Compliance Management

NAFSA COVID-19 Regulatory Requests to the Agencies

A number of NAFSA letters sent to agency leadership ask the agencies to address immigration-related COVID-19 concerns within four major groupings that offer specific examples: Protect the immigration status of students, scholars, staff, and faculty at U.S. educational institutions Provide

DOS Implements Automatic J-1 Program Extensions for Some in Response to COVID-19

April 2, 2020

On April 2, 2020, the Department of State (DOS) emailed exchange visitor program sponsors to inform them that DOS "will now push a two-month extension to program end dates in SEVIS on active records with a program end date between April 1 – May 31, 2020 in order to provide exchange visitors the

NAFSA Resources for Operational Resilience

NASFA offers these resources and guidance on crisis management for COVID-19 and other crises for the international education community. NAFSA hopes this information helps you, your programs, and your students during this challenging time.

EVP Sponsor Call QA - March 27, 2020

On March 27, 2020, the Department of State hosted a teleconference for J-1 exchange program sponsors. Reproduced below for convenience are the questions and answers arising out of that call, which are now posted on the Exchange Vistior Program's COVID-19 page. DOS divided the Q and A into five

OFLC Will Permanently Issue Electronic PERM Labor Certifications

On March 25, 2020, the Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification began sending approved permanent labor certifications by email, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 25, 2020, OFLC "announced that it is permanently adopting the electronic issuance of PERM labor

COVID-19 Crisis: How International & Immigrant Populations in Higher Education are Impacted, What Campus Leaders Need to Know

Event Dates

March 27, 2020

This webinar featured immigration, legal, and policy experts who will address the legal/regulatory issues impacting international students, scholars and others in higher education, outstanding questions for campuses, and the impact of recent government immigration-related actions in the wake of the

NAFSA Signs on to ACE Higher Education Association Letter to DOS and DHS on COVID-19

NAFSA signed on with other higher education associations to a March 16, 2020 American Council on Education (ACE) letter sent to the Departments of State and Homeland Security. Read the ACE Letter to DOS and DHS The letter asks for clarifications to the following questions: "Can students maintain

NAFSA Letter to DHS on Regulatory Issues and COVID-19

In a March 16, 2020 letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leadership, NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Esther Brimmer requested DHS exercise its discretion to allow for flexibility in adjudication of benefit requests and status determinations for international students and scholars who are

SEVP COVID-19 Guidance Sources

May 12, 2023

SEVP Ends COVID-19 Flexibilities On May 11, 2023, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) terminated its Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) guidance to coincide with the end of the COVID-19 National Emergency and Public Health Emergency. An updated FAQ provides answers to frequently asked

SEVP Broadcast Message 2001-05: 2019 Novel Coronavirus and F and M nonimmigrants

March 14, 2020

On January 29, 2020, SEVP issued Broadcast Message 2001-05, its first in a series of Coronavirus guidance messages. It is reproduced below, and available on the ice.gov website. Make sure to read this first Broadcast Message in the context of the subsequent SEVP guidance that amends, clarifies and