Fall 2020 FAQs for Current Students

Fall 2020 Course Load Guidance for International Students

 

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program released updated guidance on July 24, 2020 regarding permissible international student course loads for Fall 2020. The guidance is in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic and based on the March 9th Spring Guidance Broadcast Regulation. SEVP has also released Q& A information related to the Fall 2020 guidance.

To see the full course load guidance release, please visit: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/fall2020faq.pdf

 

Important Information:

Continuing International students are able to take all online classes whether in the US or outside of the US as long as: students are registered for the required number of courses, the courses are needed towards progress of their degree, and students are continuing to maintain their status.

New students can take online classes while outside the US. If new students take online only classes outside the US, they will not need an I-20 for Fall 2020 semester.

ISSS strongly encourages all new international students who will take classes while in the US to work with their Academic Advisor to enroll in at least one hybrid class.

Hybrid courses are NOT considered online.

All F-1 undergraduate students have to register for 12 credits total and graduate students need to register for 9 credits to maintain their F-1 status.

 

Helpful Q&A

Yes, you can register for all online classes from your home country or in the USA and continue to maintain your SEVIS record. Currently, SEVP has continued with the exception for Fall 2020 semester. All F-1 Undergraduate students have to register for 12 credits total and Graduate students need 9 credits to maintain their F-1 status.

New international students in the US are able to take online courses as long as they are needed for degree progress. Hybrid courses are not considered online.

ISSS strongly encourages all new international students who will take classes while in the US to work with their Academic Advisor to enroll in at least one hybrid class.

New students outside of the US can take all online classes and they will not need an I-20 for Fall 2020 semester.

All undergraduate students have to register for 12 credits total and graduate students need to register for 9 credits to maintain their F-1 status.

Synchronous Zoom is still an online class because there is no classroom component. Hence, it is considered online class.

If NMSU, in the middle of Fall 2020 changes to offering an all “online mode of instruction” due to the pandemic, you can take all online classes and continue to maintain status. You don’t need to leave the USA if you are in the USA.

Yes, if you have continued to maintain your F-1 status you are eligible to take RCL in your final semester. Please email Padma at padmar@nmsu.edu after August 19th and let her know this is your final semester before you graduate.

Please email Padma at padmar@nmsu.edu with your name and Aggie ID # and request a new I-20.

If you are in your home country and are not planning to enter the US until the beginning of January 2021 then you will not be charged for insurance for Fall 2020. But, we highly recommend that you continue to have insurance for Fall 2020 if you have any pending claims with the insurance company as they may not pay for your claims or plan to visit US during the semester.

 

For further questions about course load guidance, please contact isss@nmsu.edu

 

8/5/20 Webinar on course load guidance and student questions for the Fall 2020 semester:

 

8/17/20 – for NEW international students – Webinar on how to make a smooth transition and navigate the Fall 2020 new normal in immigration and university guidelines: