ISSS hosts virtual town halls to discuss Fall 2020 SEVP guidance
By: ISSS
As of July 14, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) guidance from July 6, 2020 has been rescinded and will no longer take effect. Information on the implications of this decision for incoming and continuing students will be communicated soon. We appreciate your patience as we evaluate the new situation and receive updated guidance.
On July 13, 2020, ISSS held a virtual town hall to discuss the Fall 2020 SEVP guidance and its effect on Penn’s international student community. The recording is available below, including timestamps for each question addressed during the Q&A portion of the town hall.
Questions (timestamps open in separate window)
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14:37 – What if I cannot return to the United States or return to my home country due to travel restrictions? |
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16:32 – Can ISSS advocate for students to get visa appointments? |
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17:58 – How does this order affect OPT students? |
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19:33 – Will international students have to leave the country after Penn goes fully online at Thanksgiving? |
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20:25 – I want to come to the United States, but there are no available visa appointments in my country. What should I do? |
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23:35 – I’m a graduate student receiving a stipend from the University. What happens to my funding if I cannot return to the United States? |
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25:13 – When will the University announce the steps it is taking to help international students meet the new immigration requirements? |
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26:44 – Can I still take a gap year/leave of absence in view of the new guidance? |
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28:25 – If I am in a country under a current US travel ban, would I have to spend 14 days in another country before entering the US? |
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29:23 – Can I register for an in-person course and take it remotely? |
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32:32 – How is the five-month rule impacted by this order? |
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33:50 – What rights do I have in dealing with US immigration authorities as an international student? |
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34:59 – Would my parents be able to accompany me to move-in? |
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36:22 – How does visa status work in the case of a Leave of Absence? |
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38:21 – Can I take one lab class (.5 cu) to stay in the United States? |
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40:00 – How will taking online courses during the fall affect my OPT/CPT eligibility? |
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41:28 – How many in-person credits will I need to stay in the United States? |
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42:45 – How does the order affect PhD students? |
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43:41 – Does the SEVP order apply to Penn as an institution or to individual programs? |
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44:45 – Will my enrollment at Penn be canceled if my SEVIS record is canceled? |
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45:56 – What if I arrive to Penn after the beginning of the semester? |
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47:55 – Is ISSS/Penn committing to making sure that every international student has an in-person class if the lawsuit against the administration is unsuccessful? |
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48:46 – How are Reduced Course Load policies affected by the new order? |
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49:54 – What happens if I am refused entry at the port of entry/border? |
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53:15 – How will on-campus housing work after Thanksgiving? |
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54:00 – If I take a fully online course load, will I pay less tuition? |
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55:00 – What if my SEVIS record has to be terminated, will I be barred from returning to the United States? |
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56:00 – What if I’m a dual-degree student and one of my schools is hybrid and the other is fully online? |
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56:26 – I am a continuing student – will my SEVIS record remain active if I take a fully online course load in Fall 2020? |
Coming soon.