Washington, D.C. – On July 6, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced guidance for international students taking online classes due to the pandemic for the fall 2020 semester, affecting F-1 and M-1 visa students.
As institutions adapt to educating students while balancing health and safety concerns, more flexibility is needed. Unfortunately, the new guidance appears to do the opposite, providing less flexibility and creating more complexity. International students contribute to our nation in many ways – intellectually, culturally, and economically. Each year, more than one million international students study at U.S. colleges and universities, contributing $41 billion to the U.S. economy and supporting more than 450,000 U.S. jobs. The Alliance for International Exchange requests the Administration allow institutions and international students the flexibility to meet educational requirements, while balancing health and safety concerns during these challenging times.