US May Ask Foreign Students To Leave The Country

The Trump administration has asked foreign students in America, whose colleges have shifted to online teaching, to shift to schools that have in-person classes or leave the US. This move would affect thousands of Indian students in America.

The US ICE issued a statement saying that Non-immigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the US.

The US will also not issue visas to foreign students whose colleges will offer full online courses from later this year.

What the rule book says:

Non-immigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the US. Visas will not be issued to students enrolled in schools and/or courses that are fully online for the fall semester nor will US permit these students to enter country.

Active students currently in the US enrolled in such programs/courses must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction to remain in lawful status. Otherwise, they may face immigration consequences.

Schools should update their information in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) within 10 days of the change if they begin the fall semester with in-person classes.

Non-immigrant students within the US are not permitted to take a full course of study through online classes. If students find themselves in this situation, they must leave the country or take alternative steps to maintain their non-immigrant status such as a reduced course load or appropriate medical leave.