Each year, our Residential Life program welcomes around 30 new international students into the ‘Iolani Community. One large factor that determines this number is the success rate of visa applications. While the approval processes are shifting to become more complicated and time-intensive, the ‘Iolani Residential Community is prepared to reach out and assist families worldwide in addressing new policy changes.
But how does the visa process even work? First, once accepted to ‘Iolani, an international student is provided with an I-20 Form which allows them to apply for a F-1 visa. After submitting various forms of documentation, paying a Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee and completing a DS-160 visa application form, the government will schedule an interview, with wait times ranging from a few months to almost a year, and in the case of a denial, the student would have to make another appointment that could be months away. All in all, with so many complexities, it can be a very stressful process for new students and their families.
On October 1st of 2025, several new changes were introduced that further muddle the visa process. The first main change is a $250 visa integrity fee. Another change is ensuring all students’ social media accounts are public, allowing in-depth reviews of applicants’ online activity. Additionally, a recent proposal is suggesting eliminating the Duration of Status, where individuals no longer have an extension period in addition to the four-year term of stay. Students now need to apply for an Extension of Stay if they want to stay in the US for college, which can discourage international students from boarding in an American high school. “There is a lot more responsibility and work for international students… In addition to applying to a school and getting ready to go to a new school, they also have to go through this tedious process,” Ms. Kim Nguyen, the Dean of Residential Programs, said.
Although the process for visa applications is strenuous, the ResLife staff always strives to support and help international families. One way is educating the students on being aware of content posted online due to the newly implemented checking system. Moreover, if students lose a document or have issues with arrival, Ms. Andrea Chang, Associate Director of Residential Admissions, said there are several staff on campus who are DSOs, or Designated School Officials certified by the government to assist with document issues, who work alongside her and Ms. Kim to support international students and make sure their SEVIS records are in compliance.
Even though there may be lots of stress and uncertainty, international students are not alone. Even with changes in policy, the ResLife community continues to emphasize the value of both preparation and communication to support every new and returning family. Ms. Kim said, “We want them here. We believe they bring tremendous value to our campus, to our classrooms, to our community. And so we will continue to do everything we can to support them being here.”
