January 23, 2025: Increased review and screening for U.S. immigration benefits
Presidential Executive Order Establishing Enhanced Vetting and Screening of Individuals Seeking U.S. Immigration Benefits
President Trump issued an on Jan. 20 instituting increased review of applications for U.S. immigration benefits including visas and admission to the United States.
See the frequently asked questions (FAQ) below for details about this new requirement. Please note that FAQs are based on the currently available information in and related to the proclamation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The effective date of the executive order was Jan. 20.
The new restriction applies to any individual (foreign national) who applies for a U.S. immigration benefit such as but not limited to visas, admission (entry) to the United States, permanent residency “green card” applications, petitions for non-immigrant temporary status, etc. It does not apply to U.S. citizens.
No. The executive order does not implement a travel ban. However, it requires that, within 60 days, a report be submitted to the president identifying countries whose citizens should be subject to a full or partial ban on entering the United States.
To carry out the executive order, federal agencies will likely scrutinize all applications more which will slow down the process. There may be delays as well when seeking to be admitted to the United States at the airports or land borders.
No. The new restriction does not require anyone in the United States to depart. The restrictions do not affect the immigration status for those who are already present in the United States. The U.S. government will not ask them to leave the country if they maintain their current immigration status.
The text of the is posted on the in the “Executive Actions” section under “Presidential Actions.”
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
We want you to feel supported, safe, and comfortable during your time at CU Boulder and in the United States. If you need to talk or have any questions, we are here for you. ISSS offers walk-in and remote advising. You can also reach us via our general email account isss@colorado.edu or by phone at 303-492-8057 during normal office hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For our sponsored students, ISSS offers specific walk-in and remote advising and our Sponsored Student Advising team can be reached directly at sponsoredadvising@colorado.edu.
Campus Resources
ISSS wants you to know you can always talk to us or use the other resources on campus. Here are some resources we recommend:
- Students: Use our friendly campus counseling services to talk through feelings of anxiety, loneliness, stress, or just to have someone supportive to talk to.
- Faculty and Staff: Reach out to the Faculty & Staff Assistance Program to set up a time to chat with a trained counselor.
We are glad that you have chosen to be a part of the CU Boulder community. ISSS is here to assist you so please reach out to us if you need anything.