Berklee is committed to supporting our global community during this challenging time and ensuring our campuses remain as safe as possible. The diversity of our community is foundational to Berklee’s identity, mission, and values. And with students, faculty, and staff hailing from more than 100 countries, it’s also what makes Berklee an inspiring place to learn, teach, work, and create.
To help support our community, we've put together this resource guide to connect you with travel guidance, information about knowing your rights, tips for staying informed, and more. As the guidance evolves, we will continue to update this page.
We know many community members are looking for ways to help our international community; one of the most effective ways for you to help is to get familiar with these resources so you can connect international students, faculty, and staff with the services and information they need.
If you are concerned or overwhelmed, we encourage you to seek our support services for students, faculty, and staff.
Visas, Immigration, and Travel
Get Support and Guidance
Get Informed and Know Your Rights
Know Your Rights Resources:
Additional Guidance for International Students:
Protecting Student Information and Immigration Status
All personally identifiable information contained in student records are protected by various laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA requires a lawfully issued subpoena in order for Berklee to share any personally identifiable information about a student. All subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants are reviewed and responded to by our Office of General Counsel.
Connect with an Immigration Lawyer
International Student Services will connect impacted students with relevant resources as needed. Please reach out to your ISS advisor if you have any questions.
Review Travel Guidance
Berklee Policies and Protocols
Government Law Enforcement Agency Visits
Berklee is a private institution and most of our campus is not open to the public. If you are approached by a federal or state law enforcement officer seeking information about a Berklee community member or looking for access to a Berklee building, please follow the guidance on
this page.
Get Support
Berklee offers a variety of options for students, faculty, and staff to ensure that you get the support you need. Learn about counseling resources and other support.
Public Safety offers the following services on the Boston campus:
Stay in the Know
Berklee Updates and Resources
Berklee will continue to share information and updates that directly impact our community, as well as resources and upcoming events, through the Berklee Hub and email. International Student Services will share information with international students via email.
You can view all upcoming events on Berklee’s calendar.
Staying Informed About the News
We encourage you to follow external news sources to learn about what’s going on in the world.
As you seek news sources and read the news, familiarize yourself with Berklee’s News Media Literacy Guide to learn how to identify bias and how to determine if information is factual and trustworthy. Snopes is also a helpful resource for fact-checking news stories.
For news about higher education:
For general news:
In addition to traditional news sources like The New York Times or BBC, you may consider using a source like Ground News or Allsides, which provide built-in bias-checkers.
Faculty and Staff: Supporting Our Students
How to Support Students
Academic Completion Plans and Support for Impacted Students
International Student Services is monitoring the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to identify and notify any students whose status has changed, and then collaborates with key members of the Student Success Division and Academic Affairs to ensure that impacted students receive the holistic support they need. This support includes academic planning, case management, counseling, and more.
Updates
June 19, 2025: Student Visa Interviews Resume Soon
The U.S. Department of State has announced that the pause on student visa interviews will be lifted soon. Embassies and consulates are expected to resume scheduling interviews shortly. We strongly encourage you to check the website of your local U.S. embassy or consulate frequently and schedule your appointment as soon as possible, if you haven’t already. You must have a completed Form I-20 to schedule a visa interview. If you have not yet requested your Form I-20, we urge you to do so immediately.
We also want to make you aware that the U.S. government has introduced new screening procedures. These may include enhanced reviews of applicants’ online presence. You could be asked to change the privacy settings on your social media profiles to "public" for the purpose of government review. Current reports suggest that declining to do so may affect the outcome of your visa application.
Our International Student Services (ISS) team is here to support you through this process. If you have any questions, please contact your admissions assistant director at AD@berklee.edu. They will connect you with the appropriate resources or with our team, if needed.
June 5, 2025: Travel Restrictions
The United States federal government published yesterday a proclamation announcing travel restrictions for citizens of 19 countries to take effect Monday, June 9, at 12:01 a.m. eastern time. The proclamation separates the countries into two groups: it fully restricts the entry of citizens of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen and partially restricts entry for citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Restrictions on the issuance of new F-1 visas are in place for all 19 countries.
These travel restrictions do not, at this time, impact the ability of citizens from the 19 countries listed above to stay in the US in F-1 status and continue their studies at Berklee. While travel is still permitted so long as your F-1 visa remains valid, please be aware that increased scrutiny at ports of entry, including airports, may make returning to the US difficult. If you have specific questions about pre-arranged plans to travel home this summer, or if you are outside of the US and have questions about returning, please contact your international student advisor as soon as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the International Student Services (ISS) team at iss@berklee.edu or +1 617-747-6600. To help support our community, we've put together the resource guide above to connect you with travel guidance, information about knowing your rights, tips for staying informed, and more.
We recognize the stress and uncertainty this news may cause, and want to reaffirm our deep commitment to supporting and advocating for our international students every step of the way. Our team will continue to follow these developments closely and share updates as soon as more guidance becomes available.
May 29, 2025: Temporary Pause in Interview Scheduling
Our team is closely monitoring the news around a pause in international student visa appointments. We understand that this situation may be creating uncertainty and concern. Please know that we're here to support you and will help to answer any questions you may have as best we can as you navigate your journey to Berklee.
We are hopeful that this pause in appointments will be temporary, so if you have not scheduled an interview yet, we recommend you regularly consult the U.S. consulate or embassy website where you will apply for your visa. It is our understanding that applicants who have already scheduled an interview will be able to move forward as planned.
If you have not yet requested your Form I-20, please be sure to submit your request as soon as possible. If you have already done so, we will email it to you as soon as it is processed. Please note that the current processing time is approximately 4-6 weeks after we receive a complete packet. Once you have your Form I-20, you should pay the I-901 (SEVIS) fee before your visa interview.
Request Form I-20
Please keep in mind that you need an F-1 visa to study at Berklee. A tourist visa or the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will not allow you to be a full-time student in the U.S.
If you already have your F-1 visa and have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the International Student Services (ISS) team at iss@berklee.edu or +1 617-747-6600.
We will continue to follow these developments closely and share updates as soon as more guidance becomes available.
May 8, 2025: Berklee Student Visa Revocations Reversed
We are pleased to share that all Berklee students whose SEVIS records were recently terminated by the federal government have had their status reinstated. While we are pleased by this news, we do urge all Berklee community members, especially our international community members, to keep in mind that changes to federal policy remain fluid.
Berklee's International Student Services (ISS) team remains in close contact with affected students and will continue monitoring for any updates. If you have questions or need support, please reach out to iss@berklee.edu.
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