USA – Updates for International Students

A flurry of confusing pandemic-related changes to immigration policy have international students struggling to understand how their visas and, ultimately, academic careers may be impacted by these troubling directives. This alert clarifies the most current policies impacting international students and which visa categories may be affected. As always, GYH attorneys are available for consultations to answer any questions you have about your immigration process.

Good News: Online-only Course Loads Allowed for International Students
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on July 6th issued a directive that would have required international students to have at least some in-person classes in order to stay in the country. Last week, a swift lawsuit by Harvard and MIT, which argued the directive forced schools to choose between sacrificing international students and risking public health and safety, forced DHS to rescind the order.
The rescission of the directive restores the March 13 guidance permitting current students on F-1 visas to remain in the U.S. while taking online-only only course loads.
Unfortunately, newly enrolling international students are still not allowed to take online-only course loads but the case remains open and it is expected that the Trump Administration will also be asked to defend the restrictions facing newly-enrolled international students.

National Interest Exceptions to Schengen Travel Ban
The Department of State (DOS) announced that some students in the Schengen area, UK, and Ireland may qualify for a National Interest Exception (NIE). Students with valid F-1 or M-1 visas traveling from the Schengen Area, the UK and Ireland have been granted a blanket exception and do not have to take any special action to travel. Students travelling from these areas on J-1 visas should contact the nearest embassy or consulate to request a NIE.
Note that consular closures, which have been in place for months, largely remain in effect. Some posts are reportedly opening but, for the most part, we have seen little movement from these posts and few visas are being issued at this point.

SOURCE: https://www.grossmanyoung.com/

Former Harvard Student (from Nigeria) Sues University for Denying His Degree Following Sexual Misconduct Findings

Former Harvard undergraduate Damilare Sonoiki ’13 filed a lawsuit against the University Oct. 21 alleging that the College unfairly withheld and ultimately denied him his degree after three fellow students accused him of sexual assault.

Sonoiki was set to graduate in May 2013. Two days before Commencement, however, two women formally filed formal sexual misconduct complaints against him.

Sonoiki still spoke as the Harvard Orator on Class Day and walked at graduation. Still, he was denied a degree because he was involved in a pending investigation. Several days later, the third woman filed an additional complaint against Sonoiki.

On Nov. 19, 2013, the Administrative Board found Sonoki responsible for the accusations, required him to withdraw from the College, and recommended his dismissal to the Faculty Council, according to his legal complaint. On Dec. 10, 2014, the Council dismissed Sonoki. He never received his undergraduate degree.

The 25 Best Workplaces in New York

IMG_2378New York companies have a reputation for dog-eat-dog work environments, long hours, and sharp elbows—and in a lot of cases, that’s probably accurate. But there are some companies in the Empire State where employees not only like their colleagues, they enjoy coming into the office. To find the standouts, Fortune partner Great Place to Work surveyed more than 137,000 employees in New York state and the surrounding metropolitan area. The following 25 companies got the highest marks for trust, friendliness, and being all-around great places to work. Continue reading

La vie en Amérique d’après un auteur camerounais (Imbolo Mbue)

IMG_2480Join us on Tuesday, August 23rd for the release of Imbolo Mbue‘s novel, Behold the Dreamers.

Mbue’s eloquent debut novel takes the timeless story of immigrants coming to the U.S. in search of a better life and plants it in a particularly difficult historical moment.

The 2008 economic crisis was a hard time for the American Dream, and when Jende and Neni Jonga arrive in New York from Cameroon late in 2007, they initially feel fortunate to find work with the family of a Wall Street executive. But their employer works for Lehman Brothers, and the Jongas learn hard truths about the socio-economic realities of their new country. Continue reading

Opportunité à ne pas manquer aux Nations Unies – Programme Jeunes administrateurs

nationsLe programme Jeunes administrateurs est une initiative visant à recruter des professionnels talentueux et hautement qualifiés qui débuteront une carrière de fonctionnaires internationaux au Secrétariat de l’Organisation des Nations Unies. Il consiste en un concours d’entrée et comporte des programmes de perfectionnement professionnel pour tous les lauréats qui entament une carrière au sein de l’Organisation. Continue reading