International Students taking in-person, online courses can get US visas

NEW YORK: Facing a firestorm of protests both abroad and within the US, the State Department is trying to reassure students and universities by reiterating that those taking a combination of in-person and online courses will be eligible for visas. In a note headlined, "International Students are Welcome in the US," the State Department issued the clarification on Tuesday.

"The United States has long been the destination of choice for international students, and we are pleased that many international students who had planned to study this fall in the United States may still have the opportunity to do so," it said explaining the student visa restrictions announced by President Donald Trump's administration on Monday.

The temporary modifications to the F-1 and M-1 visas for students that were announced by the Department of Homeland Security "will allow a mixture of both in-person and some online coursework to meet the requirements for nonimmigrant student status," the State Department said.

It asserted, "This temporary accommodation provides greater flexibility for nonimmigrant students to continue their education in the United States, while also allowing for proper social distancing on open and operating campuses across America."

It cautioned that students qualifying for the visas will "still be subject to other visa processing or travel restrictions due to COVID-19."

The policy announced on Monday said, "Nonimmigrant F-1 students attending schools adopting a hybrid model - that is, a mixture of online and in-person classes a" will be allowed to take more than one class or three credit hours online." (IANS)

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