F1 cannot study if University goes online

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

5 minutes ago, MorganandMichael said:

Then give them that option...? Are people actually claiming this is happening as a benevolent act to help international students not have to pay so much?

No, but claiming this is some sort of crackdown as opposed to a stupidly timed enforcement of an existing regulation/just not a well thought through process is not correct either, especially as the hybrid option is more generous than the normal F1 rules.

Anyway, there are petitions online and colleges are trying to address it so who knows what ends up actually happening. Bickering about it online certainly isn’t going to solve anything.

 

Edited July 7, 2020 by SusieQQQ

[Pinkrlion 2,705]

20 hours ago, juancarlos said:

Hi,

 

Not sure if it's the appropiate forum but ICE announced today that F1 student visas cannot remain in the US if the University where they're studying decides to move the classes online. 

 

This sounds really scary and let's see how it progresses because it might impact a lot of students already in the US or those applying for visas outside.

 

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/sevp-modifies-temporary-exemptions-nonimmigrant-students-taking-online-courses-during

I am more concerned about where international students will live.  When our campus went to virtual - ALL students had to leave housing, and are not allowed back on campus.  

 

If they go virtual again, where will they live?

[Julianni 16]

I feel for people who will have issues because of this. I specifically chose to study in America on an F1 to be with my boyfriend (now husband). If I had to leave the country I would have lost thousands of dollars for a degree I could have gotten for free in my home country. I'm sure this is the case for many people, since it's just about the only option for people in relationships who aren't ready to get married. A very unfortunate situation, as it is for anyone dealing with immigration stuff in this mess.

[JFH 12,189]

16 hours ago, madala said:

What a tasteless sarcasm....!

Not at all. It was a genuine question as to what one could be “scared” about.

 

Yes, it’s a mess. But the whole world is a mess right now. Worst case scenario for the students is that they have to skip a year of studying and come back next year and pick up again. Compared to what sone people are faced with because of this “pandemic” it’s not that bad. I don’t think there is anyone left in the country who has not faced a personal disappointment or hardship because of this. 

FWIW I had to miss a year of university and rejoin their following year due to illness. It didn’t cause me any problems on the job market. 

 

I have sympathy for the international students but I am a lot more concerned for families that have been torn apart by this. 

[geowrian 22,337]

6 hours ago, atomicpenguin said:

This is one of those rule changes that had no economic or social reason to be made, other than political

To be clear, the rule change expanded the exemptions online courses for F-1 students. The rule change made it in no way more difficult for students...it only expanded what they are allowed to do.

The decision for enforcement of the rule is what is drawing criticism.

 

4 hours ago, Sparkle Sparkle said:

coming to the US to study is not only about studying but also a quest for a better life and the possibility of getting a job and making the US a home....

That is in direct violation of the requirements for obtaining a student visa. If a CO believes you intend to do so, they must refuse the visa per the FAM.

I'm not saying people don't do it...people happen to find an SO or employer in the US while here all the time. But that as a goal for a student visa would be fraudulent.

[Jayface 118]

8 minutes ago, JFH said:

Not at all. It was a genuine question as to what one could be “scared” about.

 

Yes, it’s a mess. But the whole world is a mess right now. Worst case scenario for the students is that they have to skip a year of studying and come back next year and pick up again. Compared to what sone people are faced with because of this “pandemic” it’s not that bad. I don’t think there is anyone left in the country who has not faced a personal disappointment or hardship because of this. 

FWIW I had to miss a year of university and rejoin their following year due to illness. It didn’t cause me any problems on the job market. 

 

I have sympathy for the international students but I am a lot more concerned for families that have been torn apart by this. 

Agree. 100%.
 

Online studying isn’t the worst thing in the world. Yes, it’s sad you can’t physically be in university, but it’s not like things are going to be back to normal until there is a vaccine. 
 

There are a million overseas students studying in America, and it would be irresponsible to let them all in during a pandemic. 
 

I’m still waiting for my CR1 interview, almost a year and half since filing, my two year anniversary is coming up soon,  I just hope I can be there before that date. My wife is Respiratory Therapist, working with COVID patients daily. She needs support and I can’t physically be there for her. It’s all bullshit. 

[Mollie09 1,543]

10 minutes ago, jarrod679 said:

There are a million overseas students studying in America, and it would be irresponsible to let them all in during a pandemic. 

A lot of them are already here and this will force them to leave.

[beloved_dingo 1,976]

15 minutes ago, Mollie09 said:

A lot of them are already here and this will force them to leave.

Not exactly a good time to be forced to travel internationally to get home, either. 

[WorldCitizen1969 7]

22 hours ago, JFH said:

What’s scary about it? Are you concerned that you won’t have a good enough internet connection back home to complete your learning online? 

Most international students are graduate students whose majors are in chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, etc..and need to be in a laboratory to conduct their research. 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

14 minutes ago, WorldCitizen1969 said:

Most international students are graduate students whose majors are in chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, etc..and need to be in a laboratory to conduct their research. 

My impression is that colleges are prioritizing certain courses for in person classes, including lab classes. (My daughter’s college already has research labs open again and yet they still haven’t finalized undergrad classes.) If all such grad classes are online at a particular college, again, domestic students are just as disadvantaged from the lab perspective. This is not related to the F1 issue and if it were I’m sure the colleges would classify a need to be in the lab as hybrid - and I’d expect most colleges will probably do as much as they can to give internationals options around making “something” hybrid.

 

1 hour ago, JFH said:

Worst case scenario for the students is that they have to skip a year of studying and come back next year and pick up again.

Yes, some people are reacting like all internationals are being kicked out of the country never to return.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Fyi my daughter’s college has just put out a statement that they and a number of other universities will be appealing to federal officials to revoke or modify the rule.  

[mseck8688 16]

i regret coming in the usa with a student i am lucky i am no longer on this complicated tie 

student visa is like having a ankle braclet monitor by the feds 

once you out of status you done and you need to get back to your country  !!!\

 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

11 minutes ago, mseck8688 said:

student visa is like having a ankle braclet monitor by the feds 

once you out of status you done and you need to get back to your country  !!!\

Well that’s not very different to anywhere else - I was in the UK on a student visa. Had to jump through a lot more hoops visa wise first than F1 students do too, that’s for sure. 

[geowrian 22,337]

1 hour ago, WorldCitizen1969 said:

Most international students are graduate students whose majors are in chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, etc..and need to be in a laboratory to conduct their research. 

I'm not certain that is correct. https://educationdata.org/international-student-enrollment-statistics/

The main question revolves around OPT not being broken out...that can be either/or. Roughly 75% of them would need to be graduate students to make graduate students surpass the 50% mark.

 

Not saying that it's not a lot, but the statistics above make it being "most" unlikely.

[jannapa 12]

 

Probably a long shot, but is there anyone here with the background knowledge to discuss the details of the SEVIS announcement? I'm dealing with a situation in which an international students (active status, valid visa, erolled in full program for 20-21) left for the summer, and is currently in one of the countries that are on the restricted list. The school will resume in-person in the fall. Trying to find option for the student to return to the US. Other than suggesting that they stay for 14 days in a third country (not listed as restricted),  or enroll in an online program they can attend remotely from home, I'm running out of ideas.