Update on Internationalization

Note: Though this announcement was sent to the community on July 26, 2020, a link here was updated on Aug. 13.

Dear DU Community,

Today the following message was sent to our incoming international students in response to the SEVP announcement made on Friday by the Department of Homeland Security.

Uttiyo Raychaudhuri
Vice Provost for Internationalization

Dear F-1 Student,

Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Denver. I’m writing today to provide some important clarification on the latest Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announcement (pdf) issued yesterday regarding the requirements for F-1 students for the Fall 2020 term.

As an incoming F-1 student to the University of Denver, we want to provide more details based on the information we received, and to assure you that you may still enroll in classes at DU this fall, either remotely or on campus. Please pay careful attention to the details below and if you have questions don’t hesitate to contact us at isss@du.edu.

As you know, DU will offer a combination of in-person, hybrid and online class for the fall term.

Section 1: If you will be in the U.S. for the Fall term:
 

English Language Center (ELC) students, you are required to enroll full-time (12 credits) in the ELC’s hybrid program.
 

Graduate students, you are required to take at least 8 credits. Of the 8 required credits:

1. One class must be in-person or hybrid.
2. All other classes may be any combination of in-person, hybrid or online.

 
Undergraduate students, you are required to take at least 12 credits. Of the required 12 credits:

1. One class must be in-person or hybrid.
2. All other classes may be any combination of in-person, hybrid or online.

 
All Students:

1. If DU changes to all online classes once the Fall term has started, the SEVP announcement states that you will NOT be required to leave the United States.
2. Carry the letter sent to you by ISSS dated July 22, 2020 about DU’s fall term instruction.
3. If you are able to register for classes before arriving in the U.S., print a copy of your registration showing at least one in-person or hybrid class.

 
Section 2: If you are unable to enter the U.S. for the Fall term:

1. Your I-20 start date will need to be updated to reflect your first term of study in the U.S.
2. You can still enroll in online classes to begin your academic program while outside the U.S.
3. You can choose to not enroll for Fall term

 
Section 3: If you are transferring your SEVIS record for Fall term:

1. You are expected to follow the guidelines listed in Section 1
2. Transfer students who are unable to reenter the U.S. will need to defer the start of their I-20. SEVP may allow the gap between programs to exceed five months.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) will provide this information to academic advisors, departments and University administration, but you should share the information with University faculty and staff who will help you with Fall registration.

Note that this SEVP broadcast did not make any modifications to the existing travel restrictions or the opening of visa offices as those decisions are handled by different US government agencies. Also, the information provided above is correct as of the date of this message. We will update you immediately if government guidelines or other circumstances change so as to affect this information. 

You must also have valid documents to enter the U.S., which include: 

1. Valid passport
2. Current I-20 at the time of entry
3. Valid F-1 entry visa (Canadian and Bermudan citizens are exempt)
4. F-1 entry visa may not be available if consulates remain closed and in that case you may choose to enroll as listed under Section 2
5. Carry the letter sent to you by ISSS dated July 22, 2020 about DU’s fall term instruction
6. If you are able to register for classes before arriving in the U.S., print a copy of your registration showing at least one in-person or hybrid class.
    

Please do not hesitate to contact ISSS at isss@du.edu for any questions. We wish you the best and look forward to welcoming you to the U.S. and the University of Denver
 

Sincerely,

Uttiyo Raychaudhuri
Vice Provost for Internationalization