F-1 and J-1 Immigration Updates

The new regulation at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/17/2026-14439/establishing-a-fixed-time-period-of-admission-and-an-extension-of-stay-procedure-for-nonimmigrant which was set to go into effect on September 15, 2026 is paused nationwide due to a preliminary injunction issued by a U.S. District Court Judge in Massachusetts, see https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.305059/gov.uscourts.mad.305059.50.0_1.pdf . Students, graduates on OPT/STEM OPT, and J-1 scholars are currently able to extend their F-1 or J-1 status by obtaining an extended I-20 or DS-2019, provided they are eligible for an extension and their I-94 grants their status through their "Duration of Status" (D/S). Any I-94 with a specific admit until date actually does mean that the student, graduate, or scholar's status will end on that date. Students or scholars with a specific admit until date on their I-94 should schedule an appointment with their CGE advisor by using the Schedule with an Advisor function in Nole Start - https://istart.fsu.edu to navigate to the appropriate advisor's booking page. The academic restrictions on changing major or pursuing a second degree at the same or lower level do not apply at this time due to the injunction mentioned above.

Changes to the Definition of "Integral" for CPT

Below is the Department of Homeland Security's most recent guidance regarding how schools should define "integral" for the purposes of approving Curricular Practical Training. This is a major change in how universities must approach CPT authorization.

Broadcast Message: Guidance for Designated School Officials regarding Curricular Practical Training

To: PDSOs and DSOs at SEVP-certified Schools

Date: August 24, 2026

BCM Number: 2608-02

General Information

On August 12, 2026, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued Broadcast Message 2608-01. This broadcast informed all Designated School Officials (DSOs) that SEVP has observed a rise in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorizations that appear to violate regulatory requirements which permit CPT only where the training is an integral part of an established curriculum. Accurate and timely reporting by schools and students allows SEVP to manage the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a critical tool in SEVP's mission to protect national security and ensure the integrity of the nation's educational and cultural exchange programs. Failure to comply with SEVP regulations may result in an institution losing certification to enroll foreign students.

The guidance below provides additional information on how CPT operates as an integral and required part of an educational experience.

1. How is CPT defined in regulation?

A foreign student may be authorized by a DSO to participate in a CPT program that is an integral part of an established curriculum. Curricular practical training is defined as alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.

2. How is CPT different from Optional Practical Training?

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is training that is not an integral part of a student's established curriculum. OPT is not intended to fulfill requirements of a student's program of study and successful program completion does not require participation in OPT; it is optional. In contrast, CPT fulfills an integral element of an established curriculum and successful completion is contingent on participation in CPT. As defined [merriam-webster.com] by Merriam-Webster, "integral" means "essential to completeness" as in, "an integral part of the curriculum."

3. Can CPT be offered as a part of an elective course?

In any instance where an elective course is optional, making the CPT optional, the integral and required aspects of CPT would not be met. CPT is an integral part of an established curriculum, and the practical training is required for all students participating in that curriculum, regardless of citizenship.

4. Because CPT is allowed only where the training is an integral part of an established curriculum, does that mean that all students enrolled in the established curriculum must participate in and complete practical training?

Yes. Unlike OPT, participation in CPT is not optional for any student participating in an established curriculum that the school has determined requires CPT as an integral part of the educational experience. This means that all students - foreign and American - are required to participate in practical training if they are enrolled in an established curriculum where practical training is integral. While auditing and investigating schools to ensure compliance, SEVP has noted that some institutions have described CPT as if it is optional practical training and not integral, despite clear regulatory requirements. SEVP has also discovered that some institutions have not required all students enrolled in the same established curriculum to participate in practical training, despite clear regulatory requirements that CPT is permitted only where the practical training is an integral part of an established curriculum. Prior broadcast messages [ice.gov] have clearly made this distinction between CPT and OPT and reminded DSOs of the integral and required elements of CPT.

5. Are foreign students required to proactively request CPT authorization from their DSO?

Yes. Foreign students must make an official request for authorization for CPT to their DSO so that the school can confirm that the student is participating in an established curriculum where practical training is integral, make a determination that the training is directly related to the student's major area of study, and update the student's SEVIS record to ensure that DHS can conduct proper oversight as required under federal law. A DSO's failure to maintain these verification and record-keeping requirements may face significant SEVP sanctions. 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(f)(10)(i); 214.3(l)(2); 214.4(a)(2).

6. Must all CPT be conducted by sponsoring employers that have established cooperative agreements with the school?

Yes. Schools should only enter into cooperative agreements with legitimate, bona fide employers who are able to provide a quality practical training experience to students.

CPT students should have access to practical training managed by an employer who has entered into a cooperative agreement with a school where it is agreed the employer will sponsor the school's students for specific training such as an alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or any other type of required internship or practicum that is specific to the student's major area of study. Students are not expected to obtain EADs for this training, which is an integral and required part of the curriculum.

7. As a DSO, what are my options if I believe I am being pressured by school leadership to make questionable, improper, or otherwise noncompliant decisions and attestations on behalf of foreign students?

DSOs serve a critical role in upholding the integrity of the nation's foreign student program and serve as important partners with the federal government. If you believe you are being asked, directed, coerced, or otherwise pressured to make attestations you feel do not comply with regulations, we want to hear from you. The new SEVP tipline serves as a confidential avenue for you to relay these concerns for further review by SEVP and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Please contact the SEVP Response Center (SRC) via phone at 703-603-3400 or 1-800-892-4829 or via email at SEVP@ice.dhs.gov. The SRC is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, except for federal holidays.

Disclaimer

The Broadcast Message is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is it itself a rule or a final action by SEVP. It is not intended to, does not, and may not be relied upon to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by any party in any administrative, civil, or criminal matter.

Recent Updates that May Impact International Travel

Travel bans effective January 1, 2026 prohibit U.S. visa issuance for citizens of the following countries pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation - Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States – The White House:

• Afghanistan
• Angola
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Burma
• Burundi
• Chad
• Republic of the Congo
• Cote d ‘Ivoire
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Gabon
• The Gambia
• Haiti
• Iran
• Laos
• Libya
• Malawi
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Palestinian Authority Document Holders
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Syria
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Tonga
• Venezuela
• Yemen
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Although the presidential proclamation clarifies in Section 6 that the bans are not applicable to those whose have valid visas that were issued prior to January 1, 2026, Customs and Border Protection always has broad discretion to determine whether a traveler is eligible for entry to the U.S. for their stated purpose.

Students who have a valid B visa in their passport cannot use that visa to enter the U.S. for study, as that status strictly prohibits degree-seeking course attendance and on-campus employment.

The above travel bans do not cause visa revocation or status termination. Students from the above countries may remain in the U.S. regardless of whether they have a valid F-1 visa stamp in their passport.

Additional measures that may impact a student’s ability to enter or re-enter the U.S. from international travel include:

• U.S. Consulates are implementing enhanced vetting and screening (administrative processing) during the visa application process pursuant to an executive order issued on January 20, 2025. Most administrative processing is completed in 30-90 days but can take longer.
• The U.S. State Department has instructed that visa applicants should apply for non-immigrant visas only in their country of last permanent residence.
• Citizens of several countries receive a three-month validity, one entry only F-1 or J-1 visa. Check the reciprocity tables at prior to planning travel U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country

Carry your I-94 Paper Printout at all Times

As the U.S. government intensifies immigration compliance efforts, it is extremely important that students in F-1 and J-1 immigration status comply with a law that has been in effect since 1952. Section 264(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act requires nonimmigrants over the age of 18 to carry their “evidence of registration” document at all times. For F-1 and J-1 students, this is the Form I-94 Arrival Record. If you have not already done so, print your most recent I-94 arrival record from I-94 Official Website to paper and carry it with you at all times in a purse, pocket, or backpack. F-1 visa holders who are engaged in post-completion OPT or STEM OPT should also carry their EAD.

We recommend that everyone also have available an electronic or paper copy of their most recent I-20 or DS-2019 and a paper or electronic copy of their passport biographical information page, though these are not strictly required by the above law.

INA 264(e) further guides that “Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.”

If someone requests your immigration registration document:

• You may politely ask for the person's law enforcement credentials - their badge, badge number, business card, or other identifying document.
• You may politely ask what law enforcement agency they represent if you are in doubt.
• You may write down any information you obtain about the person's credentials, but you might not be permitted to take a photo.
• Calmly tell the law enforcement officer where your document is located and show the paper printout of your I-94. You do not need to provide additional documentation unless asked.
• If you do not have a paper printout of your I-94 or your EAD with you, calmly ask the officer if you can find it on your phone and tell them where your phone is located on your person or in your bag. Go to I-94 Official Website. Ensure that you have your passport number memorized or handy at all times as the I-94 lookup requires it.
• Do not relinquish any documents to the individual if you are at all in doubt about their credentials, but just show the I-94 or EAD and keep it in your possession.
• Never lie if asked if you are a U.S. citizen. The consequences are worse than not having your I-94 available.
• You have the right to refuse a law enforcement officer entry to your home, vehicle, or workplace without a warrant or court order that shows your name and that is signed by a judge.
• Immigration officers can request immigration registration documents without a warrant on any bus, train, or immigration checkpoint within 100 miles of any U.S. border. All of Florida falls within this 100-mile border area.
• In the unlikely event that you are detained for not having your registration document with you, you have the right to call to an immigration attorney and your country's consulate. You may also be able to call either the CGE - 850-644-1702 or a roommate, friend, or family member who can help provide your I-94.

If you are in J-1 status and IIE or Amideast is your immigration sponsor (see box 2 of your DS-2019 form), follow any additional directions that agency has provided to you regarding carrying documentation and ensure that you know their emergency phone number.

Keep your SEVIS Address Updated at All Times

Section 266(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (also a longstanding law) warns that “Any alien or any parent or legal guardian in the United States of any alien who fails to give written notice [of an address change]...as required by section 265 of this title, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not to exceed $200 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. Irrespective of whether an alien is convicted and punished as herein provided, any alien who fails to give written notice to the Attorney General, as required by section 265, shall be taken into custody and removed in the manner provided by chapter 4 of this title, unless such alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that such failure was reasonably excusable or was not willful.”

All noncitizens living in the United States must report any change of address within 10 days of the address change. Students whose F-1 or J-1 immigration status is sponsored by FSU (J-1 visa holders, see box 2 of your DS-2019 form) will update their address using these instructions: New and Current Address and Phone Number Updates | Center for Global Engagement

Students whose J-1 immigration status is sponsored by IIE or Amideast (see box 2 of your DS-2019) must follow that agency's instructions regarding updating their address. FSU does not report student address changes to IIE or Amideast.

Executive Order and Anticipated Law Could Impact F-1 and J-1 Status

The U.S. president recently signed an executive order titled Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism that mentions possible removal of international students who participate in protests or behaviors viewed as antisemitic. Congress is likely to pass in 2025 a similar law - the Antisemitism Awareness Act. Students in F-1 or J-1 status should carefully weigh the serious potential consequences of participating in protests inside the U.S. and particularly on U.S. university campuses.

J-1 students who are sponsored by IIE or Amideast (see box 2 of the DS-2019) should carefully follow any advice provided by that agency regarding participating in protests as some scholarship programs may have additional restrictions or guidance.

Beware of Imposters!

International students are likely to be targeted by scammers posing as law enforcement or the tax agency, Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Remember that:

• Law enforcement and government officials will not contact you by phone, text, or email. Scammers do spoof official looking numbers, though. (Please note that the CGE will contact you by phone or email, but feel free to contact us directly at 850-644-1702 or cge@fsu.edu if you are in doubt about the information you are receiving.)
• If someone approaches you in-person threatening legal action or deportation, you can ask for identification and call the FSU police at 850-644-1234.
• You have the right not to open your door to anyone claiming to be law enforcement or the IRS.
• F-1 and J-1 students do not use the AR-11 form to update addresses, but rather use these instructions - https://cge.fsu.edu/new-and-current-address-and-phone-number-updates if their immigration status is sponsored by FSU (see box 2 of the DS-2019). J-1 students sponsored by IIE or Amideast must notify that agency of their address updates within 10 days.
• F-1 and J-1 students are permitted to remain inside the U.S. with an expired visa stamp in their passport. The unexpired I-94 along with the I-20 or DS-2019 are the documents that grant legal status inside the U.S. (Please pay attention to CGE emails that warn about termination or expiration of your J-1 status, and contact us directly at 850-644-1702 or cge@fsu.edu with any questions or doubts.)
• The IRS will not contact you directly by phone, text, email, or in-person about tax stimulus checks that were issued incorrectly.
• Remember that bribing any official with gift cards, cash, or Zelle payments to get out of trouble is a criminal offense. So, if someone posing as law enforcement or a government official is asking for such a payment, you can be assured it's a scam.

Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself from scams:

• Set up voicemail on your phone if you have not already done so.
• DO NOT answer phone calls from anyone you do not know and instead let the call go to voicemail.
• DO NOT respond to texts from anyone you do not know.
• BLOCK callers who leave scam or unsolicited marketing/advertising voicemails.
• DO NOT click on links in emails. Use a browser to go directly to websites you know and trust.
• HANG UP or do not respond to anyone contacting you claiming to be a government or law enforcement official. Government officials will not contact you by phone or text. Emails from USCIS are automated notifications of progress on applications only.
• Contact the CGE directly at 850-644-1702 or cge@fsu.edu if you have concerns about your immigration status.
• Contact the FSU Police at 850-644-1234 if someone claims you have committed a crime.
• DO NOT join family and friend cell plans with people you do not know.
• DO NOT include a phone number on your LinkedIn account or publicly posted resume and consider setting up a separate email address for social media, LinkedIn, and other publicly accessible websites/applications.
• FORWARD suspected scam emails to abuse@fsu.edu and cge@fsu.edu.

If you fall victim to a scam, immediately notify the FSU Police – 850-644-1234. Students or scholars in J-1 status sponsored by FSU (see box 2 of the DS-2019) must also contact jscholar@fsu.edu immediately. J-1 students whose immigration status is sponsored by IIE or Amideast must contact that agency immediately. Reporting the scam to the Federal Trade Commission also assists national law enforcement agencies with finding scammers and alerting the public - https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/.