F and M students and schools certified by SEVP should continue to abide by guidance issued in March 2020 for the upcoming 2021-22 academic year.

The guidance enables schools and students to engage in distance learning in excess of regulatory limits due to the public health emergency generated by COVID-19. The March 2020 guidance applies to nonimmigrant students who were actively enrolled at a U.S. school on March 9, 2020, and are otherwise complying with the terms of their nonimmigrant status, whether from inside the United States or abroad.

Refer to the Broadcast Message for details on guidance for continuing and Initial students.

Additional Resources

Refer to SEVP’s current policy guidance and frequently asked questions at ICE.gov/Coronavirus, under the Nonimmigrant Students and SEVP-certified Schools header:

• Broadcast Message 2003-01: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Potential Procedural Adaptations for F and M Nonimmigrant Students
• COVID-19: Scenarios for SEVP-certified Schools for Emergency Procedures
• Frequently Asked Questions from SEVP Stakeholders about COVID-19

SEVP recently updated its frequently asked questions with information to clarify the application of the March 2020 guidance to the 2021-22 academic year and will continue to update these resources with the latest information and guidance.

Please continue to refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of State and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the latest COVID-19 information and specific port-of-entry screening processes, as well as any travel restrictions. Visit the COVID-19 Resources page to find resources from government partners.