International Students and Scholars

On September 25, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a proposal to replace Duration of Status (D/S) for F and J visa holders. It is important to note that this is a proposed rule and does not have an immediate effect. This rulemaking is currently in the notice and comment phase and the government has given until October 26, 2020 for the public to provide comment on this proposed rule. In addition to directly impacting our future international students, these rules will have devastating and long term effects on our current international students, alumni, and international employees if passed into law.

For more information our national professional organization, NAFSA, has a comprehensive summary of the D/S proposal on their web page.

The D/S allows F and J visa holders to remain inside the U.S. for the length of their I-20 or DS-2019. The I-20 or DS-2019 are issued by ISSS for the length of the degree program and currently school officials within ISSS are able to extend the I-20 or DS-2019 as needed, to allow the student to complete their degree program, receive employment authorization, and maintain their F or J visa status. 

DHS is proposing to change the duration of status into a specific date linked to the students I-94. The I-94 is issued by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the time of entry into the U.S. This means that F and J visa holders will be given a specific end date by CBP for their visa status and school officials within ISSS will no longer be able to extend the I-20 or DS-2019 if a student needs more time to complete their degree program. This eliminates the flexibility and role that school officials have in providing additional time for students to complete their degree program or apply for employment authorization.

Date-Specific admission of F and J nonimmigrants:

• Limit period of authorized stay to the I-20 or DS-2019 end date, for a period of no more than 4 years.
• Some F and J visa holders will be subject to a 2 year period of authorized stay. These include:
  • Individuals born in or who are citizens of countries on the State Sponsor of Terrorism List (currently: North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Syria).
  • F and J visa holders from Countries with a greater than 10 percent overstay rate.
  • This limited period of stay can be initiated based on U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of DHS (meaning the list of countries this applies to, is subject to change).
  • Students attending schools that are not accredited.
  • Students attending schools that do not participate completely in E-verify.
• Shortens the post completion grace period for F visa holders from 60 days to 30 days. The J grace period remains the same at 30 days.

Academic Related Restrictions:

• Places limits on pursuing new F-1 programs at the same educational level
• Places limits on “reverse program matriculation” by F-1 students
• DHS incorporates new standards on defining acceptable reasons for requesting a program extension 

Extension of stay mechanics and eligibility requirements: 

• Meet specific and complex filing deadlines to file extension requests
• F visa holders must provide proof of sufficient funding to request extensions directly to DHS
• F visa holders (and their dependents) would be required to submit biometrics and possibly have to complete an in-person interview with USCIS

Employment Related Issues:

• F visa holders working on-campus could continue working while their extension of stay is pending, but only for 180 days
• No continuation  of CPT and other types of employment are allowed while the extension is pending

Please visit the Wake Forest COVID-19 planning web page at ourwayforward.wfu.edu. This web page provides links to information from government agencies as well.

For information from ICE/SEVP please visit their FAQs.

WFU will be closed from 12/23/2020 – 1/4/2021 and ISSS is included in this closure. However, for any international students, faculty, or staff who experience an emergency over the winter break, you may contact WFU campus police at 336-758-5911. Please identify yourself as a member of our international community seeking assistance from ISSS. Examples of an emergency include hospitalization, arrest, detainment at an airport, injury, and/or a family emergency.

Per the Student Health Center “please call the Student Health Service (336-758-5218) or your primary health care provider. Seek medical attention if you experience fever, cough or difficulty breathing. It is recommended that those who think they may have been exposed call ahead before going to the Student Health Service, their primary care physician, or an emergency room.”

Please contact Residence Life and Housing for specific quarantine and housing-related questions:  housing@wfu.edu.  

Yes, currently SEVP has issued guidance in coordination with the Department of State and Customs & Border Protection (CBP) stating that I-20s with electronic Designated School Official (DSO – ISSS staff) signatures can be used for visa interview and travel purposes.

For continuing students there will be no change in I-20, if you plan to attend Spring 2021 on campus you need to make sure you arrive in time to start Spring 2021 classes. Please contact RL&H at housing@wfu.edu for details about move in and out days. 

For new students who will start their on campus programs in Spring 2021 you will receive an updated I-20 with the new start date. Email iss@wfu.edu for more information.

The 5-month rule is generally considered to be in reference to an absence of more than five months that is unconnected to study. If you are continuing to make academic progress in your classes remotely and your visa status is kept Active you should be able to return to Wake Forest on your current visa and I-20. Be sure that you have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019. Travel signatures are valid for one year.

Wake Forest Plans to offer a hybrid model of instruction for Spring 2021.

Undergraduates who have decided to take a semester or gap year and do not plan to return to campus for the fall 2020 semester should notify the Office Academic Advising of their plans and request a Continuous Enrollment Status (CES), Leave of Absence, or withdraw from the university as soon as possible. 

Graduate students will need to request a leave of absence or withdrawal from their graduate school.

Please email iss@wfu.edu if you do not plan to return for the Spring 2021 semester so that we can accurately update your immigration status.

The SEVP guidance for Spring and Fall 2021 has been extended to Fall 2021. Continuing international students with Active SEVIS records may enroll in exclusively online courses this Spring semester from your home country in order to maintain your academic progress and visa status.

Students who will reside in the U.S. this fall should enroll in as few online courses as possible while maintaining academic progress. Wake Forest is providing a hybrid model this Spring so some on-campus enrollment is strongly recommended for international students who are in the U.S. to maintain their visa status. This is an extra layer of protection to ensure that you are compliant with any current or future immigration requirements.

Courses taught as Online or Blended with Online Pathway will not count as on campus as you can complete these courses without ever coming to campus.

Although your SEVIS record will be closed, your F-1 entry visa may not be canceled. Current students with unexpired visas whose SEVIS records are terminated and who are issued a new Initial I-20 or reactivated I-20 s for spring or fall 2021 should contact the consulate that issued their visa to confirm that they can continue to use it for entry with their new SEVIS record and I-20.

Students whose SEVIS records are terminated for any reason other than Authorized Early Withdrawal should apply for a new visa before re-entering the United States with their new Initial I-20.

Continuing Wake Forest students who are approved to enroll in an official Wake Forest Study Abroad program are eligible to remain in Active SEVIS status. To learn more about what Wake Forest Study Abroad programs are available, please email studyabroad@wfu.edu. This option is not available for students who have been issued I-20s for Initial Attendance.

The travel validation signature is required for re-entry to the U.S. The travel signature is not needed to depart the U.S. The I-20/DS-2019 signature is valid one year from the date signed. 

You can request many processing actions through your ISSDeacs (issdeacs.wfu.edu) account including requesting an I-20 reprint. We recommend that you first start a request in your ISSDeacs account and email iss@wfu.edu if you are having any trouble.

Currently, ISSS is uploading all I-20/DS-2019 reprint requests to students’ ISSDeacs account.

Students should email Housing housing@wfu.edu for details.

To confirm on-campus enrollment for travel purposes, students can request a Verification of Enrollment that includes confirmation of on-campus courses from their Academic Unit or their School’s Registrar’s Office and print out a course schedule that includes course meeting times and locations.

The Department of State has not made an official announcement that visa services have resumed on a global scale yet.  Scheduling an appointment will be available on a post-by-post basis.  Please use this resource for country specific information on the ability to schedule an appointment. 

Travel Restrictions

There are currently five different travel-related Presidential Proclamations in place that are banning entry to the U.S. from certain countries.  These proclamations will remain in effect until terminated by the President. The President has the authority to ban additional countries from entering the U.S. at any time.

NAFSA is a great resource to see updated information about travel-related Presidential Proclamations.  

UPDATE:

The President has not terminated the Presidential Proclamation banning entry to the U.S. from the Schengen area, the UK, and Ireland at this time.  However, we’ve heard reports that some students who already have a valid F-1 visa may be eligible for a National Interest Exception (NIE) which would allow them to possibly enter the U.S. from one of these countries.   We recommend you contact your embassy for guidance on this, as there is conflicting information on whether an NIE is needed for entry directly from the Schengen area, the UK, and Ireland.  Even if you were granted a NIE, remember that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) always has the discretion on whether you are granted lawful admission to the U.S.  In the absence of an official announcement from the Department of State, Customs and Border Protection, and the White House, entry at this time from the Schengen area, the UK, and Ireland remains risky. 

According to current USCIS guidance, you cannot apply for OPT from outside of the United States. If you want to obtain OPT, we recommend that you complete your last semester from within the U.S. and do not travel outside of the U.S. until after you have applied for OPT and you receive your EAD card, and/or the travel restrictions for reentry have been lifted.

Please communicate with your supervisor to determine what steps you need to take to end or adjust your employment. Send iss@wfu.edu an email to confirm your plans and receive direct advice regarding your visa status.

We have reached out to SEVP for additional guidance on this issue. For now we recommend reporting unpaid or volunteer work related to your field to avoid using unemployment days. If you need help finding this kind of work, contact your academic department for ideas on unpaid or volunteer employment in your field.

Yes, ISSS has posted the OPT Information Session in the ISSDeacs OPT Application. Once you finish the ISSDeacs OPT Application you can sign up for a virtual OPT Review session here. 

On September 29, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a nationwide preliminary injunction and stayed the implementation of the 2020 final USCIS fee rule in its entirety. 

Please check the USCIS I-765 web site before submitting your OPT Application ON THE DATE OF MAILING to be certain you are using the correct form edition and submitting the correct fee.

Print the USCIS I-765 Filing Fee  ON THE DATE OF MAILING and include it with your application. Make certain the printout includes the date.

We are aware that USCIS receipt and payment processing is taking much longer than usual. ISSS cannot expedite the processing of your receipt or payment. If you used a shipping option with tracking make sure to keep your tracking information you can verify when your application was actually delivered to USCIS.