This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, many US colleges and universities are considering online-only instruction for the fall semester. However, this may come with a catch for foreign students: they may not be allowed to stay in the US.
According to a statement from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States. This means that active students currently in the US enrolled in such programs must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction, to remain in lawful status.
ICE emphasized that students who fail to comply with this policy may face immigration consequences, including the initiation of removal proceedings. F-1 students pursue academic coursework, while M-1 students pursue vocational coursework, according to ICE.
While many US colleges and universities have not yet announced their plans for the fall semester, some schools are looking at a hybrid model of in-person and online instruction. Harvard University, for example, has said that all classes will be conducted online.
Published on July 7, 2020.
