Several Ugandan students studying from United States of America (USA) may soon be forced to return home following a planned move by most Colleges and universities to hold lecturers online in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19.
According to a statement released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), international students on non-immigrant F-1 and M-1 visas who attend universities that operate entirely online during this Corona virus Pandemic may not take a full online course load and remain in United States (US).
“Students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States ,” ICE’s statement released on Monday reads in part.
The statement further reads that F-1 students who study from schools that offer both online and physical classes will be allowed to stay in the US as long as their course isn’t entirely online.
More details indicate that F-1 students whose universities will remain full in-person classes will remain bound by Federal Laws that allow a maximum of one class or three credit hours online. The statement further reads that students who in US while taking only online lecturers will face tough consequences like deportation, losing VISAs.
“Students who remain in the United States while taking only online courses could face immigration consequences , including the initiation of removal proceedings,” the statement adds.
There is a total of 40,000 African students in US out of the 1,095,000 international students. The US is currently planning to reopen schools but some students will be required to study off campus.
