SEVP’S DISTANCE LEARNING GUIDANCE EXTENDED FOR 2022-23 ACADEMIC YEAR

In a Broadcast Message, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has announced it will extend its guidance originally issued in March 2020 for the 2022-23 academic year.

SEVP has also extended the guidance in its FAQs for SEVP Stakeholders about COVID-19 to the 2022-23 academic year.

Thus, the following allowances for continuing and new nonimmigrant students will be extended for the 2022-23 academic year:

·       Continuing Students

o   Nonimmigrant students who were in valid F-1 or M-1 nonimmigrant status on March 9, 2020 are permitted to engage in either a hybrid or fully online program of study beyond the regulatory limit for the 2022-23 academic year, provided they have not otherwise violated the terms of their nonimmigrant status.

·         Initial Students

o   New or initial nonimmigrant students who were not enrolled in a program of study on March 9, 2020 will not be able to enter the United States as a nonimmigrant student for the 2022-23 academic year if their course of study is fully online. 

o   A new student is, however, permitted to engage in a hybrid program with some requirement for in-person learning, even with online components beyond the regulatory limit, for the 2022-23 academic year.

SEVP’s current policy guidance and frequently asked questions can be found online at https://www.ice.gov/coronavirus