Our friends at The Graduate School have put together a great FAQ for graduate students!
Our friends at The Graduate School have put together a great FAQ for graduate students!
The U.S. Department of State announced through its social media yesterday that as of March 18, routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments will be cancelled worldwide as part of a general temporary suspension of visa services during this time of global travel warnings. You must check the status of visa services at individual embassies/consular posts.
In response to worldwide challenges related to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Department of State is suspending routine visa services in most countries worldwide. Embassies and consulates in these countries will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments as of March 18, 2020. These embassies and consulates will resume routine visa services as soon as possible, but we are unable to provide a specific date at this time. Check the website of the embassy or consulate for its current operating status: usembassy.gov
Services to U.S. citizens will continue at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas, but the availability of these services may be limited. Check the website of an individual embassy or consulate to determine their operating status and find emergency contact information.
ISSS will continue to issue I-20/DS-2019 forms for new students and exchange visitors who will begin fall programs, and issue travel signatures for continuing students and scholars who will need to renew visas before returning. Your forms will be mailed to you after normal ISSS operations resume, and in time for your scheduled visa appointment. If you already had a visa appointment scheduled, it is my understanding that you will receive an email notifying you of the appointment cancellation. When visa services resume, you will need to reschedule your appointment and notify ISSS of the date. We hope that this suspension of U.S. visa services will be short, and that services will resume soon.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of State is maintaining a list of Covid-19 information, travel/entry restrictions and resources by country. If you are considering a U.S. departure, this resource may be helpful to learn of current conditions and requirements in your destination country.
Thank you, and please let ISSS know if you have questions about how this news applies to your individual travel situation.
International Student and Scholar Services is now providing nearly 100% of services remotely. During this temporary change, we strive to meet your international advising needs and we thank you for your flexibility. Please read for important changes to our application processing and advising services, including remote advising, travel signatures, I-20/DS-2019 forms for new students, and other applications. Remember that all UConn international students, visiting scholars and OPT participants must complete the Remote Learning – ISSS Check In form during this time, and re-submit if your information changes.
Remote Advising
ISSS will offer chat-advising through Office 365 weekday afternoons between 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm. ISSS advisors will be available on the following schedule:
Monday: Sarah Manning, Lulu Dong
Tuesday: Neena Kapoor, Rae Alexander
Wednesday: Jennifer King, Arthur Galinat
Thursday: Leslie Lawrence, Amina Kader
Friday: Annie Casarella, Nadine Boudissa
Travel Signatures -Travel Outside the U.S.
Initial I-20s/DS-2019s
OPT/STEM OPT Applications
All other applications
Phone Calls
Message for UConn Academic Departments Hosting Exchange Visitors on J-1 Visas
(Visiting Scholars, Professors, Interns and Student Researchers)
Due to the current COVID-19 situation, ISSS recognizes that academic departments who host exchange visitors may be unable to assist new exchange visitors to settle in to life at the University. The U.S. Department of State has recommended that program sponsors temporarily pause the start of new exchange visitor programs through at least the next 60 days. Considering the Department of State recommendations, and out of concern for the welfare of our exchange visitors, ISSS will implement temporary changes to our J-1 program administration. This primarily affects academic departments hosting new visiting research scholars, professors, and visiting research students. This may also impact incoming postdoctoral fellows and other temporary staff, if coming on a J-1 visa.
Program Start Dates
ISSS will only accept new visa sponsorship requests with a start date after June 1,2020. In some cases, ISSS may request that a program start date begin after August 1, depending on the exchange visitor’s home country and field of research, due to anticipated visa processing delays.
ISSS has already reached out to departments and exchange visitors for whom we have issued a DS-2019 form with a program start date before June 1. We plan to initially amend those programs to a start date of June 1 to prevent exchange visitors from traveling to the U.S., and will follow up with individual departments to determine if this is an acceptable date, or if you would like to invite your exchange visitor to begin their program on a different date after June 1. Hosting departments must still submit a formal amend request with a new offer/invitation letter establishing the new program dates.
Initial DS-2019 Form Processing and Mailing
ISSS will continue to issue new DS-2019 forms for exchange visitors with program start dates beyond June 1. When the form has been processed, we will contact the academic department and also email the exchange visitor with their SEVIS and pre-arrival information. With this information, they can schedule their visa appointment, if the U.S. embassy/consulate in their home country is currently accepting appointments. At this time, ISSS will hold the form in our office until normal operations resume. If the Exchange Visitor has a visa appointment scheduled in the near future and requires the form, we will mail the DS-2019 directly to the scholar, at their cost. Thank you for your flexibility.
Exchange Visitors and Overseas Travel
If your exchange visitor returns home out of concerns for safety and wellness, ISSS can either: shorten their program to indicate that they have finished their program early, OR we can keep the SEVIS record active while they are out of the U.S. We will temporarily waive the 30 day out of country rule for exchange visitors until after global travel warnings have passed; however this time overseas will be counted toward the exchange visitor’s maximum program length. Your exchange visitor should complete a Travel Signature Request in the Scholar/Employee Portal to report their travel and request a travel signature. They should also complete the J-1 Research Scholar Out of Country Request if they are traveling, and will continue their UConn exchange program overseas. Exchange visitors who continue their UConn programs overseas may require additional approval from OVPR to ensure the activity is permitted under export control rules. Exchange Visitors who are paid employees of UConn must also adhere to any leave policies during the temporary absence.
Remote Learning – ISSS Check In Form
ISSS has asked all exchange visitors to complete a Remote Learning-ISSS Check In form to let us know of the exchange visitor’s location and mode of activity (on-campus vs. remote). Please encourage your exchange visitors to complete this form.
Department of State Reporting Requirements
As a reminder, ISSS is required to report incidents to the Department of State that affect the health and safety of our exchange visitors. If you have any specific concerns about individual exchange visitor’s well-being, please contact rae.alexander@uconn.edu.
As the COVID-19 situation in the U.S. continues to evolve, ISSS has important information for international students, scholars and OPT participants.
International students
UConn has announced that courses will move to an all-online format for the rest of Spring semester.
If you decide to return to your home country:
If you decide to stay in the U.S. for the rest of Spring semester:
OPT/CPT Students
J-1 Visiting Scholars
We will provide another webinar/live chat at a soon to be determined date to take your questions related to these announcements. We hope that you are all doing well and staying healthy. Please let us know if you have any concerns or questions at this time.
Dear International Students and Scholars,
ISSS would like to provide you with important updated information regarding ISSS operations.
To reduce risk, we have decided to move all ISSS functions to remote services only, starting Monday March 16 until Sunday, April 5. This applies to all ISSS offices at all campuses. This will have important implications for advising and processing services.
Advising Services
Please contact ISSS by email with your advising questions. If an appointment is needed, we can arrange for this by phone/skype/etc. Email your ISSS advisor or international@uconn.edu and we will respond to you as soon as we can.
Processing
Most ISSS immigration applications can be submitted online through the ISSS website. See ISSS Forms. If you cannot find the application you are looking for, email or call ISSS (860-486-3855). Students and scholars who submit applications must check their UConn email daily for important updates.
Specific information about form submission and delivery can be found below:
Travel Signature Requests:
Continuing students and scholars who are departing the U.S. must submit a Travel Information Record to ISSS for each trip outside the U.S. ISSS will not require students to submit the Enrollment Verification with your Travel Information Record request during this period of remote service. If you are leaving the U.S., simply submit the Travel Information Record through the online form. You do not need a travel signature to depart the U.S.
Check your I-20/DS-2019 form to see if it already has a valid travel signature (signed within 12 months of your expected return date, or last 6 months if on post-completion OPT). Often students already have a travel signature, and do not realize it. If it does have a valid travel signature, select in the form “I do not need a travel signature at this time. I am just reporting my travel to ISSS.”
If you need a travel signature, select “I require a travel signature and will bring my original I-20/DS-2019 to ISSS.” in the form. However, because you cannot bring your form for signature to ISSS, we will reprint a new form for you, and arrange to have it mailed to your address in the U.S. (if you will not depart within the next two weeks) or outside the U.S. (if you will depart within the next two weeks). For international mailing or express mailing, you will need to pay for the shipping of your document – ISSS will email you shipping instructions when your travel signature is complete. For domestic mailing within the U.S. we will mail your document at no cost to you through USPS. If you dropped off your form to ISSS for processing last week and have not picked it up, we will contact you regarding mailing.
OPT and Program Extension Requests:
Students who are applying for post-completion OPT authorization should submit their application forms through the ISSS website. Remember, you must complete all parts of the application and hit the SUBMIT button before your application will be considered complete.
Once processed, ISSS will send you all advisory documents related to the application by email, and we will send your updated Form I-20 with OPT recommendation by mail. Remember, students must be in the U.S. to apply for OPT. We will mail the form using standard USPS mail unless you request express shipping, which would be at your cost.
CPT, Reduced Course Load and Other Requests:
Most other ISSS requests do not require immediate paper production. For all other requests that do not require an immediate paper I-20/DS-2019 letter we will send you the document electronically with ISSS signature, and hold the paper form in our office for pick-up at a later date.
Initial I-20/DS-2019 Forms:
Requests for new student and exchange visitor I-20s and DS-2019s will still be processed. We plan to mail all forms directly from the ISSS offices through express mail. We will send you instructions for paying the express shipping fees by email.
Students/Scholars who are Finishing their Programs Early/Finishing from Home:
If you will depart the U.S. and do not plan to return to complete your program here, or wish to end your program early, submit the Program Update-Completion/Shorten record. Submit this form only if you do not plan to return to the U.S. to continue on your visa. Do NOT complete this form if you plan to continue your program, apply for OPT, or begin a new program in Fall.
Thank you all for your flexibility during this time, and please let us know if you have further questions. We will continue to provide important information to you through both the International-L listserv and the ISSS Soapbox. If any of the above information changes, we will let you know as soon as we can. Please stay connected.
Link to slides from ISSS Spring 2020 Semester Live Chat
Dear International Students,
Yesterday a message was sent out to the University community alerting students and faculty to the possibility of UConn courses moving to online course instruction, and advising students to take important items with them if traveling for spring break, in case students are asked to return home due to COVID-19 concerns. We want to clarify some aspects of this message for international students.
The message, which can be viewed in full here, reads in part:
The COVID-19 pandemic will come to the state of Connecticut and it will likely directly impact UConn. In that case, we are prepared for the possibility of moving classes to an on-line only format and having students return home when possible. This has already occurred at some universities in the country.
It is strongly recommended that students bring all necessary academic materials (textbooks, laptop, notes, etc.) during the Spring Break period in case the decision is made to not return to in-class instruction. Should the University determine that instruction will be offered online, students may not have the ability to return to the residence halls.
The University understands that international students who live in residence halls may not be able to return home. Therefore UConn will allow international students who live in residence halls to remain living on campus if students are directed to return home, and you are unable to do so. The University will provide more information to you, when available, about the process and expectations for students who remain on campus. Students who currently live off-campus will not be required to return to their home countries, and may stay in their off-campus apartments.
If in-person classes are suspended through the end of the semester, it may be possible for students to complete the term from your home country, but there are many factors to consider when deciding whether to return home or remain in the U.S. If classes are only suspended temporarily, students who elect to go home may be unable to return to resume in-person studies due to visa/entry restrictions currently in place for travelers arriving from China and Iran. Because of the complexity of international travel with both options, it is important that you discuss your plans with ISSS if you are planning to leave the U.S. In the event that online coursework or a closure of residence halls is announced, we will follow that announcement with further instructions for international students to maintain communication with ISSS.
Please know that the University takes your safety very seriously, and any decisions that are made require careful consideration. Therefore we do not have all the answers to your questions at this time, but please know the University is planning for the needs of international students. Thank you for your patience, and we will let you know of changes as we learn of them.
Dear International Students and Scholars,
It will soon be Spring Break, and ISSS would like to remind international students and scholars again that we require at least one week to process your travel signature request for international travel. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT UCONN HAS SUSPENDED ALL UNIVERSITY-SPONSORED STUDENT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Due to the fast-changing circumstances related to coronavirus, we would like to urge students who are traveling internationally for personal reasons to carefully consider travel risks. We do not know when countries will be deemed high risk for travel, and therefore disruptions like flight cancellations, U.S. entry restrictions, or quarantine requirements could delay your return to UConn.
Any delayed return to campus can lead to unintended consequences related to academic program completion or keeping your I-20/DS-2019 active. While we will provide you with a travel signature on your DS-2019 or I-20 if eligible, please consider these risks and keep in close communication with ISSS if your travel plans change.
If you will travel internationally:
Travel Signature Instructions
Students and exchange visitors who are traveling outside the U.S. during Spring Break must submit their request to ISSS for a travel signature no later than Friday, March 6 in order to receive it by Friday March 13. ISSS is not doing an in-person travel signature week prior to spring break.
All students who are traveling outside the U.S. must:
-Complete a Travel Information Record online through the ISSS Portal to report your international travel
If you need a travel signature on your most current I-20 or DS-2019, you must also bring to the ISSS front desk:
How do I know if I have a valid travel signature already?
If you have an I-20 form, page 2 of the Form has a section called “Travel Endorsements”. If you already have a travel signature on this page that was signed within 12 months of your planned return date to the U.S., you do not need a travel signature. If you are on post-completion OPT, the travel signature must be less than 6 months old.
If you have a DS-2019 form, the bottom right corner of the form has a section called “Travel Validation by Responsible Officer”. If you already have a travel signature on this page that was signed within 12 months of your planned return date to the U.S., you do not need a travel signature.
Remember, even if you already have a valid travel signature, you still must report your travel to ISSS through the Travel Information Record.
Both the submitted Travel Information Record AND your I-20/DS-2019 and enrollment verification must be submitted by Friday, March 6 for pick up by Friday, March 13.
Visiting Scholars and Research Students: If your travel is for academic purposes related to your current research at UConn, you must also submit a completed J-1 Scholar Out of Country Research Request and upload this into your Travel Information Record.
Please contact ISSS if you have any questions, and read more information and Travel FAQs on the ISSS travel webpage.
ISSS knows that many international students may be wondering if they will be able to travel home for the summer as planned. Please consider the following information when making your decision for personal travel, especially if you are from a country that has been highly impacted by the coronavirus spread:
If you are from a country highly impacted by coronavirus, there is a risk that flight, visa and entry restrictions could prevent your timely return to campus for fall semester. You must be prepared for this possibility, and communicate your plans and whereabouts to the University and to ISSS if you are unable to return by the first day of the semester.
If you are a current student considering travel to China or Iran, please note:
Also, there may be countries in addition to China and Iran that impose their own outbound travel restrictions, or countries whose travelers may be restricted from entering the U.S. This could also delay your travel back to UConn.
If you traveled home to a high-risk country, you could also be subjected to a mandatory quarantine period upon return. You must plan your return travel to accommodate any quarantine period before classes begin.
If you would normally travel home for the summer, but you are considering staying in the U.S. due to the coronavirus, here is basic information to help you plan your stay.
F-1 students are allowed to stay in the U.S. for your summer vacation as long as you intend to enroll as a student for fall semester. Make sure the program end date on your Form I-20 is not does not expire before December 2020.
You are not required to take courses to maintain your visa status, unless your academic program includes a required summer term (most do not). However, you may take summer courses for enrichment or to get ahead in meeting your program’s degree requirements. UConn summer session registration begins March 23, 2020. During summer session, you may also take online courses, which would normally be restricted during summer. Also, the tuition rate for undergraduate courses during summer is the in-state rate!
Students who wish to enhance their academic English could consider enrolling in the summer intensive English program at UCAELI.
University of Connecticut American English Language Institute (UCAELI)
International students may work in on-campus positions full time during the summer. To qualify, you must be working on-campus with UConn as your employer. You may also work for the Starbucks at the UConn Bookstore, or the restaurants in the Student Union. If you are unsure whether your employment is OK for your student visa, always check with ISSS.
To look for on-campus jobs:
Studentjobs.uconn.edu > JobX for UConn Students
International students may apply for “Student Labor” positions, not “Work Study” positions.
International students may NOT work in casual positions off-campus, or work for yourself (i.e. drive for Uber, deliver food for GrubHub, babysit, etc.). This is a violation of your student visa. If this will be your first time working in the U.S., you will need to apply for a Social Security Number. ISSS can assist you with this.
International students may also be able to do an internship in the U.S. over the summer off-campus. You must have either CPT or OPT authorization BEFORE you begin, and the internship must be directly related to your field of study. See your ISSS advisor for details. Even unpaid internships require CPT or OPT authorization. The UConn Center for Career Development provides internship listings, resources and counseling to help improve your internship search and experience.
Employment for International Students
UConn Center for Career Development
The University is exploring whether on-campus housing at the Storrs and Stamford campuses may be available in summer for current students who are unable to travel home due to coronavirus. International undergraduate students from countries highly impacted by the virus will soon receive an email survey regarding your summer plans– this helps the University to assess student need for housing and other on-campus services. It will be very important that you respond to the survey. If housing will be available on campus, we will let students know of the application process as soon as possible.
If you live off-campus, it will be important to know the terms of your lease, in-case you need to extend your rental period. If you will not be able to stay in your current rental, the UConn Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services office has resources to assist you with your housing search.
Remember, all international students must notify ISSS if you are living at a different U.S. address over the summer. You must update ISSS within 10 days of moving. Update your address by logging into StudentAdmin and updating the “Current Local” address field. You must notify us of any address where you will stay 10 days or more. For more information on how to format your address, visit the ISSS Update Your Address webpage.
If you stay in the U.S. for the summer, you must ensure that your U.S. health insurance coverage is also extended! Contact your health insurance provider for details.