US Govt asks foreign students to leave if classes go fully online amid COVID-19 crisis

It is to be noted India sent the largest number of students to the US after China according to the latest student and Exchange visitor Program(SEVP).
US Govt asks foreign students to leave if classes go fully online amid COVID-19 crisis

Guwahati: In an unprecedented move, the United States (US) Government has declared that international students who are pursuing their degrees in the United States will have to leave the country or risk deportation if their universities switch to online-only teaching mode in this fall semester.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated in a press release on Monday that for the fall 2020 semester students attending schools that are operating entirely online -- which has become increasingly common due to the COVID-19 pandemic -- may not take a full online course load and remain in the US.

"The US Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will US Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States," The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated in a press release, referring to the September to December semester.

These new rules are a blow to many international students, who will be forced to either leave the country or scramble to transfer to a new school to keep their legal status in the country.

It is uncertain how many students will be affected, but a huge number of foreign students travel to the US to study every year and are a significant source of revenue for universities, as many pay full tuition.

International students enrolled in academic programs at US universities and colleges study on an F-1 visa and those enrolled in technical programs at vocational or other recognised nonacademic institutions, other than a language training program, come to the US on an M-1 visa.

It is to be noted that among the nations, India has sent the largest number of students to the US after China, according to the latest student and Exchange Visitor Program(SEVP). 

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