As the summer ends, revisit these helpful resources for international students and Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified schools. Please reference the below resources for reminders about Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) guidance for the fall 2021 semester, travel reminders for international students, employment resources and more.
Contacting SEVP with COVID-19 Questions
The SEVP Response Center (SRC) is actively responding stakeholder inquiries, but please keep in mind that they are experiencing high volumes of calls and emails. If you are waiting for an email response from the SRC, refer to ICE.gov/COVID19 for the latest SEVP guidance located under the ‘Nonimmigrant Students and SEVP-Certified Schools’ tab.
Federal Guidance for the 2021-22 Academic Year
As a reminder, F and M students and SEVP-certified schools 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.
Travel Reminders for International Students
Students should be sure to check in with their designated school official (DSO) before traveling to the United States to make sure that their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record is up-to-date and in Active status. In addition, students should make sure their DSO has signed their Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status” within the last year. For additional tips, including what to bring to U.S. ports of entry, visit the Traveling as an International Student page.
Employment Reminders for International Students
Reference the following Study in the States blog posts for resources on employment opportunities, identifying a potentially fraudulent employer and more.
For additional back to school resources and updates, visit ICE.gov/SEVIS/Whats-New.
