ICE releases 2022 SEVP annual report
The total number of SEVIS records for active F-1 and M-1 students was 1,362,157 in calendar year 2022, an increase of 10.1 percent from calendar year 2021.
Student and Exchange Visitor Program
ICE issues notice of proposed rulemaking, seeks public comment on employment eligibility verification options
ICE is proposing creating a framework under which the Secretary of Homeland Security could authorize alternative options for document examination procedures associated with the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The notice of proposed rulemaking is seeking input from the public regarding making permanent some of the current COVID-19 pandemic-related flexibilities to examine employees’ identity and employment authorization documents for the Form I-9.
ICE releases 2021 SEVP annual report
This report highlights calendar year 2021 data from SEVIS, a web-based system that includes information about international students, exchange visitors, and dependents while they are in the United States.
ICE announces extension to I-9 compliance flexibility
This extension will continue to apply the guidance previously issued for employees hired on or after April 1, 2021, and work exclusively in a remote setting due to COVID-19-related precautions.
ICE report on international students in US details impact of COVID
The report highlights calendar year 2020 data from SEVIS, a web-based system that includes information about international students, exchange visitors and their dependents while they are in the United States.
2 Los Angeles-area men indicted in visa fraud scheme that used surrogate test-takers and ‘guaranteed’ foreign student admission into colleges
Yi Chen, aka “Brian Chen,” 33, of Monrovia, pleaded not guilty this afternoon to charges in a 21-count grand jury indictment that alleges conspiracy, visa fraud and aggravated identity theft.
ICE arrests 15 nonimmigrant students for OPT-related fraud
The agency will continue to vet students who gained new employment through OPT for compliance with their nonimmigrant status. Any identified leads will be reviewed for potential future enforcement.
ICE releases report on nonimmigrant students in US
The report notes that there were 1.52 million active records in SEVIS for F-1 and M-1 students during calendar year 2019, a 1.7 percent decrease from calendar year 2018. There were 532,711 records in SEVIS for J-1 exchange visitors during calendar year 2019, a 1.7 percent increase from calendar year 2018.
ICE continues March guidance for fall school term
Nonimmigrant students and schools certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) should abide by SEVP guidance originally issued in March 2020. 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 and are otherwise complying with the terms of their nonimmigrant status, whether from inside the U.S. or abroad. SEVP will not issue a temporary final rule impacting nonimmigrant students for the fall school term.
SEVP modifies temporary exemptions for nonimmigrant students taking online courses during fall 2020 semester
Due to COVID-19, SEVP instituted a temporary exemption regarding online courses for the spring and summer semesters. This policy permitted nonimmigrant students to take more online courses than normally permitted by federal regulation to maintain their nonimmigrant status during the COVID-19 emergency.