To the ӰƵ community,
Earlier this week, President Trump restricting entry to the United States for individuals from 19 countries. This proclamation goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 9.
While the ban may be challenged in courts, I wanted to provide immediate guidance to our community based on the information we have at this time.
First, however, I want to address our international students, faculty, staff and postdocs directly. I know these proclamations and other federal actions may be distressing and disruptive, but please know you are and will continue to be an essential part of the ӰƵ community.
To that end, we want to provide our international community with guidance on how to ensure they can continue their education and research while also complying with federal directives.
This proclamation has two levels: a “full ban” on travel to the U.S. for individuals from 12 countries—Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen—and a “partial ban” on travel to the U.S. for those from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela who are on B-1, B‑2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas.
Those international students, faculty, staff and postdocs who are in, and stay in, the U.S. should not encounter issues remaining in the U.S., according to the information in this proclamation. However, anyone from these countries without a valid visa stamp would be unable to travel to the U.S. beginning June 9.
Based on this information, and previous directives from the federal government this year, university leadership and the VISA Office advise:
- All international students, faculty, staff and postdocs should cancel travel outside the U.S. until further notice.
- Those who are from countries on the “full ban” list, or those from countries on the “partial ban” list who are here on B-1, B‑2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, should not leave the U.S. while this proclamation is in effect.
- Individuals from these countries who are outside the U.S. at this time should make travel plans to return before 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 9, if at all possible.
- All members of our international community should carry evidence of their valid immigration status (passports, I-94s, visa stamps, EADs, Permanent Resident cards, I-485 receipts, etc.) with them at all times.
- If you encounter difficulties at a U.S. port of entry, please call the VISA Office at 216.368.6964 during normal business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. ET). Outside these hours, please call the CWRU Division of Public Safety at 216.368.3300, and the dispatcher will help connect you to a VISA staff member.
University administrators are closely monitoring this news and working to address any issues that may arise for members of our community.
For the latest information on travel policies and procedures, visit the VISA Office website and . Any international student, faculty, staff or postdoc with questions about their visa status or travel should contact the VISA Office at visa@case.edu or 216.368.6964. Information about walk-in and scheduled appointments is available at case.edu/visa.
Thank you to our entire community for your care and concern on this critical matter.
Sincerely,
Eric W. Kaler
President