On Aug. 9, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued revised guidance about how it is handling the implementation of the unlawful presence policy for international students and exchange visitors.

The USCIS memorandum details the guidelines for how the government will view any noncompliance with the rules as jeopardizing the individual’s lawful presence in the country – applicable to nonimmigrants holding F and M visas who have filed or approved reinstatement applications, as well as for nonimmigrants with J visas who were reinstated by the U.S. Department of State.

Under the new enforcement guidelines, failure to follow required reporting or other compliance steps can lead to an individual’s deportation and a lengthy bar on returning to the United States.

International students and scholars can find more information about maintaining their immigration status in an FAQ at Cornell’s Office of Global Learning. Those with questions can contact the office and ask to speak with an immigration adviser.