Links to Regulations and Guidance

Welcome to the Intro to F-1 e-Learning course resource page. On this page, you will find all of the web resources referenced in the course, along with additional resources, and important updates.

Below is a list of helpful links to regulations and guidance related to F-1 Student advising. Throughout this NAFSA e-Learning course, you will be instructed to access these links for more information on a particular regulation or piece of guidance. Some links will take you directly to the NAFSA Adviser's Manual or IssueNet. Please be sure to log into the NAFSA website. You will have access to the Adviser's Manual throughout the course; afterwards, you will have access only if you maintain a valid Adviser's Manual license. If you are a NAFSA member, you will have access to IssueNet's Get Liaison Help function for the duration of your NAFSA membership. Finally, access to IssueNet's Report an Issue function is always available to both members and nonmembers who are logged in to the NAFSA website.

General Course Resources

Module 1 - Major Responsibilities

Module 2 - Researching Needed Resources

Resources

See general course resources listed above.

Updates

  • The Student and Exchange Visitor Program Response Center and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Help Desk have merged. All inquiries are now directed to the SEVP Response Center, and will be routed to the appropriate policy or technical channel.

Module 3 - Process and Create I-20s

Resources

See general course resources listed above.

Updates

None at this time.

Module 4 - F-1 Enrollment

Resources

See general course resources listed above.

Updates

None at this time.

Module 5 - F-1 Travel and Entry

Resources

See general course resources listed above.

Updates

None at this time.

Module 6 - F-1 Employment

Resources

See general course resources listed above.

Updates

The form I-94 is now electronic and automated. See more information here:

The STEM OPT rules have changed. See more information here:

Module 7 - F-1 Change of Status

Resources

See general course resources listed above.

Required Documents: More Information

Updates

  • USCIS now requires applicants for change of status to F-1 or M-1 student to file a separate "bridge" application if their current status will expire more than 30 days before the F-1 or M-1 program start date in SEVIS. This includes circumstances where the program start date is deferred in order to prevent the SEVIS record from canceling while the COS application is pending. See NAFSA's advisory.

Module 8 - F-1 Transfers

Resources

See general course resources listed above.

Updates

None at this time.

Module 9 - F-1 Reporting and Record Maintenance

Resources

See general course resources listed above.

Updates

None at this time.