With President Biden’s announcement of the termination of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program’s (SEVP) COVID-19 flexibilities are also ending.
Starting in the Fall of 2023, the Department of Homeland Security will be returning to its pre-covid regulatory language. What this means: only one online course per semester will be allowed to count toward full-time registration for international students on F-1 visas. To be considered full-time, international undergraduate students are required to enroll in a minimum of 12 credits and graduate international students must be registered for minimum of 9 credits per semester. We understand that many international students began their studies under the COVID-19 flexibilities, but with this change the recent flexibilities we have temporarily grown accustom to, will no longer be possible.
Please take note of this change as you are advising international students for the fall semester, and be sure that at least 9 credits (at the undergraduate level) and 6 credits (at the graduate level) are considered in-person or face-2-face. Summer 2023 falls under the 2022-2023 academic year, which means that current flexibilities will remain in effect through the summer term.
For more information: SEVP COVID-19 Flexibilities Terminated: Here’s What You Need to Know
The ISSS Team is here to support you with any questions or concerns.