With the coronavirus pandemic forcing colleges and other higher-education institutions throughout the country to shut down, international students have been particularly hit hard. Many foreign students studying in the United States have been left without a place to live and are wondering if they will even be able to return to class when everything gets “back to normal.”
International students living in the U.S. in campus dorms when the pandemic hit were forced out, which meant that more than a million international students were left to somehow secure new housing in a country far from their home, all during a chaotic lockdown. To make matters worse, strict visa restrictions for foreign students prevent them from being hired away from the campuses they attend.
From waiting in long lines at food banks to sleeping on the couches of their friends, foreign students stuck in the U.S. are doing whatever they can to make their finances last them through the pandemic. International students who were able to make it to airports and fly home before borders closed are now unsure about whether they will actually be able to come back to finish their degrees.
Elina Mariutsa, a Russian student studying at t Northeastern University, told the New York Times, “My world is shattering… I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to graduate. Right now we definitely can’t pay for the last semester, and it’s literally just four courses left. ”Elina’s parents had to sell an apartment and borrow money from friends to pay for semesters of college. And with the devaluation of the Russian ruble and the current global economic collapse, Elina doubts that her family will be able to come up with the $27,000 to send her back for her final semester of college.
Although the federal government is offering $6 billion in federal aid for college students struggling with expenses like food and housing, Trump’s America-first agenda doesn’t include anything for international and undocumented students affected by the pandemic.
We Proudly Serve International Students
At Musa-Obregon Law PC, we understand that foreign students stuck in the U.S. are currently struggling without a lifeline insight. That is why our team of dedicated immigration lawyers is here to provide international students with the top-notch legal guidance they need to navigate immigration matters have become more complicated because of the coronavirus pandemic. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today so we can discuss your concerns.
To schedule your case evaluation with a lawyer at our firm, please call us at (888) 502-8461.