February 8th, 2026: ISEP Exchange and Nanzan University Fall '26, and AY 26-27 Applications due (Deadline extended)
February 16, 2026: Summer 2026 Faculty-led Program Applications due
March 10th, 2026: Summer (non-faculty led), Fall, and Academic Year 2026-2027 Applications due
Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Academic Year 2026-2027 advising is available now! Contact educationabroad@umbc.edu to schedule an advising appointment.
Study Abroad 101 Sessions
Monday | 2pm-3pm | Virtual
Tuesday | 1pm-2pm | Virtual
Friday | 11am-12pm | Virtual
Applications for all Summer 2026 Faculty-led Programs are due on February 16, 2026. Please email educationabroad@umbc.edu with any questions!
Dear Campus Community,
I am writing to update you regarding four recent changes to federal immigration and visa policies. Each of these changes is summarized in bold, with details underneath, followed by campus guidance.
Please remember that each individual's circumstances are different, and this communication is provided for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. If you have specific questions and hold F, H, or J immigration status, please contact the Center for Global Engagement. If you have specific questions and hold another immigration status, please consult with a private immigration attorney.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) expands adjudicative hold and intensifies review of applications for certain immigration benefits
On January 1, 2026, USCIS issued an updated policy memorandum, expanding on its December 2, 2025, memorandum, directing USCIS personnel to perform the following actions:
Place a hold on all pending benefit applications for aliens listed in Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10998, Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States, pending a comprehensive review, regardless of entry date;
Conduct a comprehensive review of all policies, procedures, and screening and vetting processes for benefit requests for aliens from countries listed in PP 10998; and
Conduct a comprehensive re-review of approved benefit requests implicated in PP 10998 that were approved on or after January 20, 2021.
Based on the above actions, students and employees who utilized Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents or listed a PP 10998 named country as their country of birth or citizenship on certain immigration benefit applications will be subject to a re-review of benefits eligibility and admissibility, including a potential interview or re-interview. The January memorandum expands, but does not replace, the policy outlined in the December memo. The expanded policy specifically:
Extends adjudicative holds to the additional countries designated under PP 10998.
Clarifies that the hold applies to individuals based on country of birth, nationality, certain citizenship-by-investment scenarios, and Palestinian-Authority-issued travel documents.
Communicates that "USCIS will place an adjudicative hold on all pending benefit requests submitted by or for aliens from the high-risk countries identified in PP 10998, allowing for a thorough case-by-case review. This hold will remain in effect until lifted or modified by the USCIS Director through a subsequent memorandum or memorandum attachment. Any requests to lift the hold due to litigation or other extraordinary circumstances must receive approval from the USCIS Director or Deputy Director."
Establishes very limited exceptions to the adjudicative hold for certain benefit types (e.g., some I-765 categories, I-90, N-600), subject to strict coordination requirements.
Explicitly states that it does not supersede the December 2 memorandum, except where it creates enumerated exceptions.
Exceptions to the adjudication hold include:
Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card);
Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document;
Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship ("Except Yemen and Somalia");
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization filed under the (c)(8) [pending asylum], limited (c)(11) (parolees), and limited (c)(14) (deferred action) categories;
Form I-910, Application for Civil Surgeon Designation (only for physicians that are citizens or nationals of the United States);
Benefit requests filed by any alien who is an athlete or member of an athletic team, including the coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives for the purpose of participating in the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State;
Benefit requests that are a priority for law enforcement and where ICE has requested USCIS take adjudicative action to uphold public safety or national security;
Benefit requests filed by aliens whose entry would serve a United States national interest;
Benefit requests, as well as the associated underlying benefits, for any programs that are terminated or discontinued as a result of an Executive Order, Proclamation, Federal Register Notice, or Directive issued by the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the USCIS Director; and
Automatic termination decisions for ancillary or related benefit requests when an alien is granted Legal Permanent Resident status or becomes a naturalized citizen.
Notably, there is no exception for immigration benefits commonly used in higher education, such as a Form I-765 filed for Optional Practical Training, a Form I-539 filed to change to nonimmigrant student status, or a Form I-129 filed by an H-1B petitioner requesting extension of an H-1B employee's stay. Furthermore, on December 5, 2025, USCIS posted on its "X" account, "...all final decisions for asylum have been shut down, we've paused adjudication of immigrant and non-immigrant benefits for any alien from the 19 countries of concern, and we will review all existing green cards that were granted in the last 5 years."
Campus Guidance:
Citizens of the countries listed in PP 10998 should be aware that their immigration benefits approved on or after January 20, 2021, may be subject to renewed scrutiny. As a result, USCIS may require additional documentation, biometrics, interviews or re-interviews.
Affected individuals should expect delayed processing and increased scrutiny of their immigration benefit requests. While petitions may still be submitted, they will be processed by USCIS up to the final adjudication stage, at which point they will stall until the adjudicative hold is lifted. A "final adjudication" refers to the issuance of a final decision on a case, such as an approval, denial, or dismissal.
USCIS announces increased premium processing fees
On January 12, 2026, USCIS published a final rule in the Federal Register announcing increases to premium processing fees effective March 01, 2026.
Premium processing is a service whereby DHS provides expedited processing of eligible immigration benefit requests in exchange for an additional fee. This service is necessary for certain students and employees who require certain time-sensitive immigration benefit requests to be processed by a specific date in order to study or work at UMBC.
Below is a summary of premium processing fee increases that are most likely to impact our UMBC community. For a full listing of the fee increases, please refer to the published final rule.
Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, TN-1, and TN-2): The fee will increase from $2,805 to $2,965
Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (E11, E12): Increases from $2,805 to $2,965
Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (requests for change of status to F-1, F-2, J-1 or J-2): Increases from $1,965 to $2,075
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training or STEM Optional Practical Training): Increases from $1,685 to $1,780
Campus Guidance:
In order to avoid having to pay the additional fee, students and employees who know they will require premium processing should ensure their time-sensitive immigration benefit petitions are postmarked prior to March 1, 2026.
Please note that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) recently implemented operational changes meant to consolidate its processing network under the Delivering for America (DFA) plan. One such change could result in a postmark date being applied to a piece of mail days after USPS first receives the mail from a customer. According to advice issued by USPS, "customers who want a postmark aligning with the date on which the Postal Service first accepted possession of their mailpiece may request, for no additional fee, a manual (local) postmark at any Post Office, station, or branch when tendering their mailpiece."
Students, employees, and hiring departments should budget for the additional expense required for premium processing requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026.
U.S. Department of State added 25 more countries to the visa bond list
On January 8, 2026, the Department of State expanded the list of countries whose nationals are subject to visa bonds. As outlined in a temporary final rule published in the Federal Register on August 5, 2025, the Visa Bond Pilot Program requires covered individuals applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure (B-1/B-2) to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance. This pilot program runs from August 20, 2025 through August 5, 2026.
Bonds are only required from individuals applying for a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) with a passport issued by one of the countries listed in the notice.
Campus Guidance:
Family members and friends of UMBC students and employees wishing to visit them in the United States should confirm whether or not they are subject to the Visa Bond Pilot Program.
Individuals subject to the Visa Bond Pilot Program should contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy where they plan to apply for a visa to inquire about the actual bond fee.
U.S. Department of State pauses immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries effective January 21, 2026
On January 14, 2026, the Department of State announced that, effective January 21, 2026, it is pausing all visa issuances to immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of the following countries:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen
This pause only applies to immigrant visas. It does not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as those issued to H-1B employees, J-1 exchange visitors, and F-1 students.
Campus Guidance:
Individuals who have questions or concerns about the pause on immigrant visa processing for individuals from the listed countries should consult with a private immigration attorney.
Resources
UMBC's Employee Assistance Program provides employees with access to free confidential counseling and connections to attorneys who can help with a variety of issues, including immigration concerns.
The Office of International Students and Scholars is available to consult on immigration-related travel issues for individuals holding F-1, H-1B, and J-1 immigration status.
Individuals in other immigration statuses may contact a private immigration attorney.
UMBC's Center for Global Engagement is committed to providing comprehensive support to all international students and scholars. If you have further questions about these immigration policy updates, please reach out to our team by visiting our contact page.
Additional information and resources related to immigration and other federal policy updates are available on UMBC's Federal Orders and Actions Page.
Sincerely,
David L. Di Maria
Vice Provost for Global Engagement
Dear International Students and Scholars,
As the fall semester comes to a close, the Center for Global Engagement recognizes that many members of our community may have travel plans that include travel outside of the United States. We understand that travel is a personal decision and we are writing today to equip you with information to help guide your planning.
Important Travel Considerations
We strongly encourage careful review of potential risks before finalizing international travel plans, and monitoring for changes that may impact your plans. New immigration policies may decrease travel flexibility and increase the risk of travel and reentry delays for foreign nationals. Understanding your immigration status within the changing policy landscape can help you prepare and plan for the upcoming travel season. We strongly recommend that you consider:
Monitoring existing or prospective travel bans. Travel bans for 19 countries were announced June 4, 2025 and are still in effect. This may make it impossible for citizens of impacted countries to obtain a visa or return to the United States. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently indicated that additional travel bans will be added, although no additional information about those plans has been published as of the date of this announcement. If additional travel restrictions are implemented, they may be put into effect swiftly and without advance notice. We strongly encourage you not to travel internationally if you are from one of the 19 countries with a current travel ban or if you are from a country that was previously reported to be included in a future travel ban.
Appointment availability and potential delays if you must renew your visa. Traveling for the sole purpose of renewing your F, H or J visa is not necessary. However, if you absolutely must travel and also need a new visa, delays in visa processing are expected. We strongly recommend that you schedule your appointment at the U.S. consulate or embassy before you depart the United States. If you encounter any delays or difficulties in returning to the U.S. by your required return date, please notify UMBC's Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) as soon as possible.
Enhanced social media screening and vetting. During a visa application, social media screening is now in effect for all F and J visa applicants. Social media screening will be implemented for all H visa applicants beginning December 15, 2025. There are reports that a number of H-1B and H-4 visa appointments scheduled on or after December 15, 2025 have been canceled and rescheduled for March 2026. H visa applicants should carefully consider their travel plans in anticipation that their visa appointment may be rescheduled, and they will be prohibited from returning to the U.S. until a valid visa is issued.
Enhanced screening at U.S. ports of entry. If you decide to travel abroad, be prepared for enhanced screening by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon your return to the U.S. You may be asked to present your electronic devices and passwords for access. You may find information from ACLU about your rights at the airport to be helpful.
Your own tolerance for risk and uncertainty. Consider whether your personal risk assessment indicates a high likelihood of travel complications, if you will be unable to afford the possibility of a visa denial or delayed re-entry, or if the prospect of increased questioning at consulates or ports of entry causes significant anxiety. If any of these are the case, it may be advisable to postpone your travel plans.
Documentation to prepare in advance of your travel
If you do decide to travel outside of the U.S., it is important to prepare all documentation before you depart the United States and check the validity of all documentation. If you are in F-1 or J-1 status, a travel signature is required on the form I-20 or DS-2019. Travel within the U.S. does not require updated travel signatures; however, you must carry your proof of immigration status with you.
Please review the following requirements based on your visa type:
F-1 currently enrolled students or on OPT/STEM: Be sure to check that you have a travel endorsement on page 2 of your form I-20 that will still be valid on the date that you return to the U.S. Check your passport validity and the expiration date of your F-1 visa to make sure it will be valid on the date you plan to return. For other recommended documentation, please follow the guidance for enrolled F-1 students and students pursuing post-graduation OPT or STEM OPT. For enrolled students, ensure that you are registered for Spring 2026 classes and that you will return to the U.S. prior to the start of the semester on Monday, January 26, 2026.
J-1 Exchange Visitors: Be sure to check that you have a travel endorsement on the bottom right corner of page 1 of your DS-2019 that will still be valid on the date you return to the U.S. Check your passport validity and the expiration date of your J-1 visa to make sure it will be valid on the date of your return. For J-1 scholars or researchers, it is recommended that you take a copy of your signed appointment letter with you. For enrolled J-1 students, ensure that you are registered for Spring 2026 classes and that you will return to the U.S. prior to the start of the semester on Monday, January 26, 2026.
H-1B employees: Be sure to check that your passport will be valid for six months beyond the entire period of your H-1B approved stay (see dates on form I-797 approval notice) in the U.S. and confirm that the visa in your passport is unexpired and reflects your current H-1B classification. Take your notice of approval (form I-797), your latest appointment letter, and a copy of the full petition (located in your box folder).
If you have a pending change of status to H-1B, you should not travel until the change of status is approved. Departing the U.S. while it is pending is considered an abandonment of the request. If the petition is later denied, you may become subject to the $100,000 fee.
Traveling while an H-1B petition and extension of stay or amendment of stay is pending should not trigger the fee, though caution is still advised.
What to do during and after your return to the United States
If you have questions in advance of your return to the U.S., please contact OISS. If you encounter any difficulties while attempting to enter the United States, please contact UMBC Police at +1-410-455-5555 and they will get in touch with someone from our team.
After your successful re-entry to the U.S., please download and review your electronic I-94 immediately to make sure that entry in the correct visa status is reflected. If you notice any discrepancies, please contact OISS.
We wish safe travels to those choosing to travel during the winter break, and we hope that all members of our community have a chance to rest and recharge before the start of the Spring 2026 semester.
Sincerely,
Katrina Knudsen
Director, Office of International Students and Scholars
Hello!
We are looking for a cohort of students to participate in UMBC's Intercultural Engagement Prep course. This course is designed to grow students' intercultural competency and skills. The course also serves as the orientation for students interested in UMBC's Peace Corps Prep Program.
This program is open to:
International students
Future or returned study abroad students
Students interested in applying to the Peace Corps or similar international service programs after graduation
Students who have an interest in preparing for other international or intercultural experiences or development careers
Students who want to prepare themselves as global citizens in a multicultural world
As a participant in the Intercultural Engagement Prep pilot program, students will:
Meet other globally-minded students at UMBC;
Develop your critical analytical skills;
Increase your cultural self-awareness and critically reflect on your own unconscious bias;
Develop strategies to improve your intercultural communication and how you'll apply it in your future career;
Recognize cultural differences, commonalities, perceptions, power and privilege dynamics, and how they can lead to conflict; and
Understand the importance of intercultural dialogue and intercultural citizenship competencies for fostering social justice.
This non-credit/no-fee course, PRAC 103 (course # 6391), will meet twice in the Spring 2026 semester at a mutually agreeable time, but the majority of the course is accessed through asynchronous learning. Students will be required to attend two globally themed events or activities and will also have independent assignments to complete in Blackboard. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will earn two digital badges titled Increasing Cultural Self-Awareness and Reinforcing Intercultural Dialogue.
Both undergraduate and graduate students may register for the course under PRAC 103 and course number 6391.
Dear UMBC faculty:
We are thrilled to announce the call for applications for the UMBC Global Learning Lab, a joint initiative of the Office of the Provost and the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) that aims to develop a faculty learning community dedicated to increasing student access to global learning opportunities. The Global Learning Lab is a cohort-style, semester-long program that provides a framework for faculty to exchange best practices and innovative models for expanding access to global learning opportunities over a series of four workshops. This program is made possible with funding from the Office of the Provost.
All full-time faculty—tenured/tenure-track, non-tenure-track—and adjuncts (minimum of six semesters at UMBC) are invited to apply for the Spring 2026 cohort. Faculty accepted into the Lab must commit to attending each of the workshops below and producing one project to present at the conclusion of the lab. Faculty will receive a $1,500 professional development stipend to support their intended project. The funds will be transferred to the fellow's home department upon successful completion of the Spring 2026 Global Learning Lab. Applicants must discuss their intended project with their department chairs prior to applying.
Workshop #1: Friday, February 6, from 9 AM - 12 PM
Internationalization of the Curriculum Through Curricular Mapping will focus on identifying the ideal term(s), course(s), location(s)/partner(s) for students to participate in a global learning experience.
Workshop #2: Friday, February 27, from 9 AM - 12 PM
Developing a Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program will focus on building a study abroad program using best practices to support student learning and the development of skills, attitudes, and experiences that promote global and cultural competency.
Workshop #3: Friday, March 27, from 9 AM - 12 PM
Global Learning for All: Virtual Exchange will focus on how to foster opportunities to develop cultural and global competencies in an existing course through virtual exchanges known as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL).
Workshop #4: Friday, May 1, from 9 AM - 12 PM
Global Learning Lab Project Presentations will provide an opportunity for faculty in the lab to present their global learning project (i.e. curricular mapping for their department, faculty-led study abroad program proposal, or COIL course).
Important
The ideal faculty cohort will represent the diversity of UMBC programs and a diversity of intended projects. As such, if more than one faculty member from a specific department is applying, they are encouraged to speak with their colleagues to ensure their intended projects are complementary (i.e. one faculty member may propose to work on a virtual exchange/COIL and another will work on proposing a faculty-led study abroad program).
The deadline to apply for the Spring 2026 cohort is 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2025. Faculty will be notified about the status of their application by Friday, January 16, 2026. Please note that in-person attendance at each workshop is required. All applicants should save these workshop dates now.
Questions? Contact Katie Heird at kheird1@umbc.edu at the Center for Global Engagement.
Sincerely,
Ana Oskoz, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
David Di Maria, Vice Provost for Global Engagement
February 1st, 2026: ISEP Exchange and Nanzan University Fall '26, and AY 26-27 Applications due
February 16, 2026: Summer 2026 Faculty-led Program Applications due
March 10th, 2026: Summer (non-faculty led), Fall, and Academic Year 2026-2027 Applications due
Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Academic Year 2026-2027 advising is available now! Contact educationabroad@umbc.edu to schedule an advising appointment.
Faculty-Led Study Abroad Virtual Drop-in Hours
Tuesday | 3pm-4pm | Virtual
Study Abroad 101 Sessions
Monday | 11am-12pm | Virtual
Tuesday | 2pm-3pm | Virtual
Wednesday | 1pm-2pm | Virtual
Applications for all Summer 2026 Faculty-led Programs are due on February 16, 2026. Please email educationabroad@umbc.edu with any questions!
February 1st, 2026: ISEP Exchange and Nanzan University Fall '26, and AY 26-27 Applications due
February 16, 2026: Summer 2026 Faculty-led Program Applications due
March 10th, 2026: Summer (non-faculty led), Fall, and Academic Year 2026-2027 Applications due
Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Academic Year 2026-2027 advising is available now! Contact educationabroad@umbc.edu to schedule an advising appointment.
Faculty-Led Study Abroad Virtual Drop-in Hours
Tuesday | 3pm-4pm | Virtual
Study Abroad 101 Sessions
Monday | 11am-12pm | Virtual
Tuesday | 2pm-3pm | Virtual
Wednesday | 1pm-2pm | Virtual
French in France
What better place to learn French than in France? Take a French language course in Angers, a city in western France, specifically in the Pays de la Loire region. It's conveniently located to access Paris, Nantes, and other large cities via high speed train and the Loire Valley castles. This faculty-led study abroad course will allow students to earn credit for any French language course: 101, 102, 103, 201, 202, or 304. Students above level FREN 304 will receive credit for FREN 399. Work towards or complete your language requirement, Cultures GEP requirement, or a French major, minor, or certificate! Students will stay in homestays and share meals with French families, attend courses with students from across the globe, participate in a French cooking class and river-boat tour, and select two day-long excursions that will take them outside the city of Angers.
Justice, Agency and Culture in Kenya
Are you interested in learning about the Maasai people and other local communities of Kenya while exploring the relationship between community, culture, and social justice? Over the course of three weeks, explore Nairobi and the Maasai Mara region. This will include visiting organizations and significant historical sites that emphasize Kenya's people and history, particularly in terms of de-colonization. Deepen your understanding of the connection between the environment and its people by engaging with organizations like The Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies (The Green Belt Movement), the Brackenhurst Indigenous Forest, and the Centre for Ecosystem Restoration-Kenya. You will also spend time with organizations that focus on women's and girl's rights. In the Maasai Mara, we will go on safari and learn more about Maasai culture.
Did you know that you can study abroad for the same cost as studying at UMBC? With ISEP Exchange, you pay UMBC tuition and room and board and receive the equivalent abroad! With hundreds of university partnerships around the world, ISEP can help you study abroad almost anywhere! With ISEP Exchange, you rank up to 10 universities in order of preference. Then, based on available space, you will get placed at one of your choice universities. The UMBC deadline for ISEP Exchange Programs in Fall '26, and AY 26-27 is February 1st, 2026. ISEP's deadline is March 1st. You must submit both applications.
February 1st, 2026: ISEP Exchange and Nanzan University Fall '26, and AY 26-27 Applications due
February 16, 2026: Summer 2026 Faculty-led Program Applications due
March 10th, 2026: Summer (non-faculty led), Fall, and Academic Year 2026-2027 Applications due
Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Academic Year 2026-2027 advising is available now! Contact educationabroad@umbc.edu to schedule an advising appointment.
Faculty-Led Study Abroad Virtual Drop-in Hours
Tuesday | 3pm-4pm | Virtual
Study Abroad 101 Sessions
Monday | 11am-12pm | Virtual
Tuesday | 2pm-3pm | Virtual
Wednesday | 1pm-2pm | Virtual