International Students FAQs

The normal, pre-COVID rule states that international students may only take one online course while studying in the United States.

On March 9, SEVP released new, temporary guidance permitting schools to adapt their policies and procedures to rapidly changing health and safety conditions. This guidance required schools to alert SEVP of any procedural adaptations within ten (10) business days of the change.

On March 13, SEVP issued an addendum to the March 9 guidance. In this addendum, and, given the extraordinary nature of the COVID-19 health crisis, SEVP allowed F-1 students to temporarily take more than one online from inside or outside the United States. Between March 13 and May 21, SEVP issued additional guidance via a series of FAQ documents for international student advisors.

On July 6, SEVP issued guidance for the Fall 2020 semester. This guidance would have required international students attending a school that planned to offer only online classes to transfer to a hybrid or in-person program or to leave the country entirely. This guidance was highly controversial, and Harvard University and MIT filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Many U.S. states also filed suit. Suffolk University was also strongly opposed to the policy and joined an amicus brief filed with the court in support of the Harvard/MIT legal action.

On July 14, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security withdrew the July 6 guidance. The federal government decided to return to the status quo as established by the March 9, 2020 policy, which permitted continuing international students to study online and maintain status either inside or outside the United States. The guidance explicitly says it applies to current students and “is not intended for new or initial students who are outside the United States.”

On July 15, SEVP reissued an FAQ [PDF] that reiterates previously issued guidance stating that “If initial students have not arrived in the United States, they should remain in their home country.”

On July 24, SEVP issued an updated FAQ [PDF] stating the following: “…per the March 2020 guidance, nonimmigrant students seeking to enroll in a program of study that includes in-person and online components beyond the limitations at 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(G), are able to maintain F-1 or M-1 nonimmigrant status if pursuing such programs during the fall 2020 school term.” According to the July 24 FAQ, while continuing nonimmigrant students can also take a course of study entirely online, new nonimmigrant students who are not yet in the United States and plan to take 100% of their courses online should remain in their home country.

On August 7, SEVP issued another updated FAQ that included some additional clarifying questions for the fall 2020 semester, added an archive of previous questions and answers, and updated several existing questions and answers to reflect the fall 2020 semester.

If you are able to obtain a student visa before departing for the United States and travel to Boston, you will be permitted to enter the country and begin your studies at the Suffolk Boston campus in a combination of online and face-to-face (F2F) classes. You should plan to take at least one F2F course, whether HyFlex, hybrid or traditional in-person/on-campus. If you choose to take 100% of your spring 2021 courses online, you can take your courses online from your home country. If you choose to take your courses online from outside the United States, it is your responsibility to comply with any regulations related to online learning in your home country.

Please remember that when attempting entry to the U.S., you must always be in possession of a valid entry visa and must not be from a country subject to any travel restrictions at that time.

Continuing international students are covered by the temporary March guidance. If necessary, you may take all of your courses online from inside or outside the United States. If you choose to take your courses online from outside the United States, it is your responsibility to comply with any regulations related to online learning in your home country.

Due to the fluid nature of this situation, the answers in this document may be subject to change. Refer to ICE.gov/COVID19 for the most up-to-date version.

Suffolk adopted a “hybrid model,” which means that offered a mixture of online and face-to-face (F2F) classes. At Suffolk, F2F classes include HyFlex, hybrid, and traditional in-person courses. Please review the definitions of learning environments.

No. Guidance from the Fall 2020 semester remains in effect and carries over to the Spring 2021 semester. Continuing international students can re-enter the U.S. even if they engage in 100% online learning, but new students will not be permitted to enter the U.S. to take a fully online course of study this spring. New students will be able to enter the U.S. to take hybrid programs consisting of a mix of in-person and online coursework this spring.

Please visit the Coronavirus Advisory website where you will find important, detailed information related to Suffolk’s response to the crisis.

New students who are already in the U.S. and in Active F-1 status may enroll in classes that are all online, all in-person or a combination of face-to-face (HyFlex, hybrid, or traditional in-person/on-campus) and online classes.

If you are able to obtain a student visa before departing for the United States and travel to Boston, you will be permitted to enter the country and begin your studies at the Suffolk Boston campus in a combination of online and face-to-face (F2F) classes. You should plan to take at least one F2F course (whether HyFlex, hybrid or traditional in-person/on-campus). If you choose to take 100% of your courses online this spring, you can take your courses online from your home country. If you choose to take your courses online from outside the United States, it is your responsibility to comply with any regulations related to online learning in your home country.

Please remember that when attempting entry to the U.S., you must always be in possession of a valid entry visa and must not be from a country subject to any travel restrictions at that time.

If you wish to remain outside the United States and take all of your classes online, you may do so. In this case, we will need to defer your I-20 to summer or fall 2021 and you will not be in Active F-1 SEVIS status during the spring semester. This option will allow you to begin or continue your academic program, stay on track for an on-time graduation, obtain your F-1 visa as soon as possible, and then join us in person in the summer or fall. Please remember that if you choose to take your courses online from outside the United States, it is your responsibility to comply with any regulations related to online learning in your home country. Please reach out to the ISSO office for more information.

Transfer Students

The current DHS guidance allows online instruction for students who choose to transfer their I-20. However, this guidance does not allow new transfer I-20s to be activated until you are present in the U.S.

If you are already inside the United States or will be able to arrive by the start of classes, you will be permitted to engage in fully online instruction if needed.

If you are not currently inside the United States, and if you cannot arrive but have already transferred your I-20 to Suffolk the International Student Services Office (ISSO) will need to keep your record in initial status. Initial records automatically terminate if you do not arrive within 30 days of the start date on your I-20, but the ISSO can work with immigration to have it reactivated when you are ready to come to campus. Please be sure to keep us posted regarding your plans. You will be able to engage in fully online coursework from your home country, subject to any restrictions in your home country, and maintain continuous F-1 status.

Change of Level & USCIS Change of Status Students

F-1 students who are undergoing an F-1 Change of Level or who are in the U.S. and have applied for a USCIS Change of Status to F-1 will be treated as continuing students and may engage in fully online instruction if needed.

Change of Status via Travel

If you are applying to change to F-1 via travel, you will need to depart the U.S., apply for an F-1 visa, and will need to re-enter to activate your F-1 status, which could be difficult at this time.

It may. If you are not in Active F-1 SEVIS status, you will not begin accruing time towards the one academic year required for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) internship authorization or Optional Practical Training (OPT) post-completion employment. To be eligible for CPT or OPT authorization, students must have been enrolled continuously for one academic year in Active F-1 status.

Exception for some graduate students: The only exception is that CPT is available to graduate students for whom internship is a degree program requirement for all students prior to the completion of one academic year. No exception currently exists for OPT.

It may. If you are not in active F-1 SEVIS status, you will not begin accruing time towards the one academic year required for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) internship authorization or Optional Practical Training (OPT) post-completion employment. To be eligible for CPT or OPT authorization, students must have been enrolled continuously for one academic year in active F-1 status.

Exception for some graduate students: The only exception is that CPT is available to graduate students for whom internship is a degree program requirement for all students prior to the completion of one academic year. No exception currently exists for OPT.

Unfortunately, the number of courses that we can offer F2F will be limited by the social distancing regulations that have been set by the state government, which will impact the number of students that we can have in a classroom and on campus.

You can make changes to your schedule up until the add/drop deadline published on the academic calendar for your degree level or school.

As of July 24, 2020, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (MA) released new travel restrictions that require all individuals entering Massachusetts after 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 2020, including returning students, who do not meet an exemption, to:

• Complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to arrival, unless you are visiting from a lower-risk state designated by the Department of Public Health (see below).
• Quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.

If your COVID-19 test result has not been received prior to arrival you must quarantine until you receive a negative test result.

Failure to submit a completed Massachusetts Travel Form, when required, or failure to comply with the quarantine requirement, if applicable, may result in a $500 fine per day. Additional information about both the Massachusetts Travel Form and the 14-day quarantine requirement, can be found in this comprehensive guidance issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Suffolk University residence halls and university sponsored housing will be available January 17, 2021 for students living out-of-Massachusetts to move-in early to begin the quarantine and access testing. Students may also self-quarantine with family in MA or in an off-campus apartment. Please be sure you carefully review the instructions on self-quarantining [PDF]. There will be no additional cost to self-quarantine and food will be provided for students in their rooms. You will participate in our testing program right away upon move-in. If your first test comes back negative, you no longer would have to quarantine. If your test comes back positive, the positive diagnosis protocol will take over. 

Please note that the self-quarantine requirement could change at any time, so please be sure to check your email for updates.

If you are a new student and you begin attending your online and HyFlex classes from your home country, and you are then granted an F-1 visa, you can arrive up to 30 days after the start of your academic program. The absolute latest you may enter the United States is Wednesday, February 24, 2020.

At this time, you do not need a new I-20. If you would like to request a new I-20 that includes remarks about Suffolk’s hybrid model of instruction, please email the ISSO Office.

We continue to issue new I-20s electronically for you to print and use as needed.

If you would like to request a travel letter please email the ISSO Office.

Based on the most current guidance, if you have already entered the United States, you will be able to continue your classes online here in Boston or from your home country and also maintain your F-1 status.

Yes. At this time, continuing international students that are already inside the United States or that plan to return to the United States for the spring semester may enroll in all online courses. Please remember that if you choose to take your courses online from outside the United States, it is your responsibility to comply with any regulations related to online learning in your home country.

Suffolk has adopted a “hybrid model” for the spring 2021 semester. According to the current guidance, on a temporary basis you will be permitted to take more than one course online.

At this time, you do not need a new I-20. If you would like to request a new I-20 that includes remarks about Suffolk’s hybrid model of instruction, please email the ISSO Office.

As a continuing student, you can remain outside the United States and take all of your classes online, or through a combination of online and HyFlex, and maintain your active F-1 status. You can then return to campus in January. Please remember that if you choose to take your courses online from outside the United States, it is your responsibility to comply with any regulations related to online learning in your home country.

Yes, but be sure to factor in time zone differences as all HyFlex classes are delivered synchronously (in real time).

The choice is up to you. You will be able to study online in your home country, subject to any restriction on online learning in your home country, or return to Boston for on-campus programs. If you stay in your home country, your I-20 will remain in Active status.

If you do not see one face-to-face (F2F) class (HyFlex, hybrid, or traditional in-person) in your schedule on July 13, please contact an international student advisor or an academic advisor, and we will discuss available options. It is your responsibility to comply with any regulations related to online learning in your home country.

Yes, before making any changes to your schedule, you should discuss them with an academic advisor and your academic advisor.

Unfortunately, the number of courses that we can offer F2F will be limited by the social distancing regulations that have been set by the state government, which will impact the number of students that we can have in a classroom and on campus. As a result, we have had to review our course schedule for the Fall and reduce significantly the number of F2F courses that we can offer on campus.

You can make changes to your schedule up until the add/drop deadline published on the academic calendar for your degree level or school.

As of July 24, 2020, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (MA) released new travel restrictions that require all individuals entering Massachusetts after 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 2020, including returning students, who do not meet an exemption, to:

• Complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to arrival, unless you are visiting from a lower-risk state designated by the Department of Public Health (see below).
• Quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.

If your COVID-19 test result has not been received prior to arrival you must quarantine until you receive a negative test result.

Failure to submit a completed Massachusetts Travel Form, when required, or failure to comply with the quarantine requirement, if applicable, may result in a $500 fine per day. Additional information about both the Massachusetts Travel Form and the 14-day quarantine requirement, can be found in this comprehensive guidance issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Suffolk University residence halls and university sponsored housing will be available January 17, 2021 for students living out-of-Massachusetts to move-in early to begin the quarantine and access testing. Students may also self-quarantine with family in MA or in an off-campus apartment. Please be sure you carefully review the instructions on self-quarantining [PDF]. There will be no additional cost to self-quarantine and food will be provided for students in their rooms. You will participate in our testing program right away upon move-in. If your first test comes back negative, you no longer would have to quarantine. If your test comes back positive, the positive diagnosis protocol will take over. 

Please note that the self-quarantine requirement could change at any time, so please be sure to check your email for updates.

If you are a continuing student that starts your classes online and/or HyFlex from your home country, and you are then granted an F-1 visa, you can arrive up to 30 days after the start of your academic program.

The absolute latest you may enter the United States is Wednesday, February 24.

If you would like to request a travel letter, please email the ISSO Office.

If you are a continuing student and you already have an F-1 visa, your visa will not be cancelled if you are studying online from your home country. Your SEVIS record and I-20 will remain active even if you are taking all online courses from outside the United States.

If you are currently inside the United States and prefer to take all your classes online from your home country, you should plan to leave before the start of the semester. Please keep in mind that you may have quarantine or testing obligations when you go home. Your I-20 will remain active.

Since SEVP is allowing you to maintain your Active status in SEVIS, you still need to maintain full-time enrollment. If you wish to be enrolled part-time, we will need to terminate your I-20. We will issue you another I-20 for the following semester.

No. You can remain in Active status even if you are taking your classes online from outside the United States. This means that the spring semester will still count towards the time required to be eligible to apply for OPT. Please keep in mind, however, that in order to apply for OPT, you must be present in the United States. If there are any updates to this policy, we will let you know.

Based on the most current guidance, if you have already entered the United States, you will be able to continue your classes online here in Boston or from your home country and also maintain your F-1 status.

You should consult with an immigration attorney and consider other options.  You can also connect with one of the international student advisors in the International Student Services Office (ISSO) to discuss your options.

As a continuing student, you are permitted to remain in the United States and take your classes online.

Yes. Suffolk is offering face-to-face options (HyFlex, hybrid, and traditional in-person/on-campus) in many academic programs.

The same rules will apply for students that progressed out of the INTO pathway program as to all continuing international students. You may take all of your coursework online whether you will be inside or outside the United States. If you choose to take your courses online from outside the United States, it is your responsibility to comply with any regulations related to online learning in your home country.

The choice is up to you. You may study fully online or in a combination of online and HyFlex courses from inside or outside the United States. Your I-20 will remain active. It is your responsibility to comply with any regulations related to online learning in your home country.

No. At this time, you will not be able to work remotely for Suffolk while living outside the country. If you will be inside the United States during the semester, you are permitted to engage in remote work for Suffolk University.

If there is any change in this policy, we will let you know.

Yes, provided that you meet all eligibility requirements for CPT, you are permitted to do a remote internship from outside the United States. Please contact the ISSO for more information about applying for CPT.

Recent graduates on OPT may continue working. Since you are no longer a student at Suffolk University, the current guidance does not affect you.

You should discuss such a decision with your parents / family to make the best decision based on your personal situation. When deciding what to do, please pay careful attention to travel alerts and travel bans in effect in the United States and your home country. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to return to the United States given constantly changing travel restrictions.

Please also keep in mind that Suffolk will not have a Spring Break this year.

Maybe, but we don’t recommend it. Anytime you travel, it is your responsibility to be aware of travel restrictions, health requirements, and to ensure that you have the proper entry visa.

If you have a valid F-1 visa and plan to study inside the United States this semester, then your spouse or children will be able to continue to receive their dependent I-20 and travel with you to Boston for your studies. If you decide to study online from outside the United States, then your spouse and dependents will need to remain with you in your home country