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this week in immigration

May 30, 2025

Hey there,

Aizada here.

This newsletter edition is a bit different.

It’s closer to my heart.

It’s a message to all immigrant students out there, as these are challenging times.

The past week has brought unprecedented developments affecting international students across the United States.

As Harvard alumni and immigrants ourselves, Assel and I have been closely monitoring these changes and their potential impact on the community we serve.

We all know the quote - ‘Knowledge is Power’.

Through this newsletter, we want to provide knowledge and clarity.

And for that, let’s ensure you have all the facts in one place.

May 22, 2025

Trump Administration Says It is Halting Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students

  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem ordered DHS to terminate the Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification.

  • As per DHS, ‘Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status’

May 23, 2025

Court Provides Temporary Relief

  • Harvard sued and asked for a restraining order less than 24 hours after the revocation announcement.

  • Federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking Harvard SEVP revocation

  • Thousands of students get temporary protection

  • About 25% of Harvard's student body affected

May 27, 2025

All New Student Visa Interview Appointment Scheduling Paused

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed consular offices to pause “any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued”.

  • The brief says, “The department is conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor visa applicants’’ 

  • They plan to issue guidance on “expanded social media vetting for all such applicants.”

May 28, 2025

Chinese Students Face Additional Scrutiny

  • Marco Rubio stated the State Department will work with DHS to “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.”

  • The administration “will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.”

May 29, 2025

Court Ruling Extends Temporary Restraining Order blocking Harvard SEVP revocation

  • A federal court in Boston extended the temporary restraining order issued on May 23 and agreed to grant a preliminary injunction. While the case continues, these actions will block the federal government’s attempt to revoke the SEVP certification pending further litigation.

  • The same day, Harvard held its annual commencement ceremonies. While not addressing the controversy directly, Harvard president Alan Garber took a moment to welcome its students "down the street, across the country and around the world." He repeated, “Around the world… just as it should be.” His remarks were met by a standing ovation.

I understand the anxiety these developments may create. 

Disruption to academic plans, career trajectories, and life decisions. I understand them.

And yes, what we're seeing affects not just individual students, but the broader ecosystem of innovation, research, and economic growth that international talent brings to America. 

Companies rely on this talent pipeline.
Universities depend on these brilliant minds.
Communities benefit from their contributions.

In the darkness of uncertainty, the silver lining is - student visas aren't the only path forward.

Alternative Options to Consider

I talk to international students every day. Here are some alternatives we help them explore:

What's Next

The legal challenges are ongoing. Court decisions in the coming weeks could change things.

If the pause on visas extends for a few more weeks, it might impact a lot of students applying for the fall season.

We're monitoring every development and will keep you updated.

For now, the most important thing is to stay informed and have a backup plan.

Alma’s Commitment To You

When I was navigating my own path as an international student at Harvard, I couldn't have imagined facing challenges like these. The uncertainty is real, and it's scary.

That's exactly why we started Alma.

 As someone who's been in your shoes, I want you to know: you're not alone.

The way forward might look different than you originally planned.

We're here to help you find yours.

What we're offering:

  • Free initial assessments to review your eligibility for alternative visas

  • Strategic planning for alternative visas

  • Documentation help for applications

  • Clear timelines to maintain legal status

Reach out with a reply to this email. I’ll be reading all of them.

Stay resilient,
Aizada