Recently published guidance from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) for F-1 students and Designated School Officials (DSOs) should be viewed as a signal that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will more closely monitor compliance with the recommendations. The policy guidance, titled, “Practical Training: Determining a Direct Relationship Between Employment and a Student’s Major… [Read More]
FordMurray Releases Higher Education Employer’s Guide
FordMurray released a new guide to assist higher education institutions navigate the process of hiring foreign faculty and staff. The 25-page Guide, a companion resource to our SEVP Certification and Compliance Guide, presents a holistic overview of visa and green card options for colleges and universities. The Guide was produced for general counsel, human resource… [Read More]
Four Benefits to Hiring Foreign Faculty to U.S. Colleges and Universities
Colleges and universities are faced with the task of preparing undergraduate and graduate students for lives beyond their degree program – and having a dynamic team of faculty, scholars, researchers and professional staff provides essential scaffolding for that goal. Most higher education employers have one primary reason for hiring foreign-born professionals – they simply want… [Read More]
Back to School – 3 Tips for Designated School Officials
It is the end of August, and students return to college and university campuses with high hopes and expectations for the future. This rite of passage carries a host of emotions, from nervousness to excitement for all college students. But it can be even more nerve-wracking for international students, who must always bear in mind… [Read More]
OPT Work Authorization Delays Impact Foreign Students
The New York Times reports student visa holders are encountering obstacles with obtaining work authorization associated with Optional Practical Training (OPT), a vital and essential component of the F-1 visa for most, if not all, foreign national students. OPT work authorization allows F-1 students to work temporarily in fields that advance their studies for a… [Read More]
SEVIS Advanced: How to Authorize Reduced Course Loads for Foreign Students
Designated School Officials (DSOs) of college and universities have the important task of updating student records and helping students maintain their status while attending school on an F visas. One common pitfall can be maintaining the proper course load for the program of study. Ideally, DSOs will work students proactively to make sure they stay… [Read More]
4 Benefits of Bringing Foreign Students to Study at American Universities
In order to recruit foreign students, higher education institutions, private schools and public high schools must obtain certification through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) program. Once certified through SEVP, the institution must maintain compliance within the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which tracks the courses of study,… [Read More]
Rule By Memorandum: What You Need to Know about USCIS Updates to NTA Policy
A memo published July 5 by the United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) outlines a policy change that could have far reaching implications for those in the United States on work or student visas. Change in Notice to Appear Policy The July memo, which, among other decrees, instructs USCIS to issue a Notice to… [Read More]
Not Just Dreamers – Here Are Three Real Immigration Problems Congress Should Address (And How to Fix Them)
House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday announced two votes on immigration legislation in the United States House of Representatives, derailing efforts by bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives to secure the signatures necessary to vote on competing immigration reform bills using a discharge petition. The upcoming votes on two separate immigration bills – one proposed by… [Read More]
Six Common SEVIS Mistakes and Staying SEVP Compliant with Today’s USCIS
While a May 10 memo from United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) does not necessarily change the immigration law around popular student visas, it does go further in clarifying the USCIS policy on enforcing legal status in the United States. These changes could result in increased penalties for students and their sponsoring organizations. It… [Read More]
