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07/07/2020

ISSO is working to understand all of the implications of yesterday’s announcement from SEVP regarding F-1
students and fall semester enrollment. This is what we know now. We will make updates to this section over the
coming days. Please see the 4 options below, one of which should correspond to your situation.

1) I am an F-1 CONTINUING Student INSIDE THE US or I am a NEW F-1 Student INSIDE THE US (ie you
are transferring in or changed to F-1 status and did not go home for the summer)

If you are inside the US, your course of study CANNOT be fully online (the only exception to this is if you only need
one class to graduate and it is online and you have been approved for underenrollment by ISSO). You must be in a
mix of online and in-person classes. You must have at least one hybrid or classroom-based class. Oakland
University is finalizing its schedule and we will post a list of in-person and hybrid classes next week. If all of your
classes are currently online, it will be important to consult this list when we post it and/or work with your advisor.

We are also required to issue you a new I-20 with the following remark: Oakland University is a hybrid school.
Classes are a mix of online and in person. Student is taking a mix of online and in-person classes necessary to make
progress toward the degree.

We will contact you when your I-20 is ready. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND NOT TRAVELLING OUTSIDE OF THE
US AT THIS TIME.

2) I am an F-1 CONTINUING STUDENT OUTSIDE THE US

a) If you will come back to campus, we are required to update your I-20 with the following remark and get it to you
before you come back to campus this fall. The following new text will be added to the Remarks section of your I-
20: Oakland University is a hybrid school. Classes are a mix of online and in person. Student is taking a mix of online
and in-person classes necessary to make progress toward the degree.

We will send you information on this process in a few days. Enrollment CANNOT be fully online and must be as
described in point 1.

b) If you will NOT come back to campus this fall and will take courses online from home:

Because Oakland is a hybrid school, you CANNOT preserve your F-1 status by remaining enrolled while you are
outside of the US. You CAN enroll in classes from home and make progress toward your degree.

● Can I be outside of the US, enrolled in online classes and make progress toward my degree? YES.
● Will I need a new I-20, new visa and new Sevis fee before coming back in F-1 status? YES.
● What about OPT? If you are planning on applying for OPT you should be in the country in the
term in which you apply and be in F-1 status for two semesters immediately prior to your
application.
● What about CPT? If you are planning on applying for CPT you should be in the country in the
term in which you apply and be in F-1 status for two semesters immediately prior to your
application.
● When will Oakland terminate my current I-20? Oakland will terminate your I-20 30 days after the
start date of Fall semester and get in contact with you before re-issuing you a new I-20 to return
to campus
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● What if I have a Graduate Assistantship? We are working to understand how this new ruling will
affect Graduate Assistantships for those who cannot get back to the US. We will be in touch very
soon.

3) I am a NEW F-1 STUDENT starting with Oakland University this fall and I am OUTSIDE THE US.

a) If you can travel to the US this fall and start classes at OU, we must update your I-20 immediately.

This new text will be added to the Remarks section of your I-20: Oakland University is a hybrid school. Classes are
a mix of online and in person. Student is taking a mix of online and in-person classes necessary to make progress
toward the degree.

We will send you information on this process in a few days. Enrollment CANNOT be fully online and must be as
described in point 1

b) If you will NOT be able to travel to the US this fall you can start classes online, and we will send you a new I-20
with a January start date. You will be able to make progress toward your degree but you will not be in F-1 status
during this time. If you were hoping to start a Graduate Assistantship this fall, we are working to understand how
this new ruling will affect Graduate Assistantships for those who cannot get to the US. We will be in touch very
soon.

4) ESL (English as a Second Language) Students who are inside the US cannot take ONLINE ESL classes.
All of OU’s ESL classes are in person and can also be taken online if you are outside of the US.