Foreign Students in the US face an uncertain future

In an academic year washed out by the Coronavirus Pandemic.  The US government is creating more turmoil; American Administration wants foreign students to leave the country because they claim that their visas do not allow them to attend online classes while residing in the U.S.  So nearly 1.2 million foreign students could be forced out of the U.S and their future is hanging in the balance.

There are pressing question answers to which every student and their guardians should know.

Will the students get a refund of the fees they have submitted?

Will the new admissions be allowed to enter the U.S?

Here are the answers.

What is the issue?

Many foreign students in America are annoyed and upset over the decision taken by the U.S law enforcement agencies regarding their deportation. First the pandemic locked them up in their rented apartments with limited supplies. Now, they face expatriation. The government has decided if a student is enrolled to classes that are online then students must leave.

Harvard University and several other colleges say, they will reopen campuses but hold classes online. For no mistake their own foreign students are a distressed lot as many questions are weighing on their anxious minds.

Who will be asked to leave?

All F1 and M1 Visa holder’s will be sent back.  Regular academic students hold an F1 Visa those pursuing non-academic and Vocational courses have the M1.  These visas will be considered illegal if the students are attending online classes.

But there is a way out for the student. He or she must shift to a college which is offering in-person classes such students can remain in the US.

Who are the most affected students? 

At least 1.2 million foreign students are studying in 8700 colleges across the country. Of these the Chinese form the largest group 360,000 Indians will be the second worst affected over 250,000 students from South Korea Saudi Arabia. And Canada will be affected too.

Is there a possibility that a student can return to finish the course?

Assuming that they are sent home. They won’t be allowed to come back and finish the course. Not without the student providing proof that classes will be held inside a physical classroom. The rule applies to new students to if classes are online student visas won’t be issued.

How will the students leave the U.S?

Students are in complete doldrums here.

Nearly 90% of these foreign students are still in the U.S. If they go back home. It will be hard to return as the routine visa dispensation is adjourned at US embassies and consulates worldwide. Global travel restrictions are in place in many countries and commercial flight choices are inadequate.

Even if college is shift to classroom-based teaching in the coming months travel restrictions will make it difficult for students to return. The new admissions also will face issues because of travel restrictions and the U.S visa policy.

What will happen to the fee paid for online classes?

Although online courses make up less than 6% of a classes held in the U.S Universities, but contribute over 10% of the revenue. Last year foreign students contributed over 40 billion dollars to American colleges. Harvard University president. Larry Walker says, he is very concerned by the decision to deport student’s colleges might take the government to court. They are petitioning to get the decision withdrawn.

America’s COVID-19 cases are close to 3 million colleges want to retain students the new rule could force them to open up and risk further infections.

You see it’s a complete chaos. The students who are forced to take online classes might have to leave the U.S, but if they stay back and enrol themselves to normal classrooms then they risk getting infected by COVID-19. More importantly they will be stuck and won’t be able to travel as well because of the restrictions imposed by their respective countries.

The future of these students hangs in balance and the countries from which they have migrated have to intervene and sort this issue with the U.S.