In July 2020, SEVP modified the exemption made for nonimmigrant students on F-1 and M-1 visas in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The July order would force students to take in-person classes during a pandemic solely to keep their legal visa status. The rule was rescinded on July 13, 2020, but the exemption made in March suggested that new students would not be allowed to come to the US if their university went online for the year. On top of several consequences to the livelihood of students, this directive disregarded the nature of Ph.D. programs, which are based on research and not classes.
A group of PGC board members led by Bárbara Cruvinel Santiago reached out to Congress the week the directive came out. We had online/phone meetings with House and Senate staff from NY, IL and NC to address potential actionable items for Congress and our concerns about the new directive's impact on our students and science.
Here, you can find the one-pagers used to inform congress after our calls.