In a major setback for Indian students in the United States, the US State Department has said it will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools that are fully online in the fall semester.

Share Market Live

NSE

All students with active F1 and M1 non-immigrant visas will not be allowed in the US and those already present in the country may be asked to depart if they are not receiving a minimum amount of in person instruction. The new rules would in force during the fall semester which goes on from August to December.

F1 visas are issued to students attending an academic program in the United States and M1 visas are for students enrolled in vocational studies. The move is likely to impact 202,014 Indian students in the United States.

According to the new rules, students under the F1 category may take a maximum of one class or three credit hours online. Students attending schools adopting a mixture of online and in person classes would be allowed to take more than one class or three credit hours online, subject to a certification that the program is not entirely online.

On Monday, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said, “The US 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 US Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States."

"Active students currently in the United States enrolled 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. If not, they may face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceeding."

The move has triggered panic among students and confusion among university authorities. Harvard University has said it would do its best to ensure that students can continue their studies without the fear of being forced to leave the country.

"We are deeply concerned that the guidance issued today by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement imposes a blunt, one-size-fits-all approach to a complex problem, giving international students, particularly those in online programs, few options beyond leaving the country or transferring schools. This guidance undermines the thoughtful approach taken on behalf of students by so many institutions, including Harvard, to plan for continuing academic programs while balancing the health and safety challenges of the global pandemic,” said Harvard University president Lawrence Bacow.

In the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla raised this issue with US Under Secretary David Hale and the duo discussed visa facilitation for Indian workers and students. They agreed to strengthen bilateral health partnership, including on pharmaceuticals and vaccine development. They discussed ways to further enhance mutually beneficial trade and people-to-people ties, including through visa facilitation for students and professionals.

Meanwhile, foreign policy experts and American diplomats have also criticised the move. Richard N Haass, president, council on foreign relations said on twitter, “Having foreign students on US campuses is a great way to make non-Americans pro-American. It is also a great way to introduce them to our ideals & persuade them to stay or take those ideals home. We seem now to be intent on turning them away & against us.”

Former state department official and foreign policy analyst, Alyssa Ayres said, “This student visa policy change is needlessly cruel. If a university goes online-only to prevent pandemic spread, international students here on visas can hardly be blamed.”

Alyssa pointed out India and Chinese students comprise the highest number of students studying in the United States on non-immigrant visas. 33.7 percent of foreign students in America are from China and 18.4 percent are from India.

"The 200,000+ Indian students on American campuses not only are natural “ambassadors” between our countries, but contribute significantly — $6 billion+ — to the US economy. We need to safeguard these vital ties," said former US diplomat Alice Wells.

The US government has justified the move stating that recent exemptions due to COVID-19 were allowing non-immigrant students to take more online classes than permitted under federal regulations.

First Published:Jul 7, 2020 8:52 AM IST