The public sentiment surrounding the travel ban is predominantly negative, with widespread concern about the detrimental effects on international students, educational opportunities, and the U.S.'s global reputation. A small minority supports the ban, citing national interests, but their viewpoints are largely eclipsed by expressions of frustration and empathy for affected individuals.

U.S. Government

International Students

U.S. Educational Institutions

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) is a comprehensive university with a long history, a wide range of academic disciplines, strong research capabilities, and distinctive educational features. It enjoys significant international influence and competitiveness. CityU leads in many academic fields with cutting-edge technological strength, world-class laboratories, and a distinguished faculty. It consistently ranks among the top universities globally. We warmly welcome everyone to apply to CityU.

andreashw

RituTalreja

BoatKey5130

[deleted]

hk unis are offering admission and financial support to such students check it out specifically hkust and poly u

Pretty-Jackfruit-724

# I work in International Student Services in the US. 

# Step 1: Contact your school.

  
Whether you ***want*** to continue in the US or not - contact your schools version of the international services office. My institution has established an international emergency hotline for students. Check your school email or their website for something similar. 

You need more information, and it is literally their job to try and get it for you. This changes by the day, so speak to them. We have someone in our offices who is connected with the Department of Homeland Security, and they try to get the most updated information possible. 

If you're transferring out you'll need to speak with them about getting your transcripts (marksheets) together. It may even be an option to defer your studies for a year at no charge. You could work and gain experience. There are *options* \- but first you need to breathe. This is a terrible situation that you shouldn't be in. No one should. I'm sorry that your life is being jerked around by forces outside your control. I hate this.  But there are options either for continuing your studies at your current school or outside the US. Hang in there.

PhakdingNPL

This ban is scheduled to take effect at **12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 9, 2025, EDT**

Enter before that if you are outside.

AlgaeMysterious9979

Fun-Gas3117

China: https://www.the-independent.com/asia/china/hong-kong-harvard-ban-university-trump-b2757807.html

Salty_Permit4437

Does the university have a campus abroad or possible online courses yiu could take until the ban gets lifted?

DesparateTraveler

#The ban may not apply to you

Are you still currently in the U.S.? If you are, I'd try to stay there as long as possible. If your school can or will not provide housing, and you don't have a random American friend who you can crash with, you can probably find support in your immigrant community which might lead to a boring summer, but you know... it might let you continue. I can recommend organziations from your community — many are probably already mobilizing (and if you're Arab or Muslim, there may be even wider communities you can draw on; through perhaps if you're Burmese, etc. you could also find other Theravada religious communities, etc. who'd support you).  

Definitely speak to *everyone* at your school, from the administrators to the deans to random folks at the law school's legal clinic (unless your at Princeton, Brown, or Dartmouth, which obviously lack law schools — pathetic). If your family cannot afford to change your plane ticket, your school may be able to help you out. It is certainly possible that court cases will make it so you can continue at your school, just if you leave the country you may not be let back in. Or maybe you will be let in. Who knows! This ban officially does not include current visa holders, and your F1 Visa should be good for five years, so if you do not leave the country and can maintain your SEVIS status... who knows, who knows, who knows. The travel signature for your visa needs to be renewed every year, so that may cause problems if you leave the country and try to re-enter.

The last travel ban explicitly didn't include F1 visas. While this one currently does include F1 visa holders, after a back and forth with the courts this version might not either. I believe that the [last Trump travel ban](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_13769) had to go to the Supreme Court at least three times before the Supreme Court approved a version. 

#Other Options: mostly not in English or for Fall '26

Now, as for scholarships elsewhere. There is probably almost nowhere in Europe that offers full scholarships as you have in America countries, and if they do, they will either probably not be in English or probably not be for Fall '25. 

Many European countries offer affordable universities, so you'd really only have to pay living costs which may be affordable to some families even without an official scholarship, but you'd have to study in French, German, Swedish, etc. If you speak a European language besides English, that might be an option worth looking into. It may be worth trying to learn one. There are a handful of UK scholarship opportunities for international students, but in my experience they are either very small scholarships that wouldn't even cover tuition, or very competitive scholarships for students of specific countries. You might want to check the policies of the handful of respected private universities in Europe, like Constructor University (formerly Jacobs University Bremen), but such private universities in Europe are few and far between, and my impression is tend to offer partial scholarships, rather than full scholarships. 

In fact, there are very universities that offer generous scholarships of any kind to international students. That's why the focus is so strongly on America for international students in your position. Canada has a handful (Pearson, UBC International Scholars are the big two), but several Ivy League universities probably offer as many full international scholarships as all of Canada. Those applications are due this fall/winter for Fall '26. 

I know less about the scholarship landscape in East Asia, but there are some scholarships available at Middle Eastern universities. Most famously, NYU Abu Dhabi is another option that offer scholarships, but that is obviously on the US time line so you'd only be able to apply for Fall 26 entry (and you might not be eligible as a first year student since you've already done a year of university). You're too late for the scholarships from Turkish public universities for Fall 25 (the deadline was in January-February), but you *may* be eligible for those, if you want to message with me about those (they've changed the rules several times so there's no guarantee). You may have some access to private university scholarships, but those would only cover tuition not living expenses (and more likely only cover half tuition). I saw your SAT score deep in your profile (I was trying to figure out if you actually spoke French or not), I'll be honest I've heard that often the very top flight of Turkish private university scholarships seek people with 1500+ (you could have access to the next rung of Turkish universities). If you're interested in Turkish universities, I can suggest some private ones to look into, or some public ones to contact about applying to their English programs (these, like European universities, can be pretty affordable and your family would mainly have to cover living expenses).

I hope your American situation works out. Please talk with EVERYONE at your university. If there's any way that you think I could help, now or in the future, please don't hestitate to message me.

yodatsracist

Your best bet is contacting your university’s ISSO and asking them for advice on this matter and what they can do. They will advise best 

FrizztDrizzt

when is your visa expiring? if you are a freshman your visa should be good for some time, no? If your visa is still valid you should be good to come back (apparently this is one of the exceptions to the ban)

PlasticCar6909

What are you studying? Canada has some great schools

Voodoo_Music

How did you get a scholarship to an Ivy league being from Afghanistan?

Naive_Wealth7602

elainecstasy

Look into Constructor University in Germany. Lots of financial aid

blackberrylemon27

Since you are freshman, you must have F1 visa left, which is typically 5 years. The new rules do not apply for people who already have valid visa. You can still travel to the US.

YatriTravellerSeeker

Some schools have a few classes online leftover from covid. See if yours does to get you through a semester without losing time. 

Also, Harvard extension school has loads of classes online. They're cheaper than your tuition so I'd reach out to your Dean, advisor, registrar, the financial aid office, and ISO to see if they can swing letting you take a semester or two of classes there, paying for it from your finaid, and accepting the credits towards your degree. 

Also, NYU Abu Dhabi might be an option. They used to fund everyone fully and might make an exception to accept you provisionally for a year. Might be easier to transfer credits back to the US after. 

Get in touch with your [Embassy of Japan](https://www.afg.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/eng_announce.html) to see if they'll make an exception to the deadline and accept your application as an undergrad. You don't need to speak Japanese to apply and the exams are easy-peasy. They're typically by the book and quite inflexible but this stuff is so weird, they might make an exception for humanitarian reasons. Esp because you come pre-vetted. 

In general, your ministry of education might have a log of all scholarships offered to their citizens by foreign governments. It also makes sense to check out the embassy websites of the countries with which your home country has diplomatic relationships. 

Overall, don't rush to a decision either way. You could always take a leave of absence and wait out a year. Meanwhile, apply to comparable schools. Oxford, Cambridge, Sorbonne, and the like. Oxford used to give full rides as long as you weren't looking to study medicine. Cambridge and Sorbonne didn't, but I graduated almost a decade ago so all this might have changed.

Alternative_Party277

OP FAFO. You have 4 days to get here. With the current state of affairs why did you leave the country? For an Ivy League student you are not very intelligent 

Previous_Banana_3955

Why would you go back home, dumb af in your part lol you don’t need a visa to stay and study as long as your I 20 is valid, I just don’t get why would you go back like you’re from the uk while every international student is staying put, that’s on you buddy.

Ok_Director9559

Hong Kong, Singapore and China are the only viable options.

hamsterdamc

Have you actually been told your visa is no longer valid or won't be renewed...

Seasonal_Tomato

According to this (about the travel ban Trump created in his last term) I hope the same will apply this time and you will be excluded from the ban. [https://isss.fiu.edu/travel-ban/](https://isss.fiu.edu/travel-ban/)

bioluminescent-bean

What subject are you studying and do you have any funds whatsoever?

Spatz1970

The "ban" excludes people with current visas.

If you want to explore China University Scholarships im happy to help. Deadline June 30th 2025.

H2mathdotcom

Hi op - im an American studying abroad in Portugal - I’m really sorry my country is doing this. Here’s something’s that came to mind - take it with a grain of salt but it’s worth looking into:

-see if you can continue your current education virtually at a reduced cost 
-look into Portugal. It’s not as top tier as ivy leagues and immigration is really hard right now (look up issues with AIMA) BUT you can generally apply as late as July, though there are major delays in visa processing with that. So you might end up in the same boat - I only mention this due to the late application window - but almost rec against it with the visa/aima issues.
-look into January start programs (I think University of Stirling has some) and I believe some German ones have it too

Most importantly KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS OPEN. The eu and china WANT the “US brain drain” you may start hearing about really solid incentives for you to study at EU/Chinese institutions. Look especially in Germany, the Nordics, and anywhere discussing this really 

I believe also Germany may offer scholarships. Please check DAAD :) also Germany doesn’t charge tuition fees, but you usually require a blocked bank account/stipend/sponsor or something of this sort so it’s still expensive 


And whatever you do, research your butt off before jumping to the next move.

I’m really sorry again this is happening, as a foreign student in the eu as an American I’m horrified for you and hope you find a better country that treats you with the respect you deserve and gives you the academic rigor/instruction you seek &lt;3. Sending hope for good luck and good vibes

toomany_questions

The easiest would be to go to Germany, given that they do not charge to attend their universities, even for international students. The semester in Germany also starts much later, so you are still able to apply for admission. However, it will obviously be dependent on what your area of study is since many of the programs are offered in German. Many of the technical degrees are offered in English though. Visa problems could still arise with the new German coalition also cracking down on immigration, but I definitely think it would be worth looking into.

ActivityLegitimate37

I don't have any answers for you but I just wanted to say how sorry I am for our fuckwit administration. We need people like you.

JurgusRudkus

Try looking at Central European University. They have quite a strong funding program and programs for refugees and marginalised people iirc

HeQiulin

Did you leave the US after your semester? Stay put. You can continue your studies if you’re inside.

Forsaken-Ad-6094

Talk to your International Student Office ASAP

DaemonDesiree

What exactly are you studying? Switzerland is actually a good option. Some universities like ETH Zurich provide full rides and scholarships that are merit based and needs based 

Spiritual-Loan-347

Have you talked directly to your school? Have you told any professors you formed a relationship with? What is the school telling you to do right now? 

Anyone working at one of the ivies should have networking connections and/or friends at other universities and someone who has a direct connection to you and hears this story may be willing to contact others they know. For example, if you have a professor in the US who did a sabbatical or residency in another country that is easier to enter they may still have friends in the faculty at a school in that country. Or they may know someone who teaches at a school that has campuses both in and outside of the United States (such as NYU). Or the school may have long-standing relationships with another school due to many years of study abroad programs. All of these are long-shots,  but these are unprecedented/ exceptional circumstances, and you should absolutely use any connections you have at your school just in case.

The school can also help you figure out if any online classes (if the school has any or if another college has any that they would accept) can be transferred for credit or even just used as preparation to bypass other classes. Because, realistically, one less than ideal option may be to take a year off to work and/or take online classes while applying to transfer to other schools. Depending on what country you’re physically in right now, it may also make sense to ask if any classes from where you are located can be used for either placement or credit purposes. Again, it’s a long-shot, but worth asking. Also look for anything that will enhance your experience near you (working in a research lab, volunteering somewhere, etc.)

Really ask if they have any ideas at all and don’t be afraid to push for creative options. Example: can they help you take a semester off and then do study abroad for the next semester? Is semester at sea an option? Are there any ways to earn credit through independent study? Even if your eventual plan is going to have to be a transfer, if you can find a way to get further into your sophomore year or get enough credits to graduate on time or early from wherever you transfer to that will help.

Similarly, it’s probably worth looking at whether there is something you can do for a year if you do have to take a year off that would enhance your future schooling and/or career prospects. For example, an online certificate in something relevant to your major, time spent learning a language in order to be better prepared to attend a school in another country, time spent working in something adjacent to your chosen field, etc.

The only thing I can tell you, which isn’t really helpful in the here and now, but may help you pause and breathe, is that in most cases taking a year off school (if you use it well) will not, by itself, destroy your educational plans. It’s going to be very hard to find a place by Fall 2025 and get relevant immigration stuff in order, and, if you already got into and did a year at an ivy, you probably are capable of finding a place somewhere else by Fall of 2026 if you start looking now. Plenty of people in academia around the world are going to be very sympathetic to what is happening and your situation and you already proved to yourself that you can get into a high ranking school. Plus you now likely have the transcripts to show you’re capable of attending a high ranking school and, hopefully, doing well year one. 

So right now the first plan should be looking for anywhere you can transfer into this Fall, but the second plan (the backup) should be considering how you’ll meaningfully fill a gap year if you have to take one and then considering where you’ll apply for Fall of 2026. 

Also talk to your school about what the options are for not being there this year but maintaining your ability to jump right back in if something changes. You want to make sure you aren’t fully withdrawing from the school and are instead taking a leave of absence if that is a feasible option just in case something happens that does allow you to return in a safe way and you still want to do so at that point. 

Some universities in Hong Kong are still accepting applications, they offer full scholarships, Germany is an option, very very low tuition fees, only basic administrative fees, same in Belgium with lower life cost, you could try Singapore for the next year as well. UK have reduced scholarships but coming Ivy League it might be possible. You also got Australia and Canada.

mottib

Depending on the Ivy League institution, Taiwan has admission and scholarships

SplamSplam

Maybe NYU Abu Dhabi?
https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/

Sorry-Cash-1652

Have you asked your Ivy school about doing a semester abroad for fall and going to one of their campuses outside the US?

gitsgrl

A lot of programs in Germany and France are still open. Good luck!

TurkVeMutsuz

I don't have advice, I'm just going to say I'm sorry this is happening to you. I hate fascists so much...

WTF_is_this___

I’d reach out to your university . They have a responsibility to you that could include allowing remote instruction or facilitating your transfer to a sister institution or an institution they are cooperative with. Reach out to your university and their international student office.

IllRoutine5608

If this is a real story, just try to renew your visa. You could also talk to your school's international students' office and go for a study abroad in another country.

creativesc1entist

I am an American father of three kids, working as a soft engineer. My kids can’t qualify for scholarship b/c I make more than a threshold but at the same time I can’t afford to send them to college, being forced to get a loan. Is there any schools that offer full scholarships for Americans or just for anyone else who doesn’t give a turd about our country?

Lopsided-Wish-1854

The EU is helping student refugees fleeing from fascism in the US

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Very unfortunate. All beautiful countries with beautiful people as well.

ILikeCars16

If you already have your visa, you're good. If not, then the ban affects you. Sad state of affairs we're living with.

[https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/us/politics/trump-travel-ban.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/us/politics/trump-travel-ban.html)

Rockstar810

Barely any international students were given visas from these countries anyway

rjl2021

There are students who scheduled and paid for the visa interview appointments and their programs 2-3 months ago! And they have lost it! How can some people justify such an unnecessary distress for others? Students have never caused any security concerns!

Professional_Sea4260

I've been waiting for this visa appointment for at least a year already and now struck with this ban. I honestly don't know how and where i should continue my studies. I only have GED and Duolingo. I had prepared to attend Community College in the US. If there's anyone that know other study opportunities in Europe or Canada let me know. I'm not wealthy at all so please don't recommend me expensive tuitions.

Board_Mountain

Somalia, haiti libya, yemen, lebanon were necessary also afghanistan and iran too for national security reasons

Winter-Crew-2746

One thing you could consider is accepting the other country school’s offer without withdrawing from the US. Say yes to both and then see what happens. Yes, it’s breaking the rules but in the scheme of life a very minor one. You are being put into an impossible situation by the politics. I knew students that did something similar with early decision applications for college, they were supposed to accept their early decision school but then they backed out of it. You haven’t taken loans for that US school, so you have little liability. I know it seems right to follow the rules, but as a US “millenial”  I can tell you that path isn’t guaranteed either.

Try4newthingsandgrow

Wait how would the US school know if you accepted offer in another school in a whole other country?! And is there a rule you cannot accept offers from two universities?! Sorry I moved to the US in 2011 and I have no idea how these things work now

Vegetable-Two5164

Accept both and play a game of chess. You’ll be fine

Own_Incident2690

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Trump's travel ban is causing significant declines in international student enrollment, with potential economic losses for U.S. institutions.

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