Dear international students and scholars,

This week, State of Connecticut has published a planned schedule for COVID-19 vaccination eligibility in the state of Connecticut. https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2021/02-2021/Governor-Lamont-Announces-Connecticut-Will-Continue-Age-Based-Approach-To-COVID-Vaccine

International students have asked whether they will qualify for a vaccination under the state of Connecticut policy. It is our understanding that community vaccinations will be available based on where you work or live. Having a temporary visa status should not disqualify someone from receiving the vaccine, if otherwise eligible. We will provide international students with updates that would impact international students, if we learn of any.

Also, please watch for any announcements from UConn SHaW regarding vaccine updates for students. Vaccination programs available for students will include international students who otherwise meet eligibility requirements.

Please understand that this is an evolving situation, and much information has yet to be finalized. Please refer to the UConn SHaW COVID-19 information page for more student information. https://studenthealth.uconn.edu/updates-events/coronavirus/

 

For more information, contact: ISSS at international@Uconn.edu

 

Dear international students and scholars,

 

For students and scholars who have a home residence in China, we would like to bring your attention to a recent announcement from the Chinese embassy regarding boarding requirements and testing procedures effective November 6, if you will be flying to China.

 

The new procedures can be found here: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/notices/t1828184.htm

 

We know that this may make it more difficult for students and scholars who were planning to travel home for the winter break. Please reach out to ISSS if you have any specific needs that arise from this change and we will work to help you find a solution.

 

For students and scholars who decide to and are able to depart before this new rule is effective, remember that you do not have to get a travel signature from ISSS before you leave. Just be sure to report your travel to ISSS when convenient to do so, and we will make sure that you have access to a travel signature for your return to the U.S. https://international.global.uconn.edu/travel/

 

 

We recommend that you contact the Chinese consulate in New York and/or your airline, if you have questions about the specific policy or travel plans. http://newyork.china-consulate.org/eng/

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:

 

• Submit your travel information record as soon as possible so that we can review your plans and issue a travel signature, if necessary.
• Consider purchasing a travel insurance that will cover you in your destination country. Make sure that the plan covers epidemic situations, and coverage for medical evacuation.
• We do not recommend that any students conduct personal travel to countries deemed by the Center for Disease Control as a Level 3 risk for coronavirus (currently China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea). If you need to travel to a country designated Level 3 for coronavirus, please communicate these plans to your ISSS advisor as soon as possible for further guidance. If you choose to travel to Level 3 countries for personal reasons, you will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return to the United States. There is also a risk that you will not be allowed reentry to the United States (current entry restrictions are in place for travelers from China and Iran – this could expand to other countries).   
• Be sure to evaluate local conditions in your travel destination before you go, and continually while you are there.
• Practice basic hygiene for protecting yourself from illness, such as washing hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, and avoiding contact with people who are sick.

 

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:

1. Your Form I-20/DS-2019
2. An enrollment verification form listing the current semester, and all past semesters studied at UConn. Students at Storrs campus can request this from the Information Desk of Wilbur Cross Building. Visiting scholars and research students do notneed to submit an enrollment verification form to get a travel signature.

 

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.

 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has published a new rule impacting international students and exchange visitors. The SEVIS I-901 fee will increase effective June 24th to $350 for F-1 students and $220 for J-1 Exchange Visitors.

Read the rule from the Federal Register here.

The I-901 SEVIS Fee is paid by all F-1 and J-1 visa applicants who are starting a new academic program.  Students who take a break in their studies or exchange program and return to the U.S. with a new Form I-20 or DS-2019, with a new SEVIS ID number, also need to pay the fee.

Students and exchange visitors who complete multiple programs and maintain F-1 or J-1 status by transferring their SEVIS record, or by following SEVIS Change Education Level or Matriculation procedures, do NOT pay a new SEVIS I-901 fee.

Students who already paid the fee when they started their program do not need to pay the fee again.

New incoming students and exchange visitors who pay the SEVIS I-901 fee before June 24th will be assessed the old rates of $200 for F-1 students and $180 for J-1 Exchange Visitors. If you pay June 24th or after, you will pay the new fee rate.

Only F-1/J-1 principal visa holders pay the SEVIS I-901 fee – you do not have to pay a separate fee for your dependents.

 

Contact ISSS with any questions or concerns you have – international@uconn.edu.

 

Select the link to view the new Portal Process for Academic Advisors.

Read the full story at The Daily Campus link provided: Charles Okwandu: Life after UConn

Read the full story at The Daily Campus link provided: International Students Learn Idioms for the Thanksgiving Holiday

 

New Travel Process for International Students, Scholars and Dependents

ISSS has a new process to report international travel and request a travel signature on your Form I-20 or DS-2019. International students, scholars and dependents need a valid travel signature on their immigration document any time they enter the United States after a trip abroad. The signature is given on the travel endorsement section of your document. Once issued, the travel signature is valid for 12 months, or for 6 months if you are an F-1 student on post-completion OPT.

1. Online Travel Information Record

All international students and visiting scholars who will travel outside the United States should complete the online Travel Information record. This form, along with full travel signature guidelines, can be accessed on our travel webpage.

International students log in to the ISSS portal through the link using their Net ID and password. International scholars (visitors for research or teaching, including student researchers) login in to the ISSS portal using your email address and a password that you set. If you are a visiting scholar and do not yet have login credentials, please email international@uconn.edu.

2. J-1 Visa Medical Insurance Confirmation Record

If you are on a J-1 visa, you must also make sure that you have an up to date Medical Insurance Confirmation record submitted through the ISSS Portal. If you already submitted this record, you may view your form by visiting isssportal.uconn.edu and viewing your submitted applications on your User Home Page. If you have not yet submitted the Medical Insurance Confirmation record, please do so here.

3. Bring your most recent I-20 or DS-2019 and other required support documents to ISSS. 

Enrolled students with F and J visas need to bring the Full Time Enrollment Verification from the Registrar showing all semesters you have been enrolled at UConn.

Visiting scholars who will travel for academic purposes need to bring the J-1 Scholar Out of Country Request Form.

Once all documents are submitted, processing can take around one week. Or, visit ISSS Storrs during Walk-In Travel signature week to receive your travel signature on the spot.

Contact ISSS with further questions.