New platform launched to manage foreign students' compliance in US

[therealrtz]

Terra Dotta, an edtech solutions provider, has launched a new platform to help U.S. institutions manage compliance and better support international students amid increasingly complex regulations.

The platform, called ISSS Next Generation or Next Gen, streamlines the entire visa lifecycle, integrating case management for a range of student visa categories.

"Amid budget constraints and what's going on with regulatory compliance, the expectations of administrators to do things faster, more accurately and with less staff are increasing," said Travis Ulrich, Terra Dotta’s senior vice president of enterprise solutions, in an interview with The PIE News.

Ulrich noted that while compliance has always been essential, it has become more urgent in light of recent SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) terminations and heightened scrutiny of OPT (Optional Practical Training) students. OPT is a temporary employment authorization for F-1 international students in the U.S.

A key feature of the platform is its real-time integration with SEVIS, allowing international officers to instantly access termination data, quickly identify affected students, and provide timely support, The PIE reported.

SEVIS is a web-based system used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to track SEVP-certified schools, F-1 and M-1 students, and J-1 visa Exchange Visitor Program participants.

A recent DHS directive requiring OPT students to update SEVIS with employer details or risk removal from the U.S. has sparked widespread concern about potential deportations.

Terra Dotta says it aims to ease these worries by notifying students to report their employment status promptly.

International students are also facing increasing uncertainty due to recent U.S. immigration measures. Last week, former President Trump issued a proclamation temporarily halting visas for newly admitted international students at Harvard, an action that was quickly blocked by a judge. Although specific to Harvard, the move reflects a broader trend of tightening immigration controls.

Additionally, the White House announced a new travel ban and further visa restrictions on nationals from 19 countries, effective June 9. The State Department has also paused scheduling new visa interviews for foreign students.


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