US (Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria) Announces New Visa Revalidation Process (06/28/07): http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=82102&printer_friendly=1

White House.gov Fact Sheet: Immigration Fact Check: Responding to Key Myths (05/22/07): http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/print/20070522.html

Are you an American scholar? You aren’t welcome in India (02/11/07): http://www.indianexpress.com/iep/sunday/story/23071.html

That’s the signal from the UPA to Fulbright scholars in the US: delaying their visas for weeks, months; rejecting their research proposals without any reason. Even asking them to change their subject. This when Indo-US equation couldn’t have been better

SEVIS Data Validation Project - Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)(10/05/06): http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/sevis_valid_faq.pdf

(DHS) Agency Paperwork Glitch Delays Weddings (06/13/06): http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2006/06/13/national/w131421D95.DTL

Fake Cal graduate indicted on immigration charge (04/26/06): http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/26/MNG6JIFKM94.DTL

Department of Homeland Security unveils comprehensive immigration enforcement strategy for the nation's interior (04.20.06): http://www.ilw.com/immigdaily/news/2006,0421-ICE1.shtm

The Taipei office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) urges earlier student visa application (02/27/06): http://www.chinapost.com.tw/i_latestdetail.asp?id=35815

US relaxes visa norms for foreign students (02/06): http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1416832.cms

Kognito Releases Online Interactive Guide for NYU International Students (02/06): http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/2/prweb341105.htm

Secure Borders and Open Doors in the Information Age (01/06): http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2006/59239.htm

Senate Rejects Extension of Patriot Act (12/16/05): http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/12/16/national/w094844S59.DTL

Analysis: Junior Year Abroad threatened (12/09/2005):

http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20051208-110647-9067r

Inadmissibility – Security Grounds by Gregory Siskind (12/05/2005):

http://www.ilw.com/articles/2005,1205-siskind.shtm

Student processing finally puts 9/11 behind it: Schools responsible for reporting visiting students' actions to exchange information system (11/29/2005):

http://thedaily.washington.edu/news.lasso?-database=DailyWebSQL&-table=Articles&-response=newspage.lasso&-keyField=__Record_ID__&-keyValue=14656&-search

The Necessity of Student Exchanges (11/17/05): http://insidehighered.com/news/2005/11/17/exchange

Governor finds popular topic in China: Special Olympics (11/14/05): http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/13858354p-14698101c.html

Senate acts to lure foreign students:  A bill provision passed to help market U.S. colleges to international students (11/03/05): http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2005/11/03/65960?print

United States to Require RFID Chips in Passports: State Department says controversial chips enhance security (10/26/05):  http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,123246,00.asp
  

Katrina displaces internationals NAFSA helps international students stay in the US (10/17/05):

http://www-stu.calvin.edu/chimes/article.php?volume=100&issue=6&id=1117

Modernizing America's Welcome Mat: The Implementation Of US-VISIT (09/28/05): http://www.ilw.com/articles/2005,0928-vaughan.shtm

Cast Adrift by Katrina, Foreign Students Hustle to Find New Academic Homes Amid Worries Over Visa Violations (09/15/2005): http://chronicle.com/free/2005/09/2005091503n.htm

Thailand Emerges As Fake Passport Capital (09/08/2005):

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050908/ap_on_re_as/thailand_fake_passports

Committee on International Programs (09/06/2005)

The Committee on International Programs of the University [Pennsylvania] Council was given the following charges by the Steering Committee of the Council: http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/volumes/v52/n02/uc_intl.html

by Jennifer Smythe

http://www.ilw.com/lawyers/articles/2005,0328-smythe.shtm

The United States: A Great Place To Study

By Ambassador Reno Harnish, Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of Azerbaijan

http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=10664

Anni Holm
"The Immigration Project," installation & photography.

This project deals with all the personal information SEVIS (formerly known as INS) might choose to obtain to monitor international students in the US. In working with students from all over the world, the artist obtained their photos and fingerprints to create large-scale digital portraits of each student. Each image contains about 4000 life-size fingerprints. They are part of an installation that consists of current immigration forms and a hereto-fitted sound piece.

http://www.arcgallery.org/exhibit.html

Remarks of Maura Harty
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
Annual Conference of the Association of International Education Administrators
February 18, 2005

http://www.travel.state.gov/law/legal/testimony/testimony_2129.html#

Mrs. Bush Highlights Women's Achievements in Afghanistan (March 30, 2005) :
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/03/print/20050330-1.html

SEVIS Update: Current System Development and Policy Status are Detailed at NYC Annual Meeting. AACRAO annual meeting participants got an update on the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) from Sal Longarino, Director of International Student Programs at Fordham University. While the intended U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) speaker was absent, crucial content was provided by Laura Taylor, Chair of NAFSA’s Task Force working with SEVP on SEVIS policy issues:

http://www.aacrao.org/transcript/index.cfm?fuseaction=show_view&doc_id=2605

NACUBO Website: http://www.nacubo.org/x5516.xml

February  23, 2005

The State Department has reduced the wait time for visa clearance of foreign students and scholars by 75 percent over the past year, although further program enhancements are necessary, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office.

An agreement with China to extend the visa stay period of foreign students to 12 months from the current six would further reduce delays. More than 50 percent of the applicants requiring clearance by the Visa Mantis program are from China.

The Visa Mantis program, which applies to foreign students and scholars studying science and technology, had experienced an average clearance time for visas of 67 days and is now at 15 days, according to the report. The delay reduction was due to several factors, such as adding additional State Department staff for visa processing, removing the need of the FBI to clear applications before the State Department can process applications, and upgraded database systems

A full copy of the report is available on the GAO Web site:  http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05198.pdf

The U.S. Department of State published the final rule for documentation of nonimmigrants in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIs) in the Federal Register on Feb. 16, 2005. The rule makes final the interim regulations pertaining to international students and exchange visitors who enter the US in F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa categories.

The new regulations establish the verification and reporting procedures required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's international student monitoring system known as SEVIS. The final rule amends SEVIS regulations by adding the requirement that authorized consular officials verify the provenance of SEVIS-generated forms including the I-20 and DS-2019 against SEVIS data in the Consular Consolidated Datebase. Additionaly the rule amends its interim predecessor by adding the requirement that authorized consular officials verify the payment of any applicable SEVIS fee, and to make Border Commuter Students subject to SEVIS requirements. Under the final rule no F-1, F-2, F-3, M-1, M-2, M-3, J-1, or J-2 visas may be issued unless an authorized consular official has verified the provenance of the student or exchange visitor acceptance documentation against SEVIS data in the CCD or via direct access to SEVIS.

Related Links: Federal Register

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-2999.pdf

NEW!  SEVIS NOTICE February 3, 2005

Attached is a memorandum from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to Designated School Officials regarding SEVIS reporting requirements for F-1 and M-1 student records.

Thank you.

SEVP

NEW! January 10, 2005 SEVIS NOTICE Program End Dates For Students On Post Completion OPT

SEVIS-0105-EndDatesOPT.pdf

What the P/DSOs should do to update the records properly:
     * The Program End Date should be the date the student officially completes the academic program as determined by the school, regardless of the end date for Optional Practical Training. All requests, paper and electronic, for post-completion Optional Practical Training must be submitted and fees paid prior to the Program End Date or the student’s OPT request may be denied.

     * If the student has completed the program, the Program End Date should be in the past. To correct a Program End Date that is still a future date, use the Shorten Program edit on the record.

     * For a student finishing a dissertation/thesis, that is eligible to pursue OPT while working towards completing their program, the Program End Date should be in the future. Both the Current Session End Date and Next Session Start Date should continue to be maintained until the student completes all coursework, including his or her dissertation/thesis requirement, and graduates.


Temporary Solution:
     * A one-time courtesy data fix will put these records back into Active status and will set the Next Session Start Date equal to the day the data fix is performed. This will grant School Officials an additional 90 days from the date of the data fix to correct the Program End Date for students on Post-Completion OPT. Any student retaining a future Program End Date on his or her record due to a dissertation/thesis requirement for program completion will need to have his or her Next Session Start Date updated at this time or run the risk of record termination within 90 days of the data fix.  **Any student whose record is terminated after this data fix is performed must request reinstatement**.

Helpful U.S. Government Websites:

U.S Embassies Abroad: http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions_embassy.html

USICE - Special Registration: http://www.ice.gov/graphics/enforce/imm/imm_sr.htm

DHS Special Notice: http://travel.state.gov/specialnotice.html 

Visa Process Guide: http://www.uga.edu/gaie/gettingavisa.pdf       

Fees for Visa Services: http://travel.state.gov/visa/vofees.html

 

Visa Photo Requirements: http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotos/index.html 

 

Visas for Third Country Nationals in Canada or Mexico: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tcn.html

 

Special Visa Processing for citizens of North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, & Libya:

http://travel.state.gov/section306.html     

Visa Denials: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi_denials.html

U.S. VISIT – (U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program): http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/content_multi_image/content_multi_image_0006.xml

Airport Security - Web videos in various languages: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0435.xml 

 

Airport Status: http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp

 

What to expect upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry: http://www.ice.gov/graphics/news/factsheets/poefactsheetupdate_063004.htm

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         Getting the Word Out on Your Campus About the New SEVIS Fee:
 http://www.cafss.nafsa.org/events/SEVISFee.html

Below please find memos/handouts/tools that you can edit for use at your institution. The creation of these tools for your use was a joint CAFSS/CIPP venture. Lisa Ernstthal, CAFSS Rep, Reg. XII, headed up the team of NAFSAns (Linda Duckworth, Sook Hollingshead, Anna Zagorska, Don Back, Jim Endrezzi, Martha Wailes and Meg Morgan) who submitted examples for review and consolidation.

In conjunction with the regulations and the SEVIS Fee Practice Advisory prepared by CIPP, these CAFSS' tools are intended to assist you in informing your campus about the fee. The tools have been appropriately vetted for the accuracy of the information as its posting date. They are intended to be modified by you to suit your own campus needs. There are no plans to update these documents.

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NAFSA's SEVP/SEVIS Information Pages: www.nafsa.org/sevp

Final SEVIS fee rule published; September 1, 2004 effective date Posted: July 1, 2004. On July 1, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the long-awaited final rule to implement the SEVIS fee. Under the rule, the fee will have to be paid by students and exchange visitors who use a Form I-20 or DS-2019 to gain initial F-1, J-1, or M-1 status to begin a new exchange program or program of studies, if that form was issued on or after September 1, 2004. A June 29, 2004 DHS memo was sent to all SEVIS users to provide preliminary guidance on the SEVIS fee. Click here to read the final SEVIS fee rule: http://www.nafsa.org/content/ProfessionalandEducationalResources/ImmigrationAdvisingResources/200406016.pdf NOTE. DHS confirmed in a call in which NAFSA participated that there is an oversight/error in the final SEVIS fee rule, that DHS is currently in the process of correcting. The error is as follows: the date at 8 CFR 214.13(b)(3) [69 Fed. Reg. 39814, 39825] should read August 31, 2004 rather than May 31, 2004. It is this paragraph that puts into effect an important part of the the September 1, 2004 effective date, i.e., that only aliens issued "begin new program" I-20s or DS-2019s on or after September 1, 2004 would be subject to the fee. Please carefully read the final rule as soon as possible, to begin assessing how it will impact student and exchange visitor plans, as well as how it will affect internal institutional business practices. IMMIGRATION ADVISING NEWS 2005 Posted 03/18/2005 Modi’s denied US visa, India lodges protest: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=66781 [UK] Universities report drop in overseas student numbers:  http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/overseasstudents/story/0,12743,1432413,00.html Highlights And Lowlights Of 2004: http://www.ilw.com/lawyers/articles/2005,0214-lee.shtm by Alan Lee, Esq. Enrollment of Foreign Students Drops in U.S. Visa restrictions and competition blamed for first decline in 32 years [November 19, 2004] http://chronicle.com/temp/email.php?id=akllo8xw0ynlsdyffx0u09quwsd6724d#drop April-June 2004

SEVIS fee coming:   http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2004/0628/web-sevis-06-30-04.asp   Staying in the US legally is easy:   http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-755713,curpg-1.cms     Remarks by Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge at the InterAmerican Defense College Commencement:     http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/displaytheme=44&content=3783&print=true   US universities slam visa fee collection system:   http://news.ft.com/s01/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1087373128509&p=1012571727088   Anger over US fees for student screening:   http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1087373137348 GAO lists SEVIS monitoring gaps:     http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2004/0614/web-sevis-06-18-04.asp   Tighter visa restrictions limiting number of summer J1 visitors:       http://www.irishecho.com/newspaper/story.cfm?id=14736   Visa applicants caught between 'borders and doors'     http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-06/14/content_339200.htm   Accenture's 'Virtual Border' Project:   http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=21401734 Global unrest erodes foreign enrollments at WNY universities:   http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5139137/   Iris Scan Or Fingerprinting, Biometric Identifiers Key To Security:   http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=60418     Snowe Asks Immigration Service to Act in Favor of Lewiston Hockey Team:   http://magic-city-news.com/printer_1469.shtml   Foreign Scholars Hindered:   http://www.thecrimson.com/printerfriendly.aspx?ref=502641   Leading science, higher-education and engineering groups urge six improvements to U.S. visa quagmire:       http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/0512visa.pdf Fewer foreign students are applying for U.S. colleges -- that's a trend that needs to be reversed:   http://www.superior-wi.com/placed/index.php?story_id=171771&view=text   Colleges say visa tracking improved but 'kinks' remain:   http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20040428-9999-2m28foreign.html     Visa rules impeding international students from coming to U.S.:     http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-473915.html     Student visa program efficacy questioned:   http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?ID=28589   Testimony of SecretaryTomRidge Before The House Judiciary Committee:     http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=45&content=3498&print=true     Inefficiency of student database is another slap in the face from already racist program:     http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=23692