CONTINUING F-1 Students
While we are eager to reconvene, we recognize that not all students will be able to return to campus for the Fall 2020. As our top priority is your health, safety and well-being, we are committed to helping every student continue to make academic progress, even if they are unable to be at Ramapo this fall. Students who wish to remain in their home countries or anywhere in the United States and enroll in classes remotely may do so. Being enrolled in online classes will not have an adverse effect on your immigration status. We understand that with the current COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions affecting the world, there are a lot of questions about how you can best prepare for the Fall, and we seek to provide answers to those questions here.
Virtual Meetings
Our office will be scheduling you to join us virtually on the following date and time so that we can address any of your questions or concerns.
- Virtual Check-in (New Sophomore Students): Thursday, August 6 @11:00 am EST
- Virtual Check-in (New Junior Students): Thursday, August 6 @ Noon EST
- Virtual Check-in (New Senior Students): Thursday, August 6 @ 3:30 pm EST
Please stay tuned for additional information sent to you by e-mail.
Academics
I am a continuing student. What are my academic options for the fall semester?
Continuing students in the United States or abroad can take classes from either location. As long as you enroll in a full course load and maintain your immigration status, Ramapo will continue to keep your SEVIS record in active status.
Continuing students who are currently outside the United States but would like to return to the United States, remain eligible to do so as long as they have a valid visa, and I-20 endorsed for travel.
Since continuing students who are enrolled in Fall 2020 are deemed to be maintaining active SEVIS status, the five-month temporary absence provision will not apply for students who are currently abroad or decide to leave the United States to continue taking online classes abroad.
For Fall 2020, can I remain in the United States in a hybrid program of study?
Ramapo’s Fall 2020 instructional plan is currently designated as hybrid (a combination of online and in-person course offerings). F-1 students may remain in the United States in a hybrid program of study. Students will not face enforcement action or loss of their nonimmigrant status based on engaging in hybrid programs.
On-Campus Accommodations
You received a message from Residence Life concerning Fall 2020 On-Campus Housing. We have received confirmation that all International students (regardless of them having in person or online classes) are part of the priority criteria group for Fall 2020 campus housing. If you are a continuing international student and participated in the Spring 2020 housing selection process, you may use the link in the 7/21/20 email from Residence Life to apply for housing.
- The previous Housing Agreement completed for the Fall 2020 semester has been cancelled for all students. You are required to complete a new housing placement process. Please go to the following link and complete this process as soon as possible: https://ramapo.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3IYbXlYL4Fat1Vb
- Should you be arriving from outside of New Jersey, there may be a possibility that you are required to self-quarantine off-campus in New Jersey for 14 days before arriving to campus. Please refer to the College’s COVID-19 webpage (https://www.ramapo.edu/health/coronavirus-covid-19/#s3) for details on what US states are currently. Anyone arriving from outside of the United States is required to quarantine off-campus for 14-days.
I previously received the Out-of-State Housing Grant, but will not be living on-campus in the Fall 2020 semester, how will this impact my grant?
As long as you are enrolled as a full-time student for the Fall term, you will still have access to the Out-of-State Housing grant upon your return to the on-campus residence halls for the Spring 2021 semester.
Health Insurance
Ramapo College has now required all full-time students to be enrolled in a health insurance program. Students will be automatically enrolled in a plan through Aetna. You were sent a detailed e-mail about this on July 14. Should you be interested in opting out of this insurance, you will need to provide an alternative plan. Detailed information about the insurance, providing an alternative plan, etc can be found here: https://www.ramapo.edu/student-accounts/student-medical-insurance/. Please note, there is a specific deadline of September 18 to submit an alternative insurance plan.
Immigration Matters
I am a continuing student outside the United States but would like to return to campus for the fall semester. Is it possible?
If you are a continuing student and would like to return to the United States in the coming weeks to participate in your fall classes, you will be eligible to do so with your current valid documents:
- You will need an I-20 with a valid travel endorsement by Ramapo’s International Services. Travel endorsements are valid for one year from the date they were signed.
- I-20s digitally signed and electronically sent to you are still fine. However, you will need to have a hard copy (printed) of your I-20 when providing documents to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
- You do not need an updated I-20. There is no longer a requirement for all continuing F-1 students to receive updated I-20s at this time.
- You will need a valid passport.
- You will need a valid F-1 visa. Note that many U.S. embassies and consulates are still closed.
*Please plan for possible delays at the U.S. port of entry’s secondary inspection
I am a continuing student. Do I need an updated I-20?
No. Given the July 14 announcement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, there is no longer a requirement for all continuing F-1 students to receive an updated I-20.
Will continuing students lose their Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) status if they are outside the United States for more than five months?
Our current advice is based on the March 2020 guidance from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and could change if SEVP releases new guidance for the fall. Since continuing students who are enrolled for fall 2020 are deemed to be maintaining active Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) status, the five-month temporary absence provision will not apply for students who are currently abroad or decide to leave the United States to continue taking online classes abroad.
My visa is expiring, and I am unable to travel to my home country at this time. What should I do?
Students may remain in the United States on an expired F-1 visa as long as they maintain their immigration status being in possession of a valid I-20 and an I-94 Arrival/Departure record, and by meeting normal enrollment requirements.
I want to leave the United States immediately, but my I-20 is not endorsed for travel. What should I do?
An I-20/DS-2019 is not required to depart the United States. Travel signatures are valid for one year, so please check your current I-20/DS-2019 before requesting a new one. For students on Optional Practical Training (OPT), your travel signature is valid for six months.
In response to COVID-19, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has allowed Designated School Officials (DSOs) to electronically sign and email I-20s to students. U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the U.S. Department of State confirmed they will accept electronically signed I-20/DS-2019s. We will email I-20s to students for travel.
NEW F-1 International Students
Congratulations on your admission to Ramapo! We look forward to welcoming you to the Ramapo Community soon. We understand that with the current COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions affecting the world, there are a lot of questions about how you can best prepare to transition to the United States as a student, and we seek to provide answers to those questions here.
Academics
I am an incoming student outside the United States. What are my academic options for the fall semester?
Newly admitted students who are currently outside the United States will not be eligible to enter the United States and enroll in online classes. If you are a new admit for fall 2020, and if you are taking online courses then you will be asked to wait until Spring to come to Ramapo.
Newly admitted transfer students who are currently outside the United States will not be eligible to enter the United States with their current transfer I-20 and enroll in online classes.
Will I be able to take the placement test from my home country?
Yes. Our Academic Advisors will provide you with the testing information so that you are able to take the placement test from your home country online.
If I take all of my classes online from my home country in the fall, would I be able to apply for my visa for the spring semester and enter the United States?
We cannot predict how things will progress in the coming months, although we of course hope that normal operations will resume in January and that all Ramapo students will be able to apply for a visa and return to campus at that time.
Scholarships
Can admitted students defer their enrollment to the spring 2021 semester or the 2021-2022 academic year and still keep their scholarships?
Yes. Students that decide to defer to the spring 2021 or fall 2021 can keep their scholarship.
Orientation & Arrival
When must I arrive at Ramapo to start classes for the Fall 2020 semester?
Students should plan on arriving on August 26, 2020.
Will I be required to quarantine when I arrive at Ramapo?
Yes. Anyone traveling from outside the United States is required to self-quarantine for 14 days before coming to class.
Virtual Orientation
A Virtual Orientation has been planned. The first session is scheduled for August 5, 2020. Additional details will be provided to you via e-mail.
On-Campus Accommodations
Within the next week or so, you will receive a communication from the Ramapo College Office of Residence Life with detailed instructions on registering for on-campus housing.
Health Insurance
Ramapo College has now required all full-time students to be enrolled in a health insurance program. Students will be automatically enrolled in a plan through Aetna. You were sent a detailed e-mail about this on July 14. Should you be interested in opting out of this insurance, you will need to provide an alternative plan. Detailed information about the insurance, providing an alternative plan, etc can be found here: https://www.ramapo.edu/student-accounts/student-medical-insurance/. Please note, there is a specific deadline of September 18 to submit an alternative plan.
New Jersey State Guidelines for Re-Opening Schools
New Jersey unveiled a three-stage reopening strategy:
- If New Jersey is in Stage 1, no face-to-face classes may be held on campus unless we successfully submit a waiver to obtain an exemption. All classes will be virtual (i.e., delivered remotely).
- If New Jersey is in Stage 2, only “labs, clinical rotations, technical, and hands-on instruction” classes are allowed – this means LAB, some STU, and ELN sections may run (* if the faculty member plans to teach a face-to-face, in-person class *) but LEC, HYB, SEM, and others may not be offered on campus. Also note that computer labs and the library must remain closed in Stage 2.
- If New Jersey is in Stage 3, although the College must maintain reduced occupancy at state-mandated levels, which have yet to be announced, I do not believe the types of courses that can be offered face-to-face, in person, on campus are restricted. We will have to coordinate the classes assigned to faculty who prefer to teach face-to-face, in-person classes to abide by capacity dictates. Preference will be given to classes taken by first-year students (e.g., First-Year Seminar, Studies in the Arts & Humanities, Critical Reading & Writing, Social Science Inquiry) so this cohort may be given a better chance to bond/connect with the College campus, student services, classmates, professors, and staff. Computer labs and the library may open with limits on the number of visitors/patrons.
New Jersey is currently in Stage 2 and, on July 2nd, the Governor issued an Executive Order to extend the public health emergency for another 30 days (see https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/20200702c.shtml for details).
Ramapo College ReStart Plan
The Fall 2020 semester will be dictated by the Stage the State is in on by the end of the day on August 3, 2020. If New Jersey remains in Stage 2 on August 3, 2020, then only the sections of lab, clinical, technical, and hands-on courses identified in the Fall 2020 class delivery census to be delivered as face-to-face in-person classes in Fall 2020 will be allowed to occur on campus.
If the STATE moves back to Stage 1, all NJ colleges and universities will not be able to hold in-person, on-campus classes. If the State is in Stage 2, only certain prescribed types of classes may be held in person, on campus. Only Stage 3, will provide Ramapo the flexibility to decide how it wants to conduct its classes.
LINK to College Restart Plan: https://www.ramapo.edu/health/coronavirus-covid-19/
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