If you have an urgent situation when OISS is closed, OISS has a staff member on call when the office is not open. You can reach that staff member by calling the main OISS line (517.353.1720) and remaining on the line to speak with the staff member on duty.

In the event of a medical or other emergency, call 911.

Internationals in F, J and H1B statuses should carry their status documents (passport, current I-20 or DS-2019 or I-797 showing H1B status) with them at all times. You may choose to only carry copies instead of originals when on or near campus. However, if you are traveling, even within Michigan, you should carry your original documents with you. For added security, leave copies of your documents in a safe place in your home and with a trusted friend. It is your responsibility to keep copies of all your immigration documents.

Carrying additional documents such as a state issued driver’s license or state ID and your MSU ID is a good idea. If you are a student, have a copy of your current class schedule with you or available on a phone/tablet.

Keep a list of emergency contacts, including local emergency services, OISS and close friends/family in the United States. Memorize the phone numbers of a couple of contacts in case you are unable to access your cell phone.  

Students, scholars, and employees should always carry a copy of their health insurance card. MSU’s student and scholar health insurance is provided by Aetna Student Health.

You should not rely solely on information stored on your phone/tablet as you may not be able to access your phone/tablet, the battery may die, etc.

A good practice is to give copies of important documents (passport, I-20/DS-2019, insurance information) and emergency contact information to a friend or family member in the US that you can call in case of an emergency. Make sure you memorize that friend’s number so you can call them without using your cell phone. You can also give copies to family members outside the US.

International students, scholars and employees who plan to travel outside the US and then return to the US/MSU should carefully review in advance the travel information specific to their immigration status on the OISS website.

International students, scholars and employees who do not have a visa stamp in their passport that will be valid on the date they plan to return to the US are advised to consult with OISS before traveling. You may experience delays and other difficulties obtaining a new visa.

If you are from a country that was included in past travel bans, please consult with an OISS advisor before traveling outside the US.

Yes. On 18 February 2025, the Department of State announced that to be eligible for an interview waiver, visa applicants must:

• Have previously held a visa in the same category that expired less than 12 months prior to the new application;
• Apply in their country of nationality or residence;
• Have never been refused a visa (unless such refusal was overcome or waived), and;
• Have no apparent or potential ineligibility.

This change will mean that wait times for visa appointments and processing may be much longer than expected. If you need to apply for a new visa while traveling outside the US, plan extra time for visa processing. It is strongly recommended that international students, scholars and employees planning to travel and apply for a new visa consult with OISS before traveling.

Currently there is a great deal of concern about travel outside of and returning to the US. Please monitor communication from OISS and other reliable sources for updates. An executive order issued 20 January 2025, directs government agencies to produce a report no later than 21 March 2025, which may lead to additional restrictions including bans on the issuance of visas to and entry to the US by nationals of certain countries. Currently there are no restrictions in place. However, international students, scholars and employees are strongly advised to watch for communication from OISS for updates.

If an immigration agent requests your immigration documents, you are required to show them. However, keep in mind that you have the right to remain silent and that you are not required to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents, or other officials. Tell the officer you wish to remain silent and consult with a lawyer before responding. Review the American Civil Liberal Union (ACLU) website for additional information on how to respond to questions regarding immigration if you are stopped by law enforcement or government officials. 

If a police officer place you under arrest or states they are taking you into custody:

• Do not resist. Even if you believe the arrest is wrongful, it is important that you do not physically resist a police officer.
• Remember your rights. 
• Right to remain silent. If the officer questions you, you can say, “I choose to exercise my right to remain silent. I will not answer any questions without an attorney present.”​ 
• Right to make a local phone call. Give your family or a friend or lawyer your location so that they can reach you.​ 
• Right to talk to an attorney before signing any documents. 
• Right to a public defender. If you truly cannot afford a lawyer, you have the right to request a public defender who will assist you at no charge. In many cases it is advisable to have both a criminal and immigration lawyer.

If you are driving: 

• If a police vehicle is behind you with lights and sirens activated, pull to the side of the road or pull off to a safe location.
• You should not exit your car. You should wait until the police officer approaches your vehicle. While you wait for the police officer, keep your hands on the steering wheel. Do not rummage around in your belongings. You can find your documents when the officer arrives at your vehicle.
• Upon request, you must provide your full legal name and driver's license. It is likely that the police will also request proof of auto insurance and vehicle registration. 

You may participate in peaceful protests, however, understand that there is greater risk involved as a non-immigrant. If you are arrested, charged, or convicted while participating in a protest, this will likely impact your current and future immigration status, any future immigration or visa applications, and your interactions with immigration and consular authorities.

If you choose to participate in a peaceful protest, always pay close attention to your surroundings. If the police issue orders to leave the area or end the protest, comply immediately. Do not engage in disorderly conduct, including arguing with the police.

Yes. A child born in the United States is considered a citizen of the United States.  After your baby is born, the hospital staff will gather information to complete the birth certificate and send it to the state health department. The procedures for getting a copy of your baby's birth certificate depend on the county in which your baby is born. Ask your birth center staff how you can get a copy of your baby's birth certificate. (You may receive a souvenir certificate. This is not an official birth certificate).

On the birth certificate questionnaire is a question asking if you want to apply for a Social Security number for your baby. Although your baby doesn't legally need a Social Security number for one year, now is the easiest time to apply for one.

It is strongly recommended that parents apply for a U.S. passport for their children. Information about applying for a child's U.S. passport can be found at travel.state.gov. 

As a public university, MSU is largely open to the public. Federal immigration officials can enter public spaces, however, certain private areas, such as on-campus residence halls, University buildings to which access is restricted to those with MSU identification, or administrative or faculty offices, classrooms, and laboratories, require a valid judicial warrant or permission to enter. An administrative warrant is civil in nature and does not by itself authorize federal enforcement officials to enter private residential spaces absent consent.

MSU’s Department of Police and Public Safety (DPPS) collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies and encourages prior notice when outside law enforcement plans to visit. However, DPPS cannot prevent agencies with legal authority from coming to the public portions of campus.

There are various reasons U.S. federal immigration enforcement officials might contact MSU or come on campus, including routine compliance matters related to the University’s normal operations. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its enforcement agency, U.S. Federal Government Immigration Officials, have broad authority. Not all DHS officials are responsible for law enforcement. MSU routinely interacts with U.S. federal immigration enforcement officials. For example, federal immigration officials may contact MSU or come to campus in connection with the University’s participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. U.S. federal immigration enforcement officials may also be invited to present in an academic program, such as explaining customs procedures to an international business class. Federal agencies may also participate in a career fair.

A USCIS site visit is an additional way to verify information in certain visa petitions. Under this program, immigration officers in the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) make unannounced site visits to collect information as part of a compliance review. At the site visit, the officer will:

• Verify the information, including supporting documents, submitted with the petition;
• Verify that the petitioning organization exists;
• Review public records and information on the petitioning organization;
• Conduct unannounced site visits to where the beneficiary works;
• Take photographs;
• Review documents;
• Interview personnel to confirm the beneficiary’s work location, physical workspace, hours, salary and duties; and
• Speak with the beneficiary.

Employers should be prepared to present any information originally submitted with the petition and immediately provide all readily available documents and information that the immigration officer requests.

If a USCIS officer comes to your department to conduct a site visit, please contact OGC and OISS immediately for assistance and for any required follow up.

The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits universities from releasing information from a student’s education records without consent, except under certain specified circumstances. It is the policy of the University to comply with FERPA (Michigan State University Access to Student Information).

Disclosure of directory information about a student is not generally considered harmful or an invasion of privacy. Information that MSU has designated as directory information is listed in the MSU Notification of Student Rights and Notice for Directory Information. Students may restrict the release of directory information by updating their directory restrictions online at https://student.msu.edu/ or notifying the Office of the Registrar.

The Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) is a program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that provides approval and oversight to schools authorized to enroll F and J nonimmigrant students. The SEVP provides that participating institutions are subject to on-site review or “certification visits” at any time, meaning that SEVP field representatives visiting the campus are authorized to obtain information about students on temporary student visas (i.e., F and J). These visits are limited and generally consist of federal immigration officials conducting document review. 

MSU will not release immigration related information to federal immigration officials unless required by law. 

Except when related to the SEVP, faculty and staff should contact the Office of the General Counsel immediately if any federal official seeks to obtain immigration-related information about a student or employee. The Office for International Students and Scholars should be consulted for any information request from SEVP. Unless they receive authorization from the Office of General Counsel or OISS, faculty and staff should not release immigration-related information about a student or employee.