International students in North Alabama may lose visas due to online classes

International students in North Alabama may lose visas due to online classes

The area.

Right now - hundreds of thousands of international college students' visas are in jeopardy - depending on their fall class schedule.

Under a homeland security and immigration and customs reform directive - international students who only take online courses can't stay in the u-s.

Waay 31's ashley carter spoke with a professor who works with international students across north alabama.

She says the news is leaving students uneasy ahead of the school year.

Doctor divya pradhan says while some of the schools the students she works with attend are offering in person classes in the fall...it comes down to choosing their health over staying in the country.

A battle she says is unfair to fight.

Dr. divya pradhan, international students club sponsor: "right now with the numbers rising, they are risking their lives."

Emotional --- that's the word doctor divya pradhan used to describe how she and her students have felt since the new directive was released.

Pradhan is a professor at calhoun community college - but works with international students there and at university of alabama in huntsvile, alabama a&m and the university of north alabama through the international club.

She said the students she works with are in limbo until they know what their colleges are offering for the fall semester.

Dr. divya pradhan, international students club sponsor: "most international students you need to understand when they come they just have plan a.

There is no plan b, and the entire family has pulled in their entire resources to send these kids here so they get a degree and once they get that degree, that is the ticket to a better life.

Not only for that student, but for the entire family so the entire family is pitching for that student."

A former international student herself...doctor pradhan says the news hits home dr. divya pradhan, international students club sponsor: "it is hard for everybody but for the international students it is a very trying time, and i understand because i've been there.

I have been there.

Doctor pradhan says students have been calling her - but says all she can offer them now is words of comfort dr. divya pradhan, international students club sponsor: "all i can offer them is some words of comfort, some food, a little bit of monetary help.

That's all i can offer right now."

Ll: doctor pradhan says she's been making care baskets for her students while they wait and see what they are going to do for the fall.

She says for a lot of students having to return to their home countries means they won't get the chance to come back...and it's a reality she says is hard to face.

In hsv ashley c waay 31 news