Category: News

On August 5, USC’s senior administration announced plans for the Fall 2020 semester that included some important changes, due to the continuing public health emergency impacting our community and campuses. Important Highlights about USC’s Fall 2020 Plans: All instruction will begin online for Fall 2020, with only a small number of exceptions in certain clinical education…Continue Reading Follow Up to USC’s 8/5/2020 Message About Fall Semester

On July 25, OIS wrote to students about the updated SEVP guidance issued for the Fall 2020 semester and what it means for new and continuing international students. Understandably, students currently outside of the U.S. still have many questions about how this guidance impacts travel to the U.S. for the Fall 2020 semester. New Students: The SEVP guidance does not…Continue Reading Fall 2020 Travel Guidance for International Students Currently Outside the US

On July 24, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) clarified that for the Fall 2020 semester F-1 students should abide by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) guidance originally issued in March 2020. This guidance allows distance learning in excess of regulatory limits due to the public health emergency generated by COVID-19. What does this mean…Continue Reading SEVP Issues Fall 2020 Guidance for F-1 Students

Effective July 16, 2020, F-1 student travelers from the Schengen Area, the UK, and Ireland who are applying for or have valid visas may now travel to the U.S. even though the current Presidential Proclamations regarding travel remain in effect. F-1 Students traveling with valid F-1 visas, do not need to seek a national interest…Continue Reading Students from the Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland Can Now Travel to the US

We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security agreed to rescind the July 6, 2020 policy guidance issued by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) that would prevent international students from taking online-only courses in the fall semester while residing in the United States. USC played a critical role in advocating for…Continue Reading U.S. Department of Homeland Security Rescinds July 6 Policy Guidance

We understand students have many questions about the fall semester following the updated guidance provided by the Student Exchange Visitor Program on Monday. This is a fluid situation, and USC senior administration and OIS are still reviewing what the potential impact of this guidance could mean, legally and practically, for our community. We ask for…Continue Reading International Student FAQ – Fall Semester

On July 6, 2020, the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued updated guidance to universities regarding international students’ ability to study in the U.S. during the fall 2020 semester based on the institution’s method of instruction (i.e. online, in-person or hybrid). Despite our serious concerns about this new guidance, and our strong disagreement with the…Continue Reading New Guidance: International Student Enrollment for Fall 2020

Recently, in a message of support to USC’s international community, OIS shared some thoughts about the harm caused by systemic racism in our society.  We also pledged to do more to raise important issues such as this within our community, as well as to provide information for those who wish to learn more and become…Continue Reading OIS Supports International Students and Scholars Seeking to Participate in Anti-Racism Efforts

Several Presidential proclamations established restrictions on the entry of certain travelers into the United States in an effort to help slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). With specific exceptions, foreign nationals who have been in any of the following countries during the past 14 days may not enter the United States: the People’s…Continue Reading Travel to the US Restricted for Foreign Nationals Physically Present in the Following Countries:

On Friday, May 29, President Trump issued a proclamation barring entry of certain Chinese graduate students and researchers affiliated with universities connected to the Chinese military. The proclamation, which does not affect Chinese undergraduate students, bars entry for any Chinese national applying for F or J visas to study or conduct research in the U.S. “who…Continue Reading White House Issues Presidential Proclamation Barring Visas and Entry for Certain Chinese Graduate Students and Researchers