Doha: The US Embassy in Qatar has issued a guidance regarding the new student visa rules after the recent announcement regarding change in visa status for students taking only online classes.
“Student visas are an important priority for US Embassy Doha, and we are proud of the success Qatari students have had at US academic institutions. We appreciate the patience of students and their families during this extraordinary time,” the Embassy said in a statement.
Guidance from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement indicates that students enrolled under a fully online programme at an academic institution should depart the United States.
“We are pleased to announce, however, that many international students who had planned to study this fall in the United States may still have the opportunity to do so. The Department of Homeland Security has announced its plan for temporary modifications to F-1 and M-1 nonimmigrant visa requirements for the fall 2020 semester to allow those students taking in-person classes or pursuing a “hybrid model”—that is, a mixture of online and in person classes — to qualify for nonimmigrant student status. These students would be allowed to stay in the United States while completing their studies,” the statement added.
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.
“Students should contact their Designated School Official (DSO) at their academic institution to understand the rules for their program. Your DSO can tell you whether you should apply for a student (F-1) visa at this time,” Embassy further said.
International students will also still have to obtain the appropriate visa and may still be subject to other visa processing or travel restrictions due to COVID-19.
“Please contact our Consular Section at [email protected] with questions regarding your specific situation. Our staff stands ready to assist,” Embassy assures.
For new students wishing to apply to U.S. universities for the upcoming academic year, can contact Educational Advising Team at [email protected] with any questions they may have.