{"id":2102,"date":"2022-11-24T09:09:27","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T09:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.h1btransfersusa.com\/blog\/?p=2102"},"modified":"2022-11-24T09:09:29","modified_gmt":"2022-11-24T09:09:29","slug":"immigration-impact-of-acics-losing-recognition-as-accrediting-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.h1btransfersusa.com\/blog\/immigration-impact-of-acics-losing-recognition-as-accrediting-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Immigration Impact of ACICS Losing Recognition as Accrediting Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On August 19, 2022<\/strong>, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) was no longer recognized as an accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education (DOE). In response, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS<\/strong>) recently gave a notice outlining the immigration impact<\/strong> of this DOE accreditation lapse for various foreign nationals. Foreign nationals seeking to enroll in an English language study program at an ACICS-accredited school. STEM OPT <\/strong>applicants who have completed a program at an affected school. And certain beneficiaries of H1B and I-140 immigrant petitions<\/strong> are affected, as explained by the USCIS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background on Immigration Impact of ACICS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The DOE found ACICS to be non-compliant in 2016, during the Obama government. As a result, ACICS <\/strong>lost its accreditation in December of that year. However, that decision was overturned in 2018 by the Trump government. The DOE once more recognized ACICS as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. And applied this decision to the date in December 2016 <\/strong>when it was stripped of this recognition. The DOE found ACICS to violate federal recognition criteria once more during the Biden administration<\/strong>. As a result, ACICS will lose its status as a nationally recognized accrediting agency on 19th August 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

English Language Study Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Immigration Impact: An accredited English language study program is one of the requirements for an F-1 student <\/strong>to enroll in one. It is no longer permitted for a program to accept F-1 students if it is accredited solely by ACICS. Students enrolled in such a program are permitted to finish the current session by the updated USCIS guidance<\/strong>. But they will not be granted extensions based on that program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The USCIS will issue a request for evidence (RFE) to a foreign national <\/strong>who has a pending I-539 application for a change of status. Or reinstatement of F-1 status<\/strong> to attend an ACICS-accredited English language study program. The student will then be given the chance to provide evidence that the program qualifies (is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency). The USCIS will deny a request for a change of status<\/strong> or reinstatement. If the student is unable to give a new form I-20 <\/strong>from a school accredited by a recognized agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

STEM OPT Applications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the F-1 student did not earn a degree from an accredited institution, they will not be eligible for a STEM OPT extension<\/strong>. Therefore, the STEM OPT application will be denied by USCIS if BOTH<\/p>\n\n\n\n