After Christmas break, several international students at Andrews University were unable to return to campus due to visa complications. From unexpected travel disruptions to federal immigration policies and documentation rules, some students face delayed graduations, remote learning, and financial stress due to uncertainty.
While most students travel during breaks, many of them, especially those with international status, travel outside the United States, encountering time-sensitive restrictions such as visa status and re-entry. These restrictions are shaped by new federal policies, academic enrollment, and visa compliance rules, all of which often contribute to uncertainty that can abruptly alter students’ academic plans and sense of security.
Carlos Lugo, a graduate student from Venezuela studying music performance, traveled to Ecuador for winter break to renew his visa, which was set to expire three months later. However, during his interview at the U.S. Embassy, Lugo received an unexpected response from the consul.
“She said, ‘Unfortunately, I cannot issue a new visa because you are Venezuelan… It’s a law that the government has established right now,’” Lugo said.
Lugo also expressed distress while he waited for the consul's official response.
“Those 10 minutes are very substantial… You sweat, my stomach was getting pain again. I had a little bit of anxiety,” he said.
After being told by the embassy that, because of his nationality, he was unable to obtain a new student visa, Lugo said his old visa was ‘’cancelled without prejudice,” leaving him with no alternative way to return to the U.S. to continue his studies. With one academic year to graduate, Lugo’s only option was to continue classes remotely, which terminated his CPT (Curricular Practical Training) and his stable sources of income.
Another student affected by post-break travel complications is Dwight Callan Lewis-Balfour, a senior music major, whose inability to return to campus resulted from enrollment-related visa termination rather than embassy denial. Lewis-Balfour was attempting to re-enter the U.S. from Canada after Christmas break when border officials informed him that his I-20 had been terminated, making his student visa invalid.
“They said, ‘We can’t allow you into the U.S. right now because your visa is terminated,’” he said.
Lewis-Balfour explained that while he had been physically attending classes during the fall semester, he was not officially enrolled on paper, a distinction that triggered federal regulations requiring international students to maintain active enrollment. Although he described the interaction at the border as routine, the consequences were immediate and left little room for appeal. “I can’t go back to school, because I can’t argue with them,” he said.
The situation forced Lewis-Balfour to delay his graduation by approximately one year, as several required courses are not offered outside the regular academic calendar. Despite the setback, he said Andrews University has remained responsive, particularly through communication with advisors and International Student Services (ISS). Although the disruption shifted his academic timeline, Lewis-Balfour said he remains focused on completing his degree.
According to ISS, visa and reentry issues typically occur when a student’s immigration record is no longer active. Common reasons include not being enrolled full-time, missing or expired travel signatures, unauthorized employment, or an expired student visa. While these issues can arise at any point when a student attempts to reenter the U.S., ISS noted that they are more commonly encountered during academic breaks, when international travel increases.
ISS emphasizes that immigration decisions are ultimately made by government officials, and the university is not allowed to interfere with rulings made by U.S. embassies or border authorities. However, when complications occur, Andrews University works closely with affected students through ISS and their academic departments to explore next steps. This may include academic planning, enrollment deferral, future I-20 issuance, or guidance on permissible online coursework, depending on immigration regulations.
ISS encourages international students to communicate with their office prior to traveling outside the United States to help prevent complications. Students are advised to confirm that their I-20 is active, their travel signature is valid, their visa allows for reentry, and their enrollment meets immigration requirements. For many international students, planning and staying informed can make the difference between a smooth return to campus and an unexpected disruption.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.