On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a that establishes a fixed time period of admission and an extension of stay procedure that impact students and scholars on F-1 and J-1 visas, and other academic restrictions specifically for F-1 students. The rule is anticipated to take effect Sept. 15, 2026 and will affect members of the international community in different ways. As OISS gathers more information and communicates specific guidance to individuals and groups, we ask that members of the international community refer to the DHS Rule on Admission and Extension webpage as an up-to-date resource. Members of the Northwestern international community who have questions are encouraged to reach out directly to their assigned .
Visa Delays
Processing times and delays vary by U.S. Consulate/Embassy. A vast majority of visas are issued within days of a visa interview/appointment. Anyone applying for a visa may be subjected to an administrative processing delay or background check that may take several weeks.
Please look at the information on the for the embassy you are interested in to determine the standard processing times.
Our Office Can Help
If an administrative delay or background check postpones your intended arrival, please contact intoff@northwestern.edu.
Let us know your name, your student id, the location of the embassy, the date of your visa appointment and what they told you.