Over the past week, F-1 students reported widespread Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) terminations with no advance warning to either the schools or affected students. These terminations, which caught many by surprise, are part of a large-scale effort by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target individuals in the U.S. in lawful immigration status and issue revocations based on actual or perceived criminal histories.

On January 29, 2025, President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, instructing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain individuals who have been arrested for, charged with, convicted of, or admitted to having committed acts of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The Act was named after a nursing student who was killed by a previously arrested and paroled Venezuelan national. In the aftermath of the Act’s passage, there has been a significant rise in the use of “prudential visa revocation” targeting nonimmigrant visa holders. Over the past week or so, it has become obvious F-1 students are one of the current focuses.

International students have found their visas and statuses in SEVIS abruptly terminated by ICE over the last few weeks. Some F-1 students have received no rationale behind their status being revoked, while others have received notice from their school’s Designated School Official (DSO) that the reason is related to criminal charges they have faced while in the United States. However, and most worrisome, many students had their immigration status terminated based on charges that were ultimately dismissed. When your SEVIS is terminated, you are no longer in valid F-1 status and there is no grace period. As such, these unforeseen terminations are causing widespread panic and confusion for a great number of people impacted.

In these uncertain times, if you are an international student with F-1 status, it is important to remain proactive in monitoring your visa and SEVIS account, to ensure you are immediately aware of any changes in your status. As mentioned, the news of your SEVIS being terminated can come without warning; it is not required for DHS to notify you ahead of time and it could happen anytime, if the government finds good cause.

If you are an international student who has had any encounter with U.S. law enforcement or have had charges filed against you, it is wise to seek counsel with an experienced immigration attorney to understand how these charges may impact your current status or future filings. It is also very important to avoid having your case sealed or expunged. While this may seem counterintuitive, if your criminal history becomes an issue or rationale for the termination of your visa, your immigration attorney will need to have access to the underlying charges, so they are better equipped to help you. In many instances, the underlying conduct that triggered the criminal charge is what USCIS is interested in for admissibility purposes, not just the final disposition – without having any records, your attorney and/or USCIS will not be able to properly determine your admissibility to the U.S. and this can result in a denial of immigration benefits.

If you are an international student and have had your visa revoked and/or your SEVIS record terminated, you may be eligible to file for reinstatement. Eligibility for reinstatement depends on the nature of your previous criminal charges, the final disposition, and your overall admissibility to the U.S. However, please note that filing for reinstatement with USCIS can take 5-7 months. While authorized to remain in the U.S. while a reinstatement application is pending, if your application is ultimately denied, you will be considered to have been out of status since your original SEVIS termination date. As a reminder, accruing unlawful presence more than 180 days triggers an immigration bar from reentering the U.S.  To avoid such consequences, it may be best to immediately depart the United States and reapply from abroad. When you reapply, you will need to get a new SEVIS number and a new Form I-20 and pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee again. It is best to consult with an experienced immigration attorney on the best option for your case.

Whether your visa has been terminated, whether you are currently involved in any U.S. court proceedings or have previously, or whether you still hold valid F-1 status and were not impacted by the recent terminations, it is more important than ever to remain vigilant and seek legal guidance from an immigration attorney when needed. Here at ILBSG, we understand that not every case is the same and we are committed to looking over the specifics of every case and finding solutions that best fit each client’s circumstance. If you have any questions about this article or about your F-1 status, please contact us. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical.

F-1 Student F-1 Student Visa SEVIS