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This page will offer timely immigration updates impacting the international student and scholar community at Illinois Tech. Please regularly check this page for new announcements.

Government & University Updates

Effective May 11, 2023, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which governs F1 and J1 Student/Scholar Visas, ended its Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) guidance, consistent with the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, following the end of the COVID-19 National Emergency on April 10, 2023. 


In the below FAQs you will find more background and details about this guideline change, which will impact courses beginning this fall 2023 semester.

 

What was the previous guidance provided by SEVP?

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, all F-1 and J-1 international students were allowed to take only one online course that counted toward their full-time eligibility each semester. All other courses that counted toward full-time eligibility were required to be in-person courses.  

However, given the intricacies of the pandemic, SEVP relaxed this requirement and permitted international students to take more than one online course each semester to count toward their full course load eligibility.

 

So what does the ending of this guidance mean for Illinois Tech students and courses? 

Beginning this fall 2023 semester (which starts on August 21, 2023), the guidance will revert back to what it was pre-COVID. The guidance will once again require all F-1 and J-1 international students at Illinois Tech to be enrolled in “in-person” classes, with just one online class counting toward full-time eligibility each semester. 

 

What do I need to do now?

We encourage all F-1 and J-1 international students to work with their academic departments to ensure that registration for the fall 2023 semester (and subsequent semesters) aligns with the guidance above. 

 

Is this guidance for new, continuing, or transfer international students?

This guidance is applicable to all F-1 and J-1 international students whether they are new, continuing, or transferring to Illinois Tech from another institution. 

 

Can I take more than one online course this upcoming semester?

  • F-1 Students: Yes, it is possible for F-1 students to take more than one online course a semester,  IF the F-1 student is properly registered for the minimum number of full-time credits, then the F-1 student may take additional online courses in excess of the minimum full-time credit requirements. 
  • J-1 Students: No, J-1 students are restricted to engage in a maximum of only one online course per semester.

 

Do you have an example of how an F-1 Student can take more than one online class in the upcoming semester?

Here are two situations as an example:

  • "Graduate F-1 student (minimum to be Full-Time is 9 credits) -> Only registers for 9 credits, then the student can only register for 1 online course;"
  • Graduate F-1 student (minimum to be Full-Time is 9 credits) -> Decides to register for 12 credits, then yes, it is possible in this situation for the student to have 2 online courses (as 1 would count towards the minimum Full-Time enrollment and 1 would be in excess of the Full-Time enrollment)"

Can an international student at Illinois Tech remain in the United States if they are engaged in a fully online program of study?

No. F-1 and J-1 international students may not remain in the U.S. and engage in a program of study that is solely online. Students must comply with the limitations set forth in the regulations. 

 

If students cannot or will not return to campus when in-person instruction resumes, will their SEVIS records be terminated?

F-1 and J-1 international students who are not able to return to campus for in-person courses beginning in the fall 2023 semester will have their SEVIS records terminated as a result of this guideline change provided by SEVP. 

 

What if I have only one course left to take in my program? Can this be an online course?

According to the new guidance provided by SEVP, if a student has one course left in their program, they would have to take this course in person; this final course cannot be taken online. 

 

Are students permitted to take “hybrid classes”? 

Our university system of registration classifies courses as either online or in-person.

 

Employment and Practical Training

Many students are engaging in remote work as part of their on-campus employment opportunities. May F-1 international students continue to engage in remote work for on-campus employment?

Yes. If the on-campus employment opportunity has transitioned to remote work or the employment can be done through remote means, students may continue to engage in on-campus employment remotely. 

Can students engaged in optional practical training (OPT) and the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT extension work remotely when appropriate and permitted by the employer? If so, do they need to submit an updated Form I-983?

Students participating in OPT and STEM OPT may work remotely as long as they continue to comply with the regulatory requirements regarding practical training and as long as they continue the training’s mentoring relationship including completion of the Form I-983, which is the formal training plan for STEM OPT participants.

Can students apply for OPT while outside of the U.S. by filing a Form I-765 from abroad?

No. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) instructions for filing a Form I-765 require applicants to be within the U.S. and to have a valid U.S. mailing address for USCIS to send the Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD). 

 

Resources:

SEVP May 11, 2023 FAQs

SEVP Broadcast Message 2304-04: Termination of SEVP COVID-19 Flexibilities

SEVP Broadcast Message 2304-04: Termination of SEVP COVID-19 Flexibilities

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the expansion of premium processing for applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status. Online filing of Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, will also be available for these applicants.

  • Beginning June 13 2023, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests, filed via paper form or online, for applicants seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, who have a pending Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
  • Beginning June 26 2023, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests, filed either via paper form or online, for applicants seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, when filed together with Form I-539.

Applicants must submit their biometrics before premium processing can begin for these specific categories. Even if USCIS accepts an applicant’s Form I-907 and accompanying fees, the time limit for premium processing will not start running until the applicant and all co-applicants included on the Form I-539 submit their biometrics. Please note, USCIS may reject an applicant’s Form I-907 and/or Form I-539 if submitted with another benefit request, including multiple Forms I-907 requests filed together.

As an applicant, you are not required to choose premium processing, nor is the Office of Global Services or Illinois Institute of Technology stating you must use Premium Processing for your OPT or STEM OPT applications.

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the publication of an Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register on March 28, 2023, that permits designated sponsors for the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) to digitally sign and electronically transmit the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (J-Nonimmigrant) (Form DS-2019), effective April 27, 2023.

Until now, sponsors had to mail paper copies of Form DS-2019 to prospective exchange visitors. With this updated change, sponsors may continue to mail paper copies of Form DS-2019 to prospective exchange visitors OR take advantage of two new options: 

  • Sponsors may print and physically sign paper forms in ink, scan and save them (e.g., as portable document format (PDF) files), and electronically transmit them (e.g., via email). The new rule eliminates the requirement that sponsors sign the Form DS-2019 in blue ink.
  • Sponsors may use digital signature software to sign Forms DS-2019 and then electronically transmit them.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) can now file Form I-907 “Request for Premium Processing Service”  (via paper or online) if filing under the pre-completion, post-completion and the STEM extension categories. For the full news release, please visit the USCIS website.

  • Beginning March 6 2023, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests for F-1 students who already have a pending Form I-765 under one of the following categories:
    • (c)(3)(A) – Pre-Completion OPT; 
    • (c)(3)(B) – Post-Completion OPT; and 
    • (c)(3)(C) – 24-Month Extension of OPT for STEM students.
  • Beginning April 3 2023, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests for F-1 students in the above categories when filed together with Form I-765.

Premium processing reduces the processing time down to 30 business days in which the applicant will receive a decision from USCIS. The filing fee for Form I-907 is $1,500 if you are filing for a Form I-765 with eligibility category (C)(3)(A), (C)(3)(B), or (C)(3)(C). Please note, the $1500 premium processing fee is in addition to the Form I-765 application fee.

As an applicant, you are not required to choose premium processing, nor is the Office of Global Services or Illinois Institute of Technology stating you must use Premium Processing for your OPT or STEM OPT applications.

From submitting requests, to reviewing your profile content, this portal offers students a one stop location to review information and engage with the Office of Global Services (OGS).

Effective September 3, 2022, OGS will not be accepting paper form requests from F-1 & J-1 students anymore. Moving forward, students will be required to use the ISSS Portal to submit all I-20 and DS-2019 requests.

Effective April 17, 2023, OGS will not be accepting paper form requests from J-1 Scholars anymore. Moving forward, scholars will be required to use the ISSS Portal as the one stop location to submit all DS-2019 requests to OGS, for all J-1 scholar requests.

ISSS Portal 

Learn how to navigate and use the ISSS Portal by watching our recordings: 

Special Student Relief (SSR)

Regulations allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to suspend or alter rules regarding duration of status, full course of study, and employment eligibility, for specific groups of F-1 students from parts of the world that are experiencing emergent circumstances. This collection of benefits is known as "special student relief" (SSR).

Effective September 18, 2021 through March 17, 2023. Federal Register notice published at 86 FR 38739 (July 22, 2021).

Redesignated and extended to September 17, 2024 by Federal Register notice published at 88 FR 15427 (March 13, 2023).

 Extended effective from Sept. 18, 2024, until March 17, 2026, by Federal Register notice published at 89 FR 59129 (July 22, 2024).

To be eligible, an F-1 student must:

  • Be a citizen of Somalia (or, under the March 13, 2023 notice, an individual having no nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia), regardless of country of birth;
  • Have been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on September 18, 2021 (or, under the March 13, 2023 notice, lawfully present in F-1 status on March 13, 2023);
  • Be currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status;
  • Be enrolled in an SEVP-certified academic institution; and
  • Be experiencing severe economic hardship "as a direct result of the current crisis in Somalia"

Effective September 4, 2021 until March 3, 2023, under Federal Register notice at 86 FR 36288 (July 9, 2021).

Extended and redesignated effective March 4, 2023 until September 3, 2024, under Federal Register notice at 88 FR 88 (January 3, 2023).

Extended effective Sept. 4, 2024, until March 3, 2026, under Federal Register notice at 89 FR 56759 (July 10, 2024).

To be eligible under the current notice, an F-1 student must:

  • Be a citizen of Yemen (or, under the January 3, 2023 extension notice, a citizen of Yemen or an individual having no nationality who last habitually resided in Yemen), regardless of country of birth;
  • Have been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on September 4, 2021 (or under the January 3, 2023 notice effective March 4, 2023, on January 3, 2023);
  • Be currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status;
  • Be enrolled in an SEVP-certified academic institution; and
  • Be experiencing severe economic hardship "as a direct result of the crisis in Yemen"

Lebanon SSR Notice will expire on May 27, 2026.

To be eligible, an F-1 student must:

  • Are a citizen of Lebanon regardless of country of birth (or an individual having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon);

  • Were lawfully present in the United States on November 27, 2024, in F-1 nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA),8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i). 

  • Are enrolled in an academic institution that is Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified for enrollment for F-1 nonimmigrant students;

  • Are currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status; and

  • Are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current crisis in Lebanon.

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