Updated 2/1/2026

The information below is about the impact of current U.S. travel bans for prospective and admitted students seeking F-1 or J-1 student status. Please note: this information is specifically for those seeking F-1 / J-1 student status (as well as F-2 / J-2 dependent status). Students who are planning to enter the U.S. under a different type of visa should consult with a qualified immigration attorney or specialist.

what are travel bans and how does it impact students?

Currently, the U.S. government has imposed entry restrictions, also called “travel bans,” that prevent individuals from certain countries from entering the U.S. under certain types of visas, including the F-1 and J-1 student visas. A list of countries subject to these restrictions can be found on our Current Travel Restrictions web page. Because of these restrictions, students from a travel-ban affected country may not be able to get a visa to come to the U.S. to start their programs as planned. At this time, International Student and Scholar Services does not have updated information about if, or when, any of the current entry restrictions will be modified or removed.

Fall 2026 Arrival

For any international student from an affected country seeking come to Brown for the Fall 2026 semester, ISSS has determined that any applicable travel restrictions must be removed no later than May 31, 2026 in order for Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 issuance to proceed (please note that individual schools may have earlier deadlines). This deadline does not impact students who fall into one of the following situations, in which case I-20 or DS-2019 issuance may proceed:

• Students who have dual nationality and can present a passport from a country not affected by a current travel ban
• Students who are already in the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status who are transferring their I-20 / DS-2019 and F-1 / J-1 SEVIS record to Brown
• Students who are already in the U.S. in another status (e.g., H-4, J-2, E-2, etc.) who will maintain their current status at Brown, or who will request an in-country change to F-1 or J-1 status based on their Brown program
• Students who have valid and unexpired F-1 or J-1 visas issued prior to January 1, 2026, which is when the latest travel restrictions went into effect.

If any of the situations apply to you, please send an email to isss@brown.edu or provide the additional information when submitting your I-20 or DS-2019 request to ISSS. ISSS will evaluate the information you provide, and proceed with processing a Form I-20 or DS-2019 if one of these situations apply to your individual case.