What are my enrollment requirements for Spring 2021?

In the absence of new guidance from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) for the Spring 2021 semester, students should follow the Fall 2020 guidance. According to the Fall 2020 SEVP Guidance, current students may remain in the United States as long as they are enrolled full-time and maintaining F-1 status. Current students are not required to have an in-person course, and all courses may be online. This information may change as additional guidance is released by SEVP. Refer to the UCF Global COVID-19 FAQ page for the full-time enrollment requirement of your program.

You should enroll full-time in online classes from home to keep an active SEVIS record. Refer to the UCF Global COVID-19 FAQ page for the full-time enrollment requirement of your program.

For most students continuing in their program, Summer 2021 enrollment is not required. You are only required to enroll in Summer 2021 if any of the following apply to your situation:

• • You have an I-20 or DS-2019 with a Summer 2021 program start date
  • You are graduating in Summer 2021 (Summer 2021 is your final term at UCF)
  • You are enrolled in the Intensive English Program or UCF Global Achievement Academy Pathway Programs
  • Special Note to Graduate Students enrolled in Thesis or Dissertation: While summer is considered a vacation term for immigration purposes, please be aware of the College of Graduate Studies’ policy on continuous enrollment for students engaged in thesis or dissertation.

For those students required to enroll in the Summer 2021 semester, we hope that the flexibilities announced by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regarding online courses will continue. However, out of an abundance of caution, we encourage students who are required to enroll in the summer to follow the enrollment guidelines for their program listed on UCF Global’s website.

While the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has not yet released guidance for the Fall 2021 semester, we strongly encourage students to prepare for a return to normal F-1 and J-1 immigration rules, including enrollment requirements and in-person courses. Refer to the enrollment guidelines for your program on UCF Global’s website.

f you would like to take the spring or fall semester off, you should complete the Exit Form and depart the United States. You will likely need to receive a new initial I-20 to return to resume your studies in a future semester. Receiving a new initial I-20 means that you will be required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again ($350) and that your eligibility clock for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) would be reset. You would need to be enrolled for a full academic year (a fall and a spring semester) before you would be eligible for CPT or OPT. This information may change as additional guidance is released by SEVP. If you have questions, please contact UCF Global to speak with an immigration advisor by calling 407-823-2337.

For more frequently asked questions for international students, visit global.ucf.edu/coronavirus/.

No. Employees are not permitted to perform remote duties from outside of the United States in Fall 2020 and future semesters.

For more frequently asked questions for international students, visit global.ucf.edu/coronavirus/.

UCF Global will communicate with admitted students to provide additional guidance.

We are aware that many U.S. consulates have cancelled visa interviews due to COVID-19. You may contact the U.S. consulate to reschedule your visa interview according to the instructions provided on the consulate’s website once they resume normal operations.

For more frequently asked questions for international students, visit global.ucf.edu/coronavirus/.