SEVP Provides Updated Fall 2020 Guidance for F-1 Students

On Friday, July 24th, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) released an announcement confirming that the agency will be reverting to its original March 2020 guidance for F-1 students, which permits continuing international students to take an online courseload as a result of the pandemic. As reported last week, ICE quickly rescinded a new policy barring F-1 students who attended fully remote schools from remaining in the United States, following swift backlash and legal action from universities nationwide. Notably, Friday’s announcement clarified that per the SEVP’s March 2020 guidance, new F-1 students will be restricted from entering the United States for the fall semester, if their course load is fully remote.