Announcements & Updates

International Student Services will use this page to share important announcements and updates about topics impacting international students and exchange visitors. Topics may include updates from U.S. government agencies, reminders about F-1 and J-1 visa regulations, and announcements about PLU resources and services. In most cases, the content on this page will be copied from emails sent to the PLU international student population.

Questions about the information on this page can be emailed to iss@plu.edu.

Sep. 11, 2025: DHS proposes rule for elimination of "Duration of Status"

Email Subject:  News: DHS proposes rule for elimination of “Duration of Status” 
Sent Date:  September 11, 2025
From: International Student Services

Dear PLU international students,

As some of you may have heard, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a proposed rule that would eliminate “Duration of Status” (D/S) admission for international students and scholars. Instead of the current rule where F and J visa holders are admitted for as long as they are studying (D/S), the new rule would admit students and scholars for a fixed period of up to 4 years. If you need more than 4 years for your degree or OPT, then you would have to apply for an extension of stay with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). A similar proposal to eliminate D/S was submitted in 2020 during the first Trump administration, but it was later dropped by the Biden administration.

Important points:

  • A proposed rule does not affect your immigration status or duration of status at all; only a final rule does.
  • DHS is required to accept and review public comments for this proposed rule change. So far over 6,300 comments have been submitted!
  • Based on the public comments, the proposed rule could be upheld, changed, or withdrawn. There may also be legal action to attempt to stop the proposed rule from being applied.

Pacific Lutheran University stands in solidarity with our international students. We know that these are stressful, uncertain times and we want you to know that we are here to support you. Heather Jacobson is working with PLU’s president, provost and other university leaders to write an official comment letter that we will submit to DHS to oppose the proposed rule for its negative impact on PLU international students. If you wish to read about the proposed rule and submit your own comment by the September 29th comment deadline, you can do so here. Comments can be submitted anonymously.

Remember that you can always reach out to talk to Heather about your immigration status, academics, cultural adjustment, graduation plans, and more. You can schedule an in-person appointment or video chat at https://hjacobson.youcanbook.me

Again, nothing has changed yet. We anticipate that it will take several months for all the public comments to be reviewed and to learn if any changes will be made to the proposed rule, or if it will be implemented at all. We will keep you updated as we learn more. In the meantime, please let us know if you have any questions.

Jun. 5, 2025: Travel restrictions for 19 countries

Email Subject:  News update: Travel restrictions for 19 countries
Sent Date:  June 5, 2025
From:  Heather Jacobson

Dear students,

 

President Trump has issued a proclamation announcing travel restrictions for citizens of several countries. These travel restrictions go into effect on Monday, June 9th.

 

As it relates to international students and exchange visitors, entry into the United States will be banned for citizens of:
  • Afghanistan
  • Burma
  • Burundi
  • Chad
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Cuba
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Haiti
  • Iran
  • Laos
  • Libya
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • Togo
  • Turkmenistan
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen

 

Section 4 of the proclamation states that these travel restrictions will only apply to nationals of those countries who are outside the U.S. on June 9th, and who do not have a valid visa. Section 6(c) states that “No immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before the applicable effective date of this proclamation shall be revoked.”

 

Therefore, people from these countries with valid visas who are currently outside the U.S. should still be able to enter the U.S. after June 9th. Individuals currently in the U.S. should not be impacted (other than not begin able to exit the U.S. and re-enter in the future without an unexpired visa).

 

Although these travel restrictions are very troubling, the impact on PLU’s international student population is relatively small. The handful of current students from these countries are all in the United States at this time, and we have no incoming international students from the impacted countries. International students from other countries not listed in the proclamation are able to travel to the U.S. as usual.

Apr. 16, 2025: Summer housing & storage options

Email Subject:  Special Announcement: Summer housing & storage options
Sent Date:  April 16, 2025
From:  Heather Jacobson

Dear international student community,

 

As the end of the semester approaches, it is time to make plans for where you will live over the summer, as well as where you will store your belongings if you won’t be on campus during summer break. Please read through the following information carefully and reach out to me if you have any follow-up questions.

 

Summer Housing
Students (except those living in South Hall) must move out of their rooms by Friday, May 23rd at 6PM. If you need to extend your stay beyond May 23rd because you are participating in commencement or due to the timing of your flight home, you must submit an Extended Stay Request. An extended stay in your current hall is officially only available until May 24th, but exceptions will be approved on a case-by-case basis for scheduled flights or because you will move into summer housing on May 27th. If needed, when the form asks you for the reason for your request, you can select “Other Reasons” and explain about your situation in the provided box.

 

If you are looking for a place to stay for part or all of summer break, South and Ordal Halls will be open for summer student housing. The summer housing rate for a single room in Ordal is $22 per night with a required minimum stay of 26 days. You can learn more about the summer housing options and submit your summer housing application HERE. Applications are due May 1st. If you apply after May 1st, there will be a $100 late fee.

 

When you fill out the summer housing application, you will indicate the date that you want to check into summer housing and the date that you plan to check out. Summer housing ends on August 13th. After that date, early move-in to your residence hall is managed by Campus Life.

 

Again, to summarize, if you need housing for the entire summer, you will submit two applications. The first is for the extended stay through Campus Life and the second is for summer housing through Hospitality Services.

 

Storage Options
In October 2024, Campus Life sent out an email announcing that they will no longer offer storage to students living in the residence halls. This change is due to a variety of factors, including the increase in local students and the need to use the storage spaces for other uses. However, in recognition of the unique needs of international students who come to PLU from very far away, International Student Services will have a room in Harstad Hall where students can store items over the summer and/or while they study away. ISS is still creating our storage guidelines and procedures at this time. We will provide more information in May.

 

If you have a lot of items to store or you want the added security of working with a professional storage facility, there are multiple storage companies located near PLU. Some of them are offering special discounts to PLU students. You can learn more about some of the available options here: https://www.plu.edu/on-campus-housing/off-campus-storage-resources/

Apr. 10, 2025: Information for international students about visa revocations and SEVIS terminations

Email Subject:  Information for international students about visa revocations and SEVIS terminations
Sent Date:  April 10, 2025
From:  Heather Jacobson

Dear international students,

 

I’m sure you have all been seeing the stories about international students getting their visas revoked and being told that they need to leave the United States. This is a very stressful situation, and I know that you probably have a lot of questions and concerns about what is happening and how it might impact you. Although things are constantly evolving, I want to share some general information with you that may address some of your questions and concerns.

 

Why are visas being revoked?
The earlier visa revocations in March tended to refer to the individual being identified as a foreign policy threat. Now, the reason given usually refers to the individual being identified in a “criminal records check,” but this could be for something as minor as a traffic violation.

 

How are students being notified about visa revocations?
As far as we know, the vast majority of students are being notified by email about any visa revocation and/or SEVIS record termination. This email will likely be sent to the email address you provided when you applied for your F-1 visa, and may be sent from the embassy or consulate where your visa was issued. School officials aren’t able to see information about visas getting revoked, but there are reports we can run in SEVIS (the federal immigration database) to identify student records that have been terminated. I have started checking these reports several times a week, and I will contact you if I see that your record has been terminated. Please let me know if you receive an email from the government about your visa or SEVIS record.

 

It’s important to understand that there is a difference between having your F-1 visa revoked and having your SEVIS record terminated. If your visa is revoked, it does not impact your current ability to stay in the United States; it just means that you would need to apply for a new visa the next time you travel outside the U.S. However, if your SEVIS record is terminated, this ends your legal student status and you would generally be advised to leave the U.S.

 

This also seems like a good time to remind you to look out for scams, such as people calling you, claiming to be from the government, and demanding that you pay a fee to avoid being deported. The U.S. government will never call you to ask for money. If you aren’t sure if a phone message or email is legitimate, I would be happy to take a look or a listen and let you know what I think.

 

What happens if the government terminates my SEVIS record?
If your SEVIS record is terminated, then you are out of status and you need to stop any campus employment, CPT or OPT immediately.

 

There is no impact on your academic standing or ability to enroll at PLU. Your PLU scholarship award will stay the same. As long as you continue to enroll full-time at PLU, you will also be able to stay in your campus housing.

 

Although there would be no change to your status as a student at PLU, having your SEVIS record terminated could mean that you are subject to arrest and detention by federal authorities. Therefore, we would strongly encourage you to find an immigration attorney to discuss your options and determine the best course of action for you. You can review information about finding an immigration lawyer here: https://www.plu.edu/iss/current-students/legal-resources/

 

Is it safe for me to travel?
Traveling within the U.S. should be fine for all students as long as you carry the appropriate documentation. In addition to your unexpired passport, I recommend that you have the paper version or a digital copy of your I-20 and I-94 with you.

 

Traveling outside the U.S. will be safe for most students, unless your home country has been named on any of the proposed travel bans. Different news sources have reported slightly different variations of the proposed ban.

 

There may be other factors that could impact your decision to travel, such as whether you will need to apply to renew your visa or whether you have ever fallen out of status before. You can make an appointment to meet with me if you would like to discuss your individual circumstances.

 

I hope this email has been helpful. You are welcome to send me an email or drop by my office if you have additional questions.

 

Best,
Heather

Feb. 11, 2025: Documents to carry with you in the US

Email Subject:  Documents to carry with you in the US
Sent Date:  February 11, 2025
From:  International Student Services

Dear international students,
It is important to always carry your immigration documents with you while in the United States. Having these documents with you can help you prove your legal status if you are asked by authorities.
We advise you to make a paper copy to carry in your wallet or an electronic copy to save on your phone of each document listed below.
F-1 International Students:
  • Form I-20
  • Form I-94  (your I-94 number changes each time you enter the U.S.)
  • Identity page from your valid passport
  • Any other relevant document, such as a USCIS Form I-797 for a change of status
J-1 International Students and Scholars:
  • Form DS-2019
  • Form I-94  (your I-94 number changes each time you enter the U.S.)
  • Identity page from your valid passport
  • Any other relevant document, such as a USCIS Form I-797 for a change of status

Jan. 16, 2025: Knack Tutoring

Email Subject:  Knack Tutoring
Sent Date:  January 16, 2025
From:  Heather Jacobson

Hello, everyone,

I’ve had several students ask me if it’s possible for international students to sign up to be tutors on Knack. This is a good question to ask given that the hiring process is quite different and the work primarily takes place through an online platform. When PLU first started using Knack last academic year, International Student Services, Payroll and Student Employment reviewed policies and procedures to arrive at the following responses to common questions you might have about being a Knack tutor.

  • Does being a tutor on Knack qualify as an on-campus position?  Yes, the Knack tutoring position qualifies as allowable campus employment for international students because it is providing a direct service exclusively to PLU students.
  • Can I apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) once I am hired as a Knack tutor?  Unfortunately, no. PLU cannot issue the employment verification letter needed for the SSN application because Knack is the one who pays the student tutors. However, Knack says on their website here that they cannot issue letters of employment either. What this means is that the Knack tutoring position cannot be an international student’s first job in the U.S.  If you are hired for another campus job and apply for a SSN with that position, you would then be able to add the tutoring job.
  • How many hours per week can I tutor?  PLU’s policy limiting student employment to 19 hours per week during the school year includes Knack tutoring hours. Because tutoring hours are recorded in a different system, it will be your responsibility to ensure that your combined hours for all campus jobs don’t exceed 19 hours per week.
  • How will I report this income when I file taxes?  Knack classifies tutors as 1099 independent contractors for tax purposes. Therefore, rather than receiving a W-2 tax document (like you do for your other PLU jobs), you will receive a 1099-NEC to report your income earned as a Knack tutor. You should receive this document in January or February. You can find more information on the Knack website here.

Jan. 2, 2025: Important Guidelines for International Students Entering the U.S.

Email Subject:  Important Guidelines for International Students Entering the U.S.
Sent Date:  January 2, 2025
From:  International Student Services
Newsletter Link:  https://mailchi.mp/c48393099210/travel-guidelines-2025

Highlights:

  • What Happens When You Land
  • What To Do If You Run Into Problems
  • More Resources

Dec. 20, 2024: Option to return to campus before January 20th

Email Subject:  Option to return to campus before January 20th
Sent Date:  December 20, 2024
From:  Heather Jacobson

Dear student,

I hope you’re enjoying your break so far! You’re receiving this email because you’ve indicated that you will not be staying in your residence hall room during J-Term. You can ignore this email if you are staying within the United States; this message is for students who will be outside the U.S. in January.

I know that some students are feeling anxious about traveling outside the U.S. because you’re concerned that Trump will choose to implement policies that restrict travel into the U.S. after he becomes president on January 20th. Unfortunately, there is no way to know when or even if any policy changes will be introduced.

If you are planning to be abroad after January 20th but you are questioning your decision, I want to let you know about an option to return to your campus housing before January 20th. Campus Life is willing to work with international students to allow you to return early, even though you originally submitted the housing cancellation form for J-Term.

There is no housing cost for J-Term, however, you would be charged for a modified meal plan.

If you decide that you want to return to campus before January 20th, you will need to wait until January to make your request. AFTER January 2nd, email rlif@plu.edu and let them know what day you would like to return to your residence hall. Campus Life will process and approve your request, and then arrange for the modified meal plan to be added to your account.

The university The university will be closed until January 2nd, so please hold onto your questions for now. Wait until the university reopens on January 2nd to send your questions and early return request to rlif@plu.edu.

Dec. 11, 2024: Food resources over Winter Break

Email Subject:  Food resources over Winter Break
Sent Date:  December 11, 2024
From:  Heather Jacobson

Hello, everyone!
You are receiving this email because you’ve indicated to Campus Life that you will be staying in campus housing for part or all of the time between December 14th and January 5th. I wanted to make sure that you are aware of when Campus Restaurants are open and share other food options with you.
Campus Restaurant Hours
  • Saturday, Dec 14 & Sunday, Dec 15
    • ALL CAMPUS RESTAURANTS CLOSED
  • Monday, Dec 16 – Thursday, Dec 19
    • Old Main Market: 8:30AM -1:30PM
  • Friday, Dec 20 – Wednesday, Jan 1
    • ALL CAMPUS RESTAURANTS CLOSED
  • Thursday, Jan 2 & Friday, Jan 3
    • Old Main Market: 8:30AM -2:00PM
  • Saturday, January 4
    • ALL CAMPUS RESTAURANTS CLOSED
  • Sunday, January 5
    • Old Main Market: Noon – 10:00PM
    • Commons: 5:00PM – 8:00PM
Other Food Options
Located inside the Campus Ministry office in AUC room 109, the PLU Pantry is stocked with canned food, dry goods, personal hygiene items, and even some fresh fruits and vegetables. If it is after regular business hours or during the break when the AUC is locked, you can contact Campus Safety at 253-535-7441 to be let into the Pantry.
Trinity Lutheran Church (by the PLU library) has a free food pantry open three days a week.
  • Tuesdays: 11:00AM – 2:00PM
  • Fridays:  11:00AM – 2:00PM
  • Sundays:  12:00PM – 2:00PM
Please let me know if you have any questions about these resources.