There are confirmed cases of SEVIS record terminations and visa revocations for international students at institutions nationwide, including within the UC system and at UC Berkeley. We understand that this may be causing stress and anxiety, and encourage you to reach out to support, including the Berkeley International Office, for guidance and resources.
A visa revocation is the cancellation of the visa stamp in your passport by a Department of State or a DHS official. A SEVIS record termination is the ending of your F-1 or J-1 SEVIS record that is tied to your I-20 or DS-2019 and nonimmigrant status in the US.
SEVIS Termination
BIO has direct access to SEVIS and is actively monitoring for unusual termination activity. BIO will reach out to you directly by phone and email with support information if you are impacted. We will help you explore options and guide you to resources. It is also strongly recommended to consult with an immigration attorney as soon as possible. Seeking legal assistance can help you determine the best path forward.
Visa Revocation
If your visa has been revoked, you may (but not always) receive a notification from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). BIO recommends monitoring all email addresses for potential notifications, particularly any email address used in a visa application. However, it is also possible that you are not notified.
If you believe your visa has been revoked, you should first consult with BIO for guidance, and then consult with an immigration attorney as soon as possible. Recent cases suggest that appealing such actions can be challenging. However, legal advice can help you explore all of the options that are available to you. Before you decide what actions to take, we strongly recommend that you consult with your family or support network and an immigration attorney. If you go to an ICE office, there is a chance that you could get arrested and deported by ICE.
In the case of visa revocations, BIO has access to the SEVIS system that may allow us to confirm the status of your SEVIS record, but does not provide any direct information regarding the status of the visa. BIO is not notified directly regarding visa revocations. BIO recommends monitoring all email addresses for potential notifications, particularly any email address used in a visa application, as you may be notified directly by a US immigration agency such as the Department of State or Department of Homeland Security/ICE. BIO can advise you about your responsibilities in the context of your status as an international student and provide you with resources on how to respond to your situation.
BIO Emergency Contact
If you are involved in an emergency situation related to your immigration status, including deportation, arrest/detention, or direct communication/interaction with law enforcement regarding your visa and status, you can reach out to BIO in the following ways:
If it is during BIO’s open office hours on Monday - Friday from 9am - 4pm, please call 510-642-2818.
If it is after hours or if BIO is closed, please email our emergency email address at bioemergency@berkeley.edu and an advisor will reach out to you shortly to discuss your situation.
In order to ensure that BIO can best assist you and contact you in urgent situations, please make sure that your local US address & phone numbers are up to date in Cal Central or the BIO SSU Hub ( post-completion F-1 OPT/STEM OPT or J-1 AT).