Resources for Purdue community members with visa questions

There are resources available to Purdue community members with visa questions. With over a thousand students reportedly impacted across many universities, national media have reported that changes in visa status may in certain instances be associated with interactions with law enforcement.

We all recognize this is an anxious time for our international community, and we are providing both overarching and tailored support to those impacted, consistent with our responsibilities as a public, land-grant host institution in an evolving context of recent federal actions and court cases. 

As has been communicated to impacted individuals:

• Purdue has been in contact with anyone who has become aware of a change in their visa status according to government databases. Impacted individuals are encouraged to contact the embassy of their home country and to seek outside legal assistance to address their individual situations.

• Student visa inquiries should be directed to Chris Collins, Director of International Student Services (ccollins@purdue.edu).

• Faculty, staff, and postdocs with visa-related questions should contact Amanda Thompson, Director of International Scholar Services (thomp557@purdue.edu).

• Directors Collins and Thompson will further assist with additional resources as necessary (ODOS, CAPS, and the like, depending on individual needs).

• While we have not seen such situations on our campuses, standard questions about warrants, third-party subpoenas and the like are addressed in a longstanding FAQ on the Purdue Office of Legal Counsel website.

Today (Monday, April 21), Purdue’s Action Council on Student Housing and Well-Being is hosting a special meeting to gather additional ideas from representatives of the community.

Looking ahead, so far this spring, the percentage of admitted students accepting our admission offers remains similar to previous years among international undergraduate and graduate applicants.

As a reminder of a separate matter, on April 15 Purdue launched “research bridge funding support” as detailed on the Purdue Office of Research website.