About 15 incoming Brown international students unable to reach campus this fall, Paxson says

About 15 incoming international students at Brown University have been unable to reach campus for the fall semester because of visa issues, President Christina H. Paxson said on August 28, 2025. Most affected students are headed for graduate programs, though a handful of undergraduates are also caught in the delays. The university added that “many others” have chosen to defer their studies, making this a wider disruption than the first number suggests.

The announcement came in a Thursday morning Today@Brown message that set a sober tone for the start of the academic year. International students are a core part of Brown’s community—about one-third of graduate students and 14% of undergraduates—so even small waves in visa processing are felt across labs, seminars, and advising groups. For these incoming international students, missed flights and expired admissions letters are only the surface of what, for many, is a deeply personal setback.

This local picture fits a national trend. As of mid‑August 2025, the U.S. State Department had revoked more than 6,000 international student visas nationwide. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said some revocations were tied to political activism or security concerns. The breadth and pace of those actions have rattled many students who had spent months securing approvals and arranging housing, only to see legal status change with little warning.

Brown has also felt the strain directly. In April 2025, at least one current student and several recent graduates saw their visas revoked. Those visas were later reinstated, but not before travel plans, research starts, and family arrangements were thrown into doubt for weeks. Administrators say the incident showed how quickly things can shift and how much support students may need on short notice.

National policy backdrop

Several policy moves this year have made the process harder for students planning to study in the United States.

• In May 2025, the State Department halted routine student visa interviews, a step that increased appointment delays and widened the backlog.
• In June 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that restricts or bans travel from 19 countries, while carving out some exemptions for existing visa holders and specific visa categories.
• Separately, new screening rules require visa applicants to submit social media accounts for review.

Each change adds time and uncertainty. Applicants who once expected a predictable timeline now face multiple points where a file can stall. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, universities across the country are reporting late arrivals, unplanned online starts, and growing deferral numbers as students recalculate their options in the face of shifting rules.

Brown University’s updates reflect the same pattern: a small but striking number stuck abroad, and many more deciding to delay entry rather than risk a mid‑semester interruption.

Inside the United States, tension is rising too. International students already on campus worry about possible visa revocation and the threat of losing legal status. Administrators and faculty say the climate affects academic work, especially for students involved in public events or research that might draw scrutiny. Student leaders have voiced concerns about a chilling effect on campus activism, particularly among peers from countries covered by recent travel limits.

Brown’s support and immediate guidance

Brown’s Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) is in active contact with both students who are still abroad and those who are already in the country. Staff are working case by case to assess options for arrival, deferral, or program adjustments.

• For urgent help, students should call the Administrator‑On‑Call at 401-863-3322, available 24/7.
• For non-urgent questions, email [email protected].

The university has highlighted several support tools:
– Legal counsel access through the Green and Spiegel immigration law firm, coordinated via OISS.
– Travel and risk support through International SOS for those with upcoming trips or complex itineraries.
– Pre-departure planning and country-specific updates through the Office of Global Engagement.

While Brown’s emergency funding announced in May—the International Faculty and Staff Emergency Fund—offers up to $2,000 in one-time support, it applies only to eligible non-student employees dealing with sudden visa disruptions. The fund does not cover students. Still, officials cite it as evidence of Brown’s broader commitment to its international community during a hard year.

For students who remain stuck, choices are difficult:
– Some may opt to defer if they cannot secure a visa in time to join during the fall.
– Others may try to start remotely if their program permits.

Brown has not released a breakdown of how many have deferred, but leaders acknowledge the number is notable enough to affect course planning and lab staffing in specific departments.

What incoming students must prepare

Brown reminded incoming international students of key steps in the standard process—steps that matter more than ever given recent delays.

• Students need a Form I-20 issued by the university before they can apply for an F-1 student visa.
• For students receiving financial aid, Brown pays the SEVIS fee of $350.
• The university asks students to upload scans of the passport biographical page and visa (if already issued) to the Brown Applicant Portal.

If delays or denials occur, Brown urges students to contact OISS right away or call the Administrator‑On‑Call for urgent situations.

For official details on the Form I-20—the document schools issue to show admission and funding—students can review the U.S. government’s page:
ICE: Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status

This page explains what the form is, who issues it, and why it is required for F‑1 status. It is the core document in the student visa process and the anchor for other steps.

Uneven impact and departmental effects

The current hurdles do not fall evenly across all students. The June executive order applies to 19 countries, and screening rules can vary by embassy and case type. But even students outside those countries report slowdowns due to the interview pause and summer backlogs.

Brown’s April experience—followed by visa reinstatements weeks later—shows how outcomes can swing. That uncertainty is why administrators urge frequent check‑ins with OISS.

Departments expecting new graduate cohorts face tight timing. Labs and research groups often rely on first‑year graduate students for grant milestones and teaching duties. When visa issuance is delayed or revoked, PIs and instructors may need to reshuffle work on short notice.

Staff report they’ve learned to:
1. Plan for alternate start dates.
2. Keep remote options on the table when programs allow them.
3. Update mentorship and teaching assignments quickly.

Students, meanwhile, are weighing options under stress. Concerns include:
– Appeals that may be slow or unclear.
– The possibility that travel now could trigger extra screening and increase the risk of late arrival or denial.
– Practical complications like rebooking flights, re-signing leases, or losing deposits.

Practical checklist for incoming students

Brown’s advice is direct: stay in close touch with OISS, keep documents ready, and avoid last‑minute changes that can complicate a case. Practical steps include:

• Keep copies of admission letters, I-20, funding statements, and any correspondence from embassies or consulates.
• Monitor official Brown emails and Today@Brown updates for policy changes and campus guidance.
• If travel is imminent, confirm airline and transit rules, especially if routes pass through countries affected by the June order.
• Use International SOS for itinerary reviews and risk alerts.
• If a visa is revoked or delayed, contact OISS and, for urgent matters, call the Administrator‑On‑Call at 401-863-3322 immediately.

President Paxson has signaled that Brown will continue to press for predictable, fair rules for international students. University leaders say they are working with peer institutions to share data on delayed arrivals and to convey how visa swings harm academic timelines, research commitments, and student well‑being.

Federal officials maintain that the recent measures protect national security and public safety while allowing room for case‑by‑case decisions.

Looking ahead

The path forward remains unsettled:
– The State Department could restart interviews or change guidance.
– New executive actions could arrive.
– Embassy backlogs may take time to clear.

For now, Brown is focused on keeping students informed and ready to act quickly as conditions change. That includes close monitoring of visa processing patterns and ongoing contact with students still abroad, including those deciding whether to defer.

For the approximately 15 incoming international students who remain unable to reach Providence this fall, the cost is personal and immediate: missed orientations, delayed research starts, and a harder transition to campus life when they finally arrive.

For the many others who deferred due to visa issues, the impact stretches into next year. Departments will adjust, roommates will wait, and families will pause plans. But the hope—shared by students and administrators—is that steady support, clear guidance, and consistent advocacy can reduce the strain while the system settles.

Students needing help can email [email protected] or call the 24/7 Administrator‑On‑Call at 401-863-3322. Brown’s Office of International Students and Scholars and the Office of Global Engagement will continue to post updates. VisaVerge.com reports that campuses across the country are preparing for continued uncertainty into the fall, urging students to plan early, keep records organized, and stay in constant contact with their international offices.