Immigration

All international students planning to study at the University of Richmond must obtain the appropriate visas before traveling to the United States. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) are responsible for implementing and overseeing immigration regulations for non-immigrant students.

Non-Immigrant Students

  • An F-1 student is a non-U.S. citizen who is pursuing a full-time course of study to achieve a specific educational or professional objective at a U.S. academic institution that has been designated by the DHS to offer courses of study to such students.
  • A J-1 student is a non-U.S. citizen who is enrolled full-time at an accredited educational institution in either a degree or non-degree prescribed course of study that is supported by a U.S. or foreign government, a U.S. or foreign academic institution, or an international organization.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) helps the DHS and DOS monitor F and J category visitors. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an Internet database that houses information about all international students studying in the United States.

Immigration Update

 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s has proposed a rule to eliminate the current “Duration of Status” (D/S) admission for F-1/J-1 visa holders and replace it with a fixed period of admission. If published, the rule would affect F-1/J-1 students and scholars who wish to extend their program beyond their I-20/DS-2019 program end date by requiring them to file the I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status with support from the CGE and receive USCIS approval for the extension.

Students applying for post-completion optional practical training (OPT) would also need to file for this extension. The rule would shorten the 60-day grace period for F-1 students to 30 days. Undergraduates would not be able to transfer to another U.S. institution in their 1st academic year, and graduate students would not be able to change programs or transfer to another U.S. institution. Students would only be permitted to pursue another U.S. degree at a higher academic level. Click here to learn more about the proposed rule, including timing and exceptions