Supporting Our International Community

“At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, our preeminence in research, teaching and public engagement has long depended on keeping our doors wide open to the most talented students, faculty and staff from all over the United States and abroad. We recruit, embrace and support the very best regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion or national origin…

We will be proactive in supporting all of our students, faculty, staff and visiting scholars, whether domestic or international…

Our success rests firmly on the principle of inviting the best and brightest into our community and supporting their capacity to thrive, and we will vigorously advocate for actions, laws and policies that protect and advance that principle.”

– Chancellor Robert Jones and Interim Provost Edward Feser

Guidance on Changes in US Immigration Policy and Practices

27 January 2017 Executive Order
On 27 January 2017, President Trump signed an executive order that suspends entry visas for citizens of Syria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Sudan and Yemen for 90 days. This action is of grave concern to our university and our campus and University of Illinois System leadership are joining with higher education leaders throughout the U.S. to communicate those concerns to the new administration.

Understand first and foremost that our international students, faculty, staff, postdocs and visiting scholars are highly valued members of our community who have already been thoroughly vetted through the visa and immigration process. We embrace and celebrate their contributions to our university.

Understand also that this is a rapidly developing and uncertain situation, and implementation is being shaped by varying interpretations by immigration officials, subsequent statements by the Trump Administration, and legal action.

Recommendation (Effective date: 28 January 2017) The university recommends that citizens from these countries avoid traveling outside the U.S. until there is a further assessment of the new policy. Furthermore, friends and family members from the seven countries should be advised not to travel to the U.S. at this time. The university will continue to carefully monitor this situation and provide updates as we receive them.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
To date the Trump Administration has taken no action to modify the DACA program.

Support for International Students and Scholars

The Office of International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS) provides support and guidance to international students, faculty, staff, postdocs and visiting scholars.

ISSS Student Office
400 Student Services Building
610 East John Street, Champaign
Phone: 217-333-1303 ext. 1
Email: isss@illinois.edu

ISSS Faculty, Staff and Scholar Office
327 International Studies Building
910 South Fifth Street, Champaign
Phone: 217-333-1303 ext. 1
Email: isss-scholars@illinois.edu

Students, faculty, staff, postdocs and visiting scholars needing university attention and assistance after office hours (5 pm, and on weekends) may contact the Emergency Dean in the Office of the Dean of Students. The Emergency Dean program operates 7 days per week, from 5:00 pm-8:30 am.

University Practices

The following information clarifies key policies and practices of the university, as well as many resources available to students:

Local Government Practices
Consistent with current case law from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Champaign County does not hold individuals on Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE) detainers. Champaign County will hold individuals if ordered to do so by a judge.