Appalachian State international student’s visa restored after federal reversal
The visa of an international student at Appalachian State University has been reinstated by the federal government after being initially revoked.
The reversal comes amid similar restorations around the country and state after courts ruled the Trump administration’s mass student visa cancellations were illegal.
“We can confirm that one App State student’s SEVIS record, which had previously been revoked, has now been reactivated,” Appalachian State University senior director of public relations Anna Oakes told The Charlotte Observer Wednesday. She declined to offer further information, citing student confidentiality and privacy concerns.
Several NC schools, including UNC Chapel Hill, NC State and UNC Charlotte, also reported student visas had been canceled and later reinstated.
International students in the United States must receive official authorization to study in the country through a student visa. A record of each international student is created in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, which is a database managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. If a student’s SEVIS record is terminated, they could be subject to deportation.
UNC Charlotte reported that the federal government previously terminated the SEVIS records of six international students from India and Nigeria without an official reason being given. Those students’ records are among those now restored.
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 11:42 AM with the headline "Appalachian State international student’s visa restored after federal reversal."
