High school exchange students

[JeanneAdil 6,587]

My family has had several exchange students 

mom and dad had 3 from Chile,  Ecuador and Dominican Republic/  brother had a Japanese student

this year we were about to have one and the EO for students and F1 and J1 visas was issued

We are working thru the Rotary Club for our exchange but this EO leaves us wondering as to the following statement from ICE

 

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

 

It says a student must leave if the classes go online  as changed by the school system / so far our school is "in class" and we expect our student on the 3rd of August with school starting the  12th.

Who is responsible for the student to leave if something happens during the school year?   and what if this change is only temporary? could the student stay if the classes were online for only 2 weeks or a month?   Or does the student need to leave immediately?  

Our student is from Chile and they have called several times being very worried about the EO

 

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 but are later required to switch to only online classes, or a nonimmigrant student changes their course selections, and as a result, ends up taking an entirely online course load. Nonimmigrant students within the United States 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 nonimmigrant status such as a reduced course load or appropriate medical leave.

 

 

[Quarknase 1,072]

35 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

My family has had several exchange students 

mom and dad had 3 from Chile,  Ecuador and Dominican Republic/  brother had a Japanese student

this year we were about to have one and the EO for students and F1 and J1 visas was issued

We are working thru the Rotary Club for our exchange but this EO leaves us wondering as to the following statement from ICE

 

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

 

It says a student must leave if the classes go online  as changed by the school system / so far our school is "in class" and we expect our student on the 3rd of August with school starting the  12th.

Who is responsible for the student to leave if something happens during the school year?   and what if this change is only temporary? could the student stay if the classes were online for only 2 weeks or a month?   Or does the student need to leave immediately?  

Our student is from Chile and they have called several times being very worried about the EO

 

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 but are later required to switch to only online classes, or a nonimmigrant student changes their course selections, and as a result, ends up taking an entirely online course load. Nonimmigrant students within the United States 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 nonimmigrant status such as a reduced course load or appropriate medical leave.

 

 

It sounds like the student is self-responsible in their own interest to not accrue any illegal stay and risk potential future visas.

It sounds like the student only has to leave (or transfer to a different school) if the school decides to move to online-only classes for the remainder of the semester (at any point in time), but not if online-only is only short duration since a partial online/on-site system is allowed.

[JeanneAdil 6,587]

46 minutes ago, Quarknase said:

It sounds like the student is self-responsible in their own interest to not accrue any illegal stay and risk potential future visas.

It sounds like the student only has to leave (or transfer to a different school) if the school decides to move to online-only classes for the remainder of the semester (at any point in time), but not if online-only is only short duration since a partial online/on-site system is allowed.

Yeah,  i know they can attend a different school but that would have to be out of the county and finding a family for her to live with fast would be hard/ not a money issue either to get her home as the family is required to keep a bank account for her with emergency money. 

but if the issue to close was short term i hoped she could stay.   We have planned for this exchange student since last September 

the family doesn't understand why the US government would allow programs to invite exchange students and then say "go home"  and i am at a loss of words to explain this one.

the cultural exchange program  is so important to us understanding the differences between cultures 

and i understand the covid issues but all these EO's  seem out of place if the students could study online like USC students

 

 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

Surely someone at Rotary must be able to answer these questions? Rotary must be facing this potential issue with hundreds if not thousands of students. 

[JeanneAdil 6,587]

On 7/31/2020 at 12:49 AM, SusieQQQ said:

Surely someone at Rotary must be able to answer these questions? Rotary must be facing this potential issue with hundreds if not thousands of students. 

We last met with Rotary in February and now do monthly and some emergency meetings online

This is,  of course,  the first time anything like this has happened nation wide and world wide

Our student is set to come and be in Atlanta airport Monday the 3rd

but Rotary here had to wait for the school board to decide how they semester would proceed

At this moment (decision made 2 weeks ago) the student and family can decide to study online or attend class

other steps are in school for every student

or online 2 days a week with alternate days for student to attend for 2 so classes are kept small

but can go back any time to no classroom attendance

I know everyone here going thru a visa process now is 'on hold' and wondering and i just hope we all get thru it with grace and dignity

If all goes well our Rotary students will travel at Christmas time to NYC and back to DC for 4 days 

wishing all of you the best

[JeanneAdil 6,587]

We have 2 students as a family from Atlanta came down with Covid virus and Rotary needed a quick place to send one/   wow ,  been so busy getting this one settled and registered for school and shopping for both of them for necessary colored polos required here for their rank in school.  i have 2 seniors.