When Immigration Matters

On July 6, 2020, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced that it would no longer provide exemptions for international students taking online classes due to the pandemic during the fall 2020 semester. ICE also issued a Broadcast Message with slightly more detail, and indicated the rule will be published in the Federal Register as a Temporary Final Rule. 

Penn State University’s Immigration Rights Clinic has published this useful Frequently Asked Questions Sheet which may assist Foreign Students in answering common questions arising from this announcement.

Today, Monday July 6, 2020 SEVP (student exchange visitor program) announced its modifying its requirements for foreign F and M students to study in the USA for the fall semester. 

Previously, SEVP instituted a temporary exemption regarding the online study policy for the spring and summer semesters due to Covid-19. This policy permitted F and M students to take more online courses than normally allowed for purposes of maintaining a full course of study to maintain their F-1 and M-1 nonimmigrant status during the COVID-19.