Iowa State University


Inside Iowa State
Dec. 15, 1995

Federal shutdown may affect visas

Federal shutdown may affect visasThe U.S. federal government shutdown may have created a backlog of requests for the issuance of visas for entry to the United States. The backlog may affect international students who traveled abroad during the break and new international students planning to attend ISU this semester. Classes begin Tuesday.

University officials are aware of approximately 600 students who may have left the United States during break, said Dennis Peterson, director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. There is no way of knowing which students are stranded until they contact the Office of International Students and Scholars, Office of Admissions or their academic departments. Faculty have been urged to make reasonable accommodations to assist returning students arriving late to their classes, Peterson said. The university intends to work with international students whose late arrival on campus is due to a visa processing backlog. International student advisers in the Office of International Students and Scholars are prepared to assist in any way possible, Peterson said.

"All elements of the university need to be sympathetic and flexible to these students who are arriving late through no fault of their own," he said.

For further information, contact Peterson or Brenda Thorbs- Weber, 4-1120.

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