ISS-RP Committee Update, April - June 2009
The International Student and Scholar—Regulatory Practice Committee reviews input from the practitioners in the field and recommends action.
- The subcommittees of the ISS-RP Committee review, analyze, and prioritize your input to IssueNet and make recommendations to the ISS-RP Committee each month.
- The chair of the ISS-RP Committee also solicits input from knowledge community (KC) chairs and brings these issues to the monthly teleconference
Learn how ISS-RP prioritizes issuesMembers of the ISS-RP
Marjory Gooding (chair), Louise Baldwin, Jenny Bowen, David Elwell, Jeanne Kelley, Jennifer McNabb, Richard Porter
| Subcommittee |
Report/Issue |
ISS-RP Action |
| Travel Subcommittee |
Significant Security Advisory Opinion delays affecting visa issuance for international students and scholars. |
|
| CBP Factsheet on Automatic Revalidation |
CBP factsheet incorrectly stated “Nationals of Iraq…, Libya…[and] North Korea…are not eligible for automatic revalidation.” NAFSA contacted CBP, and CBP issued a corrected factsheet almost immediately. See CBP Fact Sheet On Automatic Revalidation. |
| CBP "domestic checks and detainment" |
CBP asking for immigration status on domestic buses/trains, detaining until confirmed. Referred to KC-ISSS to provide reminders on advising students to carry proof of immigration status (e.g., in orientation materials) |
| F/M/J visa appointments |
Reports that some posts did not have S/EV appointments available. Referred to staff for liaison. Paris consulate added appts and DOS clarified process for requesting expedited appointments for F/M/J. See Department of State Visa Inquiries. |
| Subcommittee |
Report/Issue |
ISS-RP Action |
| Student SC, SEVIS |
Reconciling the Data Entry Standards from SEVP's Factsheet Improving Data Integrity and 9 FAM Appendix F, 500 Guides on Proper Names and Name Citing. |
SEVP confirmed that SEVIS II will use the FAM standards and recommended that schools start using them now, but they conflict with the current SEVP Factsheet, e.g., hyphens, FNU. SEVP is revising the Factsheet to reflect the FAM standards and will send a broadcast message announcing the new standards. |
| Formation of Task Force on DHS Regulations- 214.1-.4 |
In anticipation of new regulations or changes to existing regulations under DHS authority late this summer, ISS-RP has formed a Task Force to identify the top priorities, concerns, and problems regarding the proposed regulations and convey to staff for dissemination to DHS and to members.
|
| SEVIS II Task Force. |
Task Force members have been communicating regularly with the NAFSA community through NAFSA's SEVIS II Web page and ISTA and ISCA networks
TF members participate in a monthly "Core Users Working Group"
Developing systematic way to respond to SEVP polls through Yahoo groups.
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| Participated in USCIS Nebraska Service Center Teleconference: Student Line (05/21/2009). |
| Scholar SC |
New J student intern category in SEVIS – how to? |
Referred to KCISSS Regulatory Practice subcommittee for a possible practice resource. See Collegial Conversations, J Student Intern Category |
| OES/ACWIA Wage Survey Issues |
OFLC and BLS met 6/8/09. NAFSA provided examples as requested re: inconsistent data, lack of researcher/post-doc category, etc. NAFSA has a joint teleconference 7/8/09 with BLS, AILA, and ACIP. |
| i-CERT concerns, particularly about prevailing wage determinations. |
Refer to staff for possible liaison with DOL. |
| Formation of Task Force on J regulations |
In anticipation of new regulations or changes to existing regulations regarding J-1 Exchange Visitors under DOS authority, this Task Force will identify the top priorities, concerns, and problems regarding the proposed regulations and send to staff. As appropriate, staff will convey the information and examples to DOS and to members. |
| Impact of pay reductions and furloughs on H-1Bs |
Referred to KC-ISSS Regulatory Practice subcommittee for a possible practice resource |
| Participated in USCIS Nebraska Service Center Teleconference: Business Line (06/25/2009) |
| Regbuds |
Service Center visits have been scheduled for July and August 2009 at all 4 Service Centers. |
Call for questions from NAFSA community via NAFSA.news and ISTA/ISCA. Lead Regbud is working with ISS-RP to develop question list. |
| Requesting corrections through USCIS National Customer Service Center |
Referred to NAFSA staff for liaison with USCIS SCOPS; SCOPS is following up with USCIS Office of Communications regarding providing an option to "request a correction." |
| Changes in protocols for scholar/ employment-based inquiries at USCIS Service Centers |
See USCIS Service Centers- Scholar and Employment-Based Inquiries. Regbud and ISS-RP chair attended related CSC Stakeholder Meeting with other local NAFSAns. See USCIS California Service Center (CSC) Liaison Meeting 05/06/2009. |
| Government Representatives at Regional Conference |
Staff have issued initial invitations to national agencies (SEVP, USCIS SCOPS, DOS/EVP, DOS/Visa Office). Once agencies have confirmed, Regbuds will coordinate invitations and sessions. |
