Due to COVID-19 related issues, travel restrictions, visa delays, etc. the arrival of many international students may be delayed. The options below provide guidance on what updates are needed for the students' immigration records depending on their specific circumstances, and what documentation OISS requires to make those updates. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at oiss@rice.edu if you have questions.

CPT: All F-1 students must be enrolled for one full academic year (spring and fall) to be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). If a student begins/has begun a program remotely from abroad, the student must still complete two semester in the U.S. in F-1 status with face-to-face courses to become eligible for CPT.

I-20 Start Dates: F-1 students are generally allowed to seek entry to the U.S. within a 30 day window leading up to their I-20 start date. The Fall semester I-20s for graduate students are issued with a start date of 08/14/2022, based on mandatory orientation programming. Students unable to arrive by August 14th must contact their department for late arrival approval. If approved by the academic program, OISS can update the I-20 to reflect the fall semester start date of 08/22/2022, or the late arrival start date of 09/02/2022.

Please note that OISS will not accept late arrival requests until 08/03/2022, because students' individual circumstances can still change and updating the I-20 will affect their available arrival dates to the U.S. Please keep track of any late arrival requests from your incoming students, and submit them to OISS starting August 3rd if the request is still valid and the student has confirmed that they remain unable to arrive by August 14.

Students unable to arrive by the late arrival start date of 09/02/2022 must either begin their academic program remotely from abroad (if accommodated and approved by the academic program), or request for a deferral to a future term.

Reporting Tool: OISS has created an online survey form to provide an easy method of informing OISS of student deferrals, delays, and withdrawals. Click here to access the Reporting Tool (will be available starting August 3).

F-1 students currently outside the U.S. who have started their program remotely from abroad

Matriculation term: Between Fall 2020 and Spring 2022
Matriculation term attendance: Online outside U.S.
Anticipated arrival to U.S.: Fall 2022
Options for I-20 start date: August 14 (standard), August 22 (start of semester) September 2 (late arrival)
Documentation recommended: If the student is expected to defer their physical arrival to the U.S. even further to 2023, OISS requires an offer letter indicating remote matriculation taking coursework online, with expected in person arrival term indicated.

F-1 students already in the U.S. starting their program during the Fall

Matriculation term: Fall 2022
Matriculation term attendance: In person inside U.S.
Options for I-20 start date: August 14 (standard), August 22 (start of semester) September 2 (late arrival)
Documentation required: OISS requires an offer letter indicating standard fall enrollment.

F-1 students currently outside the U.S. starting their program in the Fall

Matriculation term: Fall 2022
Matriculation term attendance: Online outside U.S. or in person in the U.S.
Anticipated arrival to U.S.: Fall 2022
Options for I-20 start date: August 14 (standard), August 22 (start of semester) September 2 (late arrival)
Documentation required: OISS requires an offer letter indicating standard fall enrollment. Approval from academic program is required in order to update I-20 to start of semester (August 22) or late arrival start date (September 2), if necessary. Click here to access the Reporting Tool (will be available after 08/03/2022).

**If the student is expected to defer their physical arrival to the U.S. to 2023, OISS requires approval from academic program confirming that student is approved to begin program remotely from abroad and expected to begin in-person courses (and their immigration status) in a future term. OISS will issue updated I-20 with the start date to begin the F-1 status for the in-person term once Rice has confirmed the academic calendar for the appropriate term.

F-1 students currently outside the U.S. deferring their program start to a future term

Matriculation term: In 2023
Matriculation term attendance: In person
Anticipated arrival to U.S.: In 2023
Options for I-20 start date: Pending confirmation of the Rice academic calendar for the appropriate term
Documentation required: If the F-1 student's program deferral is approved by the department, OISS requires an offer letter indicating deferral to standard enrollment with expectation of student beginning program in person. Per the international admission policy, students' program start dates must be in line with the Rice academic calendar. Click here to access the Reporting Tool (will be available after 08/03/2022).