Adhikaar is the only women-led worker and community center that serves and organizes the Nepali-speaking immigrant and refugee community. Adhikaar is a home away from home that builds leadership and power to win rights and improve working conditions across low-wage industries.
This guide was developed on March 30, 2020
We traditionally do not work on international student issues, but due to high demands have developed this quick resource guide. Students are strongly encouraged to contact their campus offices for international students as each campus will have a different policy for their students and best understand your concerns. If your campus does not have updated resources or information, encourage them to get in touch with NAFSA for support.
Additionally, students should consult with an immigration attorney if they are seeking or addressing changes to their immigration status
American Federation of Teachers
The AFT fact sheet offers clear information on most of the issues international students have asked raised: COVID 19 Higher Ed and Immigration
If you have questions or concerns not addressed OR want additional info to share please contact them at highered@aft.org
NAFSA: National Association of International Educators
NAFSA works primarily works with campus administration and staff, however, their site is regularly updated and answers many important questions: Coronavirus Critical Resources
NAFSA also has visa guidance and updates. And they worked with the President’s Alliance on Higher Education & Immigration to create a Google drive of resources and host a webinar on March 27, 2020. Here are a full recording and notes from the webinar. Here are some helpful tips from that call:
- If you are seeking to change your status, treatment for COVID19 won’t work against you with the Public Charge ruling.
- Documents will not require “wet” signatures and can use reproduced signatures.
- The Student Exchange Visitor Program issued guidance that it will be flexible and adapt. They will require schools to report changes to them.
- Schools can keep F1 and M1 students active if they are continuing studies online or from abroad
- Schools can waive full course work requirements as necessary
- 5-month rule doesn’t apply
- Will be easier for students to come back if they have left the US
- Transfers and changes of levels may be initiated for students outside US
- I-20s can be sent electronically
- New initial students who have not yet entered the US should stay home for now but it is changing every day
- Can students continue on-campus employment via teleworking (like if you are a TA): not very simple since regulations require it to be on campus or locations affiliated with the school. TAs and RAs are working from home through the cloud and they have reported that to SEVP and there have not been issues.
- Immigration Status
- USCIS will give people an additional 60 days but has not generally extended filing deadlines (H1B, adjustment of status, green cards….)
- There is not much accommodation for those who could be accruing “unlawful presence” right now
- Unclear how OPT filings will function this Spring
- Higher Ed community is focusing on
- Crisis response
- Strengthening resources across the sector
- Advocacy to protect international students, faculty and staff
- Long-term impacts on whether international students, scholars, leaders continue to be attracted to US-based institutions
- Exploring emergency grants to students available through their campuses for legal advice
NAFSA can assist with additional guidance for students and campuses.
- Contact their regional offices.
- Call their national office: 202-737-3699
OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES
- ICE updates for non-immigrant students and SEVP Certified Schools
- CLINIC and AILA have asked for automatic extensions of I-94s and the 90 days granted to visa waiver entrants. People in the country with nonimmigrant visas should apply for an extension, which we are told will most likely be granted.
- USCIS also just announced it is relaxing its RFE and NOID policies
Upward Global has put together the following resource guide based on states if you need support with food, rent or other basic needs.
1. California
Food Assistance; Food Bank
Rent Assistance
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/…/california_eviction_p…
Utility Assistance
https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/General.aspx?id=976
Medical Assistance
Local COVID-19 Resources for San Francisco Bay Area
https://about.1degree.org/covid-19-sf-en
California COIV-19 Updates
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/…/…/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx
2. Maryland
Food Assistance; Food Bank
http://dhs.maryland.gov/category/financial-assistance/
https://mdfoodbank.org/about/locations/
Rent Assistance
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/…/maryland_eviction_pre…
Utility Assistance
http://dhs.maryland.gov/office-of-home-en…/how-do-you-apply/
Medical Assistance
https://mmcp.health.maryland.gov/Pag…/Am%20I%20Eligible.aspx
Maryland COIV-19 Updates
https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/
3. Massachusetts
Food Assistance; Food Bank
https://www.mass.gov/…/2016/08/vu/ma-assistance-programs.pdf
https://www.mass.gov/how-to/find-a-local-food-bank
Rent Assistance
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/…/massachusetts_evictio…
Utility Assistance
https://www.mass.gov/…/apply-for-home-heating-and-energy-as…
Medical Assistance
https://www.mass.gov/…/apply-for-masshealth-the-health-safe…
Massachusetts COIV-19 Updates
https://www.mass.gov/…/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coron…
4. Minnesota
Food Assistance; Food Bank
https://www.minnesotahelp.info/
https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
Rent Assistance
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/…/minnesota_eviction_pr…
Utility Assistance
https://mn.gov/…/con…/consumer-assistance/energy-assistance/
Medical Assistance
https://mn.gov/…/programs-and-servic…/medical-assistance.jsp
Minnesota COIV-19 Updates
https://www.health.state.mn.us/d…/coronavirus/situation.html
5. New Jersey
Food Assistance; Food Bank
https://www.state.nj.us/nj/community/assistance/
Rent Assistance
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/…/new_jersey_eviction_p…
Utility Assistance
https://www.state.nj.us/bpu/residential/assistance/usf.html
Medical Assistance
https://njfc.force.com/familycare/quickstart
New Jersey COIV-19 Updates
https://www.nj.gov/health/…/topics/covid2019_dashboard.shtml
6. New York
Food Assistance; Food Bank
https://www.ny.gov/services/social-programs
Utility Assistance
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/energy-assistance.page
Medical Assistance
https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/
New York COIV-19 Updates
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
7. Pennsylvania
Food Assistance; Food Bank
https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Servic…/Assistance/Pages/default.aspx
https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-ameri…/pennsylvania
Rent Assistance
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/…/pennsylvania_rental_a…
Utility Assistance
https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/LIHEAP.aspx
Medical Assistance
http://www.healthchoices.pa.gov/i…/resources/apply/index.htm
Pennsylvania COIV-19 Updates
https://www.health.pa.gov/…/coronavi…/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
8. Texas
Food Assistance; Food Bank
https://hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicaid-chip
Rent Assistance
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/…/texas_eviction_preven…
Utility Assistance
https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/community-affairs/ceap/
Medical Assistance
https://hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicaid-chip
Texas COIV-19 Updates
https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/updates.shtm#coronavirus
National service providers and find resources according to your state and zip code: Call 211 (visit http://211.org/)
Link to the full list here: https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/…/covid-19-resources-job-se…/