Proposed Changes To The SEVP May Allow Student Dependents To Study In US

27 Dec 2013

Proposed changes to the Student and Exchange Visitor Programs (SEVP) were announced on 2^nd December, 2013. These changes provide a more flexible approach for the management of foreign students along with increased opportunities for their children and spouses to study in the US.

The announcement stated, for a more flexible approach, the changes will remove the limit of 10 DSOs (Designated School Officials) to nominate for the inspection of campuses.

This means school officials will have more flexibility to decide on the number of DSOs. Schools which are certified for SEVP have DSOs as dedicated resources. They help nonimmigrant students under M-1 or F-1 Student Visas to maintain their status, fill out necessary government forms and gain benefits while staying and studying in the US.

The prospective changes in the notice of suggested rulemaking also include granting spouses and dependents of foreign students holding M-1 or F-1 Visas to study at a SEVP-certified school. However, the course must be less than full-time.

Louis Farrell, Director of SEVP said that these proposed changes will provide higher incentives for foreign students to study in the US by widening the opportunities to study for their children and spouses.

As per the announcement, the changes, proposed by US ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) based on the boosted advice of by the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council’s findings on a series of reforms crafted to the commitment of drawing foreign students while preserving the standards of national security.

The proposed rule has been presented to the Federal Register for publication and is open until late January for public comment.