Entry Restrictions for foreign national travelers

The Biden administration will reinstate the orders to restrict entry of travelers who were in Brazil, UK, Ireland and Schengen Area countries of Europe within 14 days before arriving to U.S., and add South Africa to the list of countries from which travel will be restricted.

Official orders to this effect have not yet been published, and it is still unclear whether students and exchange visitors who will travel from any of these regions will qualify for national interest exceptions for academic related travel. ISSS will update you as we learn more.

 Update: The proclamation was published and can be read here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/25/proclamation-on-the-suspension-of-entry-as-immigrants-and-non-immigrants-of-certain-additional-persons-who-pose-a-risk-of-transmitting-coronavirus-disease/ 

Also, Department of State have confirmed informally that the National Interest Exception that allowed F-1 students to travel from Europe, UK and Ireland automatically, and visiting scholars with J-1 visa by written approval, will remain in effect. The Department of State website lists up to date information, here.

Testing and Arrival Requirements

Starting tomorrow, January 26, COVID-19 testing will be required to board all international flights to the U.S. More information about this requirement, including an FAQ, can be found on the CDC website here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

The CDC has also updated their federal (U.S.) guidelines for returning to the U.S. from international travel: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html

Remember, there are still state arrival requirements and also University arrival requirements (for students who will enage in on-campus activity) that may differ from the U.S. federal arrival requirements.

 

 

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

On January 20, 2021 President Biden revoked prior executive orders and proclamations that were imposed by President Trump, which had banned visa processing for travelers and immigrants coming from a number of primarily Muslim, then African, countries. The full proclamation rescinding these orders can be read here. The new proclamation also orders a review of visa applications currently pending that were affected by the prior orders, and applications that were previously denied on the basis of the prior orders.

While the executive orders imposed under Trump did not, in the end, directly affect most student visa processing, they created fear and uncertainty for our international students and sent an unwelcoming, xenophobic message to the world. They also prevented our students and exchange visitors from seeing family members whose travel plans were impacted by the orders. We are elated that these orders have been rescinded, and happy to step into 2021 on a more positive note.

Please note that the orders revoked in this Proclamation do not include those orders implemented after COVID-19, that prevent foreign nationals from entering the U.S. after traveling from certain specified countries (presently Brazil, China, Iran, Ireland and UK, and Schengen Area countries of Europe).

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

 

On January 18, 2021 President Trump issued a proclamation that terminates the current restriction of entry to the U.S., of foreign nationals who were present in Brazil, Ireland, UK and Schengen Area countries of Europe prior to arrival, effective January 26, 2021. Read the proclamation here. This coincides with the day that prior COVID-19 testing will be required by airlines for all inbound international travel to the United States.

However, it is unclear at this time if the new Biden administration will allow the termination of this entry restriction to be implemented. ISSS strongly advises all students who are planning upcoming travel to the U.S. to continue to be mindful of updates to travel/entry restrictions, as the new administration could have a different public health agenda and recommendations related to travel, than the prior administration. ISSS will update students and exchange visitors with information related to the termination of the entry restriction for travelers from Brazil, Ireland, UK and Schengen Area of Europe, as it is confirmed.

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

USCIS Receipt Notice Delays

Many students are reporting delays in receiving a receipt notice after submitting their I-765 to USCIS for the OPT application. If you recently filed an application with USCIS and are experiencing a delay in receiving your receipt notice or the filing fee being processed, please note that this is currently a national trend.

If it has been more than 60 days since filing and you have not received your receipt, you can follow the steps HERE to inquire about your case.

• Follow step 1 (Ask USCIS for Help) and if that does not work, proceed with step 2 (Submit Request for Case Assistance with the Ombudsman)

We do not recommend that you re-file your application with USCIS unless you are personally advised by an immigration attorney to do so (in which case you must still contact ISSS to obtain the new I-20).

While this is a known issue, we do not know the reason for this, or when circumstances will improve.