Changes Coming to SEVIS

Word comes directly from Murthy Law Firm attorneys attending the 2014 American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Conference, in Boston, that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is planning to implement a slew of system changes over the next few years. While most of the changes will be internal, several notable modifications will be focused on addressing concerns raised in February 2014 by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), as reported in the MurthyDotCom NewsBrief, GAO Finds Need for Greater Oversight of F-1/M-1 Students on OPT (19.Mar.2014).

Announcement Made at AILA Annual Conference

On June 18th, during a panel on the F-1 and J-1 categories at the AILA conference on immigration law, it was announced that, in the coming years, SEVP will be making more than 30 changes designed to improve systems. Many of these modifications will be internal adjustments likely to go unnoticed by the general public. However, F-1 students potentially may be impacted by some of the coming changes aimed at tackling perceived weaknesses in the optional practical training (OPT) program.

Changes Will Address Various Key OPT Issues

There are not expected to be any regulatory changes, and many details are still forthcoming. However, the conference panel did list some of the notable areas SEVP plans to address, including implementing better means of ensuring that each F-1 student in OPT is working in a position related to his/her field of study. Improvement to the reporting system for OPT participants is also a SEVP goal. This would ensure that they do not exceed the maximum unemployment time allowed (90 days).

Further AILA Updates

Murthy Law Firm attorneys who are currently attending the AILA conference are reporting especially relevant news as it happens. Check MurthyDotCom for additional information regarding this or other announcements made at the conference.

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Disclaimer: The information provided here is of a general nature and may not apply to any specific or particular circumstance. It is not to be construed as legal advice nor presumed indefinitely up to date.