On July 6, 2020, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) communicated new federal guidelines regarding the education of foreign students in the US. If a college or university will fully transition to online this Fall semester, any foreign student enrolled in that institution must either leave the US or transfer to another institution that is not administering classes fully online. To maintain legal US visa status and remain in the US, the student must enroll in colleges or universities either facilitating blended (in-person + virtual) or non-virtual learning.
If you are an international student, here is what you can do:
- Visit your university’s international student service’s (ISS) website to get updates on your school’s stance on the message sent out about the Student and Exchange Visitor Program
- Reach out to an ISS advisor in your school for further questions and clarifications on the school’s next steps
- Encourage your colleagues to reach out to their elected officials to take the necessary measures to address the requirements stated by ICE
Visit the official website of the Department of Homeland Security for detailed information on this new policy.