Latest news with #SEVP-certified
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
This Word Means: Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)
WHY NOW? The ongoing stand-off between Harvard University and the US government under President Donald Trump escalated on Friday (May 23), when the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked its ability to enrol foreign students. Kristi Noem, Secretary of the DHS, posted a letter on X, announcing the decision to revoke the university's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, which is key to the entry and residence of foreign students. Harvard, which ranks among the world's premier higher education institutions, has legally challenged the decision. The US government's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) collects and maintains information so that only 'legitimate foreign students or exchange visitors gain entry to the United States,' its website states. It also ensures that the institutions accepting non-immigrant students (people living there temporarily) are certified and follow government regulations. Another important element of the process is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), an online information system that maintains and allows monitoring of records like SEVP-certified schools, students holding relevant visas, etc. Thus, the revocation also matters for students already enrolled at Harvard, and they would have to transfer to another institution. The SEVP holds information about non-immigrant students in the following visa categories: *F-1 STUDENTS – Non-immigrant students whose primary purpose is to complete an academic course of study at an SEVP-certified school or program. *M-1 STUDENTS – Non-immigrant students whose primary purpose is to complete a vocational course of study at an SEVP-certified school or program. *J-1 EXCHANGE VISITORS – Non-immigrant students selected to participate in a US Department of State-designated exchange visitor program. SEVP certification allows institutions to issue Forms I-20, which is a 'Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status'. These can be issued to prospective international students after admitting them into a program of study. Prospective international students then use the Form I-20 to apply for a visa to enter the United States. After receiving Form I-20, students must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before applying for their US student visa. The receipt of that payment must be presented as proof when one applies for a visa. Once the payment is done and the receipt is collected, students must apply for a visa at any US Embassy or Consulate in their country. However, a visa does not guarantee entrance to the United States; it only permits students 'to arrive and seek permission to enter the country', the DHS website says. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the US port of entry has the final authority to admit entry into the country. In her May 22 letter, Noem referred to an April 16 letter to the university, where she demanded Harvard provide information about the 'criminality and misconduct of foreign students on its campus.' The refusal to comply would result in SEVP termination, she warned at the time. The latest letter includes six stringent requirements to reinstate the SEVP certification within 72 hours. For instance, one asks for 'Any and all audio or video footage in the possession of Harvard University of any protest activity involving a non-immigrant student on a Harvard University campus in the last five years.' The stand-off follows large-scale protests on college campuses against Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip since 2023, deemed 'anti-Semitic' by the US government.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China knocks Trump ban international students from Harvard
China heavily criticized the Trump administration's decision Thursday to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students and vowed that Beijing will protect the rights of its students studying overseas. 'China-U.S. education cooperation benefits both sides. China opposes politicizing education cooperation. What the U.S. seeks to do will undoubtedly hurt its own image and reputation in the world,' China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Friday during a press conference. 'China will firmly protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars overseas,' she added. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday ordered the department to remove Harvard, the U.S.'s wealthiest university, from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. With the SEVP certification being revoked, thousands of students will have to transfer elsewhere or risk losing their legal status. Noem said the administration is holding Harvard accountable for 'fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,' adding it is a 'privilege, not a right,' for SEVP-certified universities to enroll foreign-born students and 'benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments.' The Ivy League institution enrolled 6,793 international undergraduate students during the 2024-25 academic year, 27.2 percent of the school's student body, according to Harvard's enrollment data. There are just more than 1,200 Chinese students. The university, in response, said DHS's action is 'unlawful' and that the university is 'fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University — and this nation — immeasurably.' 'We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission,' Harvard's spokesperson said Thursday. Noem said the ban on Harvard from enrolling more international students should serve as a warning to other schools around the country. 'Absolutely. We are absolutely — this should be a warning to every other university to get your act together,' Noem told Fox News's Gillian Turner on Thursday. 'Get your act together, because we are coming to make sure that these programs — that you are facilitating an environment where students can learn, where they're safe, and that they're not discriminated against based on their race or their religion,' she added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Economic Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Will U.S deport 10,000 foreign students after Donald Trump's Harvard ban? Here's what you should know
Harvard can't take new foreign students right now. The US government gave the university 72 hours to share some student records. If it doesn't, thousands of students, including many Indians, may have to leave. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Harvard Submission of Records Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs The Trump administration has blocked Harvard University from accepting foreign students. This action puts the future of 6,800 international students in doubt. Out of these, 800 students are from India, as per students were in the US on F-1 or J-1 visas, but now those visas are in danger since Harvard's certification has been revoked. Without this certification from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, Harvard can't legally admit foreign students who are about to graduate and get their degrees soon are safe, according to the report by India Today. Students have only 2 options, either join another SEVP-certified university, or face deportation, since they will lose their legal right to stay in the Department of Homeland Security has given Harvard 72 hours to fix the situation. In these 3 days, if Harvard submits 6 specific records, it can get back the ability to enroll foreign must submit all of these records from the past 5 years, any records whether it's official or unofficial, including emails, videos, etc., about illegal activity by any non-immigrant student, whether it happened on or off campus. Any records showing dangerous or violent actions by any foreign student, again, on or off information about threats made by foreign students to other students or university staff. Any record of violating the rights of classmates or university staff by foreign students. Disciplinary records of all non-immigrant students enrolled in the past 5 years. Video or audio of protests on campus involving foreign students in the last 5 Trump administration has been in a dispute with Harvard recently over 'campus antisemitism', and this may be linked to the decision, says reports.Q1. Will foreign students be deported from Harvard?Only if Harvard doesn't meet U.S. government rules in 72 hours.Q2. Can students transfer to another college?Yes, they can join another SEVP-approved university to stay legally.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Will U.S deport 10,000 foreign students after Donald Trump's Harvard ban? Here's what you should know
The Trump administration has blocked Harvard University from accepting foreign students. This action puts the future of 6,800 international students in doubt. Out of these, 800 students are from India, as per reports. These students were in the US on F-1 or J-1 visas, but now those visas are in danger since Harvard's certification has been revoked. Without this certification from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, Harvard can't legally admit foreign students anymore. Students who are about to graduate and get their degrees soon are safe, according to the report by India Today. Students have only 2 options, either join another SEVP-certified university, or face deportation, since they will lose their legal right to stay in the US. The Department of Homeland Security has given Harvard 72 hours to fix the situation. In these 3 days, if Harvard submits 6 specific records, it can get back the ability to enroll foreign students. Harvard Submission of Records Live Events Harvard must submit all of these records from the past 5 years, any records whether it's official or unofficial, including emails, videos, etc., about illegal activity by any non-immigrant student, whether it happened on or off campus. Any records showing dangerous or violent actions by any foreign student, again, on or off campus. All information about threats made by foreign students to other students or university staff. Any record of violating the rights of classmates or university staff by foreign students. Disciplinary records of all non-immigrant students enrolled in the past 5 years. Video or audio of protests on campus involving foreign students in the last 5 years. The Trump administration has been in a dispute with Harvard recently over 'campus antisemitism', and this may be linked to the decision, says reports. FAQs Q1. Will foreign students be deported from Harvard? Only if Harvard doesn't meet U.S. government rules in 72 hours. Q2. Can students transfer to another college? Yes, they can join another SEVP-approved university to stay legally.
The Hill
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
China knocks Trump ban international students from Harvard
China heavily criticized the Trump administration's decision Thursday to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students and vowed that Beijing will protect the rights of its students studying overseas. 'China-U.S. education cooperation benefits both sides. China opposes politicizing education cooperation. What the U.S. seeks to do will undoubtedly hurt its own image and reputation in the world,' China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Friday during a press conference. 'China will firmly protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars overseas,' she added. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday ordered the department to remove Harvard, the U.S.'s wealthiest university, from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. With the SEVP certification being revoked, thousands of students will have to transfer elsewhere or risk losing their legal status. Noem said the administration is holding Harvard accountable for 'fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,' adding that it is a 'privilege, not a right,' for SEVP-certified universities to enroll foreign-born students and 'benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments.' The Ivy League institution enrolled 6,793 international undergrad students during the 2024-2025 academic year, which makes up 27.2 percent of the school's student body, according to Harvard's enrollment data. There are just over 1,200 Chinese students. The university, in response, said DHS' action is 'unlawful' and that the university is 'fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University — and this nation — immeasurably.' 'We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission,' Harvard's spokesperson said on Thursday. Noem warned that the ban on Harvard from enrolling more international students should serve as a warning to other schools around the country. 'Absolutely. We are absolutely — this should be a warning to every other university to get your act together,' Noem told Fox News's Gillian Turner on Thursday. 'Get your act together, because we are coming to make sure that these programs, that you are facilitating an environment where students can learn, where they're safe, and that they're not discriminated against based on their race or their religion,' she added.
