US to withdraw visas for foreign students with online-only classes

According to an AFP story appearing in the Jamaica Observer, the United States said today it would not allow foreign students to remain in the country if all of their classes are moved online in the fall over the coronavirus crisis.

“Nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States,” US Immigration and Custom Enforcement said in a statement.

Students in such programs “must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction to remain in lawful status,” it said.

F-1 students pursue academic coursework and M-1 students pursue “vocational coursework”, according to ICE.

Read the full story on the Department of Homeland Security website.

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16 Comments

  1. F 1 Student
    July 7, 2020

    F 1 Student here.

    I agree with the US Immigration. If you are doing online, you can stay in your respective country and do your program.

    If you want to visit the USA for business or pleasure apply for a non immigrant visitor visa.

    As an F 1 visa holder, i had to give up my B1/B2 visa.

    There is nothing unusual about that policy and it is nothing new.

    There is no politicking here, strictly business.

    • Ce La
      July 7, 2020

      Almost all universities are switching to remote classes, at least partially, for fall 2020. These are classes that are normally taught in person, but due to the risk of covid infection are being moved to remote teaching. So this is not at all like regular online classes. Even students already in the US will have to leave.

      With respect to students already in the US, as a practical matter, many will not have the money for a sudden flight home and even if they do, there are very few flights available. This is simply a vindictive move to rid the US of immigrants by short-sighted people who will not admit that US primacy in science, technology and engineering are largely due to immigrants. The US is shooting itself in the foot and Canada and other countries will be only too happy to capitalize off their stupidity.

      • reason
        July 8, 2020

        Nonsense. Part of the application process is a requirement that any student has the financial burden of the schooling and living expenses. If anyone can’t afford a return fight home, they are not financially independent and in my opinion, should not hold a student visa. How can a student afford unnecessary living expenses and complain about a ticket price? If you can’t afford a ticket home, the government will happily sponsor your flight via deportation. Go home voluntarily and when all this is over, come back if your degree isn’t completed. With all this coronavirus, who will incur the cost when you sit here unnecessarily and get ill? Go home.

  2. J.John-Charles
    July 7, 2020

    Not too long ago, some students in the U.S begged the P.M. to reopen the port just to let them return to Dominica. Because they have no money. The part time jobs are gone because of the coronavirus.Friends and relatives who use to give them a little logging can no longer continue.
    So, if Trump is saying. If you can take your lessons online,you don’t need to remain or come to the U.S. where as you can save thousands of dollars and take the same course.
    Where is the racism or xenophobia.?

  3. Magway ca
    July 7, 2020

    I agree no point being in the country if your only doing online courses. It will also save the students a lot of money as they don’t have to pay boarding and rent

  4. Ibo France
    July 6, 2020

    In this era of Donald John Trump expect the unexpected. The man is not only racist but also xenophobic.

  5. hmmm
    July 6, 2020

    hey its rough everywhere, if u have to come home feel no way God takes care of his own, dont mess up your life to stay in whatever trump has created up there.

  6. Serious Man
    July 6, 2020

    To all those who voted for change on December 6, 2019, I say sorry and don’t get discouraged because God will work it out for you. But for those who voted for Skerrit in order to get a scholarship and those of you that flew to Dominica to vote for Skerrit, I say very loudly take what you get! And by the if any of you try to hide in the US and I know you be sure that I will send immigration to get you and trust me, I marking some of you.

    • Hmmmmm
      July 7, 2020

      No fan of skerrit, but not a fan of stupid,dotish either…..my friend what does skerrit have to do with the rules of the American Government. Say something that make sense please or don’t say sh*t. Be of encouragement instead….geezzzz

      • J.John-Charles
        July 7, 2020

        When Michael Brown was shot by a White policeman, democrats in Congress raised their hands shouting “Hand up,don’t shoot”
        (Of course it was a lie,Michael Brown never raised his hands).
        Again not too long ago, when George Floyd was murdered by a White policeman.House Speaker N. Pelosi and other democrats get down on their knees with an African cloth round their necks.They are doing this because a White policeman is involved.Now when blacks killed blacks,democrats just don’t care.Just last weekend in Chicago 87 shot and 17 dead. Atlanta, and several more cities blacks killing blacks.The same democrats are silent.No demonstration.The same last weekend about 7 children were shot dead ages 7, 11,8, etc.And the sad thing these killings are taking place where Democrats are in total control,and they are voted in office by the same blacks over and over again

    • Man bites dogs
      July 7, 2020

      @Serious man, who the hell are you it is hell rats like you that is f***ing up our planet earth and today we all getting f**ked

  7. Ann F Windebank
    July 6, 2020

    This is just one more stupid thing from Trump’s administration. Please know that when he is defeated in November, things will change. We in the US are embarrassed and feel so badly about this. He represents less than 10 percent of US citizens when it comes to immigration and Visas but he won’t listen to us. Most are totally against his immigration ideas. We cannot wait to get back to our beloved Dominica, but unfortunately his administration waited too long to act and still denies how serious the virus situation is and now it is getting out of hand. Dominica must be so highly praised for handling the virus properly.

    • Dominican to the Bone
      July 7, 2020

      You ran to the US what you want to come back to Dominica for. If you so loved your country you would not have run. According to your statement you are a US citizen so you sold your DA flag so why do you long to come back. Stay in the US and enjoy. Take it as a Woman. Strange eh all those who run want to run back.

      • de Observer
        July 7, 2020

        Do you see why the Haitians are running from Dominica, it is because of the meg Dominicans with only bones like this one.

        Migration is a natural and international phenomenon. Even animals move around for greener pastures.

        Some people can make it in Dominica, and others like you stay, and the diaspora are grateful for their Dominica. But we Dominicans have received so many barrels and financial support from the diaspora, and that, I am confident is a much greater contribution to the economy than the contribution you make to the economy. They buy land, they build houses, they pay electricity, water bills, they save in the banks which help to provide loans to Dominican, taxes too.

        Dominica is not yours, it does not belong to you, and people can come and go as they please irrespective of your nonsensical, uneducated, and clear foolishness. Maybe you could not get a visa to leave which is why you seem so angry with dem people who went to the US

      • Mad I Mad ?
        July 7, 2020

        I doh want to run bk nah
        I done by a piece of land in another country for when I retire.
        DA ppl ain’t got no plans to move forward.
        So DA might remain the most backward country for time to come.

      • Toto
        July 9, 2020

        You are ……. if you sell your Dominica flag for the American one, you have no trouble staying in the U.S.A. Same for Dominicans that have dual nationality like those that get a free ticket from Skerrit to come and vote. The truth we don’t like to hear is that many visitors to America on student visa is a ploy to try and stay there for good. Im not blaming them but that is the truth. And by the way, those foreigners buying our flag, our passport, that is ok then?

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