Guidance on Funding International Graduate Students Who Remain Abroad Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The following guidance outlines the parameters of funding options for graduate students who are foreign nationals and are unable to be physically present in the U.S. as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please note that Graduate students who are foreign nationals, who have been located in the U.S. in a valid student visa status since the onset of travel restrictions in the Spring of 2020, and who wish to continue to receive fellowship stipend or assistantship wages during the Fall 2020 semester must remain in the U.S. in order to do so.

Graduate Research Assistantships and Graduate Teaching Assistantships

A new or continuing student who is able to enroll full-time and perform their job duties remotely while appointed to an assistantship may be paid student wages, for the Fall 2020 term only so long as the student meets all four of the criteria listed below.  

1. Has an F-1 or other visa status permitting on-Grounds employment;
2. Has a US bank account;
3. Is not located in an OFAC-debarred country; and
4. Has a TIN (either ITIN or SSN) and meets all requirements of the I9.

Graduate Student Wage Assignments

A new or continuing student who is able to enroll full-time and perform their job duties remotely may be provided with a student wage assignment for the Fall 2020 term only so long as the student meets all four of the criteria listed above.  

Graduate Fellowships

A new or continuing student who is able to enroll full-time, may be provided with fellowship stipend and tuition remission for the Fall 2020 and/or Spring 2021 terms so long as the student meets all four of the criteria listed above. Because they are non-service awards that require no specific services to the University, graduate fellowships may not be offered in exchange for any duties normally associated with a graduate assistantship or other wage or employment-based assignments. Students who transition from a Fall 2020 assistantship or other employment-based assignment to a graduate fellowship for the purpose of maintaining living support while abroad must complete a Fellowship Disclosure Form, which must be approved by their advisor and retained within the school of enrollment.  Students with external fellowships must consult with and receive approval from their fellowship sponsors in order to continue receiving stipends while abroad. 

Students Who Do Not Meet All Four of the Stated Criteria

A new or continuing student who is unable to meet all four of the criteria listed above may not be employed in any capacity. They may not receive wages, stipends, refunds or other benefits or funding, including subsidy of the student health insurance premium.  However, schools may pay the tuition and fees of these students in order to allow them to complete coursework remotely. The duration of these arrangements may not extend past the spring 2021 semester and must conclude once a student is able to enter the U.S. on a valid student visa and transition into normal fellowship, assistantship or other employment-related activities.  Extensions beyond the duration of the spring term may granted on an exception basis. Deans or their designee may submit such requests on behalf of the impacted student(s) in writing to the Associate Vice Provost and Director of the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs.