Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced that it is rolling back
some of the temporary COVID-19 pandemic exemptions for
international students in F-1 and M-1 status that allowed them to
take online classes. For the fall 2020 semester, international
students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a
full online course load and remain in the United States. DHS plans
to publish the new procedures and responsibilities as a temporary
final rule in the Federal Register.
Background
For the spring and summer of 2020, DHS' Student and
Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has temporarily permitted F-1 and
M-1 international students to take multiple online courses because
of the COVID-19 pandemic. This exemption enabled students to
maintain their lawful status even when their universities shifted
suddenly to an online-only model. Normally, international students
in F-1 and M-1 status are restricted from taking more than
