In a significant move aimed at enhancing the clarity and accessibility of its policies, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has unveiled updated guidelines within its policy manual, specifically targeting the F and M student visa categories. This comprehensive update serves as a beacon of guidance for international students navigating the...
Category: F-1 Visa
USCIS Enhances Clarity in Policy for International Students
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently updated its policy guidance concerning F and M student nonimmigrant classifications. This update is a consolidation of existing policies and aims to provide clearer guidance to international students and U.S. educational institutions. The guidance covers several key areas, including:
USCIS Update Regarding Applicants Filing Form I-765 for OPT
This notice announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) has suspended certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Venezuela (regardless of country of birth) and who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The Secretary is taking action to...
UPDATE ON FEDERAL GUIDANCE FOR THE 2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR.
The White House provided a fact sheet detailing new DHS actions intended to attract and maintain STEM talent in the US. These include DHS policy manual updates on O-1 visas, creation of the Early Career STEM Research Initiative, changes to SEVP, USCIS policy manual updates, and more.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational...USCIS Reminds F-1 Aliens in Post-Completion OPT and Their DSOs to Enter Employer Information in SEVIS
USCIS continues to experience delays at certain lockboxes in issuing receipt notices for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, based on eligibility categories described in 8 C.F.R. 274a.12(c)(3), relating to optional practical training (OPT) for F-1 students. While USCIS have made progress in addressing the delays, USCIS would like to provide additional clarifications and...
SEVP modifies temporary exemptions for nonimmigrant students taking online courses during fall 2020 semester
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will extend the guidance originally issued in March 2020 for the 2021-22 academic year. This guidance enables schools and students to engage in distance learning in excess of regulatory limits due to the continuing public health concerns created by COVID-19. The March 2020 guidance applies to nonimmigrant...