Rice welcomes all its international students and scholars and is committed to supporting them.
This page includes immigration updates and resources that may have an impact on our Rice faculty, students, and staff.
Current Hot Topics
- October 8, 2021 – Diversity Visa Program Lottery Enrollment Now Open (Foster)
- February 26, 2021, updated July, 2021 – USCIS Extends Flexibilities to Certain Applicants Filing Form I-765 for OPT (USCIS)
- May 5, 2021 – Biometrics Requirement to Be Suspended for Certain Form I-539 Applicants (Foster)
- March 11, 2021 – 2019 Public Charge Rule Vacated and Removed (DHS)
Actions Related to COVID-19
- United States to Lift Travel Ban for Fully Vaccinated Travelers on November 8 (Foster)
- National Interest Exceptions for Certain Travelers (travel.state.gov)
- Travelers Prohibited from Entry to the United States (cdc.gov)
- All air passengers coming to the U.S. require a negative COVID-19 test (cdc.gov)
Executive Actions from the Current Administration
- Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to the United States (whitehouse.gov)
- Preserving and Fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (whitehouse.gov)
- Presidential Actions (whitehouse.gov)
- Executive Orders and Other Presidential Documents (Office of the Federal Register)