SEVP Policy Rescinded

SEVP Policy Rescinded Announcement sent July 14th to all current F1 students:

Dear Students,

I am very pleased to let you know that the SEVP Fall 2020 Guidance that was released on July 6, 2020 has been rescinded. The policy was cruel and unfair and would have required our international students to risk their health, their good immigration standing, and important F-1 benefits such as Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT), in weighing decisions about their educational goals.

What does this mean? Since the July 6th policy has been rescinded, the previous guidance from March 2020 is now reinstated. The current guidance allows students in the US to study online and maintain their status. Continuing USF students who are abroad and enrolled in a full course of study can also maintain their status. There may be further clarifications regarding Fall 2020 and we will update you, as we always do, as soon as there is more information.

Students traveling: If you are traveling to the US, you will need the standard documents for travel. You can read more about the requirements for travel on the ISSS webpage. Keep in mind that due to COVID-19 there are some travel restrictions in place in many countries, including entry restrictions for those coming from China, Iran, Brazil and the Schengen area of Europe. Read more about these travel restrictions and other COVID-19 related questions on the ISSS FAQ page.

I would like to take a moment with all of you to relish in this victory and thank you for the critical role that many of you have played in beating back this policy. Your stories, your voices, your concerns, motivated universities to speak out against this policy and advocate for fairness. Thank you for trusting us with your stories. While there is no justification for the confusion and hardship many of you were put through this past week, I hope you find some comfort in knowing how fiercely universities such as USF fought back and how broad and deep the support for international students is among our and other campuses and communities in the US. 

The ISSS office is thankful for USF’s leadership on this critical issue and for our incredible community of faculty, staff and students who came together to make sure our students would be shielded from the harmful effects of this unfair policy. With the global health crisis still unfolding we know there may be more challenges ahead, and we are grateful for a community that responds with the caring, collectivity and commitment to Jesuit values needed to overcome these challenges. 

Sincerely,

Marcella Johanna Pitcher DeProto
Director, International Student and Scholar Services