Students have been facing difficulties in attendance this semester due to the ever-changing policies regarding immigration.

While LSU has provided resources and options for international students, some have still had to defer their attendance. Issues students are facing range from acquiring student visas, to F-1 and J-1 students being introduced to a duration of stay, limiting their time to study to four years.

“A lot of what the students interactions with their visa process is really between them and the U.S. Department of State or the Consort Embassy they’re at” Director of International student services, Emily Boerman, said.

The department sees roughly 1300 graduate or PhD candidates come through their office to Boerman and her team of advisors. Most students coming to contribute to LSU’s research and lab opportunities. The undergraduate programs draw 200 international students as well, one shares his experience.

“One of the biggest criticisms of international students is that they don’t know how to make friends with Americans, or they’re too shy to, or they’re guarded,” said senior Tan Waradkar. “Whereas I’ve had the complete opposite experience, a lot of my close friends are American and I’ve never had any difficulties making friends.”

Boerman’s department and the International Community Center on campus have been working together to host events and seminars for students to understand the new process. Along with communicating to other department heads about specific student cases and seeing if postponing studies is an option.

“So the International Community Center holds seminars and ways in which to go about what to do if you are detained by ICE, what resources you have available to you and if you’re stopped at immigration,” said Waradkar.

Students looking to support or want to get involved with the international student community can do so by attending the events hosted by the Global Community Center.