Federal restrictions not deterring international students from holiday travel

Although wary of new travel restrictions, some international students remain committed to going home for the holidays.

Some students have raised concerns about traveling home for winter break since the Trump administration announced travel restrictions for individuals from 19 countries and possible restrictions for 36 additional countries. Although the federal government has limited the entry of international travelers to the U.S., the University says it does not anticipate problems for international students.

University spokesperson Jared Stonesifer said the University Office of International Services does not generally have concerns for any students leaving and re-entering the U.S..

“Over the last 10 months, many Pitt international students have traveled internationally without problem, and we expect that to continue,” Stonesifer said.

According to Stonesifer, the OIS does not foresee issues for visa-holding students from any country, but is aware that international travel “comes with risks.”

“International students from countries under a travel ban should take extra precaution but should be able to travel internationally if they had approved visas in hand prior to the date of the travel ban executive order,” Stonesifer said.

Itziar Lazaro, a junior molecular biology major and international student from Madrid, said that although she is not from one of the federally restricted countries, she feels more concerned about future travel recently.

“I feel like there’s an uncertainty about what the regulations are now,” Lazaro said. “I am worried that anything could happen.”

In recent experiences, Lazaro said she has observed Customs and Border Protection officers becoming “more stern” compared to previous years.

“When you go through customs and passport checks, they do ask a lot of more questions,” Lazaro said. “Last time I came here, they even asked where I live, the address, how much I paid for rent, how much I paid for my electricity bill — things that are kind of weird to ask.”

Pitt students with an F-1 visa must obtain a travel signature from the Office of International Services, which is valid for one year, in order to leave the country. Lazaro said this can make traveling with a student visa frustrating.

“You have to pick a date and get your visa signed every year,” Lazaro said. “If you leave the country without them signing it, it’s a whole thing.”

Despite some worries, Lazaro still decided to travel to the Dominican Republic with her family during Thanksgiving break and plans to go back to her home in Spain for winter break.

“Christmas break is too long [to not go home],” Lazaro said. “I want to go home more than however bad those 15 minutes in front of the police officer are.” 

Other students are less concerned about the restrictions. Victoria Cane, a junior communications major from Buenos Aires, Argentina, said she came to Pitt as an international student but has since obtained her green card during the summer of 2024. 

Cane said she is not worried about traveling now that she holds permanent residency. 

“I’m doing everything that I have to. I’m respecting all the rules, so I don’t think there should be any problem,” Cane said.

As a green card holder, Cane said her status grants her more freedom now, but she was unable to travel while waiting for approval.

“My first year [at Pitt], I couldn’t go back home,” Cane said. “I couldn’t go back home the first winter. I couldn’t go back home the first summer.”

Now that her travels are unrestricted, Cane said she does not always feel the need to go home for Thanksgiving or spring break due to high travel costs.

“It’s not really worth it,” Cane said. “The trips are super expensive from here to Latin America, and I was already going to go [on] Dec. 10.”

For the longer upcoming winter break, however, Cane said she wouldn’t consider being anywhere but at home with her family.

“I feel that the holidays are a huge thing back home,” Cane said. “It’s the only time that my dad can take time off work [and] my mom. My brothers don’t have school. It’s the only time where we can all meet up.”

According to Stonesifer, there are University resources available for international or other students who are staying on campus during breaks. Business, Housing, and Auxiliary Services provided a free Thanksgiving meal to Pitt students on Nov. 26. 

For the winter ahead, on-campus student housing is available for access during winter break, provided that students applied by a deadline of Nov. 21. Pitt’s Winter Express — a free pop-up grocery store to assist students on campus during break — will be held in the William Pitt Union on Dec. 16.