Foreign students at US universities and schools will no longer be eligible to stay in the country if their courses move fully online due to coronavirus, US immigration authorities said on Monday.

Students holding visas for either academic or vocational courses that have moved fully online should either depart the country or transfer to a school with in-person teaching to “remain in lawful status”, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said, adding that a failure to do this could result in deportation proceedings.

The tightening of visa restrictions for foreign national students comes after the Trump administration suspended a range of different guest worker visas, affecting scientists, doctors, au pairs and some seasonal workers, among others. Mr Trump has also suspended green cards — which offer permanent residency — to respond to the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs as coronavirus damages the US economy.