Photo courtesy of pchere.com
Amy Nguyen ’28
Contributing Writer
Last August, there was a new update in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policy manual on the five-month policy for F-1 visas. This would restrict F-1 visa holders from spending more than five months outside the U.S. — including for academic programs — if they wish to maintain their visa status. However, it is currently ambiguous whether the new manual update is accurate or misleading, causing confusion among many institutions and international students.
The original five-month rule of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program — SEVP — regarding study abroad stated that an international student may remain active in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System —SEVIS — if on an approved study program through their academic institution, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s website.
If the study-abroad program lasts longer than five months, according to the original rule, then the student will still be admitted to the U.S. with their current I-20 form. The student record on SEVIS will only be terminated when they are on a non-academic leave of absence for more than five months, excluding exchange and abroad programs.
Recently, however, the USCIS has updated their policy manual, stating that F-1 international students who remain outside of the U.S. for more than five months risk having their SEVIS record terminated, regardless of whether they are on a study abroad program, as alleged in a letter from NAFSA: Association of International Educators to USCIS. Students who wish to return to the U.S. will have to obtain a new I-20 form and pay a I-901 SEVIS fee again.
Since this new restriction would overlap with the previous longstanding five-month policy of SEVP, some groups such as NAFSA hope that USCIS may have just been using confusing language. This policy could impact the academic plans of international students, which include study abroad programs and internship opportunities. Specifically, international students who have enrolled in programs that encourage international mobility will have to reschedule their study plan if it poses risks to their student F-1 visa status.
Universities that emphasize an international focus will be hit the hardest. According to The Times of India, they will have to rearrange their programs to fit within the new framework or find alternatives for students to gain international experience while maintaining their visa status.
Jennifer Medina, assistant director and senior immigration advisor of the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives, said if the new restriction goes into effect, the College will communicate with students to discuss what it means for students studying abroad. She also noted it would only affect students who study abroad for a full academic year.
Since the new update can pose challenges for international students and institutions, many hope that USCIS has just been using inaccurate language, according to a letter from the Association of International Educators to USCIS. Universities will have to find more creative and effective solutions to maintain international engagement on their campus should the restriction go into effect. Many institutions have been waiting for an official announcement and clarification from USCIS and SEVP, and hope it will come soon.
Gabby Tonn ’27 contributed fact-checking.