Overview
- The June policy restricts visas for citizens of 19 countries, fully barring 12 and imposing tighter rules on seven, with exemptions for green card holders, dual nationals and some athletes.
- Additional reviews this summer slowed consular processing, causing interview cancellations and backlogs that prevented many admits from securing visas in time for the semester.
- Universities report deferrals and absences as students from Iran, Myanmar and other listed nations miss start dates or lose places after months of preparation.
- Cases cited include an Afghan admit denied a deferral by Knox College, an Iranian teen postponing enrollment at Pittsburg State University, a Myanmar student blocked from starting at the University of South Florida and an Iranian researcher delayed from a visiting appointment at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Some students are pivoting to European options that require hurdles such as upfront tuition and fresh language tests, while President Trump says the ban remains until screening “deficiencies” are corrected.