SEVIS Newsletter: January 2009 Quarterly E-Newsletter

Upcoming Regulations

SEVP Policy is planning the following three regulations for FY 2009:

• Flight: This rule is intended to accommodate the transfer of the J flight programs from the Department of State (DOS) to DHS and to modify the M regulation to allow SEVP certification for qualified FAA part 61 flight training providers;



• Revision of 8 CFR 214.3: This rule is intended to accomplish the following:
• Accommodate technical and procedural modifications that have been identified during the past four years of operation;
• Provide clarification in areas that have become problematic;
• Implement procedural changes that have been requested by schools which would assist them in the management of the program; and
• Identify and incorporate new data elements identified for SEVIS II.


• Optional Practical Training (OPT) II: This rule is intended to accomplish the following:
• Establish a standard process for adding/removing programs from the STEM Designated Degree Program list. This will allow for changes to the list outside of the rulemaking process;
• Clarify the intent of the Interim Final Rule, and some specific troublesome areas such as periods of authorized unemployment, violations of status during OPT, and the distinction between pre-completion and post-completion OPT.