Labor Immigration Law

As the new school year is underway at many colleges and universities across the U.S., it is interesting to share some statistics and profiles relating to the F-1 foreign student visa program.    The data has been released from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) as of June 30, 2011.    As of June 30, 2011, there were 10,364 SEVIS-approved schools and 784,481 active F-1 students.

Schools

Approximately 35% of all of the 10,364 SEVIS-approved schools were located within California, New York, Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania.   Only eight schools have more than 5,000 active students, and out of the 10,364 SEVIS-approved schools, approximately 6,700 have less than 10 students (approximately 3,700 schools have no foreign students).

Among the top schools were the City University of New York with 10,000 active students, University of Southern California with 7,600 students, Purdue University with 7,000 students, University of Illinois with 6,700 students and Columbia University with 6,500 foreign students.

Students

Country.   China is the country with the highest number of active foreign students – 150,899.  South Korea is second with 101,652 and India is third with 99,180.

Program of Study.   Business Management, Marketing and related is the most common major – over 160,000 active F-1 students pursue it.   Second is Engineering with 106,000 active students.

Degree.   Over 69% of all active students are enrolled in Bachelor’s  (234,465), Master’s (192,966) or Doctoral (116,372) degrees.   The number of foreign students in English-language programs is 93,603 and the active students pursuing Associate degree are 73,504.

State of Study.  More than half (55%)  of all active students go to schools within seven states – California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois, Florida and Pennsylvania.

We have many confirmed reports that yesterday, July 28, 2011, the University of Northern Virginia’s (UNVA) campus in Annandale was raided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agents, seeking and seizing documentation relating to UNVA’s issuance of F-1 foreign student visas and UNVA’s compliance in the F-1 visa program.

According to reports, federal agents seized significant amount of boxes with paper, hard drives from administrative computers and even waste baskets.    ICE confirmed the UNVA raid in a statement, “Today, officials from ICE’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) served UNVA with a Notice of Intent to Withdraw (NOIW) UNVA’s authorization to admit foreign students. UNVA students should call the SEVP Response Center at 703-603-3400 for guidance.”

Similarity to TVU Raid

The UNVA raid of yesterday is very similar to the raid federal agents conducted on Tri-Valley University (TVU) earlier this year.   We have written in the past about TVU’s story and the importance of maintaining good “F-1 practices” both by the school and by the foreign students whose status and ability to remain in the U.S. is affected by the closure of their school.    Some of our readers may remember that after TVU was raided, all of its F-1 foreign students were deemed to be out of status and the TVU president was indicted on a number of federal offenses.   While there are no charges filed, the UNVA raid bears similarities to the TVU raid and subsequent closure.  It is important to note, however, that as of now, UNVA continues to operate normally and students can continue to attend classes.

UNVA F-1 Students May Need to Seek Alternatives

While it is very early in the investigation process, indications are that ICE would seek to revoke UNVA’s ability to participate in the SEVP program, which would mean that all F-1 students currently enrolled in UNVA would be out of status.   If ICE takes the same approach as it did with TVU and if ultimately UNVA is closed down, it is possible that current UNVA students may have very difficult time even transferring their I-20 to a new school.

There are approximately 2,400 or so F-1 international students enrolled in UNVA and the U.S. government has indicated that those UNVA F-1 foreign students who are not attending classes and are out of status and must leave immediately.  Students who are attending UNVA and are in full compliance with their F-1 status (i.e. attending classes and not otherwise violating the terms of the F-1 program) should be still considered to be in valid status, at least for now and for as long as UNVA’s ability to sponsor F-1 visas is not revoked.   As of now, UNVA F-1 students should also be able to transfer their SEVIS I-20 record to another school.

Conclusion

It the TVU story provides any history and a roadmap to ICE’s approach, it is likely that if ICE/FBI find irregularities of the kind found at TVU, then UNVA’s ability to admit foreign students would be revoked and the 2,400 or so foreign students’ status would be terminated.    Our office will continue to monitor developments on this case as it may affect a very high number of individuals and will continue providing updates on our website and through our weekly newsletter.

We have also committing the resources to providing individual phone consultations to allow affected F-1 students to assess their options.   We offer fast and secure online booking of legal consultations. We also offer same-day urgent phone consultations.

We have written in the past about the Tri-Valley University and how it affected a high number of F-1 international students by engaging in alleged unlawful practices and immigration fraud.    The Tri-Valley University story is worth following because it highlights, from the perspective of the foreign students and nationals, the importance of maintaining good immigration compliance and records, not only with respect to F-1.

As a result, we continue to provide updates on the Tri-Valley University story.

Tri-Valley University President Indicted

A federal grand jury has indicted earlier this week the President of Tri-Valley University, Susan Xiao-Ping Su.     To be clear, an indictment is simply a charge by the government and until proven guilty, Ms. Su is presumed innocent.

She is accused of engaging in a two-year scheme to defraud the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by submitting phony documents in support of Tri-Valley University’s applications to admit foreign nationals on student visas. The indictment further alleges that after obtaining such approvals, Su fraudulently issued visa-related documents to student aliens in exchange for “tuition and fees.”

The indictment alleges that in carrying out the scheme, Su is accused of making multiple false representations to DHS through Tri-Valley University’s use of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which the U.S. government uses to monitor the “F-1″ student visa program. Through her false representations, Su was able to unlawfully obtain and issue F-1 visa-related documents without regard to the students’ academic qualifications or intent to pursue a course of study required to maintain a lawful immigration status.

According to the indictment, Su admitted and maintained foreign students in exchange for tuition and other payments. In furtherance of the F-1 visa scheme, Su also allegedly harbored multiple Tri-Valley University student-employees to assist her in making the false representations to SEVIS. The indictment further alleges the defendant engaged in multiple money laundering transactions totaling more than $3.2 million using proceeds she derived from the visa fraud scheme.

The 33 counts contained in the indictment carry maximum penalties ranging from one to 20 years imprisonment. The charges include wire fraud; mail fraud; visa fraud and conspiracy to commit visa fraud; use of a false document; making false statements to a government agency; alien harboring; unauthorized access to a government computer and money laundering.

Updated: February 16, 2011

Many of our readers are aware of the story about Tri-Valley University (recent Google News) and how it was shut down by federal authorities for allegedly defrauding students and helping them obtain F-1 student visas in violation of immigration laws.

University Allegedly Committed Fraud and Violation of U.S. Immigration Laws

According to a recently released Notice of Intent to Withdraw, Tri-Valley University issued I-20 documents allowing foreign national students to come (or remain into) to the U.S. and authorized Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) to a number of its students.  While CPT is perfectly legitimate form of employment while on F-1 status, the government alleges that Tri-Valley did not meet a number of the requirements for participation on the F-1 program.

Specifically, Tri-Valley is alleged to have listed a few hundred of its 1,613 active F-1 students as residing at a two bedroom apartment in California, in violation of F-1 rules.  Additionally, Tri-Valley is alleged to have circumvented the requirement that F-1 students cannot take more than one course (or three credit hours) per semester online.  The rest of the enrolled courses must be taken at a brick-and-mortar location of the university.  According to the government, none of the F-1 students took courses at a physical location.

Additionally, Tri-Valley is alleged to have issued CPT work authorization for students in a program not directly related to his or her program of study.  Under F-1 regulations, CPT can be authorized only if it is related to a student’s course of study and the work must be in such field.

Tri-Valley University is also alleged to have allowed students to carry less than the minimum allowed course load under the F-1 regulations.

The list of alleged violations does not end here.  Tri-Valley University is alleged to have employed F-1 students as faculty, to have been sloppy with F-1-related paperwork and reporting requirements, among others.  As a result, the government seeks not only to revoke its ability to issue F-1 visas but also to shut it down permanently.

What Happens to the 1,600+ Students Enrolled in Tri-Valley University?

The initial reaction by USCIS and CBP was that these students are in violation of their F-1 status and should be subject to removal proceedings.  There are stories that some of these students were given tracking bracelets so that the government can track their movements, criminal defendant-style.    Since most of the F-1 students in Tri-Valley are Indian nationals, the Indian government issued a strong reaction to the heavy-handed treatment and, as a result, the U.S. immigration authorities seem to be backing down.

Recent communications from USCIS indicate that they may consider the possibility of reinstating the the F-1 student status by filing of Form I-539.  Initial indications, as of now, are that USCIS would consider reinstatement of F-1 status applications on a case-by-case basis, as opposed to reinstating F-1 status to the entire Tri-Valley student population.

Reinstatement of F-1 Status Requirements

Generally, the eligibility requirements for reinstatement of F-1 status are as follows:

• The student must be currently enrolled or intend to enroll for a full-time course load;
• Can establish that the violation of status resulted from circumstances beyond his/her control;
• Has not engaged in unauthorized employment;
• Has not been out of status for more than 5 months;
• Can document sufficient financial resources to pursue a full-time course load;
• Does not have a history of repeated violations; and
• Is not deportable from the US on any other grounds.

In an extraordinary case such as Tri-Valley University, some of its students may run into difficulties meeting all of the eligibility requirements.  Specifically, the requirement of not being out of status for five months is likely to affect many of the students if the government considers the violation of status to have occurred earlier in their CPT employment.  We believe that this is one of the reasons that USCIS has indicated that they would accept and review F-1 reinstatement application on a case-by-case basis.

Importance of Good F-1 School Practices

The Tri-Valley University case illustrates how important it is for an F-1-authorized school and to an F-1 student to maintain proper F-1 practices.  While it is true that some students at Tri-Valley University were not aware of the school’s alleged misdeeds, it is plain to see how, according to the government’s allegations, some students were fully aware of the F-1 program violations committed by the school but continued nonetheless because Tri-Valley offered them an opportunity to work under CPT.

Unfortunately, there are other universities whose F-1 practices, based on anecdotal evidence, may be borderline improper.  A few of the red flags are: the school authorizes full load of online courses (only one per semester is permitted), the school authorized CPT in employment unrelated to the student’s degree, the school issued I-20 knowing that the student would not reside within driving distance of the school’s campus.

In light of this Tri-Valley University investigation, it is possible that other schools may be subject to increased scrutiny and investigation.  We are happy to have a phone consultation to help you evaluate your F-1 status terms and help you understand your options in case you have doubts.

Update:  Tri-Valley’s Response

Tri-Valley University, acting through its president, has responded to the SEVP notice.  A copy of the response and the university’s justifications can be accessed here.

How Our Office Can Help?

If you are a student affected by the Tri-Valley University shutdown, please contact us.  We would be happy to consult with you and analyze your options for filing for reinstatement of F-1 status, among other alternatives, if available.   Alternatively, we urge all F-1 students to keep in mind that it is also their responsibility to maintain F-1 status by following all relevant rules and regulations.

A recent report by Open Doors, a member of the Institute of International Education provides some numbers and statistics about the foreign students currently in the U.S.

According to the report, there are more than 670,000 foreign students in the U.S. – an increase of about 8% over the past academic year.  This rate of growth has not been seen since 1980s.

Distribution by Country

According to the report,

[There were] increases in foreign student enrollments from seven of the ten leading places of origin, and 19 of the top 25, with increases of more than 20% from four countries. India remains the leading place of origin for the eighth consecutive year, increasing by 9% to 103,260. Students from China, once again the second leading sender, increased 21% for a total of 98,510. South Korea, in third place, increased 9% to 75,065. Canada, the only non-Asian country in the top five, rose to fourth place with an increase of 2% to 29,697, surpassing Japan, now in fifth place after students declined for the fourth consecutive year, decreasing by 14% to 29,264. Taiwan remained in sixth place, with 28,065 students, a 3% decline. The number of students from Mexico, the seventh-leading sender, remained flat this year, with a total of 14,850.  

Distribution by University Location

Universities in California hosted the largest number of foreign students with 93,124, up 10%, followed by New York with 74,934, up 7%, and Texas with 58,188, up 12%. The New York City area continues to be the top city for international students, with 59,322 enrolled in area schools, up 8%. The Los Angeles metropolitan area is in second place with 42,897 international students, up 11%.

Distribution by Field of Study

The report also focused on the field of study.  Business and Management remains the most popular field of study for international students in the United States, increasing by 12% and comprising 21% percent of the total, followed by Engineering with an 11% increase and comprising 18% of the total. Math and Computer Science also increased significantly in 2008/09, up 10% from the prior year. After a 15% increase in 2007/08, Intensive English Language showed a slight decline in popularity, decreasing by 1%.

The increasing unemployment rate inevitably affects foreign nationals living and working in the U.S. on a work visa.  We have been happy to help many clients over the past months who have either been laid off or have decided to seek a better opportunity to attend school by changing their status to F, J or M while they are in the U.S.

In light of the Form I-539, Application to Change of Status, processing timelines (~2-3 months),  a very frequent question which arises in such situations is “Can I start school while my I-539 application to change status is pending?”  The answer is that it depends on the status from which the applicant is changing.  Generally, if the person’s current status allows study then the person is allowed to start study while the change of status is pending.  Some of the most frequent cases are discussed below.

Changing From H-1B/H-4 (Or Another Status Which Allows Study) To F-1/M-1 Status

The regulations provide that  H-1B and H-4 holders are allowed to study while they maintain valid H-1B/H-4 status.  As a result an H-1B/H-4 holder who files timely I-539 Change of Status application to F-1 or M-1 is allowed to start school while the application is pending.  It is important to note that the regulations provide that starting school before filing an application to change status to F-1 or M-1 does not, by itself, make the applicant ineligible for the requested F-1 or M-1 status (this is not the case for B-1 or B-2 holders).

Changing From B-1/B-2 (Or Another Status Which Does Not Allow Study) to F-1/M-1 Status

Due to the fact that B-1/B-2 holders are not allowed to study, even if the file a timely application to change status to F-1 or M-1, such B-1/B-2 holders cannot start studying until the F-1 or M-1 application to change status is approved by USCIS.  Also, it is important to note that B status holders who do not have the “prospective student” notation on their I-94 card may be ineligible to apply to change status to F-1 or M-1 from within the U.S.

Holders of F (student), J (exchange visitor) or M (student) status in the U.S. are subject to certain requirements in order to maintain a valid status and be entitled to the benefits of their status (e.g. OPT, visa revalidation, etc.).  With the beginning of a new academic year, we have been advising a number of school officials and students with duties and responsibilities related to certain student or exchange visitor status.

F-1 Students

Students present in the U.S. on F-1 status (and their F-2 dependents) must:

• Maintain the requisite F-1 documentation: valid I-20, valid passport, and valid I-94 card marked “Duration of Status” or “D/S”;
• Pursue a full course of study (with limited exceptions) at an established college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program in the U.S. and make normal progress towards completing the course of study;
• Update by providing information to the designated school official (DSO) current address, legal name, or major field of study within 10 days of a change;
• Remain in the U.S. for no longer than 60 days after completing the full course of study (the so-called “60-day grace period”), unless prior to that time the student has followed procedures for applying for optional practical training (OPT), changing educational levels, transferring to another approved school, or changing status;
• Refrain from engaging in unauthorized employment (please see a related article on what constitutes “work”).

As a side note, F-2 dependents are prohibited from engaging in employment or a course of study, except that F-2 children may enroll in elementary or secondary school (K-12).

M-1 Students

Students present in the U.S. on M-1 (and their M-2 dependents) status must:

• Maintain required documentation: valid I-20, valid passport, and valid I-94 card. M-1 students are admitted for one year or for the period necessary to complete their course of study, whichever is less, plus 30 days thereafter to depart (the so called “30-day grace period.”);
• Pursue a full course of study (with certain exceptions) at an established vocational institution or other recognized nonacademic institution and make normal progress towards completing the course of study (full-time study may differ from school to school);
• Update by providing information to the designated school official (DSO) current address, legal name, or major field of study within 10 days of a change;
• Refrain from engaging in unauthorized employment.

Similarly to F-1, as a side note, M-2 dependents are prohibited from engaging in employment or a course of study, except that M-2 children may enroll in elementary or secondary school (K-12).

J-1 Exchange Visitors

Exchange visitors present in the U.S. on J-1 (and their dependents on J-2) status must:

• Maintain required documentation: valid DS-2019, valid passport, and valid I-94 card marked “Duration of Status” or “D/S”;
• Engage only in approved activities at the authorized location for which the DS-2019 was issued;
• Update by providing information to the responsible office (RO) current address, legal name, or major field of study within 10 days of a change;
• Maintain medical insurance required for J-1 visa holders;
• Remain in the United States for no longer than 30 days (the so called “30-day grace period”) after completing J-1 program; and
• Refrain from engaging in unauthorized employment.

Note that J-2 spouses and children are eligible to apply for an employment authorization document (EAD), but there is no regulation restricting J-2s from enrolling in a course of study.

In many areas around the U.S. driving is as essential as being able to read.  In our practice we face constantly foreign nationals who have been denied (correctly or incorrectly) a driver’s license due to their inability to show a certain document.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) division has released a guide targeted to holders of F, M and J visas with respect to obtaining drivers licenses and answers to some of the most common questions.

Lead times.  It is important to note that some foreign nationals on F, M or J status who are recent arrivals into the U.S. must plan in advance their application for a drivers license as some states have requirements for social security numbers (which application can take a few days) or other documents which require some preparation time.

F-1 holders in cap-gap extension.  In addition, from our practice we have encountered some F-1 holders who are subject to the cap-gap automatic extension of status have run into difficulty extending their driver’s license beyond the expiration date of their employment authorization document (“EAD”).  The ICE guidance provides some specific instructions in such cases and instructs the Designated School Official (“DSO”) to issue an updated I-20 to the F-1 holder or to make certain notations on the I-20 form.

Problem resolution contact.  In cases where the DMV refuses or is unable to issue a driver’s license, ICE has encouraged the DSO to contact directly SEVP  for assistance at sevis.source@dhs.gov and provide certain information (please see the attached guidance sheet, p. 6).

We have been receiving a number of inquiries from prospective clients who are interested in switching to F-1 student visa status using a Form I-20  issued by a English as Second Language (“ESL”) school or a community college.   In our experience, USCIS (if the change of status is requested from within the U.S.) or the Department of State (if the visa application is filed at a consulate abroad) have been very critical towards applicants admitted to attend ESL or a community college in the U.S.

We have seen USCIS deny change of status to F-1 applications on seemingly due to the lesser-known name of the college.  Similarly, U.S. consulates abroad have been denying F-1 visa applications where the foreign student wishes to study at a lesser-known college.  In a specific response to these situations, the Department of State has issued a note which is aimed to remind consular officers that “attendance at a lesser-known college, English language program, or a community college is not, in itself, a reason for refusing a student visa applicant. A student must establish that he/she has a plan for his/her education.”

What this means is that the F-1 visa or change of status applicant must show an educational plan which may include an ESL or a community college but which must, at some point, indicate that the student would transfer to a four-year college or another more advanced school.  According to the Department of State, “a plan that includes initial attendance at a community college or English language program, and then a transfer to a four-year college, certainly is acceptable. Which school a student chooses is not nearly as important as why he/she chose it.”

Considering this guidance, it becomes even more important for the F-1 applicant to be able to tell a story and present an educational plan as part of his or her F-1 visa application process.  This educational plan must be as detailed as possible and must present a clear picture of the applicant’s educational goals and where and how they would be achieved.  Please contact us if we can help you prepare your F-1 visa application.

The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows foreign students on F-1 visa to work for 12 (or up to 29 months, for holders of STEM degrees).  The 12 (or 29) month period allows many students to apply for an H-1B work visa.  Many employers (and OPT holders alike) are unaware of what happens when the OPT document expires while the H-1B application is pending.  This guide seeks to provide some answers.

The Cap Gap

If the employer employs an F-1 nonimmigrant student on post-completion (OPT) and that student is the beneficiary of a pending or approved H-1B petition, the student may be able to continue working beyond the expiration date on his or her employment authorization document (EAD).   In recent years, the number of H-1B petitions filed per year has exceeded the annual cap. Due to demand, the annual cap of 65,000 H-1B visas has been met during the initial filing period, beginning on April 1. All  cap-subject petitions filed during this initial filing period indicate a requested start date of October 1 (the start of the government fiscal year). In the past, F-1 students who were the beneficiaries of an H-1B petition often had their F-1 status expire before their H-1B status began on October 1 –- a period known as the cap gap. The most common situation occurred when a student’s OPT ended in the spring or early summer, and the student’s F-1 status expired 60 days after that, leaving a gap of several months before the individual’s H-1B status began on October 1.

The OPT Interim Final Rule

On April 8, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security published an Interim Final Rule (IFR) titled, Extending Period of Optional Practical Training by 17 Months for F-1 Nonimmigrant Students With STEM Degrees and Expanding Cap-Gap Relief for All F-1 Students With Pending H-1B Petitions. The changes made by this rule became effective upon publication of the rule.

One provision of the rule applies to F-1 students who are the beneficiaries of a pending or approved H-1B petition that is subject to the annual cap. The IFR automatically extends the F-1 status and, for students in a period of approved post-completion OPT when the H-1B petition is filed, the OPT employment authorization.

The cap-gap extension of OPT is automatic for eligible students. A student does not file an application for the extension or receive a new EAD to cover the additional time. The only proof of continued employment authorization currently available to an affected student is an updated Form I-20 showing an extension of OPT, on page 3. This document serves as proof of continued employment authorization.  However, this automatic extension of an F-1 student’s duration of status and employment authorization is terminated upon the rejection, denial, or revocation of the H-1B petition filed on the F-1 student’s behalf.

Student’s Obligations

A student who is eligible for the cap-gap extension must work with a designated school official (DSO) at the student’s school to receive an updated Form I-20. If a student is eligible for the cap-gap extension of OPT, the student can continue to work while the update to his or her Form I-20 is being processed. Because the cap-gap extension is automatic, the updated Form I-20 is not required for a student to continue working; it merely serves as proof of the extension of OPT employment authorization.

Employer’s Obligations

To assist a student in obtaining an updated Form I-20, the employer may need to provide the student with an I-797 receipt or approval notice issued by USCIS for the H-1B petition filed on the student’s behalf.  This receipt notice serves as proof of filing the H-1B petition and may need to be submitted to SEVP in order to update a student’s Form I-20 to show eligibility for the cap-gap extension.