ICE: International Students May Need to Leave or Transfer If Their Classes Are Fully Online This Fall

International students may be headed home after U.S. 🛂Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Monday they will need to leave the United States, or transfer schools, if they are enrolled in fully online classes.

“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,” the agency said in a statement on the temporary exemptions for the fall 2020 semester.

According to ICE if they do not depart, they will face consequences.

“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,” ICE said.

The agency continued, “If not, they may face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings.”

If students are attending a program that is both online and in person, they are permitted to take more than one class or three credit hours online.

The schools are required to certify to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) if the program is not entirely online and the student is not only taking online courses.

They must also certify the student is taking enough online classes to make progress toward their degrees.

“Nonimmigrant students within the United States are not permitted to take a full course of study through online classes.”