International Students and Scholars Should Expect Delays Entering the U.S.

Effective immediately, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) officers at air, land and sea ports of entry will be required to verify the SEVIS record of every entering international student and scholar holding F, J or M nonimmigrant visa status. Because officers do not currently have access to SEVIS at primary inspection points, international students and scholars will be referred to Secondary Inspection, a separate area from the regular line where more complex immigration admissions issues are addressed.

What this means is that international students and scholars entering the U.S. by air, land or sea in F or J status should plan that their U.S. entry process could take extra time (1-3 hours). This is particularly important for individuals who need to go through Customs in between flight connections.

CBP is working to provide SEVIS access to officers at the primary inspection points, but until that is completed international students and scholars should expect delays during the admissions process.

Please contact the Office of Visa and Immigration Services if you have any questions.