Yes, however the general rule is that these visas are granted so that foreign students may attend their classes in person.
At the start of the pandemic, DHS granted an exception for academic year 2020-2021 but pulled that rule earlier this week.
This makes rational sense because if the classes will remain online, these students do not have to be here. Furthermore, if all these foreign students seek is the "brand-name" of attending an American Ivy, there is an abundance of options through partner programs in their home countries.
Foreign students have tracking obligations to the DHS prior to coming to the US in the form of:
Informing the DHS of where the student will be attending;
Where the student will be living; and
Other financial reporting.
Granted, the foreigners can jump apartments but when they fail to meet that obligation, they are no longer in compliance and may be deported if captured.
Isn't the F-1 visa a legal way for international students to attend school in the USA?
Yes, however the general rule is that these visas are granted so that foreign students may attend their classes in person.
At the start of the pandemic, DHS granted an exception for academic year 2020-2021 but pulled that rule earlier this week. This makes rational sense because if the classes will remain online, these students do not have to be here. Furthermore, if all these foreign students seek is the "brand-name" of attending an American Ivy, there is an abundance of options through partner programs in their home countries.
Foreign students have tracking obligations to the DHS prior to coming to the US in the form of:
Granted, the foreigners can jump apartments but when they fail to meet that obligation, they are no longer in compliance and may be deported if captured.