The University continues to carefully and thoughtfully consider the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for non-degree and visiting exchange students, visiting instructors and researchers, and general visitors to campus. We write with an update on guidance for campus visitors.

October 26, 2020

Acting Regulatory Unit Chief Sharon Hageman
Office of Policy and Planning
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
500 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20536

Re: DHS Docket No. ICEB-2019-0006

Dear Acting Chief Hageman:

Dear International Students and Scholars, 

On September 25, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed non-immigrant visa rule that, if implemented, would adversely impact international students and scholars on F-1 and J-1 visas, and their dependent family members on F-2 and J-2 visas. 

Higher education communities across the United States, and the international students they serve, experienced great relief and an important victory today when it was announced that the federal government would rescind the July 6 Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy directive calling for visa restrictions for international students taking online-only courses at U.S. colleges and universities this fall. As a result, the U.S. Government will return to the previous guidance issued on March 9 and March 13, 2020. 

On Sunday, July 12, Brown University joined 58 additional colleges and universities in filing an amicus brief in support of legal action by Harvard University (Harvard) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to block new federal guidance on the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on July 6, this guidance will prohibit international students from returning to or remaining in the United States if their colleges adopt online-only instruction for Fall 2020, or if students choose online-only instruction, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

President Christina H. Paxson wrote to the campus community about University opposition to new federal guidance on the Student and Exchange Visitor Program and how Brown can best support its international students.

On Monday, July 6, the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced modifications to temporary exemptions for non-immigrant students that were put in place in the spring during the transition to remote learning due to COVID-19.

On Monday, June 22, 2020, President Trump signed a new “Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak.” Below is a summary of the immediate consequences of the proclamation.

On Friday, May 29, 2020, President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers from the People’s Republic of China, which may prohibit certain nationals from the People’s Republic of China seeking entry in F or J visa status to pursue graduate study or research at Brown University.  It is important to note that details on the implementation of the proclamation have not yet emerged. Nonetheless, we are closely monitoring this situation and will post updates to the community on this website as they become available.