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
Resources
Government Resources
- Department of Homeland Security
- Department of State Visa Services
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)
- Study in the States
- SEVIS RTI User Manuals — (Download Vol. II, Form I-20)
NAFSA Resources
- NAFSA International Student Advising Professional Network
- NAFSA Get Liaison Help with a Regulatory Ombudsperson (member only)
- NAFSA Regulatory Information
- NAFSA Adviser's Manual
- Frequently-Used Sources of Authority
- Protocols for Contacting Government Agencies (member only)
- Government Agency Web Resources
- Sevis Releases — updates to SEVIS programming and functionality
Module 1 - Major Responsibilities
Resources
See general course resources listed above.
Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations
- 8 CFR 214.1 - Requirements for Admission, Extension, and Maintenance of Status
- 8 CFR 214.2(f) - F Student Regulations
- 8 CFR 214.3 - School Approval and Reporting
- 8 CFR 214.4 - Withdrawal of School Approval
- 8 CFR 248 - Change of Nonimmigrant Status
NAFSA's Statement of Ethical Principles
SEVP Help Hub on Study in the States
Updates
None at this time.
Module 2 - Researching Needed Resources
Resources
See general course resources listed above.
- Student and Exchange Visitor Program Response Center (Use for both SEVIS policy and SEVIS technical and help desk issues)
- Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs
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.
- Form 1-765 Application for Employment Authorization
- DHS List of STEM-Designated Degree Programs
- Form I-539
- SEVIS I-901 Fee FAQ
- I-901 Fee Tutorial - Student and Exchange Visitor Program video tutorial for students and exchange visitors
- SEVIS Fee Processing Website
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.