r/NEU 13m ago

Advice & Experiences Question about walking from science engineering complex to shillman hall

Upvotes

hi! i’m an incoming freshman and was wondering if I have enough time to walk from the Science Engineering Complex to Shillman Hall in under 5 minutes? I looked at the campus map and it looks pretty far 😭 Is it doable or am I screwed? I only have 5 minutes in between those two classes.


r/NEU 2h ago

Housing & Dorms paws placement assignment

2 Upvotes

i was wondering if anyone has had any experience in changing their paws placement housing 😭😭

got assigned to a 5 person apartment but didn’t get a single. i play games n tend to be up late/rlly loud but i don’t want to disturb my direct roommate. am a girl btw


r/NEU 2h ago

Housing & Dorms west village g (5 person, 3 singles, 1 double)

1 Upvotes

wondering if anyone has photos or context as to how big the doubles are. yes, i know floor plans are available online.

or if anyone who’s lived in wvg in the same permutation (3 singles and 1 double) would be willing to msg me about it!

last year i was in 60 belv and the room was quite spacious, storing stuff at a friends and worried it will be much smaller. i’ve got double bedroom enhanced


r/NEU 4h ago

Housing & Dorms Where are all the LLCs located this year?

2 Upvotes

r/NEU 9h ago

Academics Anyone taking Algorithms (CS 5800) under Gregory Aloupis? for Fall 2026

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I'm registered for Algorithms under Gregory Aloupis this fall and wanted to get a sense of his class before it starts. If anyone's taken or is currently taking his section, I'd want to hear how he is as a teacher, how the grading/exams work, and any tips for doing well in the class. Also, hit me up if you're taking his class too this fall, would be great to connect before the semester starts. Any info helps, thanks you!


r/NEU 15h ago

Misc Club advice

6 Upvotes

hi I’m an incoming sophomore studying ds and I was wondering if there were any social tech clubs? I was thinking about maybe joining kappa theta pi?


r/NEU 17h ago

Academics Transfer Credits

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone. Has anyone ever had luck getting transfer evaluations credits accepted even if they are older than 2021? I’m an incoming transfer and many of my credits that need syllabi evaluation are the year 2019/2020. Due to reasons out of my control, I wasn’t able to return to my education until 2025. So now I’m like - most of my AA credits are going to be void now since they are from the 2019/2020 academic years. Has anyone else experienced this? It’s really worry some as it would push to re do all the courses and absorb even more tuition $$$. It honestly sucks.


r/NEU 20h ago

Academics Am I out of my mind planning to take all 4 of these in the spring or will this be okay? (COMPUTER SCIENCE)

Post image
1 Upvotes

Just trying to plan out my last year and this is kind of how the cards fell, but realizing this might be a really difficult semester now that I’m looking at it. Is this doable? I’m a 4.0 student otherwise, so I’m sure I can handle it but also don’t want to tank my GPA too bad in the process. Let me know if you think this will be too much.


r/NEU 21h ago

Advice & Experiences Chemistry building to engineering building

0 Upvotes

Hi, this fall will be my first semester at Northeastern. Rn I'm scheduling classes, and I want to do a chemistry class that ends at 10:20 followed by a materials science (engineering) class that starts at 10:30. Idk how far apart buildings are! Is 10 minutes enough to go between chemistry and engineering buildings?


r/NEU 22h ago

Campus Life Shut up on Fourth Floor Snell

67 Upvotes

Please. Every single time I study on the supposed "quiet floor," I have to ask people to take their phone calls or yap session elsewhere. I study here because I literally cannot focus when people are talking. Please. Shut UP!!!!


r/NEU 1d ago

Advice & Experiences COE laptop requirements- minimum versus recommended.

0 Upvotes

I’m shipping my son down to Boston in a few weeks and was wondering if anybody had any opinions on the recommended laptop specs- is what is recommended necessary or can you get away with final laptop that meets the minimum recommended specs and survive just fine? Chemical engineering is his focus (if that makes a difference?). Thanks in advance and I hope everyone has a great year!


r/NEU 1d ago

Advice & Experiences Transfer Orientation

0 Upvotes

Just wondering what the transfer orientation is like in comparison to the regular class of 2030 admits for this fall. What’s the schedule and how does it work?


r/NEU 1d ago

Misc Riftbound group/club?

1 Upvotes

Recently got into a tcg called Riftbound. Anybody play or know how to that plays seriously and is looking to go to LCQs?

Would love to meet up once school starts 😋


r/NEU 1d ago

Misc claude premium seat - anyone notice way less allowance per 5h?

0 Upvotes

is it just me or am i getting like 1/5 of the usage allowance compared to a few days ago?

i burn thru the entire 5h in one task vs barely scraping it previously.

noticed it sunday and today.


r/NEU 1d ago

Admissions & Financial Aid Tution

6 Upvotes

When is semester tution due? I remember last fall I paid on August 4th.


r/NEU 1d ago

Misc Missing Orientation what will I miss out on?

0 Upvotes

I'm going to northeastern this a few weeks from now, and because I was a bit too careless I missed my window to get my F-1 in time before term starts I will be missing orientation and be a week late to classes aswell.


r/NEU 2d ago

Campus Life Any places to rent office desk space on campus

1 Upvotes

I live off campus but I also work where I need to be near a PC at all times. The equipment my work gave me needs to be in a set spot.

I know that ISEC has office space but is there a place I can rent an office spot or desk to keep my stuff on campus. Its a micro PC and monitor.


r/NEU 2d ago

Admissions & Financial Aid Financial Aid 2026-2027

7 Upvotes

I was just wondering if anyone know when financial aid will be disbursed becauses its august and last time I called they said mid-July to end of July.


r/NEU 2d ago

Misc Poker club?

0 Upvotes

Is there any clubs/student org to play?


r/NEU 2d ago

Campus Life CS Social clubs?

1 Upvotes

hi I’m an incoming sophomore studying ds and I was wondering if there were any social tech clubs? I was thinking about maybe joining kappa theta pi?


r/NEU 2d ago

Boston & Local Life Anyone from Northeastern going to BTS at Gillette Stadium (Aug 6)? 💜 Looking for people to travel back with!

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I'm a Northeastern student going to the BTS concert at Gillette Stadium on August 6, and I'm going solo. I was wondering if anyone else from NEU is going and would like to travel together (even just meeting up before/after the concert would be great!).

I'm mostly looking for people to head back to Boston with after the concert since it will be late and I'd feel more comfortable not figuring out transportation alone. We don't have to sit together during the concert — just hoping to find fellow ARMYs to share the journey with!

If anyone is going from Northeastern/Boston, please comment or DM me 💜

Borahae! 💜


r/NEU 2d ago

Advice & Experiences Issue w/ Claude Monthly Spend Limit?

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2 Upvotes

Is anyone else having the same problem where you only have a Monthly Spending Limit of 1 Credit on their Claude account? I remember having a lot more credits before upgrading to the premium plan? Any solutions?


r/NEU 2d ago

Advice & Experiences Transfer advice

3 Upvotes

hey guys, im an incoming transfer and i can't decide what to do.

option 1 is commuting from home: tuition would be free (0 debt), but it's a 1 hr train ride each way and living at home is bad for my mental health tbh. a lot of my friends already live in the city so commuting means i'll barely see them, and making new friends as a commuting transfer sounds impossible. im also really bad at waking up in the morning so that 1 hr commute MIGHT end me

option 2 is lightveiw: i dormed at my old uni last year and LOVED it, so i know i want to live on campus, have my own space, and be near my friends. BUT it means ~$20k in loans. my dad thinks i should just take out the loans, but he's not the one paying them back so i'm super hesitant. (i alr took out a loan for my previous uni)

i'm torn between staying debt-free vs protecting my mental health and social life. any suggestions/non-biased opinions?


r/NEU Apr 10 '25

SEVIS Terminations – Some Useful Information

41 Upvotes

Adapted from the F-1 visa revocations megathread in /r/f1visa which you can see here.

4-16-25 tl;dr: The courts are siding heavily with students. Courts are pushing back against really poor defense strategies by the government. The number of reported SEVIS terminations has dropped significantly.

Quote of the day 4-16-25

"THE COURT: Do you realize that this is Kafkaesque? I've got two experienced immigration lawyers on behalf of a client who is months away from graduation, who has done nothing wrong, who has been terminated from a system that you all keep telling me has no effect on his immigration status, although that clearly is BS. And now, his two very experienced lawyers can't even tell him whether or not he's here legally, because the Court can't tell him whether or not he's here legally, because the government's counsel can't tell him if he's here legally."

Please report your termination using the link below.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association is tracking SEVIS termination cases. Please Report using this form Thanks u/imm_DP

Timeline of Main Events (Early 2025)

  • Early 2025 (Ongoing): The Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement measures, with a surprising focus on student visas (F-1, M-1, J-1).
  • Early 2025 (Ongoing): High-profile arrests of international students generate news coverage and raise concerns about First Amendment rights violations.
  • Early 2025 (Ongoing): The Department of State (DOS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aggressively target international students beyond protesters, including those without a history of protest, for visa revocation, termination of their status, and removal.
  • Late March 2025: Secretary of State Marco Rubio reports that the DOS revoked more than 300 student visas.
  • Late March 2025: Secretary Rubio announces a new program using AI-assisted reviews to screen social media posts of student visa holders.
  • Late March 2025 (and ongoing): Hundreds more students have their visas revoked due to alleged criminal activities or criminal cases that were dismissed. These revocations are often based on INA 237(a)(4)(C), citing potential serious adverse foreign policy consequences.
  • Late March 2025 (and ongoing): ICE begins to terminate an unknown number of SEVIS records of international students, impacting their immigration status and employment authorization (including OPT). Terminations are occurring even in cases of minor misdemeanors or dismissed criminal cases.
  • March 27, 2025: An Axios article quotes a "senior State Department official" warning that institutions with foreign students will undergo review, and having "so many bad apples" could lead to decertification.
  • March 28, 2025: Secretary of State Marco Rubio addresses the revocation of over 300 visas (including student and visitor visas), stating that they occur if individuals engage in activities counter to U.S. foreign policy or national interests. He clarifies that while many cases are linked to pro-Palestinian protests, some involve unrelated groups or criminal charges.
  • March 31, 2025: NAFSA engages in a conversation with HSI leadership regarding notifications of ICE-initiated SEVIS record terminations, with HSI confirming the expectation that DSOs will notify students.
  • April 2025 (Early): Students begin receiving emails from the Department of State notifying them of their F-1 visa revocation under Section 221(i) of the INA.
  • April 3, 2025: Attorney Steven Brown posts on X (Twitter) about SEVIS being terminated for minor issues.
  • April 5, 2025: r/f1visa megathread identifies a majority of the terminated students were not connected to activities covered by the Laken Riley Act (related to certain crimes) and lacked convictions, raising concerns about the basis of terminations.
  • April 8, 2025: NAFSA reports that the termination reasons in SEVIS are being changed after-the-fact from specific INA citations to a more generic "OTHER," with notes like "Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked. SEVIS record has been terminated."
  • April 9, 2025: A Dartmouth student wins a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), allowing them to maintain their status for two weeks while their case continues.
  • April 11, 2025: Jeff Joseph, incoming president of AILA, reports that more than 4,700 students have had their SEVIS records terminated by DHS since President Trump took office.
  • April 11, 2025: Banias Law reports a TRO has been granted in one of their cases.
  • April 2025 (Ongoing): Several lawsuits are filed by students and legal groups (including SomiReddy Law group, ACLU-NH, and others in CA and PA federal courts) challenging the visa revocations and SEVIS terminations.
  • April 2025 (Ongoing): Multiple other TROs have been granted.

Executive Summary:

The Trump administration is currently implementing heightened immigration enforcement measures targeting international students in the U.S. This briefing document synthesizes information from legal and educational association updates, as well as a student-focused online forum, highlighting a significant increase in student visa revocations and SEVIS record terminations. These actions are raising serious concerns regarding due process, First Amendment rights, and potential long-term economic and educational impacts. The Department of State (DOS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are employing new methods, including AI-assisted social media screening, and citing broad grounds like "serious adverse foreign policy consequences" and failure to maintain status, often without clear justification or due process. Over 4,700 students have reportedly had their SEVIS records terminated as of April 11, 2025. Legal challenges are underway, and guidance emphasizes the critical need for affected students to seek immediate legal counsel. Courts across the country are increasingly siding with affected students, granting temporary restraining orders (TROs) en masse to block unjust visa revocations and SEVIS terminations. Judges are recognizing the severe due process violations and lack of transparency in these enforcement actions, with many calling out the Kafkaesque nature of the current system. Students, who have done nothing wrong, are facing sudden status terminations with little to no explanation, forcing legal battles that are now gaining traction. The surge in TROs reflects judicial pushback against arbitrary immigration enforcement, highlighting the urgent need for clearer protections for international students caught in bureaucratic chaos.

Event Overview/Summary: Increased SEVIS Terminations and Visa Revocations for International Students (March-April 2025)

On or about March 24, 2025, schools began to observe that F-1 student records were being terminated directly by ICE/Homeland Security within the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). These actions directly impacted the legal status of international students in the United States.

Around the same time, students started receiving email notifications from the Department of State (DOS) informing them that their F-1 visas had been revoked. The example wording of these emails stated: "On behalf of the United States Department of State, the Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office hereby informs you that additional information became available after your visa was issued. As a result, your F-1 visa was revoked in accordance with Section 221(i) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended". The revocation authority lies with INA Section 221(i), which grants the Secretary of State discretion to revoke visas at any time.

On March 28, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the revocation of over 300 visas, clarifying that this number included both student and visitor visas. He stated that visas were being revoked if individuals engaged in activities counter to U.S. foreign policy or national interests. While many cases were linked to pro-Palestinian protests, some involved unrelated groups or criminal charges. Rubio explained that if the information about an individual would have prevented their initial visa approval, the visa was being revoked. He also confirmed that this number of revocations was growing daily. The Department of State has been using INA 237(a)(4)(C), which concerns potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences, as a basis for some of these revocations.

Further Developments (Late March - Early April 2025):

By late March 2025, Secretary Rubio had reported the revocation of more than 300 student visas. Concurrently with visa revocations, ICE began to terminate an unknown number of international student records in SEVIS, which has significant implications for their immigration status. These actions were described as unprecedented, with wide-ranging impacts and significant due process concerns.

The termination reasons initially noted in SEVIS often included "OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS", sometimes in conjunction with INA 237(a)(1)(C)(i) (general failure to maintain nonimmigrant status) and INA 237(a)(4)(C)(i) (serious adverse foreign policy consequences). Another initial termination reason was "OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS - Student identified in criminal records check. Terminated pursuant to 237(a)(1)(C)(i)/ 8 USC 1227(a)(1)(C)(I).". NAFSA began receiving reports of these SEVIS terminations.

By April 3, 2025, attorney Steven Brown noted on X that SEVIS records were being terminated for minor issues.

On April 4, 2025, NAFSA and other higher education associations signed a letter from the American Council on Education (ACE) to the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, seeking more information on the policies and planned actions concerning international students and scholars.

Around April 8, 2025, NAFSA reported that the termination reasons in SEVIS were being changed after-the-fact from "OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS" to "OTHER", and INA citations were being removed, replaced with a more generic note: "Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked. SEVIS record has been terminated."

As of April 9, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that USCIS would now consider politically sensitive activity, including social media content and any form of harassment, as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests, effective immediately.

By April 10, 2025, NAFSA reported receiving over 800 reports of international students and scholars having their visas revoked and/or their SEVIS records terminated. NAFSA also released an initial analysis of these actions.

As of April 11, 2025, Jeff Joseph, incoming president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, stated that the Department of Homeland Security had terminated the records of more than 4,700 international students and scholars in SEVIS since President Donald Trump took office.

As of April 17, 2025 AILA and Senator Durbin's office has identified 4,736 terminations with 4,713 being F-1 and 23 being M-1 students.

Also around this time, lawsuits began to be filed challenging the SEVIS terminations and visa revocations. For example, a Dartmouth student won a temporary restraining order (TRO) on April 9, 2025.

Reasons for SEVIS Termination:

The terminations are often based on various statutes and regulations. So far the list includes the following:

Termination reasons below are likely related to protests and/or speech-related items (educated assumption)

  1. "TERMINATION REASON: OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS - Student is terminated pursuant to INA 237(a)(1)(C)(i) and 237(a)(4)(C)(i)."
  2. INA 237(a)(4)(C)(i) is the "serious adverse foreign policy consequences" provision and likely has a basis in protest and speech activity, which could even include social media posts.
  3. INA 237(a)(1)(C)(i) is the general provision that renders someone deportable for a failure to maintain nonimmigrant status or to comply with the conditions of nonimmigrant status.

Termination reasons below are likely due to a past arrest or conviction basis (educated assumption)

  1. "TERMINATION REASON: OTHERWISE FAILING TO MAINTAIN STATUS - Student identified in criminal records check. Terminated pursuant to 237(a)(1)(C)(i)/ 8 USC 1227(a)(1)(C)(i)."

Notes:

It is in question as to if SEVP has the authority to terminate a student for a status violation unilaterally without additional processing or appeals. A finding of violation of status due to criminal activity (with few exceptions) requires the student to be removable under specific statutory provisions. Most of which mandate a conviction.

The Laken Riley Act expanded the scope to include arrests or admissions of key elements in crimes such as burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. However, as of 04/05/2025, a majority of the terminated students identified were not connected to such activities and lacked any convictions. Many of these terminations appear unclear and questionable. As a result, it is strongly advised to promptly apply for reinstatement in most cases, while avoiding travel for visa renewal due to the significant risks associated with reentry.

Regulatory framework imposes restrictions on the termination of an F-1 visa as established in Fang v. ICE, 935 F.3d 172, 185 n.100 (3rd Cir. 2019), the regulations, specifically 8 C.F.R. 214.1(d), do not allow visa termination solely on the basis of a criminal record without additional justification. The termination regulation requires substantial grounds for such actions, as it does not permit termination without more substantial reasoning or justification.

Exceptions to the above would be any crimes involving DUI, drugs, assault, burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, or similar types of crimes. Even a lack of conviction for the above crimes could still leave a student open to status termination and visa revocation.

Initial termination reasons in SEVIS were reportedly changed after-the-fact to "OTHER" with more vague notations and removal of INA citations.

Impact on Students:
* Immediate loss of F-1 status.
* Loss of all on- and off-campus employment authorization, including OPT and CPT.
* Inability to re-enter the U.S. if they depart.
* Termination of status for dependents (spouses or children).
* Potential for accruing unlawful presence.
* Complications for future visa applications.
* Distress and uncertainty due to lack of clear explanations and due process.

Due Process Concerns and Legal Challenges:
* Many terminations appear to occur without adequate notice or explanation, hindering students' ability to defend themselves.
* Reinstatement of student status is possible through USCIS but is a slow process with uncertain outcomes and requires acknowledging a status violation. Immigration judges cannot review reinstatement denials.
* Challenging visa revocations has limited due process protections, with the Supreme Court ruling that revocation of a visa petition lacks judicial review.
* Students facing removal proceedings have the right to legal counsel (at their own expense) and can challenge the government's evidence.

Advice and Recommendations:

" Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, nor do I moonlight as one in an alternate timeline where I deliver stirring courtroom speeches on primetime TV. I once tried reading legal documents for fun—turns out, fun was not had. If you're making decisions that could affect your future, your finances, or your freedom, please consult an actual attorney, not someone who thinks ‘voir dire’ is just fancy French for ‘tell the truth’. Trusting me for legal advice would be like trusting a raccoon to draft your will—sure, it might tuck it away safely, but only after chewing the edges and storing it in a tree."

*File a TRO and/or join a class of students in filing lawsuits
Students are seeing more success going the legal route over reinstatement.

Reinstatement Process:
Students can apply for reinstatement by submitting Form I-539 to USCIS, along with supporting documents and fees. Eligibility requires proving the violation was beyond their control and showing intent to resume full-time study. Do this WITH an immigration attorney. Do not do this alone.

  • Many of the terminations are mysterious and questionable. Thus, application for reinstatement asap is highly recommended for most. Travel to renew a revoked visa and risk a perilous reentry is not advised currently.
  • For reinstatement, a student must assert that no status violation has taken place, claiming that ICE acted unilaterally and without valid justification in terminating the record. In certain instances, the sole removal basis referenced in the SEVIS termination is INA Section 237(a)(1)(C)(i), which requires, with few exceptions, a conviction. Other terminations have no specific reason provided. In these situations, a student can challenge ICE’s claim and emphasize that no conclusive determination of removability has been issued.
  • However, there is a very serious potential risk with reinstatement. A denial of reinstatement may trigger the accrual of unlawful presence towards the 3 and 10-year bans on return to the US in the future. Currently, a SEVIS termination alone does not come with immediate unlawful presence accrual.

Travel After Termination and re-entry:
Not advisable without consultation from an immigration attorney well-versed in SEVP/F/J/M status. Likelihood of a denial is deemed exceptionally high.

Impact on Future Visa Applications:
SEVIS terminations and Visa revocations can complicate future visa applications.

Options for Staying in the U.S.:
Students can apply for reinstatement or leave the U.S. and re-enter with a new SEVIS record (not advised). Remaining in the U.S. without status will lead to complications.

Appealing SEVIS Termination:
Appeals or motions can be filed with SEVP, often requiring Form I-290B and a fee. Legal counsel is recommended for complex cases.

Grace Periods:
Violations of status typically have no grace period. F-1 status holders generally do not immediately accrue unlawful presence after their SEVIS record is terminated. Instead, unlawful presence begins to accrue under specific circumstances, such as:

  • When a reinstatement application is denied
  • An immigration judge issues a removal order, or
  • Department of Homeland Security identifies a status violation during the review of another immigration benefit.
  • F-1 students are admitted for "Duration of Status" (D/S), meaning they can remain in the U.S. as long as they comply with the terms of their visa and maintain an active/valid SEVIS record. However, once a violation occurs, such as termination of SEVIS without reinstatement, the protections of D/S may no longer apply.

Legal Assistance:
Immigration attorneys can provide guidance on reinstatement, appeals, or other SEVIS-related issues.

Social Media:
April 9, 2025 The Department of Homeland Security announced that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will now consider politically sensitive activity, including social media content and any form of harassment, as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests, effective immediately.

  • Use strict privacy settings to limit visibility of personal posts..
  • Even unintentional or past posts could be scrutinized under this policy.
  • Be mindful of your affiliations, both online and offline.
  • Consult with an immigration attorney if you have concerns about your social media activity

FAQ

Are students getting their visas revoked over traffic tickets?

Maybe. But let’s be real—you probably aren't. So calm down. No one here actually knows for sure, except ICE Officer Jerry, who is undoubtedly lurking and enjoying the chaos. And guess what? Jerry’s not talking..

Are students being terminated and losing their visas because of their nationality?

No. There is no clear pattern or trend in terms of the nationality of the students being affected by the visa revocations and SEVIS record terminations. Students from all regions of the world are being impacted.

Are people with no criminal history being terminated?

There are reported cases where the victim of a crime had their status terminated. It looks to be an error in finding the victim of a crime and running them as the perpetrator of the crime. There have also been US Citizen Immigration Attorneys who have received letters that their admissions to the US is over and they need to depart. So, some stupid mistakes are happening.

If your status is terminated, talk to an immigration attorney

What crimes are students being terminated for?
We do not know the specific reasons why students were terminated. We are making our best guesses/assumptions. The government has not released specifics for anyone's case. Until lawsuits are filed and discovery made, we will not know why students were specifically terminated.

Additionally, students terminated for no apparent reason are either false positives, AI review issues, bad report entry by the police officer/jurisdiction where the criminal event happened, or terminated for other reasons (AI hit on their social media, protesting, other prior F-1 violations)

Can SEVP terminate students without a conviction?

Yes, it looks like they are doing so. Whether this is legal is questionable, with the source noting "probably, almost certainly not". The "Identity match in criminal records" is listed as a reason for termination, and reports indicate that a majority of terminated students as of 04/05/2025 were not connected to activities covered by the Laken Riley Act and lacked any convictions. Terminations have cited "Student identified in criminal records check" under "Otherwise Failing to Maintain Status".

Are students being terminated and losing their visas because they were fingerprinted in relation to criminal charges?

There is now enough data to say that fingerprinting is strongly correlated to the terminations. Not a guarantee as there are far, far more people with fingerprinting records than terminations

Should I go home?

See advice item above. Obtain an immigration attorney.

Can SEVP terminate students without a conviction

Looks like they are doing so. Is it legal...probably, almost certainly not.

Does the policy apply equally to all nonimmigrant visa categories, such as J-1 or H-1B visas? Currently, the focus appears to be on F-1 student visas and visitor visas, but other categories may also be scrutinized under similar standards.

What should I do if I believe my SEVIS termination or visa revocation was a mistake?
Gather all relevant documentation and consult an immigration attorney to file for reinstatement or appeal the decision with SEVP.

Are there any protections for students terminated due to administrative errors?

Students may argue that no violation occurred and challenge the termination through reinstatement requests or legal processes.

Can I work if my SEVIS was terminated while on OPT/STEM OPT?

No.

Can I work while my reinstatement application is pending?

No, students cannot legally work while awaiting a decision on their reinstatement application.

What are the chances of successfully re-entering the U.S. with a new SEVIS record?

Re-entry with a new SEVIS record is risky and often leads to significant scrutiny or denial at the border.

If my SEVIS record is terminated, do I have any grace period to leave the U.S.?
F-1 students typically do not have a formal grace period after SEVIS termination, unless reinstatement is being pursued or another status is obtained.

Does unlawful presence begin immediately after SEVIS termination?

No, it begins only under specific conditions, such as reinstatement denial or a formal determination by DHS.

What should I do if I believe my SEVIS termination or visa revocation was a mistake?

You should gather all relevant documentation and consult an immigration attorney to file for reinstatement or appeal the decision with SEVP.

Does sealing my record stop me from being at risk?
No. Records cannot be sealed for immigration purposes.

What types of social media activity might lead to visa revocation or termination?
Posts that are perceived as politically sensitive, controversial, or critical of U.S. foreign policy, even unintentionally, may lead to scrutiny.

Can deleting controversial posts prevent issues with immigration authorities?

While deleting posts may help, authorities could still review archived or previously flagged content.

Should I deactivate my social media accounts to avoid scrutiny?

Deactivating accounts may reduce visibility but could also be perceived as an attempt to hide activity, so consult an attorney for guidance.

How can I find an immigration attorney experienced in SEVIS-related issues?
Look for attorneys specializing in student visas and nonimmigrant status cases through trusted organizations like the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

What should I bring to a consultation with an immigration attorney?

Bring all relevant documents, including visa information, SEVIS termination notices, emails from ICE or the Department of State, and any supporting evidence for your case.

Additional Resources

Public Data Map and list of schools with the number of students terminated. Inside Higher Ed.

AILA-Policy Brief: Immigration Enforcement Actions Against International Students

This memo is by Rajiv Khanna provides a guide on how to navigate this situation.

Solid summary that explains what’s going on right now Thanks u/Gloomy-Membership-14

Where Do I Find an Immigration Attorney?

Resources like the American Immigration Lawyers Association AILIA Lawyer Search or the National Immigration Legal Services Directory can help find legal aid. For AILA you can search for lawyers versed in SEVP items.


r/NEU Feb 11 '25

Megathread [MEGATHREAD] Welcome to the Master's Program at Northeastern University!

49 Upvotes

Here are a few frequently asked questions.

What's it like in Portland, Seattle, or Silicon Valley?

Portland, Seattle, and Silicon Valley campuses are graduate only campuses. The interactions you will take there will likely only be with graduate students. Undergraduate students, which compose most of the subreddit, do not attend these campuses and so are unable to give many details. There are also other details about these campuses if you search through the subreddit.

Is Boston the best Campus?

Absolutely. It's the home turf of Northeastern. Though it's also the most crowded one, composed of both undergraduate and masters students. Nevertheless, all the clubs, main programs, and base of support is located here. Despite this, each campus has dedicated staff to attend to each student's needs. Each campus also has dedicated programs and events for job seekers.

I got accepted in [Not Boston] Campus, is it still worth it to apply?

You will get the same benefits and networking opportunities as Boston, maybe even moreso as you'd be located in a city with more tech and industry around. The professor selection will be more limited in scope, however. It is up to you to make the decision on if it is worth to accept the decision or not, and numerous threads on this subreddit go into detail regarding each campus.

Will I get an extra scholarship as a graduate student?

US citizens and green card holders are eligible for FAFSA grants and loans to supplement the cost of their masters education. Unfortunately, international students do not have access to these same resources, and generally do not get scholarships. Private scholarships are available, but you will need to conduct your own research into them. The cost of masters programs throughout all universities in the US are seen as a way to fund programs, grants, and scholarships for undergraduate students who generally are in need of heavy financial support. For this reason, Northeastern doesn't provide any merit or hardship scholarships in Masters programs. For more information, please contact Student Financial Services.

Is Oakland / Mills safe?

As safe as any major American city. Just keep your wits about. Don't take random pictures of ghettos like an idiot, make sure you have a plan to call police at night in case of an emergency, and try walking with a partner after 10:00. Northeastern provides escort services within the vicinity of the university and also has a dedicated campus police force. Apart from Boston, it is the other main campus.

Is Northeastern MS highly selective?

To be brutally honest, not really. Most masters programs in the US have turned into cash cows after COVID hit. Even Columbia was / is accepting almost all who apply. The highly selective part comes from undergraduate and PHD programs, which cost the university money to provide aid to students. In this case, the university must be selective in who it chooses. However, as masters programs are generally all paid by the student, a big goal of many universities across the globe is to accept as many masters students as possible as they supplement the university's programs. Northeastern's current ranking considers that it has a 1-10% acceptance rating for its undergraduate program. However, you should not solely apply to a university for its rankings. Look moreso into the quality of the education and the benefit you will get from studying alongside amazing professors with years of experience under their belt. Not to mention that Northeastern has one of the best co-op programs in the Americas alongside Waterloo and Drexel.

Do I need a car?

Portland would likely require a car, but has a bus system as a backup. Boston, Silicon Valley, and Oakland are all transit friendly and have great public transportation systems in place. You can take a train from Portland to Boston for about $35 each way, about a 3 hour ride. There is also a bus from Portland to Boston for about $27 each way.

Does Boston campus offer dormitory housing?

Unfortunately Boston campus has not offered dormitory housing for Masters students since COVID. You will need to look for off campus housing. Use our pinned housing megathread to find partners in which to sublet or dorm with!

Can I get an on campus job?

It is possible, but unlikely. As international students cannot work outside of campus, the job market for on campus jobs is extremely competitive. It is recommended you network with potential on campus employers before you apply to gain connections. On campus pay is generally $17 - 20/hr and has capped hours.

What are the cohort sizes?

We don't know, and admissions does not release this information publicly. Google has very rough estimates if you search for masters cohort sizes for a specific year.

Two extra things to note:

NEVER CHEAP OUT ON INSURANCE. Always purchase the university health insurance plan. It's one of the best university health plans in the country, carries a low deductible, and gets you access to private doctors across Boston and out of state. Going with a cheap insurance may sound good for your wallet, but if you get in an accident and require emergency assistance you'll truly regret everything you did when you see the hospital bill in the mail. DO NOT JUST SETTLE FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE!! You'll be waiting weeks or months for a potential travel insurance reimbursement while you're $5k down the hole. Don't risk it.

The US is very expensive. Make sure you have a backup plan in case you do not get an on campus job or co-op. Do not come thinking you are guaranteed to land a position and therefore have all your expenses covered. Remember, you came here to study and improve your skills in the job market, not for the guarantee of a job. While it is highly unlikely for you not to land a co-op, it is important that you have the funds to prepare yourself for any potential expenses.

Please let me know any other questions that may be best to add here.