Today the U.S. government offered clarifying guidance for new students who are outside the United States and wish to travel to the United States for school in fall semester. The government has confirmed that if you will take only online classes in the Fall, you will not be eligible for a visa or for entry to the United States. 

This updates former information provided by our office that only advised new students to take an in-person course. Now we are telling you that you are required to take at least one in-person or hybrid course, if you want to travel to the United States for your Fall semester courses.

We interpret this guidance to apply to any student currently outside the U.S. who has an I-20 with a Fall semester program start date, and lists the following Form Issue Reasons on your I-20: Initial Attendance, Transfer-Pending, or Change of Education Level. 

We are notifying UConn academic programs of this requirement, and we advise you to contact your academic advisor or program to find out if an in-person course will be available for you to take. 

When you go to your visa appointment (if needed – Canadians do not require a visa stamp), or travel to the U.S. , we suggest that you have with you a print out of your course registration, showing your course modalities, to prove that you not enrolled in fully online courses. We also suggest you bring a letter to further document that UConn is not offering only online courses, which you can download here. 

When you arrive at U.S. immigration, present your I-20 and passport, and if you are asked to provide further documentation of your in-person courses, have these documents ready to access, but do not provide them unless prompted.

Thank you and please contact ISSS with any questions you have about this update

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