Utah colleges, universities say international student visas are being revoked without notice

SALT LAKE CITY — Colleges and universities in Utah confirmed Wednesday that visas are being suddenly revoked from some international students and recent graduates. 

At least 17 University of Utah students have had their visas revoked, according to an email sent out to the school’s international students on Friday. 

 According to the email, the school learned of the students’ statuses through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS. The system can be used to track the visa status of nonimmigrant students. 

“As of April 8, 17 university graduate and undergraduate students, as well as some graduates, have had their visas revoked and their SEVIS records terminated,” the school said. “The stated reasons include ‘failure to maintain nonimmigrant status’ and/or criminal record check.”

According to the U, an international student getting their visa revoked or their SEVIS records terminated can be a common occurrence throughout the school year. What sets this instance apart is the notice given, or lack thereof. 

“What is different currently is that records are being terminated in SEVIS sometimes without notice to the university and/or the student.”

In the email, the U states that non-immigrant students may get their SEVIS terminated or their visa revoked after being arrested or involved in criminal activity.

“As a public institution of higher education, the University of Utah follows state and federal law,” the email stated. “We are currently in a period of enhanced immigration enforcement. We are sharing guidance with our international students and scholars about the ways they can stay in good standing and maintain their visa status.”

Including work programs for recent graduates, the school said it currently has 3,733 F-1 visa holders and 371 J-1 visa holders.

Other schools affected

Salt Lake Community College said that three of its students have had their visas revoked. The college said it was working with students to coordinate their completion of credits for the spring semester.

Southern Utah University told KSL that nine of its students were affected and that it was in communication with those students.

Nine students were also affected at Utah Tech University.

Utah Valley University confirmed three students have had their visas revoked, Weber State University said it has five, Utah Tech University said it has nine, and Snow College said it has two. 

A Westminster University spokesperson confirmed that the school has been in contact with its international students and, to the best of its knowledge, no Westminster students have had their visas revoked.

Student response

KSL NewsRadio spoke with a half dozen students at the U of U’s campus about the news. Many expressed disappointment and sadness at the news.

Student Seong-Gyu Choi said the ongoing situation has been a cause of worry for him and his parents, even though he’s a legal resident. 

“I work with PhD students in research and all of them are here because of a visa. And they’re just here to do their studies and getting that revoked for, I mean, particularly no reason is definitely unfair.”

Choi said he’s trying not to think about all the immigration news on a daily basis, “but the fact that it is a possibility does put a worry in my head.”

Another student, Olivia Boyer, said, “I think it’s on people like me, who are a citizen, to fight for people who can’t.”

KSL TV’s Brian Carlson and Mary Culbertson contributed to this story.