U.S. Department of Homeland Security Rescinds July 6 Policy Guidance

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 our international students, and our collaborative efforts with other universities made a difference.

Per the July 14 court decision, effectively immediately, SEVP will revert to the guidance it issued in March allowing students residing in the United States to take online classes to maintain their F-1 student status. In the coming days, we expect to receive further information about how today’s announcement will impact our continuing international students during the fall semester.

We understand that this is a very stressful time for international students, and that you have many questions regarding your options for the fall semester given this latest news. We will offer two live webinars this Friday, July 17 at 8 a.m. PST and 8 p.m. PST regarding fall 2020 guidance for international students. During these webinars, OIS staff will answer common questions and help you make informed decisions about the fall semester given what we know at this time. We will also continue to share updates with you via our newsletter, the international student FAQ section of USC’s COVID-19 Resource Center, and the OIS website.

We are committed to supporting you throughout this rapidly evolving situation, and we will share additional details as soon as they become available.