Compliance Management

Study Abroad Visas: Summer Refresh Series

Just in time for the start of the academic year, join a series of discussions led by NAFSA's Consular Affairs Liaison volunteer leaders.

Title IX Regulations in the Study Abroad Context

April 29, 2024

On Monday, April 29, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education published their final rule titled Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance, which will amend the regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of

2024 Immigration Review

Using GI Bill Benefits for Study Abroad

On April 10, 2024 NAFSA hosted a Government Connection with representatives from the Veterans Affairs Administration to discuss using GI Bill benefits for study abroad. A special focus of this conversation was the VA’s latest study abroad guidance, which established an actionable pathway for GI Bill

Regulatory Perspectives: Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

NAFSA members joined NAFSA staffers David Fosnocht and Steve Springer for a discussion of F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT), the CPT regulation and agency guidance on CPT, and an overview of NAFSA’s agency liaison on CPT. What are common institutional approaches to CPT? What are the

EVP Guidance Directive 2024-01 Discusses Patient Contact in J-1 Academic Categories

On March 14, 2024 the Department of State exchange visitor program office distributed Guidance Directive 2024-01 to program sponsors, describing several factors that sponsors should "assess in the affirmative" when determining whether human or animal contact is appropriate for an academic exchange

USCIS Rule on Improving the H-1B Registration Selection Process and Program Integrity

On February 2, 2024 USCIS published a final rule effective March 4, 2024, titled Improving the H-1B Registration Selection Process and Program Integrity. Read the final rule published at 89 FR 7456 (February 2, 2024). The rule: Creates a new "beneficiary-centric" H-1B registration selection protocol

International Health Insurance for Study Abroad

Contributors from the 2023 Education Abroad Knowledge Community (EAKC) Health & Safety in Education Abroad subcommittee: Kim Priebe, University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill Derek Smallwood, Colorado State University International health insurance for students studying abroad is not just a

SSA Guidance Incorporating DHS and DOS Policy on Electronic Signing and Transmission of Forms I-20 and DS-2019

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has updated its Program Operations Manual System (POMS) to recognize DHS and DOS policies that allow DSOs and ROs to digitally sign and electronically transmit Forms I-20 and DS-2019. However, SSA has not updated its policies requiring letters supporting F-1

USCIS Launches H-1B Organizational Accounts and Online Filing of H-1B Forms I-129 and I-907

In February, 2024 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched the following online functionality for H-1B petitions: Online organizational accounts that "will allow multiple individuals within an organization, such as a company or other business entity, and their legal representatives