In order to remain in the US for the fall 2020 semester, international students must take in-person classes at their schools. The US immigration and Customs enforcement has announced that in-person classes may face’immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings’.

As many institutions across the country reopen, there is a concordant need to resume the carefully balanced protections implemented by federal regulations.

Eight percent of us colleges are planning an online-only semester. Some of those schools plan to invite a reduced number of students back to campus.

Schools will be required to certify to the student and exchange visitor program (SEVP) that the students are taking’the minimum number of online classes required to make normal progress in their degree program’.

International students who remain in their home countries will only be permitted to maintain their’active status’. Take an online courseload remotely if their school is online-only.

At least 23 percent of us colleges plan to offer some sort of hybrid model. Schools that will be online must notify SEVP by July 15th. Those using a hybrid option must outline their plans by August 1st.

Some institutions have cited the ability to transition to online instruction as a benefit of their hybrid model. Such a move could leave many students scrambling under ice’s new policy.

F-1 visas allow international students to study full-time in the US. They typically allow holders to count one online class per term toward their course of study.