The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and Department of International Cooperation also said that American universities had promised to take appropriate measures to protect their students’ rights. 

Harvard University, one of the institutions running online classes this fall. Photo by Photostock/Marcio Jose Bastos Silva/VNE

On Tuesday, the US Department of State said that a temporary adjustment of visa regulations aimed to give international students greater flexibility in pursuing their studies, while also assuring the implementation of social distancing measures on campuses.

International students will still have the opportunity to get a suitable visa, but may still be subject to visa or travel restrictions because of COVID-19.

Students should contact the host country embassy or consulate for more details, according to the US Department of State.

Regarding the adjustment of temporary visa regulations in the US, the Ministry of Education and Training called on all Vietnamese students in the US to calm down and keep themselves updated with US universities’ notices to find an appropriate solution.

In case international students must return home to study online, they need to register with the Vietnamese Embassy in the US.

MoET and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will co-operate to report to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and the Vietnamese Government and propose organising flights to the US to bring Vietnamese students back home, the ministry stated.

Under the policy, issued on Monday by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), international students won't be allowed to enter or remain in the country if universities opt to teach classes entirely online this fall.

All students with F-1 or M-1 visas must go back to their home countries if their courses are entirely online in the fall or enrol in other offline courses to stay in the country.

The continued spread of the disease has led many schools to offer only online classes in an effort to prevent further spread of the disease.

This recent decision has been decried by many international students and universities in the US.  VNS

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Students planning to study abroad this year may have to postpone or delay the plans because of the epidemic. Large universities have also adjusted their enrollment schedules.

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The Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco and other representative agencies in the US have discussed with the host authorities and airlines on arranging flights to bring Vietnamese students home at an appropriate time.