F-1 Student Traveling Through Mexico to Avoid The India Travel Ban
Please find below my experience traveling on F-1 as a student from India to the US under covid-related travel restrictions.
F Visa Blog Entries
Business or Employment Related Travel to the USA During Ban - National Interest Exception NIE
The travel bans necessitated by the COVID pandemic have created much flux and uncertainty. Synthesizing the information now finally available from various US government sources, it is clearer now that many intending travelers can seek and obtain an exemption from the ban under a series of provisions for a National Interest Exception (NIE).
Do you Qualify for an NIE?
You should be able to apply for an NIE to overcome the ban on travel to the USA if you meet any one or more of the following categories:
H-1B and CPT
Curricular Practical Training CPT
F-1 Students Travel During OPT or H-1B Process
Update 1- Feb 8, 2021
Can students on OPT CPT work remotely during the COVID times. ICE says yes. See from page 12 on of this FAQ released by the govt.
https://www.ice.gov/doclib/coronavirus/covid19faq.pdf
Students cannot be in unlawful presence, says the court
International students can breathe a sigh of relief. The USCIS has lost another case against its attempts to assault legal immigration. A federal court has held that its attempts to create artificial, three year or ten bars from reentry by students into the USA are illegal.
Third Party Site Placements for F-1 STEM OPT Extensions
On 17 August 2018, DHS purported to "clarify" that subject to certain conditions, placement of students engaging in two-year extension of their practical training (STEM OPT extension) at third-party sites may be acceptable if appropriate conditions are met.
A careful review of these appropriate conditions leads to the inescapable conclusion that very little has really changed.
I-140 EAD Regulations Effective 17 January 2017
2 December 2016
Radio Show Discussing Overview of the new I-140 EAD Regulations
US Work and Immigration Options for Foreign Professionals
US Work and Immigration Options for Foreign Professionals
A discussion with two members of our community