Visa panic: Students keen to return to US

MUMBAI: Parmesh Kaur, who is due to start his second year at the University of Illinois, Chicago, is anxious about his academic future. After the sudden change in the US policy regarding visas for international students, his university has asked him to report back on campus by July 22. It has decided to adopt a hybrid mode of teaching, holding some classes in person and most of them online.
The announcement by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement sent shockwaves among students who returned home to families as Covid-19 cases in the US spiralled. The US Department of State decided to not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and programs that are fully online for the fall semester. Students currently enrolled in such programs in the US were advised to depart or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction to remain in lawful status.
However, with no international flights (repatriation flights are not meant for students), many like Kaur are hoping international travel will open up soon. Top American universities expressed concerns over the change in norms. But many asked their students to rush back.
International students, who are in their home countries (say, India) and enrolled in a US university offering onlineonly classes, can remain in active F-1 student status while outside the US. However, there is a hitch here. Adam Cohen, attorney with Siskind Susser, an immigration law firm told TOI, “Should a university decide to adopt a hybrid model, the student will have to enter the US in order to maintain his/her legal status.” With universities turning to hybrid models, the move is forcing students in India to fly back.
“For F-1 international students currently outside the US, the July 6 guidance confirms that you will need to return to the US for the fall 2020 semester in order to maintain your F-1 status. If you remain outside the US for the fall semester, you can continue to enroll in online classes at UIC but your F-1 recorded cannot be active,” said a letter to UIC students. “Additionally, having a break in your F-1 status could impact your eligibility for associated benefits such as curricular practical training [CPT] and optional practical training [OPT].”
Several other universities dispatched communiques asking students to wait for clarity as campuses weighed legal options. “Many campuses are likely to opt for very few in-person classes and run a larger part of the semester online to wrangle out of the new norm,” said an education consultant. The next few days will see universities either announcing complete opening of campuses or opting for a hybrid mode of education.
“However, essentially, they don’t want international students to take online classes and work. Also, the Trump administration is pushing universities to open up,” said Karan Gupta, an education counsellor. Fresh students from India, a large majority, were planning to wait and watch and fly out only in January. “The US cannot jeopardize the career and future of international students who have contributed millions of dollars in fees to its universities. Universities need to step up and support the international student community,” said another counsellor Pratibha Jain.
Universities, meanwhile, condemned the decision. “This guidance dismisses the seriousness of the public health crisis in the US and ignores the current restrictions on global travel due to consulate closures and other pandemic-related public health concerns,” Johns Hopkins University president Ronald J. Daniels said. “International students are now faced with an impossible situation that causes undue stress,” he added.