Dear Readers:
President Biden officially ended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023, after concluding the National Emergency in April. As a result, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program’s (SEVP) COVID-19 guidance is now defunct. Active F and M nonimmigrant students can continue their 2022-23 academic year under the temporary COVID-19 flexibilities until the summer of 2023. However, they can no longer count online classes beyond regulatory limits towards their full course of study for the 2023-24 academic year. Initial and re-entering students must comply with distance learning regulations.
On May 23, 2023, a new and interesting Bill was introduced in Congress. The Dignity Act of 2023 revolutionizes U.S. immigration by fortifying border security, expanding infrastructure, legalizing undocumented immigrants, and crafting new pathways for economic migrants, asylum seekers, and unaccompanied minors. By leveraging technology, funding and personnel, it strengthens border control and protects vulnerable communities. It also addresses visa backlogs and reforms guest and worker visa policies, promising significant change in the U.S. immigration landscape, contingent upon successful implementation and sustained bipartisan support.
