Adviser's Manual Update History

Changes to laws and policies, as well as new insights in areas of practice, may lead to revision of the Adviser's Manual content. Content revision is a process, and often requires research, analysis, clarification from the government, and consultation with content experts, before changes to the Adviser's Manual are made. Here is a list of the most recent changes. If you are logged in to the NAFSA site and own an Adviser's Manual license, clicking a link will take you directly to the specific section in the Manual.

Updates in 2013
[May, 2013] New Exchange Visitor Program fees become effective on June 13, 2013. 16.7.1 Exchange Visitor Program Services fees has been updated with information on the new fees. [May, 2013] Verification of SEVIS status at Ports of Entry. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 have been updated with a practice note linking to the NAFSA web page monitoring new DHS protocols for verifying an F, M, or J nonimmigrant's SEVIS status. [April, 2013] DHS began rolling out its electronic Form I-94 on April 30, 2013. Content about the basic process has been added to the Manual. See 11.16.2.1.1 Electronic Form I-94. [March, 2013] Employers should begin using the new Form I-9 with revision date 03/08/13 immediately for all new hires. Employers may continue to use previously valid Forms I-9 (Rev. 08/07/09Y and 02/02/09N) through May 6, 2013. Effective 05/07/13, employers must only use the new Form I-9 (Rev. 03/08/13)N. The Adviser's Manual has been updated with references to and images of the new, 03/08/13 version of Form I-9. See 15.2 Form I-9 employment eligibility verification for new hires. [March, 2013] Updated content to reflect SEVP Policy Guidance for Adjudicators 1003-03: Reporting Instructional Sites, on adding instructional sites to an F or M school's Form I-17. See 3.67.2 Adding new campuses or instructional sites. [March, 2013] Added practice notes regarding F-1 conditional admission and SEVP plan to produce policy guidance on that topic. See 3.6.3.2 Conditional or provisional admission: discussion. [March, 2013] Effective February 28, 2013, USCIS's legacy e-filing will no longer be available for Form I-539. As of that date, applicants desiring to file Form I-539 electronically must use the USCIS ELIS system. Not all I-539 application types are eligible to file through ELIS. Starting February 28, 2013, I-539 application types not eligible for filing through ELIS can only be filed by mail. See 16.2 E-Filing with USCIS. Also see 16.6 USCIS ELIS. [February, 2013] On February 25th, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification will implement an enhancement to the ETA Form 9035E Labor Condition Application (LCA) Electronic Filing Module within the iCERT System, allowing employers or their authorized attorneys or agents to reuse previously filed LCAs under the H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 visa programs. To learn more about the new reuse feature, read this factsheet. [February, 2013] Removed references in the Manual to the toolbox.sevis@dhs.gov mailbox. On February 22, 2013, SEVP alerted SEVIS users in Broadcast Message 1302-06 that the toolbox.sevis email box will be decommissioned on March 15, 2013. That box had been set up for users to report SEVIS technical issues to SEVP. Stating that SEVIS technical matters are now handled by the SEVIS Help Desk, SEVP instructed SEVIS users with technical issues to continue to contact the SEVIS Help Desk either by phone [1-800-892-4829]or email [sevishelpdesk@hp.com]. [February, 2013] Added practice note on the fact that the latest Form DS-7002 T/IPP (used for J-1 interns, trainees, and student interns) now includes questions on the worker's compensation policy at the site of activity. See 4.32.1.2 Specific requirements for host organizations. [February, 2013] Added practice notes on conflicting SEVP guidance on use of FNU and hyphens in SEVIS name fields. See 3.7.1.1.2 Required and optional fields in creating a SEVIS record and see 3.7.2.1.1 Some practice notes on entering student name when creating a SEVIS record.

Updates in 2013

[May, 2013] New Exchange Visitor Program fees become effective on June 13, 2013. 16.7.1 Exchange Visitor Program Services fees has been updated with information on the new fees.
[May, 2013] Verification of SEVIS status at Ports of Entry. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 have been updated with a practice note linking to the NAFSA web page monitoring new DHS protocols for verifying an F, M, or J nonimmigrant's SEVIS status.
[April, 2013] DHS began rolling out its electronic Form I-94 on April 30, 2013. Content about the basic process has been added to the Manual. See 11.16.2.1.1 Electronic Form I-94.
[March, 2013] Employers should begin using the new Form I-9 with revision date 03/08/13 immediately for all new hires. Employers may continue to use previously valid Forms I-9 (Rev. 08/07/09Y and 02/02/09N) through May 6, 2013. Effective 05/07/13, employers must only use the new Form I-9 (Rev. 03/08/13)N. The Adviser's Manual has been updated with references to and images of the new, 03/08/13 version of Form I-9. See 15.2 Form I-9 employment eligibility verification for new hires.
[March, 2013] Updated content to reflect SEVP Policy Guidance for Adjudicators 1003-03: Reporting Instructional Sites, on adding instructional sites to an F or M school's Form I-17. See 3.67.2 Adding new campuses or instructional sites.
[March, 2013] Added practice notes regarding F-1 conditional admission and SEVP plan to produce policy guidance on that topic. See 3.6.3.2 Conditional or provisional admission: discussion.
[March, 2013] Effective February 28, 2013, USCIS's legacy e-filing will no longer be available for Form I-539. As of that date, applicants desiring to file Form I-539 electronically must use the USCIS ELIS system. Not all I-539 application types are eligible to file through ELIS. Starting February 28, 2013, I-539 application types not eligible for filing through ELIS can only be filed by mail. See 16.2 E-Filing with USCIS. Also see 16.6 USCIS ELIS.
[February, 2013] On February 25th, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification will implement an enhancement to the ETA Form 9035E Labor Condition Application (LCA) Electronic Filing Module within the iCERT System, allowing employers or their authorized attorneys or agents to reuse previously filed LCAs under the H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 visa programs. To learn more about the new reuse feature, read this factsheet.
[February, 2013] Removed references in the Manual to the toolbox.sevis@dhs.gov mailbox. On February 22, 2013, SEVP alerted SEVIS users in Broadcast Message 1302-06 that the toolbox.sevis email box will be decommissioned on March 15, 2013. That box had been set up for users to report SEVIS technical issues to SEVP. Stating that SEVIS technical matters are now handled by the SEVIS Help Desk, SEVP instructed SEVIS users with technical issues to continue to contact the SEVIS Help Desk either by phone [1-800-892-4829]or email [sevishelpdesk@hp.com].
[February, 2013] Added practice note on the fact that the latest Form DS-7002 T/IPP (used for J-1 interns, trainees, and student interns) now includes questions on the worker's compensation policy at the site of activity. See 4.32.1.2 Specific requirements for host organizations.
[February, 2013] Added practice notes on conflicting SEVP guidance on use of FNU and hyphens in SEVIS name fields. See 3.7.1.1.2 Required and optional fields in creating a SEVIS record and see 3.7.2.1.1 Some practice notes on entering student name when creating a SEVIS record.

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