International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

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Updated August 4, 2020 FALL 2020 ANNOUNCEMENT: Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that are listed further down on this page.

The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office is committed to assisting international students, faculty and scholars in accomplishing their academic, personal and professional objectives through advising, providing immigration services, promoting cross-cultural opportunities and offering specific programs and services to our international population.

The mission of International Student and Scholar Services is to facilitate compliance with federal regulations that govern the immigration status of international students, faculty and scholars at Stevens, enhancing their experience while facilitating their academic and cultural pursuits.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates for Stevens International Students

Per the Stevens’ COVID-19 policy, the ISSS office is providing services fully remotely during business hours until further notice. As ISSS remains operational, please contact ISSS only via email [email protected] and continue to submit your applications to [email protected].

For additional information visit the Virtual Assistance page or access below the Zoom Front Desk Assistant and the Virtual Advising Hours Calendar.

ENTER ZOOM FRONT DESK ASSISTANCE HERE Request a Time Slot for Virtual Advising Hours

Please note additional reminders & updates below:

ISSS COVID-19 Scam Alerts J-1 COVID-19 Reminders & Updates

FALL 2020 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Continuing Undergraduate and Graduate Students Incoming (Initial) Graduate Students Incoming (Initial) Undergraduate Students Students Engaged in OPT/STEM OPT

FAQs: Continuing Undergraduate & Graduate Students

Stevens had previously made the determination that the fall semester would operate in a hybrid format, StevensFlex, offering a significant number of courses in the hybrid format. On August 3, Stevens made the decision that only first-year students (incoming undergraduates), new transfer students, and new graduate students will have the opportunity for an on-campus learning experience this fall (StevensFlex). This significant change means that continuing students (students that have already completed one or more semesters) will pursue their education online for the fall semester, not in the hybrid format. Change of Level (COL) students are considered continuing students.

With this adjustment, ISSS can now confirm that all continuing international students, in the U.S. or outside the U.S., can engage in their studies in a complete online format for the fall 2020 semester without impacting their immigration record. Students will still need to register for the minimum number of credits (9 credits for graduate, 12 for undergraduate) in order to maintain their F-1 status and allow ISSS to keep your SEVIS record active for the fall 2020 semester.

You are permitted to take a break from your studies if you wish. In this case, students will need to submit an Authorized Early Withdrawal application to [email protected] so that ISSS can take action on your immigration (SEVIS) record. Please note that you would also take a leave from Stevens, and there may be additional paperwork to file with another office for a personal leave. Once this is processed, you will have 15 days to depart the U.S. if you have not done so already. As of now, government guidance does not provide any special instructions or accommodations for those considering an AEW. We will provide updates if further government guidance on this topic becomes available

To see how this impacts your OPT and CPT, please see the question, “How does taking an Authorized Early Withdrawal (AEW) affect my OPT and CPT?”

To understand what process you need to follow to return after an AEW, please see the question, “If I take an Authorized Early Withdrawal (AEW), what documents to I need to submit to return to campus for a future semester?”
An AEW can “reset” the clock for being enrolled in two semesters upon return to continue your studies. This is because once you decide to return to continue your studies in person, you will come back on a new initial I-20. In order to qualify for OPT or CPT, you need to complete 2 semesters on the new SEVIS record. For example, you take an AEW for the fall 2020 semester and return to the U.S. to resume studies in spring 2021, you will have only completed one semester on the new record and will not be eligible do a CPT experience in summer 2021. Since fall 2021 would be the second semester, you still would not qualify for CPT. You would be permitted to apply for OPT in the fall 2021 semester, your second semester of enrollment on the new SEVIS record. You would be permitted to apply for OPT in the fall 2021 semester, your second semester of enrollment on the new SEVIS record.

IMPORTANT: If you only have 9 or less credits remaining in your degree program, then when you return to Stevens, you will not be eligible for OPT, since you only need one more semester to complete your program and you will have not met the 2 semester requirement for OPT recommendation.
If you take the AEW, then you will need to contact us at least 60 days prior to the start of the semester in which you wish to return so we can start the I-20 process. In order to be issued a new I-20, please follow the instructions on the I-20 Request Form (Type of I-20 You Are Requesting: Returning from a Leave of Absence). You will have to submit financial documentation again that shows that you can continue for another year. If you have less than one year remaining, you will only need to show funding for that one semester.

You will need to pay the SEVIS fee again. To determine if you need a new visa, visit this webpage.

To see how this impacts your OPT and CPT, please see the question, “How does taking an Authorized Early Withdrawal (AEW) affect my OPT and CPT?”

PLEASE NOTE: At this time, SEVP has not addressed whether, due to COVID-19, students can “reactivate” their previous SEVIS record to allow students to return on their previous SEVIS record. If this is possible, then students may still be eligible for OPT and CPT upon return to campus in a future term, since the two-semester clock will not reset. Since there has been no guidance on this and no decision has been made, students must operate and make decisions based on the current AEW rules which state that students outside the U.S. for more than 5 months must return on a new initial I-20 record.
All continuing international students that are already in their home country can remain in their home country and engage in their studies in a complete online format for the fall 2020 semester without impacting their immigration record. Students will still need to register for the minimum number of credits (9 credits for graduate, 12 for undergraduate) in order to maintain their F-1 status and allow ISSS to keep your SEVIS record active for the fall 2020 semester.

At this time, students should expect to return for the spring 2021 semester. Stevens will make decisions about the spring semester at a later time.
All continuing international students that wish to return to their home country and engage in their studies in a complete online format for the fall 2020 semester can do so without impacting their immigration record. Students will still need to register for the minimum number of credits (9 credits for graduate, 12 for undergraduate) in order to maintain their F-1 status and allow ISSS to keep your SEVIS record active for the fall 2020 semester.

At this time, students should expect to return for the spring 2021 semester. Stevens will make decisions about the spring semester at a later time.
The five-months rule applies only to students that interrupt their studies. If you are maintaining full-time status until the end of the fall semester and intend to register as usual for the spring semester, this rule will not affect you. At this time, students should expect to return for the spring 2021 semester. Stevens will make decisions about the spring semester at a later time.
All continuing international students that wish to remain in the U.S. and engage in their studies in a complete online format for the fall 2020 semester can do so without impacting their immigration record. Students will still need to register for the minimum number of credits (9 credits for graduate, 12 for undergraduate) in order to maintain their F-1 status and allow ISSS to keep your SEVIS record active for the fall 2020 semester.
Since continuing students will only be permitted to engage in online study for the fall semester, ISSS is permitted to keep your SEVIS record active for the fall semester. This will not impact your eligibility to qualify for CPT or OPT.

If this if your final semester, please see the question, “Fall 2020 is my final semester and I have decided to complete my studies from my home country. How does this impact my OPT?”
You can complete your coursework at home. Students will need to submit an Reduced Course Load (RCL) form by the add/drop period if you have less than a full-time course load to complete. ISSS will keep your SEVIS record active in case you want to return and apply for OPT before your program end date.

USCIS states that you must be in the U.S. to apply for OPT. Students completing their degree program in the fall 2020 semester who are outside of the U.S. and wish to apply for OPT, will need to enter prior to December 23, the fall 2020 program end date. Students that re-enter before this date will be able to apply for OPT during the grace period.

Students that do not re-enter the U.S. prior to December 23, will not be able to apply for OPT. Please note entry to the U.S. is determined by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), not ISSS, so we cannot guarantee that you will be permitted to re-enter. Also keep in mind that since the pandemic is an ongoing, changing situation, there could be travel restrictions in the future.
Ph.D. students that have finished their coursework will need to enroll in D-999 in order to maintain their status. Ph.D. students already in the U.S. working on their thesis/dissertation are permitted to remain in the U.S. Ph.D. students that are not in the U.S. or who will not be able to return to the U.S. for the fall semester should email [email protected] to discuss your specific case.
Students that have completed a program in spring 2020 or their OPT and will begin a new program of study at Stevens this fall semester, have been issued a COL I-20. Since you are continuing at Stevens, you are considered a continuing student. This means that you can enroll in all online courses for the fall 2020 semester. If you are outside of the U.S., please email [email protected].

FAQs: Incoming (Initial) Graduate Students

It is important to note that the DHS’ recent guidance only concerns international students who will be entering the United States in F-1 student status for their studies. These rules do not apply to international students who will be taking classes from outside of the United States.

Per the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s recent guidance you will be issued an updated Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status with a notation in the comments about the hybrid format of courses in the fall 2020 semester. This updated I-20 will be sent to your personal email address provided on admission application. Carefully review your Form I-20 and ensure that the information reflected is correct. Remember to print your Form I-20 and then sign and date the I-20 on the bottom of the first page.
Students who select the option to come to campus by October 26, but are not able to do so, can continue courses remotely from their home country, but F-1 status will not begin until you enter the U.S. to begin classes in the following semester. You will be issued a new I-20 with the spring 2021 start date.

To see how this impacts your OPT and CPT, please see the question, “How does starting my courses online affect my OPT and CPT?”
An incoming international student who has not secured a valid visa or does not enter the U.S. is not subject to U.S. immigration law and thus may take a full set of online classes while residing abroad. Students will be reissued a new I-20 for the spring 2021 semester in order to enter the U.S. for the spring semester.

To see how this impacts your OPT and CPT, please see the question, “How does starting my courses online affect my OPT and CPT?”
As U.S Federal Regulations have not been changed, you must begin your program at Stevens within 5 months of completing your program of study at your cur¬rent school, or within 5 months of ending your authorized post-OPT period or within 5 months of your transfer release date, whichever is earlier.

If you are not able to defer or delay (to October 26, 2020) your start date because it does not met the 5 month requirement, you need to report to Stevens in person by August 31, 2020 and maintain your full-time enrollment by enrolling in the hybrid format as required for F-1 student.

If you decide that you want to take all your courses online for fall 2020, then you will be eligible only for an “Initial” I-20 Form for the spring 2021, unless end of your current program or transfer release date within 5 months of the start date of the spring 2021 semester, January 19, 2021. This means that if you are in the U.S. and only wish to take online courses for the fall semester, you may do so, but only after you depart the U.S. Your transfer I-20 will be invalid, and you will be issued a new initial I-20 for the spring 2021 semester.

To see how this impacts your OPT and CPT, please see the question, “How does starting my courses online affect my OPT and CPT?”
If you decide that you want to take all your courses online for fall 2020, then you will be eligible only for an “Initial” I-20 Form for the spring 2021, unless end of your current program or transfer release date within 5 months of the start date of the spring 2021 semester, January 19, 2021. This means that if you will need to remain outside the U.S. to take the online courses for the fall semester. Your transfer I-20 will be invalid, and you will be issued a new initial I-20 for the spring 2021 semester. If you have an unexpired F-1 visa in your possession, you may attempt to enter the U.S. using the valid F-1 visa along with the new I-20s.

To see how this impacts your OPT and CPT, please see the question, “How does starting my courses online affect my OPT and CPT?”
Per the F-1 regulations, an F-1 student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis in Stevens for one full academic year (two consecutive semesters) to be eligible for CPT and OPT. For example, you decided to start your degree online in the fall 2020 semester and come to the U.S. to begin studies in spring 2021. You will have only completed one semester in F-1 status in the US and will not be eligible to do a CPT experience in summer 2021. Since fall 2021 would be the second semester, you still would not qualify for CPT. However, the F-1 regulations state that exceptions to the one academic year requirements are provided for students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in CPT such as Stevens Co-Op program and special academic experiential learning program. You would be permitted to apply for OPT in the fall 2021 semester, if you have completed your degree requirements at that time, as that would be your second semester of enrollment.

FAQs: Incoming (Initial) Undergraduate Students

Per the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s recent guidance you will be issued an updated Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status with a notation in the comments about the hybrid format of courses in the fall 2020 semester. This updated I-20 will be sent to your personal email address provided on admission application. Carefully review your Form I-20 and ensure that the information reflected is correct. Remember to print your Form I-20 and then sign and date the I-20 on the bottom of the first page.
An incoming international student who has not secured a valid visa or does not enter the U.S. is not subject to U.S. immigration law and thus may take a full set of online classes while residing abroad. Students will be reissued a new I-20 for the spring 2021 semester in order to enter the U.S. for the spring semester.

To see how this impacts your OPT and CPT, please see the question, “How does starting my courses online affect my OPT and CPT?”
As U.S Federal Regulations have not been changed, you must begin your program at Stevens within 5 months of completing your program of study at your current school, or within 5 months of ending your authorized post-OPT period or within 5 months of your transfer release date, whichever is earlier.

If you decide that you want to take all your courses online for fall 2020, then you will be eligible only for an “Initial” I-20 Form for the spring 2021, unless end of your current program or transfer release date within 5 months of the start date of the spring 2021 semester, January 19, 2021. This means that if you are in the U.S. and only wish to take online courses for the fall semester, you may do so, but only after you depart the U.S. Your transfer I-20 will be invalid, and you will be issued a new initial I-20 for the spring 2021 semester.

To see how this impacts your OPT and CPT, please see the question, “How does starting my courses online affect my OPT and CPT?”
If you decide that you want to take all your courses online for fall 2020, then you will be eligible only for an “Initial” I-20 Form for the spring 2021, unless end of your current program or transfer release date within 5 months of the start date of the spring 2021 semester, January 19, 2021. This means that if you will need to remain outside the US to take the online courses for the fall semester. Your transfer I-20 will be invalid, and you will be issued a new initial I-20 for the spring 2021 semester. If you have an unexpired F-1 visa in your possession, you may attempt to enter the U.S. using the valid F-1 visa along with the new I-20s.

To see how this impacts your OPT and CPT, please see the question, “How does starting my courses online affect my OPT and CPT?”
Per the F-1 regulations, an F-1 student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis in Stevens for one full academic year (two consecutive semesters) to be eligible for CPT and OPT. For example, you decided to start your degree online in the fall 2020 semester and come to the U.S. to begin studies in spring 2021. You will have only completed one semester in F-1 status in the U.S. and will not be eligible to do a CPT experience in summer 2021. Since fall 2021 would be the second semester, you still would not qualify for CPT.

FAQs: Undergraduate & Graduate Students Engaged in OPT/STEM OPT

The guidance released only pertains to students that will be enrolled in courses pursuing their degree. Since students that are currently on OPT/STEM OPT are no longer enrolled in courses, the announcement does not have any impact. Students on OPT/STEM OPT should still be abiding by the F-1 regulations of working a minimum of 20 hours a week in employment that is related to their studies. Students engaged in STEM OPT must also be working for an E-Verified employer and be paid for their employment. Students should be mindful of the number of unemployment days they have remaining and should report any employment changes within 10 days of the change.

Contact ISSS

Email Assistance: [email protected]

Application Submission: [email protected]

New and Recently Admitted International Students: [email protected]

Meet Our Staff

Lauren Berlamino, Assistant Director
School of Business

Nicole Burlinson, International Services & Program Assistant

Katerina Holubova, Advisor
Computer Science

Alyssa Morga, Data Manager

Karine Nanagoulian, Senior Advisor

Nilyufer Namazova, Advisor
Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mathematical Sciences, Physics

Tina Song, Coordinator

Brittany Then, Advisor
School of Systems and Enterprises (SSE), College of Arts and Letters (CAL), Mechanical Engineering

Jean Lee, Director
Employment Based Petitions: O-1, H-1B, TN, Legal Permanent Resident (This applies only to employment at Stevens. Inquiries concerning petitions filed by employers other than Stevens should be directed to the employer filing the petition)

Announcements

Virtual Front Desk & Advising…

ISSS is now offering Front Desk Assistance and Advising Hours via Zoom.

Learn More

COVID-19 Specific SCAM Alert

During this time, it is important to not fall victim to COVID-19 related scam calls.

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Travel Advisory Alert

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the travel ban for nationals from North Korea, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Venezuela, which has been in effect since December…

Important Scam Alert

Please be aware and cautious of “scam calls.” A scam call is a malicious call with the intention of illegally acquiring money or personal information from you…

ISSS Processing Time

Due to an increasingly large volume of applications, the ISSS current processing time for all F-1 and J-1 applications is at least 10 business days

USCIS Policy Memorandum

On May 10, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum...