Overview
- On January 8, the embassy released an animated explainer stating that B1/B2 visitor visas can be denied at interview and that misuse or overstays may result in a permanent ban on future travel.
- A January 7 advisory told international students that arrests or violations of U.S. laws can trigger visa revocation, deportation, and future ineligibility, stressing that a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right.
- Recent embassy messages also targeted H-1B and H-4 applicants, warning that immigration-law violations could carry significant criminal penalties as screening expands to include broader online and social‑media reviews.
- Mandatory biometric exit and entry checks took effect on December 26, with CBP photographing non‑U.S. citizens at airports, land crossings, and seaports to reinforce identity verification and overstay tracking.
- Universities report a 17% drop in new international student enrollments, with institutions citing visa application issues and travel frictions as key factors alongside rescheduled interviews and longer consular waits in India.