Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

DOCUMENT UPDATE: Documents to Carry With You

You should carry a paper copy and a digital copy on your phone of the following documents whenever you leave your house. These are the documents that show that you are in the U.S. in legal F-1 status.

• Most recent I-20 signed by you in pen
• I-94 Record
• EAD card (for students with off-campus work authorization), especially when working off-campus

GOVERNMENT UPDATE: Additional Vetting at Visa Appointments 

During the visa screening process, applicants will be asked to share their social media accounts, which must be set to “public”. Refusal to share your social media profiles or make them public could result in additional review and possibly a visa refusal.

Consular officers are instructed to look for the following items in your social media:

• hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States
• advocacy for, aid or support for foreign terrorists and other threats to U.S. national security
• support for unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence
• crimes committed in your home country
• inconsistent information compared to what you provided during your visa application.

GOVERNMENT UPDATE: Travel Ban

F-1 students and their F-2 dependents who are citizens from the following countries are banned from entering the U.S. without “national interest” exception. Most PCC students and applicants in F-1 status or seeking F-1 status will not qualify for the “national interest” exception. Below are the countries banned as of June 9, 2025:

• Afghanistan
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Burundi
• Chad
• Republic of the Congo (Congo Brazzaville)
• Cuba
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Laos
• Libya
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Venezuela
• Yemen

PCC UPDATE: Tuition & Insurance Increases

Tuition (starting Summer 2025)

Tuition for non-resident students (including F-1 international): $288 per credit

Fees (starting Summer 2025)

Student Activity Fee: $4.25 per credit

Institutional Technology Fee: Remains $7.35 per credit

College Service Fee: Remains $15 per term

Health Insurance (starting Fall 2025)

Cost with LewerMark: $739.59 per term

REPORTING UPDATE: Government Requirements of OISS

To be able to issue I-20s and have F-1 international students at PCC, the OISS is required to report certain information about students to the U.S. government. In general, we update information in the SEVIS system, like your major, education level, address, phone number, etc.

Occasionally, the Department of Homeland Security might request additional information, like your financial documents, transcripts, class modality, transfer information, Reduced Course Loads, employment authorizations, etc.

We haven’t received many requests like this in the past, but we may see more in the future.

If we receive a request from the government, we cannot withhold the information without losing the ability to have F-1 students study at PCC. If we receive a request like this, we will email you to tell you.

RISKS UPDATE: Protests & Criminal Activities

Protests & Criminal Activities

Freedom of speech and expression are typically awarded to all in the U.S. under the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. However, based on the current actions of the U.S. government, we recommend that you, as an F-1 international student, do not participate in political activities such as demonstrations, protests, or documentation of these events on social media.

Any history with police involvement can be reviewed and affect your immigration status. Therefore, it is important that you abide by all U.S. laws.

If you participate in any of the following activities, you could be removed from the U.S. and not allowed in the U.S. in the future:

• Engaging in any unlawful activity – There are many U.S. and state laws. Below are some crimes that can affect your status:
  • Stealing: even small items or items with low value
  • Having or using marijuana while on a non-immigrant visa
  • Having or using a gun (firearm) while on a non-immigrant visa (in most cases)
  • Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving recklessly, or driving with a suspended or revoked license
• Participating in activities that promote or involve violence or destruction of property – Avoid protests, in case they become violent.
• Participating in activities that advocate the use of force, violence, or other unlawful means in opposition to the Government of the United States.
• Violating any law of the United States relating to espionage or sabotage, or to violate or evade any law prohibiting the export from the United States of goods, technology, or sensitive information – If you have access confidential or sensitive information through your education or work, do not share this information outside of the organization.

Download the “Know your rights” cards in your preferred language.

RISK UPDATE: Scams

You may receive emails, texts, or phone calls from people who claim to be from the U.S. government, police, or other government officials. If you receive emails, texts, or phone calls asking for money or your personal information (including questions about your status), do not follow their instructions. Contact the OISS and we can help you determine if it is real or a scam.

• NEVER share personal or financial information to unknown people. 
• Government officials or police officers will NEVER ask you to provide credit/debit or gift card numbers, wire transfers, bank routing numbers, or to make bitcoin deposits for any purpose. 
• Government officials will use mail or the email you provided when you applied to contact you. Always verify the email address of a sender. The email address they use should end in “.gov”. 
• Phone number used by scammers can look like real government offices, like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). You can ask them to contact your DSO or check SEVIS for your information.

Read about DHS scams, common scams and how to report them.

TRAVEL UPDATE: Travel Recommendations

With the shifting of government policies, we do not recommend that F-1 students, who are maintaining their F-1 status, travel outside of the U.S. 

However, we also recognize that you are more than your F-1 status and you have lives back home, so traveling might be necessary for you. If leaving the U.S. at this time is important to you, you should make a plan of what you will do if you are not allowed back into the U.S. Making a plan before you go is the best way to ensure that you are prepared for the consequences that you might not be able to return to the U.S. when you planned.

Archived Emails

• Recent Tax Email from PCC: PLEASE READ _{(sent 11/08/2025)}
• ICE Scam Updates & U.S. Laws _{(sent 10/17/2025)}
• Visa Appointment Updates _{(sent 07/31/2025)}
• Visa Appointments Resumed _{(sent 06/23/2025)}
• Presidential Proclamation Travel Ban _{(sent 06/06/2025)}
• Pause in Visa Appointments _{(sent 05/30/2025)}
• Update and Community Meeting Space Tues, May 6th 12pm-2pm _{(sent 05/01/2025)}
• Tuition & Fee Update : Starting Summer 2025 _{(sent 04/18/2025)}
• Concern RE: Visa Revocations and SEVIS Terminations _{(sent 04/11/2025)}
• Important reminders & Tips for International Students _{(sent 04/03/2025)}
• Check your F-2 dependents have the correct documents _{(sent 03/28/2025)}
• Visa Interview Waiver Update _{(sent 03/07/2025)}
• Recent F-1 Student Questions Answered _{(sent 01/31/2025)}
• F-1 Updates, Reminders, & Resources _{(sent 01/24/2025)}
• Supporting Our F-1 Students Post-Election _{(sent 11/26/2024)}
• SEVP Alert re Scammers Using SEVP Phone Numbers to Target International Students
  • Flyer

F-1 Visa

• I-901 Fee Fee paid by all nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors that fund the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and SEVIS. This fee is separate from visa fees and school SEVIS administration fees.
• I-94 International travelers visiting the United States can apply for or retrieve their I-94 admission number/record (which is proof of legal visitor status) as well as retrieve a limited travel history of their U.S. arrivals and departures.
• Study in the States Offers free government resources that explain the rules and regulations governing the nonimmigrant student process in the United States.

Legal Services

• AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is the national association of more than 15,000 attorneys and law professors who practice immigration law.
• SOAR Immigration Legal Services Recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice as an authorized provider of immigration legal services, SOAR’s attorney-driven legal program has a staff of two attorneys and a Department of Justice accredited representative. SOAR Immigration is now available on-campus! NOTE: You must make an appointment using this sheet.

• • Rock Creek (Bldg 2, Rm 244): First Thursday of each month, 9am-4pm
  • Cascade (SU 304): Second, Third, and Fourth Thursday of each month, 9am-4pm
• CLEAR Clinic The CLEAR Clinic provides free legal assistance (among other services) and referrals to full-service immigration attorneys for other legal needs.
• IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization) The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) serves the holistic needs of Oregon’s immigrants, refugees and mainstream community members.
• Catholic Charities Portland Catholic Charities’ Immigration Legal Services (ILS) program is a nonprofit law program providing low-cost consultations and legal representation to immigrants and refugees throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.
• Lutheran Community Services NW Refugee and Immigrant Services – Safe Route Helps refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers rebuild their lives in a new country.
• Portland Refugee Support Group is a non-profit focused on re-empowering refugees, asylum seekers, and newcomers to the community through a trauma-informed care, culturally responsive, and human-centered approach.

PCC

• PCC Counseling Services Free, short-term counseling to currently enrolled students (excluding Community Education). Service eligibility begins two weeks prior to a given term. In counseling, personal concerns are discussed and new ways of addressing issues are explored. Many concerns are resolved within eight sessions or less.
• PCC Multicultural Centers Founded to address institutional racism and the unique needs of students of color at PCC. Offer programs, tutoring, advocacy, and other support services focused on students of color. All students welcome.
• PCC Women’s Resource Centers WRC staff are here to offer connection, resources, and advocacy to support the success of all women and gender minority students. All genders are welcome.
• PCC Queer Resource Centers QRCs provide advocacy, education, leadership development, programming, and other services for students with marginalized genders and sexualities to create an inclusive and intersectional campus climate promoting gender justice, sexual liberation, and equity for all people. All students welcome.
• PCC Illumination Project Innovative student leadership and education program designed to foster a climate of equality, compassion, justice, and respect for all people in the PCC academic community and the community-at-large. Student participants write and act in plays to demonstrate social justice issues in their own lives.
• PCC Office of Equity and Inclusion Creates a college climate that demonstrates PCC’s commitment to civil rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion. OEI investigates claims of discrimination and harassment and provides training, tools, and policies to avoid and address these issues.
• PCC is a sanctuary college committed to making our college community a safer space, and doing all we can to protect student rights and privacy under the law.

External

• National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
• Call to Safety (Domestic Violence/sexual assault) 1-888-235-5333
• Trans Lifeline 1-877-565-8860
• Trevor Project LGBTQ Support 1-866-488-7386