Welcome to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Spotlight, a quarterly newsletter for the academic community that includes important program news, seasonal reminders, and updates relevant to the international student life cycle. As of July 2020, SEVP Spotlight consists of an update from the SEVP director.

DIRECTOR’S CORNER

What’s New from SEVP

While the start of spring is a welcomed change, it also means many of you are wrapping up the second semester of the academic year. Now is an opportune time to share reminders and updates from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). 

First, I want to share a reminder about the updates to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) STEM Designated Degree Program List and the classification of instructional programs (CIP) Code Nomination Process. The STEM Designated Degree Program List includes a complete list of fields of study that DHS considers to be STEM for the purpose of the 24-month STEM optional practical training (OPT) extension. In January, DHS added 22 fields of study, as identified by a unique CIP code, to the list and no CIP codes or fields of study were removed from the list as part of this update. You can also find guidance on how to submit CIP code nominations for potential inclusion on or removal from the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List on the Schools page of ICE.gov/SEVIS, under the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List and CIP Code Nomination Process header.

DHS also announced that F-1 nonimmigrant students from South Sudan will be provided Special Student Relief (SSR) as a result of the economic hardship they may be experiencing due to the humanitarian crisis in their country of citizenship. This notice temporarily suspends applicable on-campus and off-campus employment regulations for eligible South Sudanese students until Nov. 23, 2023. Keep an eye on the What’s New section of ICE.gov/SEVIS for a full list of active SSR notices.  

As we approach the semester’s end and some of your F and M students prepare to complete their program of study, visit the Completions section of the Maintaining Accurate SEVIS Records page for reminders for both you and your students. 

Lastly, thank you to all of you for completing your annual verification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. We’re excited to continue this journey with you for another year! 
Thank you for your continued support. 

Respectfully, 
Rachel Canty