DU Announces Response to SEVP Requirements

Dear DU community members,

As you may be aware, the U.S. Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced requirements for F-1 students for the Fall 2020 term. International students who are in the U.S. or plan to be in the U.S. for the Fall term must ensure they review these closely to stay in compliance with their immigration status. The University of Denver will offer Fall term classes in a combination of modalities that include in-person, hybrid and online classes.

The Office of Internationalization and the International Students and Scholars Service Office (ISSS) has reached out directly to all international students via email with a detailed guidance on the impact of this announcement from SEVP. Here is a summary of DU’s response that will enable international students at the University to maintain legal immigration status.

For students who will be within the U.S. for the fall term:

• English Language Center (ELC) international students are required to enroll full-time in the ELC’s hybrid modality class offerings and program.
• Graduate international students are required to take at least 8 credits of coursework. Taking one class in-person or hybrid is required.
• Undergraduate international students are required to take at least 12 credits of coursework. Taking one class in-person or hybrid is required.

For students who will be outside the U.S. for the fall term they can enroll in online classes and are not required to enroll full-time. They will not maintain an active SEVIS record and will require a new I-20 with a new SEVIS number to return to the US in the future.

For students who were enrolled full-time for the spring, and are within the U.S., there is no change to their F-1 status if they meet the course enrollment requirements of one in-person or hybrid course. For those students who will not meet the course enrollment requirements for the fall term, they must leave the U.S. unless they qualify for a non-summer vacation quarter or less than full-time enrollment for academic or medical reasons. ISSS office will work with them on an individual basis to support them. Email isss@du.edu to discuss.

For students who are currently outside the U.S. and plan to return to the U.S. for the fall term, they are eligible if they meet the course enrollment requirements of one in-person or hybrid course. They will also need other immigration documents such as valid I-20 and F-1 entry visa.

The University of Denver reinforces its commitment to its international student community and will continue to support them to successfully complete their education. The University of Denver’s doors are open to all international students and it will offer courses in-person and hybrid modalities and continue to celebrate the innovation, ideas, and contribution of international students and their ability to compete with the best.

As indicated above, a more detailed guidance has been emailed to all international students. For further questions and more details on these guidance, international students should contact an ISSS advisor at isss@du.edu or schedule an appointment.

The Office of Internationalization and ISSS will be hosting a town hall at noon tomorrow, July 8, to address these questions in detail. Please join the townhall here.

Uttiyo Raychaudhuri
Vice Provost for Internationalization