Immigration FAQ
The International Center supports and offers general visa-related guidance to all Tufts-sponsored international students, scholars and employees (and their dependents) in F-1, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, and E-3 statuses. The International Center is advising individuals in these visa categories to use extreme caution and to consult with the center prior to engaging in international travel. Populations that have been determined to be at higher risk for restrictions have also received further messaging discouraging all non-essential travel at this time. Any essential travel should be registered through Tufts Travel Registry so that we can offer timely support in the event of any delays or difficulties re-entering the United States.
In addition to the International Center community, we have many people at the University who hold other immigration statuses, including lawful permanent residence. The University recommends that non-US citizens from any of the RED or ORANGE countries listed in the draft travel ban avoid non-essential travel at this time. If they must travel, the University asks that they please register their itineraries through the Tufts Travel Registry. Due to the complex and fluid nature of government policies, we recommend that individuals in these categories consult with a qualified immigration attorney.
On January 20, 2025, the White House released an executive order entitled Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorist and Other National Security and Public Safety threats. Within this executive order, the Trump administration set a 60-day deadline for federal agencies to identify countries they deem to have insufficient vetting procedures and that, in their view, warrant partial or full suspension of admission of their nationals into the United States.
On March 15, 2025, multiple media outlets reported that a draft list for the new travel ban included 43 countries. The list below is neither final, nor official. News reports indicate that it is likely to change.
RED – all travel banned
- Afghanistan
- Bhutan
- Cuba
- Iran
- Libya
- North Korea
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Venezuela
- Yemen
ORANGE – visas sharply restricted (immigrant and tourist visas likely to be denied; in-person likely to be required to obtain a visa)
- Belarus
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Pakistan
- Russia
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Turkmenistan
YELLOW – 60 days to address concerns (regarding vetting and screening information from those countries)
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Burkino Faso
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Chad
- Republic of Congo
- Republic of Congo
- Dominica
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gambia
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Kitts and Nevis
- Lucia
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Vanuatu
- Zimbabwe
We will be monitoring what emerges following the 60-day deadline (March 21) from the executive order and will update this FAQ as appropriate.
Tufts Sponsored Students, Scholars and Employees: The International Center sent a travel advisory on February 26, 2025, and a subsequent communication about prospective travel restrictions on March 7, 2025. These communications contained frequently asked questions and answers related to travel, current risks and ways to minimize these, emergency information, and information about staying in touch with the International Center for both up-to-date information and support. Please contact Tufts International Center for further information.
Other Non-citizen Students, Scholars, and Employees: Due to the complex and fluid nature of government policies, we recommend that individuals in these categories consult with a qualified immigration attorney for advice. We also encourage each of you to speak with your advisors and colleagues to inform them of any concerns and upcoming travel plans.
We understand that non-citizen members of our communities have questions about potential immigration enforcement, revocation of green cards and visas, and deportation. University Counsel has worked diligently over the past several months to ensure that members of the campus community are familiar with government request and visit protocols. We encourage anyone with questions about these protocols to reach out to University Counsel. Furthermore, please see individual resources below regarding your rights as a non-citizen and information on finding a qualified immigration attorney for case-specific advice.
- Know Your Rights (for students and employees)
The University follows guidance provided by the Massachusetts Attorney General to institutions of higher education (the “Guidance”) which states that schools should develop a protocol that asks immigration officials to provide a copy of any judicial warrant or court order. The guidance states that “[w]ithout a court order or warrant signed by a judge, immigration officers cannot compel [a school] or their officer[s] to comply with their requests.” See Attorney General Guidance, Section IIA(ii).
The Guidance also states that schools “must ensure that their campus police policies and practices are consistent with the Supreme Judicial Court decision in Lunn v. Commonwealth, which held that law enforcement officers may not hold an individual ‘solely on the basis of a Federal civil immigration detainer.’”
The University follows the Guidance pursuant to its protocol for responding to government inquiries and requests for information.