Good Afternoon,

On July 6^th, we received updated guidance from the Department of Homeland Security regarding international student enrollment.

WHAT WE KNOW

1. All F1 and J1 International Students must have at least one on-campus class.
2. The requirement that no more than 3 credit hours of classes can be online has been waived for Fall 2020, so long as the university is open in at least a hybrid model. 
3. Modes of instruction that will be considered “on-campus” for F1 and J1 immigration requirements are:
1. Partial Remote/Online (“blended model”)
2. Face-to-Face
4. F1 students who are enrolled in 100% online or remote courses will be required to leave the United States during the Fall 2020 semester.
5. If GSU transitions back to 100% online/remote learning in the middle of Fall 2020, F1 international students will be required to depart the United States or transfer to a school with in-person learning.
6. F1 students who are “stuck” outside of the United States for Fall 2020 (e.g., cannot get a visa appointment) must work with ISSS to have a new immigration record generated before returning to campus in Spring 2021.
7. GSU has new federal reporting requirements with quick deadlines that ISSS must complete:

1. August 1^st – ISSS must report GSU’s plan for Fall 2020 to Department of Homeland Security
2. August 4^th – ISSS must issue new immigration documents to all F1 students (new and continuing) who will enroll inside the United States that certifies they have at least one on campus course for Fall prior to the August 4^th deadline.

8. Customs and Border Protection will not allow F1 students to enter the U.S. for Fall 2020 if they do not have the newly issued I-20 referenced above for the August 4^th deadline.

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW

1. Do these rules apply to both newly admitted and continuing students equally?
2. How do these requirements impact practical training (CPT and OPT)?
3. Updated FAQ from the Department of Homeland Security is forthcoming, but we do not know what points this FAQ document will clarify or how it could alter the guidance we need to give our students. 

We are working diligently to strategize a communication and action plan for students, to be sent early next week. We know that our students are very concerned, so we want to make every effort to serve them in the best way possible, including having patience for possible changes/updates to this current guidance.  We ask that you help us by letting students who reach out to you know that we are prioritizing the support needed for this new guidance and will communicate that support with them soon.

Thank you so much for supporting the GSU international community.  Please feel free to share with those in your area who work closely with students.

Best,

Jody Pritt

Director

International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)

Georgia State University

252 Sparks Hall

404.413.2070 (phone)

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