Practitioner Programs

Practitioner programs offer continuing professional development classes on timely and important topics for experienced Designated School Officials.

See the Current Schedule of Training Sessions for specific dates.

To register for an F-1 program, see the Registration Instructions page.

F-1 SEVIS Practice Issues

This program is designed for the practitioner who wants to explore F-1 SEVIS matters more in depth while reviewing the essentials.
When will this be given next?

Day One:

Changing to F-1 Student Status

• B visitors and F-2 dependents and study
• Eligibility requirements
• USCIS policies and practices
• Risk assessment
• Adjudication issues

Maintaining F-1 Student Status

• Duration of Status revisited
• SEVIS reporting requirements
• Automatic SEVIS actions
• Sticky full course of study issues: Distance Education, Leaves of Absence, Study Abroad, Final Term, Suspension, Withdrawals, F grades
• Reduced Course Load challenges

• Reinstatement to Status
• Travel and reentry
• Pros and cons of each option

Day Two:

• Release date issues
• Terminated/Completed students
• Newly arrived students
• The five month rule dissected

• Temporary Absence defined
• Special issues: Study Abroad, Leaves of Absence
• The impact of SEVIS Terminations
• OPT and travel

• Understanding its legal definition
• On-campus issues
• OPT and CPT
• CPT: What’s integral?
• Reporting while on OPT
• OPT and study

New F-1 SEVIS Developments

It is crucial that practitioners keep up to date regarding changes in government policy and practice in F-1 SEVIS matters! This program covers the most important changes that have occurred recently.
When will this be given next?

Topics include:

• Visa and Consular Affairs Update
• U.S. Entry and Travel Issues
• F-1 and SEVIS Issues

School Recertification Update

School recertification is scheduled to begin January 2, 2009. We will discuss:

• How Recertification will work
• A “complete Recertification package”
• The most current SEVP Recertification guidance
• SEVP’s Recertification “Scorecard”

OPT Revisited

This program is for DSOs who want to get a thorough grasp of all the recent changes in OPT. Attendees should understand the basics of OPT eligibility and application procedures. We will discuss:

• The new definition of OPT: Standard OPT, STEM OPT and H-1b Cap Gap Extensions
• New application and adjudication issues
• New definition of F-1 D/S while on OPT
• Reporting requirements: Student and School

New F-1 Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements
and F-1 SEVIS Roundtable

The Recertification and Fee Rule that went into effect on October 27, 2008 also established a whole new set of F-1 Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements for schools. We will review the records our schools must retain and for how long. We will also discuss what we are required to report, when, and how, including when a DHS representative drops by. We will end the day with an open roundtable discussion on any F-1 SEVIS issues you wish to bring with you.