COVID-19 Info for International Students

COVID-19 Info for International Students

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant confusion this year and the F-1 regulations are no exception. Please review the scenarios listed below and find the one that applies to you. Proceed through the questions in your scenario starting at question 1. If you have any questions about the F-1 regulations regarding your scenario, please contact our office directly.

This information currently applies to F-1 students in the fall 2020, SPRING 2021, and Fall 2021 semester only.

Definitions

Am I a New Student?

You are considered a new student if this is your first semester at a U.S. institution or if this will be your first semester after an extended period of absence from HPU and you filled out a Returning application.

Am I a Transfer Student?

You are considered a transfer student if you previously attended a secondary (high school) or higher education institution prior to your enrollment at HPU.

Am I a Continuing Student?

You are considered a continuing student if you were enrolled in-person at HPU during the previous semester and are now enrolled for the current semester at HPU. Students who have been issued an I-20 due to "change of education level" are also considered continuing students.

Scenario 1: I plan to take classes entirely online this Fall 2021 semester

What type of student are you?

 

I am A Continuing student

Proceed to scenario 1: question 2

 

I am a transfer student

Proceed to scenario 1: question 3

 

I am a new student

  • Based on your answers, you are new, first time student who will enroll entirely online. You will only be able to enroll in all online classes if you remain outside the U.S. (and if allowed by your academic program). You will not have F-1 status at this time and do not need to adhere to any F-1 regulations until your first semester of in-person classes taken in the U.S.
    • Do not attempt to enter the U.S.
    • You must alert our office of your intentions for Fall 2021 so that we can update your immigration records as needed
    • You do not need to submit an International Health Insurance Waiver to our office for the semester(s) you will be outside the U.S.
  • If you want to live in Honolulu, HI for the Fall 2021 semester, please refer to Scenario 2 for information.

STOP

Continuing Students: Where do you plan to live during Fall 2021?

 

I plan to Live inside the U.S.

  • Based on your answers, you are a continuing student with an active F-1 record and plan to enter and/or remain in the U.S. while enrolled in only online classes. Since HPU is operating with a hybrid model for the Fall 2021 semester, you may choose to live in the U.S. and take all of your classes online. Your SEVIS record will remain active and your enrollment in all online courses will not impact your eligibility for OPT or CPT as long as you continue to maintain F-1 regulations.

STOP

 

I plan to live outside the U.S.

  • Based on your answers, you are a continuing student with an active F-1 record. You plan to depart and/or remain outside the U.S. for the entire semester and enroll in an entirely online schedule for Fall 2021. Your SEVIS record will remain active as long as you maintain a full-time schedule and all other F-1 requirements. Your time outside the U.S. will not impact your potential eligibility for benefit programs such as OPT or CPT as long as you continue to maintain F-1 regulations.
    • You must alert our office of your intentions for Fall 2021 so that we can update your immigration records as needed
    • You do not need to submit an International Health Insurance Waiver to our office for the semester(s) you will be outside the U.S.

STOP

transfer studentS: Where will you live during Fall 2021

 

I will live inside the U.S.

  • Based on your answers, you are a transfer student who will enter and/or remain in the U.S. and will enroll in an entirely online schedule. Since HPU is operating with a hybrid model for the Fall 2021 semester, you may choose remain in the U.S. and take all of your classes online..
    • You must alert our office of your intentions for Fall 2021 so that we can update your immigration records as needed
    • Complete the online immigration regulations course on MyHPU > Blackboard > Communities tab
    • You must enroll in a full-time online course load for the Fall semester
    • You must sign our electronic verification form here if you intend to enroll in 8 week online courses (must be enrolled in 8A + 8B = 16 week classes in accordance with our policies)
    • You must enroll in health insurance as listed here and submit your International Student Health Insurance Waiver by the stated deadline

STOP

 

I will live outside the U.S.

  • Based on your answers, you are a transfer student who will remain outside the U.S. and enroll entirely online. You will be able to enroll entirely online if you remain outside the U.S. (if allowed by your academic program), but you may lose your F-1 status. You may need to request a new record before you return to the U.S in-person for school.
    • You must alert our office of your intentions for Fall 2021 so that we can update your immigration records as needed
    • You must enroll in a full-time online course load for the Fall semester

STOP

Scenario 2: I plan to enroll in at least one HPU class in person or hybrid for Fall 2021

Is Fall 2021 your first semester enrolled at HPU?

 

No, I was enrolled at HPU previously

  • Based on your answer, you are a continuing student with an active F-1 record who will arrive or remain in Honolulu, Hawaii and enroll in at least one in-person/hybrid class. You have no limits for online or hybrid classes, and you are eligible for the exemption to enroll in any combination of in-person, hybrid, or online courses for Fall 2021 as long as you are considered registered full-time. Enrollment in 8 week online courses is permitted as long as you follow the stated policies. As long as you maintain all other F-1 regulations, you will remain in active F-1 status.
  • Alternatively, if you'd like to enroll for classes part-time, please refer to Scenario 4

STOP

 

Yes, Fall 2021 is the first time I've enrolled at HPU

Proceed to scenario 2: question 2

Were you enrolled at another school in the U.S. During Spring or Summer 2021?

 

I was enrolled in another U.S. School recently and transferred my sevis record to HPU

  • Based on your answer, you are a transfer student who will arrive and/or remain in Honolulu, Hawaii and enroll in at least one in-person/hybrid class.
  • You have no limits for online or hybrid classes, and you are eligible for the exemption to enroll in any combination of in-person, hybrid, or online courses for Fall 2021 as long as you are considered registered full-time. Once you complete the SEVIS check-in, your record will be given active F-1 status and you will remain active throughout the Fall 2021 semester as long as you maintain all F-1 regulations.
    • Complete the online immigration regulations course on MyHPU > Blackboard > Communities tab
    • You must appear in-person at the Student Services Center for your SEVIS check-in (500 Ala Moana Blvd, Ste 5A | Honolulu, HI 96813)
    • You must sign our electronic verification form here if you intend to enroll in 8 week online courses (must be enrolled in 8A + 8B = 16 week classes in accordance with our policies)
    • You must enroll in health insurance as listed here and submit your International Student Health Insurance Waiver by the stated deadline

STOP

 

Fall 2021 is my first semester attending a U.S. institution

  • Based on your answers, you are a new student who will enter the U.S. and intend to arrive and remain in Honolulu, Hawaii to enroll in at least one in-person/hybrid class.
  • You are eligible for a partial registration exemption due to COVID-19 and must enroll in at least one in-person class (3 credits), but may enroll in any combination of in-person, online, or hybrid courses for your remaining credits. Once you complete the SEVIS check-in, your record will be given active F-1 status and you will remain active throughout the Fall 2021 semester as long as you maintain all F-1 regulations.
    • Complete the online immigration regulations course on MyHPU > Blackboard > Communities tab
    • You must appear in-person at the Student Services Center for your SEVIS check-in (500 Ala Moana Blvd, Ste 5A | Honolulu, HI 96813)
    • You must sign our electronic verification form here if you intend to enroll in 8 week online courses (must be enrolled in 8A + 8B = 16 week classes in accordance with our policies)
    • You must enroll in health insurance as listed here and submit your International Student Health Insurance Waiver by the stated deadline

STOP

Scenario 3: I do not plan to enroll at any U.S. institution this Fall 2021 semester

WHAT TYPE OF STUDENT ARE YOU?

 

I am a transfer or continuing student

Proceed to scenario 3: question 3

 

I am a new student

Proceed to scenario 3: question 2

Are you deferring your admission?

Deferring your admission means that you request to reserve the admission decision given to you and apply it to a future semester (for example, Spring 2022). The ability to defer your admission is contingent on the academic program in which you have applied to. Scholarships may or may not be deferred. Please contact your admissions counselor for more information on deferral policies.

 

No, I will not enroll or defer my admission

  • Based on your answers, you are a new student who has decided not to enroll at a U.S. institution this semester or in the near future. Your SEVIS record will be terminated. You must:

STOP

 

Yes, I will defer my admission

  • Based on your answers, you are a new student who wants to defer HPU admission to another semester. You must inform international@hpu.edu and i20@hpu.edu about your intentions to defer so that your academic and immigration records can be updated accordingly.
    • If you are currently inside the U.S., you must depart immediately once your Deferral Request is processed

STOP

Do you plan to take a TEMPORARY leave of Absence?

A leave of absence means that you will temporarily not enroll in any classes at HPU but intend to enroll again after 1 or 2 semesters. Your SEVIS record will be terminated during this leave of absence so you must contact OISS in a timely manner once you have made plans to enroll again.

 

No, I will not take TEMPORARY a leave of Absence

  • Based on your answers, you are a transfer or continuing student who will withdraw completely from HPU and are not requesting a transfer to another U.S. institution. Your SEVIS record will be terminated. You must:

STOP

 

Yes, I will take a temporary leave of absence

  • Based on your answers, you are a transfer or continuing student who will withdraw temporarily from HPU for the next 1 or 2 semesters. Your SEVIS record may be terminated or adjusted and you must contact our office before you enroll at HPU. You must:

STOP


Scenario 4: I plan on enrolling in classes part-time for Fall 2021

WhaT TYPE OF STUDENT ARE YOU?

 

I am a transfer or continuing student

Proceed to scenario 4: question 2

 

I am a new student

Proceed to scenario 4: question 3

iS FALL 2021 yOUR final sEMESTER

 

No, Fall 2021 is not my final semester

Proceed to scenario 4: question 3

 

Yes, Fall 2021 is my final semester

  • Based on your answer, you are a continuing student who plans to complete their program in December 2021. You may enroll part-time (online, in-person, or hybrid) in the remaining classes necessary to complete your academic program. Please complete a Reduced Course Load form and submit it to your Academic or Faculty Advisor for a signature. You must then submit the completed form to OISS (iss@hpu.edu). Final approval for a Reduced Course Load is contingent on OISS approval. Your SEVIS record will remain active regardless of whether or not you are in the U.S. however, if you are outside the U.S. you may loose your eligibility to apply for post-graduation OPT.

STOP

WHERE WILL YOU LIVE DURING FALL 2021?

 

I will not live in the U.S.

  • Based on your answers, you are a new, transfer, or continuing student who does not plan to graduate in Fall 2021. You will only enroll in classes part-time from outside the U.S. You must remain outside the U.S. throughout the Fall 2021 semester. During this time, you will remain an actively enrolled HPU student, however your SEVIS record will be temporarily terminated since you will not meet the full-time F-1 course requirement. Once you are ready to return to a full-time schedule, please contact OISS in a timely manner so that we can reactive your record and re-issue any necessary immigration paperwork.
    • You must alert our office of your intentions for Fall 2021 so that we can update your immigration records as needed

STOP

 

I will live in the U.S.

  • Based on your answers, you are a new, transfer, or continuing student who does not plan to graduate in Fall 2021. You will only enroll in classes part-time but you are currently in the U.S. You must depart the U.S. immediately and you may not return until you receive approval to do so by OISS.  During this time, you will remain an actively enrolled HPU student, however your SEVIS record will be temporarily terminated since you will not meet the full-time F-1 course requirement. Once you are ready to return to a full-time schedule, please contact OISS in a timely manner so that we can reactive your record and re-issue any necessary immigration paperwork.
  • Alternatively, you can choose to enroll in a full-time course load in order to maintain your F-1 regulations. If you would like to enroll full-time, please refer to Scenarios 1 or 2 to determine the applicable regulations. 
    • You must alert our office of your intentions for Fall 2021 so that we can update your immigration records as needed

STOP