ISSS is operating remotely. We will take phone calls through our regular Front Desk phone line, maintain services through virtual advising with Starfish appointments, and complete processing requests through iGlobal.
Fall 2020 Semester Updates
Please review our fall 2020 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for continuing students and our fall 2020 FAQs for new students for answers to the most common student questions about maintaining visa status in fall 2020, planning for spring 2021, travel, and employment. You can also find announcements and our schedule of upcoming ISSS live advising sessions on our website
and on Instagram (@ISSSNewSchool).
Spring 2021 Updates — October 16, 2020
The New School has announced that we will deliver limited in-person curricular offerings on our campus in New York City this spring semester.
New international students who have an initial I-20 or DS-2019 with a January 2021 start date and a valid visa may enter the United States to begin their in-person studies. As required by the U.S. government, all new international students with an initial I-20 or DS-2019 must register for an in-person/hybrid course during the spring semester in order to come to the United States in F-1 status.
Continuing F-1 and J-1 students who have maintained their immigration status may study completely online or through a hybrid study model (partly online and partly in person).
- You can read our spring 2021 updated FAQs for continuing students and new students for answers to students' most common questions.
- ISSS will provide students with additional information through detailed email notifications, Zoom live advising sessions, updates on the ISSS website, and @ISSSNewSchool Instagram posts.
- The Applications Team will continue to issue I-20s and DS-2019s for the spring 2021 semester. If you are currently waiting for your I-20 or DS-2019 to be issued, we appreciate your continued patience and understanding. For more information, please
visit the Coming to The New School website.
ISSS Operations
Remote office hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT (through September 18)
- The main phone, 212.229.5592, line is operational.
- For virtual advising by phone or Zoom, make an appointment through Starfish.
- All processing requests can be made through iGlobal.
- All workshops and/or Live Advising Sessions will be held online through Zoom.
Presidential Executive Orders & Travel Restrictions
On June 22, 2020, Presidential Trump issued a presidential proclamation suspending
entry into the United States of certain non-immigrant workers. This proclamation took effect at 12:01 a.m. on June 24, 2020, and continues to December 31, 2020. The proclamation does not apply to F-1 students, J-1 students, J-1 scholars, J-1 students
on Academic Training, or F-1 students on OPT or OPT STEM extensions. F-1 and J-1 students and their dependents will still be permitted entry to the United States with appropriate travel documents.
The categories stated in the proclamation are H-1B, H-2B, L, and J-1 (intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel program) along with dependents.
DHS Proposed Rule on Duration of Status
On Thursday, September 24, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule to eliminate duration of
status (D/S) for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and F-2 and J-2 dependents.
The DHS’s current D/S policy allows students to remain in the United States for the duration of their academic program and post-completion OPT or Academic Training. D/S is shown on the I-94 document as “Admit Until: D/S,” and students and scholars can
remain beyond their I-20 or DS-2019 program end dates when academically necessary or in order to do OPT or Academic Training after their program ends.
DHS is proposing the following changes to this policy. Please be aware that this is a proposed rule and no official changes have occurred that would affect a current student’s or scholar’s immigration status in the United States:
Individuals admitted in F or J status would be issued a Form I-94 with a fixed expiration date by which time they would need to depart the United States
The fixed period of admission would be two to four years for F students. Many international students would be admitted to the United States for up to the length of their I-20, not to exceed four years.
Students and scholars who need additional time beyond the I-94 expiration date to complete their program objectives would be required to file an Extension of Stay (EOS) request with USCIS using Form I-539.
The F-1/F-2 grace period provided at the end of the student’s program would be shortened from 60 days to 30 days; the J-1/J-2 grace period would remain 30 days.
Before the rule will be implemented, DHS has a 30-day comment period open to the public that allows written comments and related material to be submitted through the regulations.gov webpage. DHS will then consider the comments and publish a final rule with an effective date. ISSS will continue to work with the New School administration and with colleagues at peer institutions and professional associations to advocate on behalf
of all of our international students and scholars. We will update this site once a final ruling has been made.
International Student Advocacy
ISSS continues to work with other universities and professional associations to urge our government representatives and related government agencies to take into consideration the far-reaching impact of COVID-19 on students, including new students, who
are barred from entering the United States if their university is offering only online courses. We will keep students informed as we learn more.
The information on this website is of a general nature and is not intended to address the specific circumstances of any particular individual. International students and scholars should always consult an ISSS advisor about their specific situation. It
is students' and scholars' responsibility to maintain legal status in the United States at all times and to fully comply with New School policies and procedures.
Website content is written with care but may not be comprehensive or up-to-date. ISSS at The New School is not responsible for content found through external links.