SEVP Extends Temporary COVID-19 Guidance through 2021-22 Academic Year
On April 26, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced that it will extend the temporary COVID-19 guidance originally issued in March 2020 unchanged for the 2021-22 academic year. This guidance enables schools and nonimmigrant international students to engage in distance learning in excess of normal regulatory limits due to the continuing public health concerns created by COVID-19. Members of the UIC international community and UIC administrators can read the full SEVP announcement online as well as review their updated frequently asked quesitons.
Below, please find key reminders as to how the temporary guidance relates to UIC international students.
- UIC will continue to be identified by SEVP as providing a hybrid academic model for the fall 2021 semester. A hybrid model implies that the institution is not operating 100 percent online and that a student can register for classes being taught in-person, blended, and online as appropriate.
- Continuing international students that were in valid F-1 status on March 9, 2020 may remain in the U.S. for the fall 2021 semester even if they select an all online courseload either by direction from their academic institution or by personal choice.
- Continuing international students that were in valid F-1 status on March 9, 2020 who decide to continue their UIC programs fully online from outside the U.S. may maintain their nonimmigrant status but should have their SEVIS records updated to include the comment, "Outside the U.S. due to COVID-19."
- UIC may not issue new initial I-20s to newly-admitted students who will be studying an all online program for the fall 2021 semester either by direction from their academic institution or by personal choice.
- UIC may issue new initial I-20s to newly-admitted students who would like to enter the U.S. in order to study a hybrid program with some requirement for in-person learning or all in-person learning when available.
- F-1 students may engage in remote on-campus employment provided that the school is able to explain how the student is providing services associated with the employment while not at the location of the employer.
- The SEVP temporary COVID-19 guidance does not change USCIS application requirements for 12-month optional practical training (OPT). At this point, F-1 students should still be physically present in the U.S. at the time of applying for OPT.
UIC international students are encouraged to reach out to OIS with any questions about their immigration status and work closely with their academic department on questions regarding class registration. While OIS is pleased that the continuation of the guidance will provide some stability to international student status issues moving into the 2021-22 academic year, we understand that the application of the guidance remains complex within the evolving context of the pandemic. We can be reached at ois@uic.edu or (312) 996-3121 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In the coming days, we will announce dates for two OIS Town Halls in which we will address questions from the international student community and our administrator colleagues. We hope you will accept our invitation to participate.