Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

GOVERNMENT UPDATE: Possible End of Duration of Status

In August 2025, the U.S. government proposed a rule that could change how long F-1 students are allowed to stay in the U.S.

What is changing?
Currently, your F-1 status is based on “Duration of Status (D/S).” This means you can stay in the U.S. as long as you are a full-time student and follow the F-1 rules.

When this rule is finalized, that would change. Instead of staying in the U.S. for as long as you are an F-1 student, you will have a fixed end date for your stay in the U.S.

This could mean:

• You must apply for extensions with the U.S. government (and pay fees) to continue studying after your current Program End Date
• Processing times will be long and unpredictable
• Delays or denials could impact your ability to stay in the U.S. and complete your studies

Please find your situation below to understand how this change may affect you. If you still have questions, you can talk with a DSO on Zoom Monday-Friday from 1-2pm.

STUDENTS GRADUATING in SPRING 2026

We hope that transferring to another school and applying for OPT will be processed normally without requiring an extension application to the U.S. government. When the new status rule is finalized, we think that the end date of your F-1 status should be the end of the Associate degree I-20 from PCC (for students completing the ESOL program), the I-20 from the new school (for students who are transferring), or the end of your OPT (for students who have applied to OPT), depending on your next steps.

Because we do not have the new rule yet, we cannot guarantee that you will not have to apply for an extension with the U.S. government.

 

STUDENTS GRADUATING in SUMMER 2026

Depending on when the rule is finalized, starting a new Associate degree at PCC, transferring to another school, or applying for OPT might require an extension application with the U.S. government. However, we will work with you to process your Change of Education Level (for students completing the ESOL program), to transfer your SEVIS Record (for students who are transferring to another school), or to prepare your OPT application (for students who are eligible to apply to OPT) before this rule is applied, if possible.

Because we do not have the new rule yet, we cannot guarantee that you will not have to apply for an extension with the U.S. government.

 

STUDENTS GRADUATING in FALL 2026

If you are taking the Summer 2026 term as a vacation term and are planning to graduate in the Fall 2026 term, you might want to consider taking classes in the Summer 2026 term and graduating a term earlier. Transferring to another school, requesting a Change of Education Level, or applying for OPT end of the Summer term might give you a later end date of your F-1 status without an application to extend your stay with the U.S. government.

Because we do not have the new rule yet, we cannot guarantee that you will not have to apply for an extension with the U.S. government.

 

STUDENTS WHO NEED TO EXTEND THEIR STUDIES

Looking at your most recent I-20, if you will need more time beyond the Program End Date to complete your Associate degree or ESOL studies at PCC, you can submit the Request Form for “I-20 Extension,” including a completed Statement of Financial Responsibility.

​If you are in an Associate degree program, you also must meet with your academic advisor to plan the time needed to complete your Associate degree. If you have a recent academic plan that you have been following, please include that plan with your extension request.

If you are not able to extend your F-1 status now, because you will finish the ESOL program or an Associate degree soon, you should be able to apply for an extension of your F-1 status in the future. However, the extension requests will require an application with the U.S. government and it will cost money.

 

SHORTENED GRACE PERIOD

The students completing the ESOL program (level 8), an Associate degree, or OPT will likely no longer have a 60-day grace period. The 60-day grace period will likely be shortened to 30 days with the new rule. The new 30-day grace period will begin after the Program End Date on your most recent I-20. During the 30-day grace period, you must do one of the following:

• Transfer to a new school – Depending on when you transfer, you might need to apply for an extension with the U.S. government.
• Depart the U.S.
• Apply for OPT – For eligible students. Inquiries about eligibility can be emailed to oiss@pcc.edu
• Apply for a Change of Status – The OISS & PCC do not assist with this process. We recommend that you seek the support of an immigration attorney for this option, before your Program End Date.

 

This rule has not been finalized yet, but we expect updates within the next couple of months. We will email updates when we have them.

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 & Pause in USCIS Benefits

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. 

As of December 2, 2025, the U.S. president issued a Policy Memorandum, pausing all applications for asylum and any applications for any benefits requested from USCIS by citizens of the 39 countries on the banned list, which seems to include OPT, Severe Economic Hardship, and Change of Status. There are immigration attorneys who are fighting this policy in court, but we do not know if or when USCIS will begin processing these requests again.

Below are the currently banned countries:

• Afghanistan
• Angola
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Burundi
• Chad
• Republic of the Congo (Congo Brazzaville)
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Gabon
• The Gambia
• Haiti
• Iran
• Laos
• Libya
• Malawi
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Palestinian Authority Travel Documents
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Syria
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Tonga
• Venezuela
• Yemen
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

PCC UPDATE: Tuition & Insurance Increases

Tuition (starting Summer 2026)

Tuition for non-resident students (including F-1 international): $298 per credit

Fees – remain the same

Student Activity Fee: $4.25 per credit

Institutional Technology Fee: Remains $7.35 per credit

College Service Fee: Remains $15 per term

Lab Fee: Remains up to $45 per course

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. You can also read more about scams on the Federal Trade Commission’s website in multiple languages.

TRAVEL UPDATE: Travel Recommendations

If you are a citizen from one of the countries on the travel ban list, we highly discourage any travel outside of the U.S.

For all other students, it is still risky to travel internationally if you want to return to study in F-1 status. While many PCC students in F-1 status have left and successfully returned, we cannot predict what changes the U.S. Government will enact, if those changes would affect your ability to return to the U.S., or when any such changes could occur. 

Therefore, we still recommend students do not travel internationally, unless it is necessary.

If traveling is necessary, make a plan on what will happen if you are not able to return to the U.S. Travel with items that are most important to you. If you have a friend or roommate that is staying in the U.S., make a plan on what they will do with your belongings if you are not able to return. 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. as expected.

Archived Emails

• Tuition & Fees Update Starting Summer 2026 _{(sent 04/30/2026)}
• PCC Strike Ends _{(sent 3/31/2026)}
• Strike Transfer Back-up Plan Tool _{(sent 3/21/2026)}
• Strike Back-up Plan Process and Zoom Invitation _{(sent 3/17/2026)}
• Strike Impacts & Zoom Invitation _{(sent 3/12/2026)}
• F-1 Status & Possible Strike _{(sent 2/24/2026)}
• Your safety and resources during recent federal law enforcement activity _{(sent 1/9/2026)}
• New Presidential Proclamation for Updated Travel Ban _{(sent 12/17/2025)}
• End of Fall Term Reminders _{(sent 12/12/2025)}
• 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