On April 26, 2021, SEVP announced that F-1 students will continue to have flexibility for remote study for the 2021-22 school year. You can download the announcement here. This guidance allows distance learning in excess of regulatory limits due to the public health emergency as a result of COVID-19. For continuing students who are currently in the U.S. in F-1 status with an active SEVIS I-20 record may continue to take online classes for fall 2021. For continuing students who are currently outside the U.S. with an active SEVIS I-20 may continue to take online classes for fall 2021. These students are expected to maintain their active SEVIS record as long as they enroll in a full course load and otherwise maintain their F-1 status. That also means that CSM will continue reporting via the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) for international students who are enrolled online but otherwise maintaining their full-time F-1 status. If you encounter any personal, academic or medical issues that may prevent you from enrolling in 12 units, please make sure to email askcsminternational@smccd.edu for assistance immediately. If you are dropped below 12 units and can no longer return to a full-time status, you SEVIS I-20 may be terminated. A terminated SEVIS record means you no longer maintain F-1 status.

As long as you are enrolled in a minimum of 12 units for the fall semester, you are not required to check if the classes are coded as online or in-person.

You are still required to take classes from only 2 colleges in the San Mateo Community College District. To maintain your F-1 status, you must enroll in a minimum of 6 units of courses taught by CSM professors and coded as CSM classes.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a memo on March 25. Based on the memo, F-1 students were given the permission to temporarily count online classes toward a full course of study even if they have left the United States and are taking the online classes elsewhere. On April 26, 2021, the Frequently Asked Questions for SEVP Stakeholders about COVID-19 provided additional clarifications that “the five-month temporary absence provision addressed in 8 C.F.R. 214.2(f)(4) will not apply for students who remain in Active status during COVID-19.” In other words, as long as your F-1 student status remains in "Active" status since the District transitioned to online teaching modalities in spring 2020, the 5-month rule does not apply to you. Read the most up-to-date Frequently Asked Questions for SEVP Stakeholders about COVID-19.

Please use the Fall 2021 International Student Health Related Fees Refund/Waiver Form to request a refund or waiver for your health insurance if you are going to take classes fully online from outside of the U.S. To qualify for a refund, you must not be in the United States between August 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021 and must have departed prior to July 31, 2021. This online form and supporting I-94 and Travel History (or airline itinerary) must be submitted by Friday, August 20, 2021 at 11:59 pm (PDT).

Due to the current campus closure, all CSM international students should report their international travel by filling out this CSM international student travel survey.

A travel signature on your I-20 is not required to depart the U.S. Due to the current college closure, we will not be able to physically sign your I-20 at this time. For those who have a signature signed within the last 6 months or so, we’d ask you to review the date it was signed first. If you have a signature that will still be valid upon your re-entry (each signature is valid for 1 year), you do not need a new signature. If you are going to transfer to a 4-year university or another community college at the end of the fall semester, please contact the new school to inquire about getting your new I-20. If you are not returning to CSM to resume coursework, we will not provide you with a new travel signature on your I-20 at this time.

According to the most recent update published on March 26, 2020 by the The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, schools now can provide electronic I-20 travel signatures to students via email. If you do need a new travel signature, we ask you to first complete the CSM international student travel survey A staff member will contact you in the following business day after your travel signature request is received.

Due to travel restrictions constantly evolving and because current regulations are subject to change, we encourage you to continue monitoring the following websites to ensure your safe return to the U.S. while planning your travel accordingly.

• CDC Requirements for All Air Passengers Arriving in the U.S.
• San Mateo County Health Department
• Study in the States COVID-19 Resources

Please make sure to have ALL of the following F-1 travel documents before returning to the U.S. Make sure to carry documents with you in carry-on luggage, NOT in your checked baggage! You need access to your visa documents at all times including on a transit flight.

• Passport (must be valid at least 6 months beyond your re-entry date)
• F-1 visa (must be valid when re-entering the U.S.)
• SEVIS Form I-20 (must have a program end date beyond your re-entry date on page 1 of your I-20--see sample below and must have a valid travel signature on page 2 of your I-20--see sample below)

It is also recommended to review the re-entry requirements and prepare the following supporting documents when re-entering the U.S.

• Your SMCCD class schedule and academic transcripts (you may print out from your WebSMART account)
• I-901 Fee payment receipt (you may print out from this website)
• Your financial support documents provided by the sponsor whose name is listed on your I-20

Given the current U.S. immigration climate, you should be prepared for the possibility of increased scrutiny at the U.S. port of entry and/or inspection of your phone or social media. Please be aware that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers may question your purpose for entering the U.S., your planned activities in the U.S., and/or information about your academic program.

• If you are questioned, you should remain calm and answer the questions honestly and succinctly. What NOT to say: Jokes about terrorism or anything that is in violation of breaking U.S. laws including drugs, alcohol and gun ownership.
• Preparing Your Electronic Devices: CBP Officers may also ask questions about your electronic devices or inspect them. This may include all of your social media accounts. For tips on how to prepare your devices, read this article published by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Finally, we also ask you to keep a close contact with the Center for Global Engagement when planning your travel schedule to return to the U.S. Please make sure to email askcsminternational@smccd.edu once you determine the date of your return to the U.S. We will make sure to provide you with the most up-to-date information to ensure your safe return.

For additional questions and concerns, please contact Aubrey Kuan Roderick, Program Manager by email at rodericka@smccd.edu.