Canadians can’t cross border to take part-time college classes

Canadians wanting to take part-time college courses in the United States are now out of luck due to the enforcement of regulations that prevent crossing the U.S. border for classes.
“Commuter students seeking to enter the United States on a visitor’s visa to pursue a part-time course of study at educational institutions are not eligible for admission into the United States,” a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service stated.
Canadians are still allowed entry into the U.S. if they are going to school full-time, but those taking one or two credits won’t be allowed in.
Thomas Kantos, port director for the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Services at International Falls, Mn., said this is not a new rule but one that’s been on the books for years.
He added it was just one measure being taken to tighten security in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“We’re definitely working with our senators to get this changed, to get this taken off,” said Carol Grim, director of public information and development at Rainy River Com-munity College in International Falls.
“We have students who have started programs and want to finish [them],” she added.
The INS is allowing students who are enrolled in classes for the 2002 spring semester to complete their courses, but no new students will be allowed to cross the border for part-time classes.
More than 50 Canadian students attend RRCC on a part-time basis a year. Grim said the continuing education program—non-credit workshops on individual training—will be hit hardest.
“We’re working on it both to understand it and to try to change it,” she remarked.
Don Lovisa, manager of the Fort Frances campus of Confederation College, said the ruling wouldn’t affect them.
Current programs such as the joint international business program will continue unaffected as Canadian students still will to attend classes via teleconferencing at Confederation College here.
Still, Lovisa said they supported RRCC’s efforts.
“We’re working with Rainy River Community College to get clarification,” he noted.