U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced that it will continue to allow international students to take more courses online during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Overview
ICE's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will continue following guidance first issued in March 2020 for the 2021-22 academic year. The guidance allows international students to take courses online rather than in-person due to COVID-19.
The SEVP guidance also states that students in new or initial status who were not already in the U.S. as of March 9, 2020 may not be issued F-1 or M-1 visas if their studies will be 100% online. To enter the U.S. in initial status, students must be enrolled in a fully in-person educational program or in a hybrid learning program with a combination of online and in-person learning.
What Should Stakeholders Know?
ICE's guidance will be extended through the 2021-22 academic year without modifications. Students who were already in the U.S. as of March 9, 2020 in F-1 or M-1 status can remain in the country, even if their studies will be 100% online during the 2021-22 academic year.
Looking Ahead
Envoy Global and Global Immigration Associates (GIA) will continue to provide updates to this story as they become available. Stakeholders can also monitor the ICE website for more information.
Originally published 5 May 2021
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
