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<p>Greetings, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>We are receiving many questions about whether F-1 and J-1 students will be able to take all on-line classes for Spring 2021 or maintain their F-1 or J-1 status while outside the United States because of COVID-19. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Unfortunately, the answer is we do not know. The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State (DoS) have not issued any COVID-19 guidance for Spring 2021 yet. Office of international Programs has been monitoring all relevant
avenues for this update and we are still waiting on this. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>We recognize that the lack of guidance is making it difficult for F-1 and J-1 students to plan for Spring 2021. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>What we do not know yet for Spring 2021 is the following: <o:p></o:p></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
Will F-1 students be able to take all on-line courses? <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
Will F-1 students be able to take more than 3 hours of on-line courses? <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
Will F-1 students be able to maintain their status if they are located outside the United States? <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
Will the COVID-19 guidance still be in place or will the rules revert to the pre-COVID-19 regulations? <o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p>We are hoping to have guidance from DHS and DoS in December, but there are no guarantees. As we receive guidance and updates from the US government, we will share with students and departments. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">How should students plan for the Spring Semester? </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p>While we do not have guidance from the US government, we recommend that you take the following items into consideration as you plan how you will enroll for the semester on an F-1 visa and whether you will study inside the United States or enroll outside
the United States. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>If the pre-COVID-19 regulations (the standard F and J regulations) are in effect for Spring 2021: <o:p></o:p></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">
This means that returning and transfer students will be able to take their classes fully online, like in Fall 2020. Students will still be required to maintain full course load to maintain their status.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">
This also means that students who start in Spring 2021 would need to have at least 1 class (3 credit hours) in their full course load, as face-to-face.
<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p>As students enroll for Spring, they may want to consider enrolling in face-to-face courses with remote options so that if the pre-COVID-19 regulations (the standard F1 regulations) go into effect for Spring, they have the necessary number of face-to-face courses to
maintain their F1 status. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Of course, this scenario would change if the US government publishes Spring 2021 guidance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D">Kind regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D">Office of International Programs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D">Texas A&M University-Commerce<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img width="339" height="45" style="width:3.5312in;height:.4687in" id="Picture_x0020_8" src="cid:image001.png@01D6C8BC.22BF0840" alt="cid:image001.png@01D475DA.BD01A930"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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