, followed by China with 277,398 students, according to the Open Doors 2024 Report.
While students on valid F-visas are unlikely to face immediate impacts, undocumented students and those requiring new visas are advised to exercise caution when planning travel.