As you know, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces and schools alike have been shut down across the country. Rather obviously, this has drastically affected the way we go about our lives. Many people are now out of work, students miss their friends, are unable to receive an in-person education, and more. However, there is one type of student that may be particularly affected by the coronavirus outbreak: international students.
Recently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has stated in a press release that all students who hold certain visas here in the United States “may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States.” In the press release, they continued, “The U.S. Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will U.S. Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States.”
Many people are outspoken in opposition to the move by ICE, including the vice president of the American Council on Education, Brad Farnsworth, who said in a statement, “We think this is going to create more confusion and more uncertainty. What we were hoping to see was more appreciation for all the different possible nuances that campuses will be exploring.” Furthermore, Farnsworth, among others, is concerned about whether students will be able to return to their home countries amid the various global travel restrictions currently in place.
The idea of a hybrid classroom, where international students may attend part-time classes so they may stay in the U.S. is being floated, though there is no telling, as of now, whether this will come to fruition. In the past, international students have not been allowed to stay in the U.S. to attend classes exclusively online.
If you are an international student attending college here in the United States and have any further questions about this move and how we may be able to help you, please do not hesitate to give our knowledgeable Wisconsin immigration attorneys a call today.
Contact our experienced Wisconsin firm
John Sesini is an experienced immigration attorney with offices in Green Bay and Milwaukee Wisconsin. Our firm understands what is at stake when it comes to immigration law matters, which is why If you have any questions, you should not hesitate to contact the Sesini Law Group, S.C., and schedule your initial consultation with our firm today.