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July 28, 2020

Updated SEVP Fall 2020 Guidance & Clarifications

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued additional information on July 24, which the Office of International Education (OIE) believes to be the final, definitive guidance for the remainder of 2020. The university and OIE remain mindful about the potential impacts new guidance may have on our international community and our goal is to present that guidance as clearly and concisely as possible. It is our sincere hope that Carnegie Mellon’s F-1 students and families find the following information to be helpful in making well-informed decisions about the fall semester.

The additional information issued late last week included a Broadcast Message and Clarifying Questions for Fall 2020, which supplement previous guidance issued by SEVP on March 9 and March 13, and Frequently Asked Questions (which have been updated to include the Clarifying Questions as well as FAQs developed since March).

The totality of the SEVP guidance provides Carnegie Mellon flexibility in maintaining active SEVIS records and continuing operations that are critical in supporting our F-1 students - who are an integral part of the university community - during this unprecedented pandemic. It is important to note, though, that requirements differ for continuing students (those in active SEVIS status as of March 9, 2020), new/initial students who are outside the U.S., and transfer students.

Continuing Students in SEVIS Active Status as of March 9, 2020

Continuing students who were in SEVIS active status on March 9 are permitted to engage in a full online course of study either IN the U.S. or from abroad and retain/maintain active F status. For continuing Carnegie Mellon students who will be enrolled from abroad in fall 2020, OIE will be adding a remark to your SEVIS record this fall, but SEVP is not requiring schools to reissue I-20 forms.

New/Initial Carnegie Mellon Students Located Outside the U.S.

New/initial Carnegie Mellon students who are located outside the U.S. may enter the U.S. to pursue their studies this fall as long as they will be taking some in-person classes. The guidance is clear that schools may not issue I-20s and new/initial students may not come to the U.S. to pursue programs that are 100% online. We know that many students are still unable to obtain visa appointments for a fall 2020 arrival. If you are able to obtain your visa, please note that you will need to enroll in and take at least one in-person course if you plan to travel to the U.S. to join us in-person this fall.

Transfer Students

SEVP’s guidance distinguishes between transfer students who remained in the U.S. and those who departed the U.S. this past spring or summer.  Transfer students who are in the U.S. can maintain their F-1 status via full-time enrollment in hybrid or 100% remote coursework. Transfer students who are outside of the U.S. can enroll in 100% remote coursework, but Carnegie Mellon University may not activate the SEVIS records of transfer students who will be studying outside the U.S. until the semester that they come to the U.S. to begin their program. Additionally, students who will be studying outside the U.S. this fall must be enrolled full-time if they wish to retain their F-1 status.

While the guidance does not address spring 2021, it does recognize the fluidity of the COVID-19 situation moving forward and allows international students to remain in the U.S. even if public health concerns make it necessary for Carnegie Mellon to switch from hybrid instruction to fully remote instruction before the Thanksgiving holiday. Students also would be permitted to retain their F status this fall with CMU’s current hybrid model, including the transition to remote classes after Thanksgiving.

The volume of changing SEVP guidance over the last few months has undoubtedly caused confusion and frustration for CMU’s international students and families. Therefore, OIE has provided a summary of the guidance and a recap of SEVP-issued documentation below this message so students can easily understand the implications for their individualized situations.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are updated on our website as any new information becomes available. As always, should you have any questions or concerns, OIE staff are looking forward to assisting you.

Supporting and advocating for Carnegie Mellon’s international community has always been central to our work. OIE’s staff are grateful for the opportunity to help our students continue their CMU education and experience.

Kind Regards,

Linda Gentile, Director

Guidance Summary

If you are a continuing student:

  • You must be enrolled full-time (minimum 36 units)
  • You may be enrolled in remote or a combination of in-person and remote classes
  • You are permitted to be in more than 1 remote course
  • You must make normal progress in your program
  • Your SEVIS record will remain active

If you are a new (initial) student (including students returning from a leave of absence):

  • You must be enrolled full-time (minimum 36 units)
  • You must be enrolled in at least one in-person class
  • You are permitted to be in more than 1 remote course
  • You must complete an OIE immigration check-in and your SEVIS record will be activated

If you are transferring your SEVIS record to Carnegie Mellon:

  • You must be enrolled full-time (minimum 36 units)
  • You may be enrolled in remote or a combination of in-person and remote classes
  • You are permitted to be in more than 1 remote course
  • You must complete an OIE immigration check-in and your SEVIS record will be activated

If you are a continuing student:

  • You may be enrolled in all remote classes (note: remote instruction may be restricted in some countries)
  • You must be enrolled full-time (minimum 36 units) to retain your F-1 status
  • Your SEVIS record will remain active 

If you are a new (initial) student (including students returning from a leave of absence):

  • You may be enrolled in all remote classes (note: remote instruction may be restricted in some countries)
  • You may be enrolled full-time or part-time (if allowed by your academic program)
  • SEVIS record will NOT be active and you will not be in F-1 immigration status
  • You will need an updated I-20 to enter the U.S. in spring 2021 or the semester you plan to enroll in your program full-time in person

If you are transferring your SEVIS record to Carnegie Mellon:

  • You may be enrolled in all remote classes (note: remote instruction may be restricted in some countries)
  • Your SEVIS record will NOT be activated for the fall semester
  • You will need an updated I-20 to enter the U.S. in spring 2021 or the semester you plan to enroll in your program full-time in the US
  • You must be enrolled full-time (at least 36 units) for your F-1 status to continue and be activated for the semester in which you will begin your program in the US; transfer students who choose not to enroll full-time in the fall should consult with an OIE advisor.

SEVP-Issued Guidance Recap

Summary of Guidance issued March 9:

  • Schools may adapt their procedures/policies to address public health concerns.
  • Schools should document decisions made and notify SEVP of procedural adaptations within 10 days of the change.
    • Note: OIE has notified SEVP of Carnegie Mellon's procedural adaptations for the spring, summer and fall 2020 semesters, as required. Should Carnegie Mellon need to make additional adaptations or changes in fall 2020, OIE will continue to update SEVP, as required, ensuring compliance with SEVP guidance 
  • Guidance applies to students currently enrolled, not new students outside the U.S.

Summary of Follow-Up Guidance issued March 13:

  • Provided scenarios:
    1. a school completely closes;
    2. a school stops in-person classes but implements online/alternative learning procedures and students remain in the U.S.; or
    3. a school stops in-person classes but implements online/alternative learning procedures and students depart the U.S.
  • Temporarily allows SEVIS records to remain in Active status, whether the student is in the U.S. or outside the U.S., and allows more than one online course to count towards full course of study enrollment requirement.

Summary of Frequently Asked Questions issued July 15:

  • Allows schools to maintain Active SEVIS records for continuing students (those in the U.S. on March 9) who take more than one online course, either in the U.S. or outside the U.S., provided the student makes normal progress and the school complies with the requirement to notify SEVP of procedural changes.
  • Allows schools to electronically send I-20s to students, instead of physically mailing the forms.
  • Allows students to engage in on-campus employment remotely.
  • Allows continuing students to return to the U.S.

Summary of Broadcast Message issued July 24:

  • Confirms that F students and schools should abide by March 2020 guidance, which applies to students who were actively enrolled at a U.S. school on March 9, 2020.
  • Confirms that the guidance will remain in effect and SEVP will not issue a temporary final rule (regulation) for the fall 2020 semester.
  • Continues to allow continuing F students to count online courses toward full course of study requirements.
  • Prohibits schools from issuing I-20s and prohibits new students (those who did not have F status on March 9) from entering the U.S. if their course of study is 100% online or if the institution is operating 100% online.

Summary of Clarifying Questions for Fall 2020 issued July 24 (based on March 9 SEVP Guidance and combined with the July 15 FAQs on August 7 ):

  • If a new student obtains a visa, the student is allowed to come to the U.S. but may not take fully online classes. New students must be enrolled in at least one in-person class.
  • Allows continuing students to return to the U.S.; appears to allow continuing students in F status on March 9 to take a fully online course of study (refers back to March 2020 guidance, in which this is allowed).
  • Allows continuing students enrolled in a hybrid program of study that includes in-person and online components (more than one online course) to maintain F-1 status in the fall term but does not allow new students (who were not in F status on March 9) to enter the U.S. to take a 100% online course of study.
  • Allows continuing students to remain in the U.S. and pursue a full course of study online.
  • Allows students in the U.S. for fall 2020 to remain in the U.S. even if the academic program switches to fully online instruction during the semester.
  • For continuing students studying outside the U.S., advises that SEVIS records should be updated to indicate whether the student is “Outside the U.S. due to COVID-19”; does not require issuance of new I-20s.
  • Continues to allow schools to issue I-20s electronically.
  • Requires notification to SEVP within 10 days if schools makes substantive procedural changes.