International Graduate Students

For the most current University guidance for International Students, please regularly check the ISSS Current Messages on Federal Immigration Changes page.

  • Emergency Contact Information
    • Did you know that one of the reasons you can call the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) emergency phone number is a request from a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent to speak with an ISSS staff member? It's rare but occasionally a CBP officer will have questions about a student's I-20 or DS-2019 as they are entering the U.S. In those cases, international students can call 612-301-CALL (2255) to be connected to an ISSS staff member at any time of day. We recommend that you write the number down and keep it with your immigration documents in case you need it.
      • Important: The emergency phone number is for emergencies only. Emergencies include detention at secondary inspection at an airport; a request from a CBP agent to speak with an ISSS staff member; and/or the arrest, hospitalization, or death of a student. For other concerns, students must contact ISSS when the office is open.
    • Office of the General Counsel (OGC): 612-624-4100.
    • Important Phone Numbers business card.
  • It is recommended that non-citizens carry color photocopies of their current immigration documents at all times, even within the United States (especially copies of your passport and I-20. See Caitlin Boley, GPC, to make color copies in the department.
  • Please check with ISSS before planning international travel
  • Please know that ISSS staff are monitoring the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database and will contact anyone who has their record terminated. You do not need to reach out to ISSS to check on your status. Students who have been terminated will be referred to the University's Student Legal Service (SLS), which can advise on next steps.
    • If you receive an email from a U.S. embassy or consulate or other source that states that your visa has been revoked, please contact ISSS as soon as you can.

Legal Help

  • Student Legal Service (SLS)
  • James H. Binger Center for New Americans
    • The Binger Center has represented a detained student pro bono. Contact Linus Chan at the Detainee Rights Center.
  • Students can get a referral from an outside attorney from SLS or for the Binger Center, also:
  • Local attorneys who have indicated availability to take on UMN student detention and removal cases
  • Proactive steps to take now:
    • Organize your papers. Maintain paper copies of your identification documents in a folder and tell a confidant where you maintain your folder.
      • Passport
      • Visas
      • Work permits
      • Travel documents and dates
      • Birth certificates
      • Marriage certificates
    • Maintain contact information:
      • Get a lawyer: Keep lawyer's card, phone number, and email in folder
      • Memorize name and number of trusted friend, family, or colleague
      • Memorize your entire address
      • Keep proof of status documents with you (in car, wallet, purse, backpack)
    • If you get picked up by the authorities, call the trusted person whose phone number you have memorized. Tell them:
      1. I've been picked up by exactly whom,
      2. Indicate where you are,
      3. If in ICE custody, have been assigned an a-number/file number

Student Affairs

  • Express readmittance: Should an international student need to discontinue their studies in the Political Science Ph.D. program due to changes in their visa status, the department is prepared to ensure they may later be readmitted using the Express Readmit Process. Students who are considering this should contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.
  • Leave of Absence (LOA): Students may request a leave of absence in the case of serious personal challenges or emergencies. Graduate students must maintain active status through continuous registration while in the program. Students may request a LOA at any time per University Policy. A LOA does not count toward a student's time to degree. Students who are considering applying for a LOA should consult with their faculty advisors and the Director of Graduate Studies, and work with the Graduate Program Coordinator to complete the required documentation. More information is available on the CLA Neighborhood.

ICE "Spotter"

Additional University Resources

Additional External Resources

Early April 2025 Experience of an International Student Returning

A student took a flight into the US, which was delayed by almost 3 hours due to an 11-hour delay of it previously catching up the route. According to the local ground staff where they left, the delay was related to several "customs-related" incidents that happened in the US, but no further details were provided.

When they arrived at passport control, another flight had landed around the same time. The line for visa holders and visitors was predominantly East Asian. Travelers who did not speak "passable" English were sent to secondary inspection immediately—roughly 20% of the people in the line—regardless of whether they had a document explaining their itinerary or purpose of visit. In short, being sent to second inspection is not a weird/rare thing now; it is something usual conditionally predictable.

Travelers holding F-1 visas were asked multiple questions, such as their field of study, full address down to the apartment number, duration of stay, and academic progress. Their phones were checked, including the student's, to verify access to platforms like Canvas, MyU, and other class materials. Some laptops were checked, as well. On average, the screening took about 3-5 minutes per F-1 student, provided they cooperated with the "application access check," a term used by the officer there. Otherwise, they were sent to secondary inspection.

The officers were very direct and polite, but in an aggressive and intense way.