FAQs on Executive Order
The Office of Global Services (OGS) is responsible for welcoming and supporting international students and scholars at Georgetown University. OGS created this page to guide the Georgetown University community regarding the President’s Executive Order issued on January 27, 2017, entitled “Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Entry into the United States.” OGS and campus partners will continue to evaluate the impacts of the Executive Order on the Georgetown community and will update this page as more information becomes available.
Q. What are the main components of the Executive Order?
The Executive Order suspends entry to the United States of immigrants and nonimmigrants from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen for at least 90 days, with limited exceptions. The Executive Order also suspends entry of all refugees (irrespective of their country) to the United States for 120 days and admission of Syrian refugees indefinitely. The Executive Order also calls for a review of visa issuance protocol and enhanced vetting for visa applicants of all countries. We will continue to monitor the impacts of the Executive Order as more information becomes available.
A detailed summary and analysis of the Executive Order prepared by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) can be found here: http://www.aila.org/infonet/analysis-executive-order-visa-issuance-screening (new window)[1]
Q. Who is impacted by the Executive Order and what advice is the University providing to those impacted?
Citizens of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen will not be permitted entry or re-entry into the United States for 90 days, with limited exceptions. It is our understanding that this ban applies to visa holders and individuals with a dual citizenship with another non-US country. We understand that the ban on re-entry also currently encompasses U.S. permanent residents (“green card” holders) who are citizens of one of these countries. The Executive Order does not prohibit U.S. citizens who have dual nationality from entering the United States with their valid U.S. passport.
Our recommendation is that citizens of these countries legally residing in the United States avoid travel outside the U.S. during this period and consult an immigration attorney if travel is required. Such travel may result in the person’s inability to return to the United States for 90 days.
Our current understanding is that individuals from these countries who are legally present in the U.S., and who do not intend to travel, will not be impacted by the Executive Order.
Q. Who at Georgetown can I go to talk to about my immigration status?
The Office of Global Services is available to meet with faculty, staff, and students on a one-on-one basis to provide guidance. Information for international students and scholars and how to get in touch with OGS is available here: http://internationalservices.georgetown.edu/ (new window) OGS may refer individuals seeking additional legal guidance to an immigration attorney.
Q. What is the impact of the Executive Order on faculty, staff, and students from other countries who are non-citizens?
The Executive Order focuses primarily on the entry of citizens from the countries listed above. However, the Executive Order also directs the Department of Homeland Security to review visa issuance protocol for all countries within the next 30 days. We can’t determine the impact of this aspect of the Executive Order yet, but it’s possible it may cause a delay in processing of visas renewals and entry for citizens of other countries.
Q. How can I obtain legal counsel?
Immigration Advocates Network: https://www.immigrationlawhelp.org (new window)
AILA Lawyer Search: http://www.ailalawyer.org/ (new window)
Immigration Legal Directory: https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/ (new window)
Last Updated: January 29, 2017
[1] The views of AILA are independent of, and do not necessarily reflect, the views of Georgetown University.