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The Impact Of Covid-19: While Universities Shut Their Doors, Indian Embassy Asks International Students To Stay Put
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Kunal Patel
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In the wake of shutting down on-campus operations and moving to online
classes by many Universities and Colleges across the U.S. due to the scare
and spread of COVID-19, the Indian Embassy has advised students to avoid
travel, both international and domestic.
<br/>
<br/>
The Consulate General of India in New York in its advisory asked the Indian
International students to remain in On-Campus housing or move-in with
friends and families.
<br/>
<br/>
The Embassy of India Education Team/India Student Hub has the following
advisory for Indian students who may be impacted by these decisions. Please
note that this advisory is based on information available as of 18 March
2020. The WHO, CDC, Government of India Ministry of Health and Welfare (for
India-specific updates), and your universities are generally the best
sources for the latest information in this rapidly evolving situation.
Further Embassy of India Student Hub updates will be issued as needed.
<br/>
<br/>
Please read this advisory carefully. For further questions, you may use the
helpline numbers mentioned below.
<br/>
<br/>
1. If you are staying in on-campus housing and are asked to vacate, check
with your university to see if you can petition to continue staying in
on-campus housing. If you cannot petition for continued on-campus housing,
or your petition is not accepted, consult with your university or your
network regarding how to find alternate accommodations.
<br/>
<br/>
2. If your university is shutting down on-campus services, check with your
university for how to avail your university’s health services, student
health insurance, international student services, and any other essential
service(s) that may be impacted.
<br/>
<br/>
3. Read official campus advisories or contact your Designated Student
Official (DSO) for information on how short-term or long-term shifts to
online courses will impact your F-1 or J-1 status. If you are graduating in
Spring 2020 and traveling internationally, please contact your DSO for
advice on how this may impact your graduation and application for OPT.
<br/>
<br/>
The Embassy of India is in touch with the US government on the issues being
faced by Indian students. The US government has indicated that it is
closely monitoring the implications that this evolving situation may have
for international students. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)
will continue to provide guidance on distance-learning for international
students. SEVP recently confirmed that international students can
temporarily engage in distance learning, either from within the U.S. or
outside the country, in light of COVID-19, without affecting their visa
status. Please continue to monitor the Department of Homeland Services
(DHS) at https://www.ice.gov/covid19 including this Guidance for SEVP
Stakeholders for future updates on visa status, OPT
applications/extensions, and related matters.
<br/>
<br/>
4. Please avoid all non-essential domestic or international travel. For
official advisories on the domestic US and international travel, please
consult the CDC website. For international travel, please also contact your
DSO for information on any possible impact in the future on your F-1 or J-1
status.
<br/>
<br/>
5. As of 18 March 2020, if you are planning travel from the US to India,
then you will be subject to medical screening upon arrival and you may be
put in quarantine at a government-earmarked facility for a minimum of 14
days if required. No travel OR transit is allowed through the restricted
countries mentioned on the Government of India Bureau of Immigration FAQs.
https://boi.gov.in/sites/default/fil…aq-covid19.pdf.
<br/>
<br/>
6. For travel from India to the United States, please check the US
Department of State and US Embassy in New Delhi websites.
<br/>
<br/>
For admitted students to US universities concerned about summer and fall
2020 admissions /visas, please contact your designated university
admissions officer and/or the educationUSA advising centers
https://educationusa.state.gov/find-advising-center for more information.
<br/>
<br/>
7. Please consult the WHO and CDC guidelines for further information about
the disease, preventative measures, and what to do if you experience any
symptoms.
<br/>
<br/>
This is an unprecedented situation, but we can successfully manage it by
taking decisions with a calm mind. Please take prudent health precautions
and carefully review information and travel advisories.
<br/>
<br/>
To receive the latest Embassy of India Student Hub advisory(s), register
here: https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/…s_Registration
<br/>
For queries/clarifications regarding recent travel advisories issued by the
Government of India for travel to India in view of the spread of COVID-19,
please see travel advisories at:
<br/>
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/ and on the Embassy of India/Consulate Generals of
India websites in your area.
<br/>
<br/>
For updated information about the Covid-19 pandemic, please continue to
check our website. If you have any questions about your status or any issue
with immigration, kindly contact, the immigration and nationality lawyers
and attorneys at the Nachman Phulwani Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group, P.C.
<br/>
We are here to help and invite you to visit us on the web at
www.visaserve.com or to email us at info@visaserve.com or call the firm at
201.670.0006 (x107).
</p>
<p>This post originally appeared on <a href=”http://blog.cyrusmehta.com/2020/03/immigration-attorneys-on-the-frontlines-in-the-covid-19-crisis.html” target=”_blank”>The Insightful Immigration Blog</a>. Reprinted with permission.</p>
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About The Author<br/>
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<b>Kunal Patel</b> At NPZ Law Group, we are business immigration lawyers who understand that success in today’s global marketplace requires a skilled and mobile workforce. We provide our business clients with the legal assistance they require in immigration matters to help them meet their business goals while complying with applicable immigration laws and regulations.
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