International Students Pack Up to Go Home Amid New U.S Visa Rules

Seattle-based student Mathias, 26, is set to sell his car, break his lease, and get his cat Louis permission to fly back to his home in Paris – all within the next two weeks.

"Everyone's very worried," he says. "We have leases, we have cars insurance, we have our whole lives here."

Mathias, who spoke on condition that only his first name be used because of fears of retaliation by U.S. immigration officials, tells the Associated Press he's been studying in the country for four years, and was approaching his visa expiration this month. After graduating with his MBA last year, he says he was planning to go back to school in September and re-apply for a student visa, but now he's unsure of his fate.

International students will be forced to leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools offer classes entirely online this fall, under new guidelines issued Monday by federal immigration authorities.

The guidelines, issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, provide additional pressure for universities to reopen even amid growing concerns about the recent spread of COVID-19 among young adults. Colleges received the guidance the same day that some institutions, including Harvard University, announced that all instruction will be offered remotely.

Under the updated rules, international students must take at least some of their classes in person.

Mathias says his academic institution, which he wants to remain private, is still deciding on the class policies.

New visas will not be issued to students at schools or programs that are entirely online. And even at colleges offering a mix of in-person and online courses this fall, international students will be barred from taking all their classes online.

It creates an urgent dilemma for thousands of international students who became stranded in the U.S. last spring after the coronavirus forced their schools to move online. Those attending schools that are staying online must "depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction," according to the guidance.

The American Council on Education, which represents university presidents, said the guidelines are "horrifying" and will result in confusion as schools look for ways to reopen safely.

Of particular concern is a stipulation saying students won't be exempt from the rules even if an outbreak forces their schools online during the fall term. It's unclear what would happen if a student ended up in that scenario but faced travel restrictions from their home country, says Terry Hartle, the council's senior vice president. He says it will mostly affect students who are already in the country on a student visa.

In the meantime, Mathias says he plans to move back home to Paris be closer to his mom, with no assurance he'll be allowed to return to the U.S. anytime soon.

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