In a broadcast message sent on April 26, 2021, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) stated that it would be extending the March 2020 guidance to the academic year starting in Fall 2021. This SEVP Fall 2021 guidance will continue to allow international students in an active F and M status to maintain their status while participating in distance learning that exceeds the regulatory limit.
In this article, we summarize the SEVP Fall 2021 guidance for new and continuing international students, and also discuss the implications of this rule on international student employment and travel.
SEVP Fall 2021 Guidance for New International Students
New international students with an initial Form I-20, wishing to enter the US for the first time to start their Fall 2021 semester, will only be permitted to do so if they are engaged in a fully in-person learning model or a hybrid learning model that requires at least one in-person course of study during the Fall 2021 semester.
This rule applies to international students with an initial Form I-20 who were already enrolled in distance learning while outside the US but had never entered the U.S. on an F-1 visa or M-1 visa.
It is also applicable to international students with an initial Form I-20 that are transferring into a new academic program starting in Fall 2021, who departed the U.S. after their last day of enrollment at their previous school.
SEVP Fall 2021 Guidance for Continuing International Students
Continuing international students (international students with a continuing Form I-20) in an active F-1 or M-1 status who were enrolled in the 2021 Spring Semester while abroad can enter the US and pursue their coursework fully online during the Fall 2021 term.
Similarly, continuing students who are already in the US, may continue to engage in a fully online mode of learning. This is also applicable to F-1 and M-1 international students already in the U.S. who are transferring into a new academic program starting Fall 2021, and will remain in the U.S. after their last day of enrollment at their previous school.
Furthermore, continuing F-1 and M-1 international students who were enrolled in a program of study on March 9,2020 will still be allowed to maintain an active SEVIS record while studying overseas for the Fall 2021 semester, just as they were for the Spring 2021 semester.
Issuing of Electronic Forms I-20
For the academic year starting in Fall 2021, international students are allowed to use electronically delivered Forms I-20 when entering the U.S. at a U.S. Port of Entry.
Designated School Officials may send this Form I-20 by
- Emailing a scanned version of the physically signed Form I-20
- Emailing an electronic Form I-20 with a digital signature
- Emailing a digitally signed Form I-20 with a digitally reproduced copy of a physical signature.
SEVP Fall 2021 Guidance on Employment
Remote Work for F-1 Students
Given the rise of remote work in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, F-1 international students are allowed to perform on-campus employment remotely if need be.
Similarly, F-1 students may participate in CPT, OPT or STEM OPT remotely if their employer permits.
Eligibility for CPT while Abroad
F-1 students who wish to participate in CPT abroad may do so provided that they have been in an active F-1 status for one academic year of studies.
Furthermore the prospective CPT employer must have an office outside the United States and should be able to assess the students learning objectives while working remotely.
All other rules of CPT still apply whether an F-1 student is inside or outside the U.S.
Employment on OPT and STEM OPT
F-1 students are allowed to maintain their status even if they engage in less than 20 hours/week of OPT.
F-1 students participating in STEM OPT remotely do not need to provide an updated Form I-983 to report remote work.
International students applying for an Employment Authorization for OPT or STEM should note that USCIS still doesn't mail EAD cards to addresses outside the U.S.
Currently, the 90-day unemployment rule for F-1 students on OPT and the cumulative 150-day unemployment rule for F-1 students on STEM OPT still applies.
Guidance on Travel
International students should refer to the current travel guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the updated restriction for travelers entering the U.S.
