Announcements

Supporting Our International Student Community

October 08, 2025
Low Library on Columbia's campus.

Dear members of the Columbia community,

With the fall semester well underway and midterms approaching, I want to take a moment to reflect on an integral part of our community at Columbia: our international students and scholars. They strengthen the social and intellectual fabric of our ecosystem, and we are deeply committed to supporting their success.

I am so grateful for the immense efforts that were undertaken across our institution this past spring and summer to support our incoming international students. Nearly all of the international students and scholars who chose Columbia have made their way to New York and are now here with us on campus.

This is no small accomplishment, and it is one worth celebrating. It reflects the determination of our international students, faculty, and researchers and their families, as well as the unwavering commitment of our staff and administrators.

Some of the work undertaken:

  • Schools and programs across Columbia began their work early to ensure students had ample time to apply for visas. The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) issued I-20s with a 24-hour turnaround time, partnering with all Columbia schools to support incoming and continuing international students as circumstances evolved.
  • International student advisors provided close support to I-20 holders throughout their visa application process, offering individualized advising, troubleshooting, and tracking student experiences around the globe to better tailor guidance to different geographies.
  • Forecasting possible arrival delays, the University explored alternate academic paths to create flexibility within the 2025-2026 academic calendar, preparing potential routes to ensure that any international students arriving to campus late could quickly adapt to their coursework.

And our commitment to our international students and scholars hasn’t stopped with their arrival:

  • We continue to keep the campus community apprised with pertinent updates and guidance around changing U.S. immigration policy. Since the start of the academic year alone, guidance has been issued on the proclamation restricting H-1B workers; the U.S. Department of State announcement on adjudicating visa appointments; and the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed rule on Duration of Status. These updates, and more, are available at: ISSO news page and the Immigration Resources page.
  • Over 1,000 new students joined the New International Student Welcome Gathering in Lerner Hall this September, and over 1,800 incoming students attended pre-arrival programs on topics such as housing, immigration guidance, and academic success. Stay up-to-date on upcoming international community programming by exploring ISSO’s programs and events.
  • We are also pleased to announce our renewed commitment to the International Student Hardship Fund. Since April, the University has disbursed nearly $500,000 to international students facing unanticipated costs due to travel or visa issues. For more information on eligibility and the process to apply for support, please visit the Fund’s website.

More resources:

  • Immigration Webinars: On Monday, October 6, from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm, Columbia hosted another webinar with immigration attorney Dan Berger. Since December 2024, this webinar series has brought together nearly 5,000 community members and answered over 1,600 community questions on how to navigate new immigration policies. Columbia will continue to host these informational webinars for students, faculty, researchers, and staff throughout the academic year.
  • Contact ISSO: ISSO’s information phone lines are staffed seven days a week, on weekdays from 8:00am to 7:00pm and on weekends from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Weekday appointments are also available for booking to speak with a student advisor, on Zoom or in-person. Same-day appointments for urgent issues are available. You can learn how to contact an ISSO advisor on the ISSO website.

We understand that this moment feels tenuous, often fraught, for our international students and scholars. We are committed to providing all of the resources we can and to creating an atmosphere in which they can thrive as essential members of our community. As I have noted before, we support the same rights to free expression, due process, and fair treatment for all of our students. The world comes to New York, and to Columbia, and we are the better for it. I am grateful to everyone who stepped forward to welcome and support our international community this year.

Sincerely,

Claire Shipman
Acting President, Columbia University in the City of New York