Focus: GS-II International Relations
Why in news?
Foreign students in the U.S., including thousands of Indians, are left facing the possibility of falling out of valid immigration status following a Department of Homeland Security rule on attending online classes.
Details
- The rule says those F-1 and M-1 (non-academic and vocational students) visa holders planning to take online classes only will not be allowed to remain in the U.S.
- Due to COVID-19, a number of universities are planning to shift all their classes online for the fall semester.
- Active students currently in the United States enrolled in such programs must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction to remain in lawful status.
U.S. and Indian Students as a revenue source
- According to a 2019 report, there were over one million international students in the US in the academic year 2018-19.
- India has the second largest share in number of international students in the US after China.
- Chinese and Indian students account for more than half of international students in the US.
- The number of Indian students in the US crossed 200,000 for the first time in 2018-19.
- While India is an important source of international students in the US, the profile of Indian students is different from the rest of the international students in the US.
- More than 80% of Indian students are enrolled in graduate programmes or Optional Practical Training, which allows student visa holders to work for a year.
- Only 12 % of Indian students were enrolled in under graduate programmes in the US. This share is at least 45% for students from countries excluding India.
- According to another report: International students brought $ 41 billion in revenue and supported more than 4 lakh jobs across various sectors in the US.
F-1 Visa
- In the United States, the F visas are a type of non-immigrant student visa that allows foreigners to pursue education (academic studies and/or language training programs) in the United States. F-1 students must maintain a full course of study.
- F-1 visas are only issued in U.S. embassies and consulates outside the United States.
- F-1 students must show that they are able to support themselves during their stay in the U.S., as their opportunities for legal employment are quite limited.
3 types of F Visas
- F-1 visas are for full-time students.
- F-2 visas are for spouses and children of F-1 visa holders — these are technically called “dependents.”
- F-3 visas are for “border commuters” who reside in their country of origin while attending school in the United States.
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-Source: The Hindu, Hindustan Times
