ISSS would like to share with you important information regarding arrival to campus for the fall 2021 semester to help you in your planning. Classes at all UConn campuses begin August 30, 2021. Please read the following information carefully to help you plan your arrival.

Student Arrival Dates

If you will live on-campus:

Most returning students who live in on-campus residential housing at Storrs or Stamford campuses will move in August 28 or 29. Please see the important dates posted by Residential Life here. More move-in details will be provided by Residential Life at a later time. Please contact livingoncampus@uconn.edu with any questions you have.

Living off campus:

If you will live off campus your arrival dates are more flexible. Students who have initial attendance I-20 forms may enter the U.S. with your F or J visa up to 30 days before the program start date listed on your Form I-20 or DS-2019. If your Form I-20 or DS-2019 is already active, you may return any time in the summer, unless you are traveling to the U.S. from an entry restricted country*.  If you will travel from an entry restricted country, and your I-20 begins before August 1, 2021, we recommend that you do not arrive earlier than July 31, or 30 days before semester begins. J-1 students traveling from an entry restricted country also require a written national interest exception (or a visa annotated for NIE) before you can travel. If you will not be fully vaccinated upon arrival in the U.S., we recommend that you arrive at least 7 days before classes or any in-person campus commitment begins, and follow all guidelines listed in this email regarding testing and quarantine.

 

Airport shuttle:

ISSS plans to sponsor an airport shuttle for students from Bradley International Airport  (Windsor Locks, Connecticut) to Storrs, Connecticut on the following dates:

 

Friday, August 13, 2021

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 – drop off at UConn Storrs campus only.

 

Priority for this shuttle is given to new international students, but on a space-available basis, returning or continuing students may be able to sign up for a seat on the shuttle. ISSS will provide more details soon.

COVID-19 Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements

COVID-19 Vaccination:

The University requires that all UConn students be vaccinated for COVID-19, unless you have been approved for an exemption from this requirement for medical or non-medical reasons. Students who wish to apply for the exemption should submit the exemption request form by July 15. Links to the exemption requests form can be found here. Do not submit the exemption form if you plan to be vaccinated upon arrival to the U.S.

 

You are considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after completing a full course of a vaccination approved by the World Health Organization. If you are unable to be fully vaccinated in your country, the University will allow you to get your vaccination when you arrive.  Students who need to be vaccinated upon arrival can register for an open appointment with the on-campus vaccination clinic in Storrs starting in August. Students who are not at the Storrs campus can obtain a vaccination through a local community provider. ISSS will provide more information on community vaccination options soon.

 

Please upload proof of your vaccination status, even if you are not yet fully vaccinated and even if it is not a WHO-approved vaccine, to myhealth.uconn.edu as soon as you are able to, and no later than July 31 (when possible).  If you will not have access to a WHO approved vaccination upon arrival, do not apply for the vaccination exemption. More information on the University’s vaccination requirement can be found here.

 

COVID-19 testing:

After international travel:

All international students who fly to the U.S. from another country are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test in order to fly to the United States. Learn more here. Please also submit this proof of your negative COVID-19 test result to myhealth.uconn.edu. Upon arrival in the U.S., you should be tested again, and then again 5-7 days after arrival. Students who attend the Storrs campus can be tested through on-campus student health and wellness (SHaW) services. Students who do not attend the Storrs campus can be tested through a community provider. ISSS will provide more information on community testing options soon.

 

Residential students who are not yet fully vaccinated, no international travel:

Students who are not fully vaccinated, but will live on campus and did not travel from outside the U.S., must also be tested prior to arrival, upon arrival, and within 5-7 days after arrival.

Quarantine:

Your vaccination status will determine if you will need to quarantine upon arrival to the U.S. or arrival to campus.

 

Quarantine Scenario 1: If you are fully vaccinated, living on-campus or off-campus:

Quarantine is not required. However, if you traveled from an international destination, you will still need pre-arrival testing, arrival testing, and testing 5-7 days after arrival for COVID-19 (as described above) and monitor for symptoms.

 

Quarantine Scenario 2: If you are not fully vaccinated, and arrive from a U.S. location, or from an international location that is not subject to geographic entry-restriction*:

 

Students living on campus:

In addition to the COVID-19 testing described above, you will need to follow a modified residential quarantine for 7 days. During the modified quarantine:

 

• Students are permitted to attend class and participate in essential research functions conducted at UConn.
• Students in clinical rotations should follow the recommendations of their clinical setting.
• No close contacts (<6 ft. for >15 min) outside defined residential pod.
• Continue to wear masks, physically distance, and avoid crowds and social gatherings.
• May leave primary residence for Dining Hall take-out service.
• May engage in outdoor activities by yourself or with members of defined residential pod.
• May participate in limited, university sponsored, socially distanced outdoor activities.
• No prolonged indoor activity outside of primary residence other than to attend class, engage in essential research, and access take-out food service.
• Adhere to all control measures advised by the university.
• Daily symptom check during the modified quarantine period.
• May leave primary residence to obtain medical care and participate in required testing for COVID-19.

 

Students living off-campus:

Follow the modified quarantine guidelines above for seven days (but in your off-campus residence), or ten days if you are unable to follow the COVID-19 testing schedule after arrival.

 

Quarantine Scenario 3: If you are not fully vaccinated, and arrive after international travel from a country subject to entry-restriction*:

 

Students living on campus:

In addition to the COVID-19 testing described above, you will need to follow a medical quarantine for 7 days after arrival to the U.S. If you arrive in the U.S. before your move-in date, you should complete the 7-day quarantine and related COVID-19 testing before you move into your on-campus housing and upload your testing results to SHaW. Otherwise you may complete the medical quarantine on-campus.

 

During the 7-day medical quarantine:

• You will live in temporary housing for residential quarantine.
• No close contacts (<6 ft. for >15 min).
• May only leave primary residence for Dining Hall take-out service.
• No in person class attendance. If you must miss classes due to quarantine, the University will support you to remain engaged with your coursework.
• No in-person work attendance.
• Daily active monitoring of temperature (2x/day) and daily symptom check
• Testing for COVID-19 day 5-7 after arrival from an entry restricted country.
• May leave primary residence to obtain medical care and participate in required testing for COVID-19.

Students living off-campus:

Follow the general medical quarantine guidelines above for seven days (but in your off-campus residence), or ten days if you are unable to follow COVID-19 testing schedule after arrival.

 

*Entry restricted countries as of June 2021: Brazil, China, India, Iran, South Africa, Ireland, United Kingdom, and Schengen Area countries of Europe, which are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

 

 

Summary of Arrival, Testing, and Quarantine Policy

Travel description:	Covid-19 Testing	Quarantine	Arrival Date- Living On Campus	Arrival Date- Living Off Campus
Domestic travel:	Fully Vaccinated: None required   Not fully vaccinated: Pre-arrival, upon arrival and 5-7 days after arrival	Fully vaccinated: None required   Not fully vaccinated: Modified quarantine for 7 days	Freshmen (Storrs): August 27   All others: August 28-29	If you are already in the U.S. on an F or J visa, you may arrive at any point in summer, by your program start date.
International travel (not traveling from an entry restricted country):	All students: Pre-arrival, upon arrival, and 5-7 days after arrival	Fully vaccinated: None   Not fully vaccinated: Modified quarantine for 7 days	Freshmen (Storrs): August 27   All others: August 28-29	New I-20/DS-2019: Arrive up to 30 days before program start date.   Continuing I-20s/DS-2019s: Arrive at any point in the summer.
International travel from entry-restricted country:	All students: Pre-arrival, upon arrival, and 5-7 days after arrival	Fully vaccinated: None   Not fully vaccinated: Medical quarantine for 7 days	Freshmen (Storrs): August 27   All others: August 28-29	New I-20/DS-2019: Arrive up to 30 days before program start date.   Continuing I-20s: Arrive no earlier than July 31. This includes students whose flights transit entry- restricted countries.   If not fully vaccinated, arrive at least 7-10 days before classes begin.

 

 

What to do next:

• We know that you probably have a lot of questions about your situation. Please attend a live webinar to learn more about arrival and returning to campus, and ask your questions to SHaW, Res Life, and ISSS staff.

When: Tuesday, July 6 at 8:30 am – 9:30 am, EST.

Link to meeting:

https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/uconn-cmr/onstage/g.php?MTID=e277313e6e231215f85ab85d960f36f70

Event number 120 869 7786

Event password: UConn2021

• Upload your COVID-19 vaccination record status, even if you are not yet fully vaccinated, to uconn.edu by July 31 (when possible). Contact studenthealth@uconn.edu with any questions. Check your myhealth.uconn.edu portal for response from Student Health Services (for your privacy).
• Fill out your ISSS Fall 2021 Study Plan, if you have not already done so. Please also complete this form if you will not study in-person for fall 2021.

ISSS would like to share with you important information regarding arrival to campus for the fall 2021 semester to help you in your planning. Classes at all UConn campuses begin August 30, 2021. Please read the following information carefully to help you plan your arrival.

Student Arrival Dates

If you will live on-campus:

International students who will live in the Stamford campus residence hall move-in August 28 or 29;  more details will be provided by Residential Life at a later time about the move-in process. Please contact livingoncampus@uconn.edu with any questions you have.

Living off campus:

If you will live off campus you may enter the U.S. with your F or J visa up to 30 days before the program start date listed on your Form I-20 or DS-2019. Please be mindful of any in-person activities or program requirements, as well as testing and quarantine requirements (see below) when planning your arrival date.

COVID-19 Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements

COVID-19 Vaccination:

The University requires that all UConn students be vaccinated for COVID-19, unless you have been approved for an exemption from this requirement for medical or non-medical reasons. Students who wish to apply for the exemption should submit the exemption request form by July 15. Links to the exemption requests form can be found here. Do not submit the exemption form if you plan to be vaccinated upon arrival to the U.S.

 

You are considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after completing a full course of a vaccination approved by the World Health Organization. If you are unable to be fully vaccinated in your country, the University will allow you to get your vaccination when you arrive. Students who need to be vaccinated upon arrival can receive a vaccination through a community provider. We will share more details regarding community vaccination provider options soon.

 

Please upload proof of your vaccination, even if it is not a WHO-approved vaccine, to myhealth.uconn.edu as soon as you are able to, and no later than July 31 (when possible). More information on the University’s vaccination requirement can be found here.

 

COVID-19 testing:

After international travel:

All international students who fly to the U.S. from another country are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test in order to fly to the United States. Learn more here. Please also submit proof of your negative COVID-19 test result to myhealth.uconn.edu. Upon arrival in the U.S., you should be tested again, and then again 5-7 days after arrival. We will provide you with more information on how to obtain a COVID-19 test in your community.

 

Residential students who are not yet fully vaccinated, no international travel:

Students who are not fully vaccinated, but will live on campus and did not travel from outside the U.S., must also be tested prior to arrival, upon arrival, and within 5-7 days after arrival.

Quarantine:

Your vaccination status will determine if you will need to quarantine upon arrival to the U.S. or arrival to campus, whichever comes first.

 

Quarantine Scenario 1: If you are fully vaccinated, living on-campus or off-campus:

Quarantine is not required. If you traveled from an international destination, you will still need pre-arrival testing, arrival testing, and testing 5-7 days after arrival for COVID-19 (as described above) and monitor for symptoms.

 

Quarantine Scenario 2: If you are not fully vaccinated, and arrive from a U.S. location, or from an international location that is not subject to geographic entry-restriction*:

 

Students living on campus:

In addition to the COVID-19 testing described above, you will need to follow a modified residential quarantine for 7 days. During the modified quarantine:

 

• Students are permitted to attend class and participate in essential research functions conducted at UConn.
• Students in clinical rotations should follow the recommendations of their clinical setting.
• No close contacts (<6 ft. for >15 min) outside defined residential pod.
• Continue to wear masks, physically distance, and avoid crowds and social gatherings.
• May leave primary residence for Dining Hall take-out service.
• May engage in outdoor activities by yourself or with members of defined residential pod.
• May participate in limited, university sponsored, socially distanced outdoor activities.
• No prolonged indoor activity outside of primary residence other than to attend class, engage in essential research, and access take-out food service.
• Adhere to all control measures advised by the university.
• Daily symptom check during the modified quarantine period.
• May leave primary residence to obtain medical care and participate in required testing for COVID-19.

 

Students living off-campus:

Follow the modified quarantine guidelines above for seven days (but in your off-campus residence), or ten days if you are unable to follow the COVID-19 testing schedule after arrival.

 

Quarantine Scenario 3: If you are not fully vaccinated, and arrive after international travel from a country subject to entry-restriction*:

 

Students living on campus:

In addition to the COVID-19 testing described above, you will need to follow a medical quarantine for 7 days after arrival to the U.S. If you arrive in the U.S. before your move-in date, you should complete the 7-day quarantine and related COVID-19 testing before you move into your on-campus housing and upload your testing results to SHaW. Otherwise you may complete the medical quarantine on-campus.

 

During the 7-day medical quarantine:

• You will live in temporary housing for residential quarantine.
• No close contacts (<6 ft. for >15 min).
• May only leave primary residence for Dining Hall take-out service.
• No in person class attendance. If you must miss classes due to quarantine, the University will support you to remain engaged with your coursework.
• No in-person work attendance.
• Daily active monitoring of temperature (2x/day) and daily symptom check
• Testing for COVID-19 day 5-7 after arrival from an entry restricted country.
• May leave primary residence to obtain medical care and participate in required testing for COVID-19.

Students living off-campus:

Follow the general medical quarantine guidelines above for seven days (but in your off-campus residence), or ten days if you are unable to follow COVID-19 testing schedule after arrival.

 

*Entry restricted countries as of June 2021: Brazil, China, India, Iran, South Africa, Ireland, United Kingdom, and Schengen Area countries of Europe, which are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

 

 

Summary of Arrival, Testing, and Quarantine Policy

Travel description:	Covid-19 Testing	Quarantine	Arrival Date- Living On Campus	Arrival Date- Living Off Campus
Domestic travel:	Fully Vaccinated: None required   Not fully vaccinated: Pre-arrival, upon arrival and 5-7 days after arrival	Fully vaccinated: None required   Not fully vaccinated: Modified quarantine for 7 days	Early Arrival: To be confirmed   Standard Arrival: August 28-29	If you are already in the U.S. on an F or J visa, you may arrive at any point in summer, by your program start date.
International travel (not traveling from an entry restricted country):	All students: Pre-arrival, upon arrival, and 5-7 days after arrival	Fully vaccinated: None   Not fully vaccinated: Modified quarantine for 7 days	Early Arrival: To be confirmed   Standard Arrival: August 28-29	You may arrive up to 30 days before the program start date on I-20.
International travel from entry-restricted country:	All students: Pre-arrival, upon arrival, and 5-7 days after arrival	Fully vaccinated: None   Not fully vaccinated: Medical quarantine for 7 days	Early Arrival: To be confirmed   Standard Arrival: August 28-29	You may arrive up to 30 days before the program start date on I-20.   If not fully vaccinated, arrive at least 7-10 days before classes begin.

 

 

What to do next:

• We know that you probably have a lot of questions about your situation. Please attend a live webinar to learn more about arrival and returning to campus, and ask your questions to SHaW, Res Life, and ISSS staff.

When: Tuesday, July 6 at 8:30 am – 9:30 am, EST.

Link to meeting:

https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/uconn-cmr/onstage/g.php?MTID=e277313e6e231215f85ab85d960f36f70

Event number 120 869 7786

Event password: UConn2021

 

• Upload your COVID-19 vaccination record status, even if you are not yet fully vaccinated to uconn.edu by July 31 (when possible). Contact studenthealth@uconn.edu with any questions. Check your myhealth.uconn.edu portal for response from Student Health Services (for your privacy).
• Fill out your ISSS Fall 2021 Study Plan, if you have not already done so. Please also complete this form if you will not study in-person for fall 2021.

ISSS would like to share with you important information regarding arrival to campus for the fall 2021 semester to help you in your planning. Classes at all UConn campuses begin August 30, 2021. Please read the following information carefully to help you plan your arrival.

International Student Welcome Program 

 

ISSS invites new international undergraduate students to attend the International Student Welcome Program starting Tuesday, August 24. This program complements your online orientation program, and will include both in-person and virtual elements. Students who began their program abroad, and who will arrive at UConn for the first time in the fall are also invited to attend the International Student Welcome Program.

 

Students who are fully vaccinated may participate fully in the International Student Welcome Program. Students who are not fully vaccinated may participate in only some aspects of the welcome program, but can still arrive early, with certain conditions. We strongly encourage all new international undergraduates at Storrs to attend this program, which will help orient you to life at UConn and meet others. We will provide more details to students regarding the New Student Welcome Program soon.

Student Arrival Dates

If you will live on-campus:

 

New international students living on-campus at Storrs may move into their room early, on Tuesday, August 24, to attend the International Student Welcome Program.

 

New international students who cannot move-in on August 24 should follow the standard move-in calendar, posted here. Students admitted for Fall 2021 semester move in Friday, August 27.  All other students sign up for a move-in time on August 28 or 29 – more details will be provided by Residential Life at a later time. Please contact livingoncampus@uconn.edu with any questions you have.

 

Living off campus:

If you will live off campus you may enter the U.S. with your F or J visa up to 30 days before the program start date listed on your Form I-20 or DS-2019. If you plan to attend the New Student Welcome Program, you must arrive by August 24. If you will not be fully vaccinated, you should arrive at least 7 days before the New Student Welcome Program to fully participate, or at least 7 days before classes begin, and follow all guidelines listed in this email regarding testing and quarantine.

 

Airport shuttle:

ISSS will sponsor an airport shuttle for students from Bradley International Airport  (Windsor Locks, Connecticut) to Storrs, Connecticut on the following dates:

 

Friday, August 13, 2021

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 – drop off at UConn Storrs campus only.

 

ISSS will provide more information about the airport shuttle, and a form to sign up for the shuttle, very soon.

COVID-19 Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements

COVID-19 Vaccination:

The University requires that all UConn students be vaccinated for COVID-19, unless you have been approved for an exemption from this requirement for medical or non-medical reasons. Students who wish to apply for the exemption should submit the exemption request form by July 15. Links to the exemption request forms can be found here. Do not submit the exemption form if you plan to be vaccinated upon arrival to the U.S.

 

You are considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after completing a full course of a vaccination approved by the World Health Organization. If you are unable to be fully vaccinated in your country, the University will allow you to get your vaccination when you arrive. Students who need to be vaccinated upon arrival can register for an open appointment with our on-campus vaccination clinic starting in August. As an international student, you will be allowed to move to Storrs campus residence halls on the designated early arrival day of August 24 even if you are not fully vaccinated, but you will need to follow all guidelines described below.

 

Please upload proof of your vaccination, status, even if you are not yet fully vaccinated and even if it is not a WHO-approved vaccine, to myhealth.uconn.edu as soon as you are able to, and no later than July 31 (when possible).  If you will not have access to a WHO approved vaccination upon arrival, do not apply for the vaccination exemption. Instead, register for a vaccination appointment when available. More information on the University’s vaccination requirement can be found here.

 

COVID-19 testing:

After international travel:

All international students who fly to the U.S. from another country are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test in order to fly to the United States. Learn more here. Please also submit proof of your negative COVID-19 test result to myhealth.uconn.edu. Upon arrival in the U.S., you should be tested again, and then again 5-7 days after arrival. Students who attend the Storrs campus can be tested through on-campus student health and wellness (SHaW) services.

 

Residential students who are not yet fully vaccinated, no international travel:

Students who are not fully vaccinated, but will live on campus and did not travel from outside the U.S., must also be tested prior to arrival, upon arrival, and within 5-7 days after arrival.

Quarantine:

Your vaccination status will determine if you will need to quarantine upon arrival to the U.S. or arrival to campus, whichever comes first.

 

Quarantine Scenario 1: If you are fully vaccinated, living on-campus or off-campus:

Quarantine is not required. If you traveled from an international destination, you will still need pre-arrival testing, arrival testing, and testing 5-7 days after arrival for COVID-19 (as described above) and monitor for symptoms.

 

Quarantine Scenario 2: If you are not fully vaccinated, and arrive from a U.S. location, or from an international location that is not subject to geographic entry-restriction*:

 

Students living on campus:

In addition to the COVID-19 testing described above, you will need to follow a modified residential quarantine for 7 days. During the modified quarantine:

 

• Students are permitted to attend class and participate in essential research functions conducted at UConn.
• Students in clinical rotations should follow the recommendations of their clinical setting.
• No close contacts (<6 ft. for >15 min) outside defined residential pod.
• Continue to wear masks, physically distance, and avoid crowds and social gatherings.
• May leave primary residence for Dining Hall take-out service.
• May engage in outdoor activities by yourself or with members of defined residential pod.
• May participate in limited, university sponsored, socially distanced outdoor activities.
• No prolonged indoor activity outside of primary residence other than to attend class, engage in essential research, and access take-out food service.
• Adhere to all control measures advised by the university.
• Daily symptom check during the modified quarantine period.
• May leave primary residence to obtain medical care and participate in required testing for COVID-19.

 

Students living off-campus:

Follow the modified quarantine guidelines above for seven days (but in your off-campus residence), or ten days if you are unable to follow the COVID-19 testing schedule after arrival.

 

Quarantine Scenario 3: If you are not fully vaccinated, and arrive after international travel from a country subject to entry-restriction*:

 

Students living on campus:

In addition to the COVID-19 testing described above, you will need to follow a medical quarantine for 7 days after arrival to the U.S. If you arrive in the U.S. before your move-in date, you should complete the 7-day quarantine and related COVID-19 testing before you move into your on-campus housing and upload your testing results to SHaW. Otherwise you may complete the medical quarantine on-campus.

 

During the 7-day medical quarantine:

• You will live in temporary housing for residential quarantine.
• No close contacts (<6 ft. for >15 min).
• May only leave primary residence for Dining Hall take-out service.
• No in person class attendance. If you must miss classes due to quarantine, the University will support you to remain engaged with your coursework.
• No in-person work attendance.
• Daily active monitoring of temperature (2x/day) and daily symptom check
• Testing for COVID-19 day 5-7 after arrival from an entry restricted country.
• May leave primary residence to obtain medical care and participate in required testing for COVID-19.

Students living off-campus:

Follow the general medical quarantine guidelines above for seven days (but in your off-campus residence), or ten days if you are unable to follow COVID-19 testing schedule after arrival.

 

*Entry restricted countries as of June 2021: Brazil, China, India, Iran, South Africa, Ireland, United Kingdom, and Schengen Area countries of Europe, which are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

 

 

Summary of Arrival, Testing, and Quarantine Policy

Travel description:	Covid-19 Testing	Quarantine	Arrival Date- Living On Campus	Arrival Date- Living Off Campus
Domestic travel:	Fully Vaccinated: None required   Not fully vaccinated: Pre-arrival, upon arrival and 5-7 days after arrival	Fully vaccinated: None required   Not fully vaccinated: Modified quarantine for 7 days	Early arrival: August 24   Standard arrival: Freshmen: August 27   Continuing students: August 28-29	If you are already in the U.S. on an F or J visa, you may arrive at any point in summer, by your program start date.
International travel (not traveling from an entry restricted country):	All students: Pre-arrival, upon arrival, and 5-7 days after arrival	Fully vaccinated: None   Not fully vaccinated: Modified quarantine for 7 days	Early arrival: August 24   Standard arrival: Freshmen: August 27   Continuing students: August 28-29	You may arrive up to 30 days before the program start date on I-20.
International travel from entry-restricted country:	All students: Pre-arrival, upon arrival, and 5-7 days after arrival	Fully vaccinated: None   Not fully vaccinated: Medical quarantine for 7 days	Early arrival: August 24   Standard arrival: Freshmen: August 27   Continuing students: August 28-29	You may arrive up to 30 days before the program start date on I-20.   If not fully vaccinated, arrive at least 7-10 days before classes begin.

 

 

What to do next:

• We know that you probably have a lot of questions about your situation. Please attend a live webinar to learn more about arrival and returning to campus, and ask your questions to SHaW, Res Life, and ISSS staff.

When: Tuesday, July 6 at 8:30 am – 9:30 am, EST.

Link to meeting:

https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/uconn-cmr/onstage/g.php?MTID=e277313e6e231215f85ab85d960f36f70

Event number 120 869 7786

Event password: UConn2021

• Upload your COVID-19 vaccination record status, even if you are not yet fully vaccinated to uconn.edu by July 31 (when possible). Contact studenthealth@uconn.edu with any questions. Check your myhealth.uconn.edu portal for response from Student Health Services (for your privacy).
• Fill out your ISSS Fall 2021 Study Plan, if you have not already done so. Please also complete this form if you will not study in-person for fall 2021.
• Watch for emails from ISSS with a link to fill out a new student arrival form. In this form you will confirm your arrival date, request early arrival, and register for the new student welcome program and airport shuttle.

Congratulations to PhD students Tingting Li and André Beringhs on their awards, and check out the story featured in UConn Today. 

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

Dear International Students,

 

We wish to provide you with more details about the Fall 2020 semester as it relates to your student visa, and some updates related to international travel and visa services. We thank you for following these updates closely throughout the past months. 

 

Unless directed otherwise, ISSS will follow the guidelines set forth by the U.S. government in March 2020 and further detailed by the ICE FAQ for SEVP Stakeholders document, to determine how to advise you and maintain your SEVIS record. This guidance is reflected below. 

 

Visa Services and the National Interest Exception

Some U.S. visa services will resume today (July 15) at some U.S. embassies and consulates. Check the website of your local embassy/consulate for updates – we have observed a variety of opening plans across U.S. embassies worldwide. New and returning travelers can report your visa appointment information to us through this form (reporting your visa appointment is not required, but it can help us to understand your situation if we are helping you with an issue). 

 

Travel from Entry Restricted Countries in the Schengen Zone

We believe, based on information posted on certain U.S. embassy websites, that F-1 and J-1 students and exchange visitors who are located in Schengen Area countries of Europe will be able to request a National Interest Exception to travel to the U.S. If you apply for a visa, the National Interest Exception will be granted as part of the visa process.

 

If you already have a valid F-1 or J-1 visa, then you need to get a National Interest Exception before traveling to the U.S. from an entry-restricted country in the Schengen Area of Europe. To request this, we suggest you email the U.S. embassy or consulate where you would normally apply for your visa, and upload a copy of your Form I-20, unexpired passport, unexpired visa and a copy of your enrollment verification showing full time enrollment for Fall 2020 semester. You may email registrar@uconn.edu to request your enrollment verification. Law students should contact the Law Registrar for this request at law.registrar@uconn.edu. You may use this template for your email message. It is unclear at this time whether National Interest Exceptions are being granted to students in entry-restricted countries outside the Schengen Area – check your Embassy’s “News and Updates” webpage for details. 

 

Information for New Students Starting Fall 2020

The ICE guidelines issued last March provide flexibility for online learning for continuing students and new students who are already in the United States. It does not address explicit rules for new students who are outside the United States, but suggests that new students who are outside the U.S. remain at home through the emergency. Therefore, ISSS cannot predict how the U.S. embassies and U.S. border control will handle new student visa issuance and admission for students whose SEVIS records are in initial status traveling to the U.S. for Fall 2020 semester. Until new, more specific guidelines are issued for Fall 2020 new students, we advise the following: 

• New students who will try to come to the U.S. must still complete the Fall 2020 Check In Form to tell us your intent to study in the United States. If these plans change because you are unable to arrive on time, you can update this later.   
• ISSS advises new students who will try to arrive for Fall 2020 semester to have at least one course that is in-person or hybrid/blended. When you submit your Fall 2020 Check In Form, ISSS will look at your current fall course enrollment. If we can verify that you have at least one course listed as In Person/Hybrid or Split, we will add comments about this to your SEVIS record and send you an updated electronic I-20. We do not yet know if this will be sufficient to travel to the United States. If further guidance is provided on new student requirements, we will let you know as soon as possible. 
• If you are planning to come to the U.S. and your courses are entirely online, we will not update your SEVIS record with comments, and you will not receive an  updated Form I-20. The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security will determine whether you are admissible to the U.S. when you apply for your visa and seek entry to the U.S., based on your planned courses at UConn. 
• If you are an undergraduate student located in China, and you will enroll as a home country study abroad student at East China Normal University (ECNU) or University of Nottingham Ningbo, you must request an updated Form I-20 to list Spring semester as your anticipated arrival term. To do this, submit the SEVIS Defer – Request to Change I-20/DS-2019 Start Date form as soon as your plans are confirmed. 
• If you are a new student and you will take online classes from your home country, you will also need to request an updated Form I-20 to list Spring semester as your anticipated arrival term. To do this, submit the SEVIS Defer – Request to Change I-20/DS-2019 Start Date form as soon as your plans are confirmed. 
• If you are a new student, and you will defer your admission to a later term, request an updated Form I-20 to list your anticipated arrival term. After your admission deferral has been approved by your academic program, submit the SEVIS Defer – Request to Change I-20/DS-2019 Start Date. 
• Students who arrive to Connecticut from international locations and many U.S. states will be required to quarantine for 14 days after arrival, as directed by the Center for Disease Control. ISSS is exploring how we can assist new international students who arrive in the Storrs area August 14-17 to travel to their residences and go on shopping trips to purchase necessary food and living items. We will provide you more information as soon as we can better assess the needs for these services.   
• ISSS is working with our community partners to determine how new students will access services such as Social Security Administration and the Department of Motor Vehicles. Please understand these services may not be easily accessible this Fall due to government office closures. 

Information for Current/Active Students Fall 2020

The ICE governing guidelines and FAQ permit ISSS to keep your SEVIS record active this Fall, even if you enroll in a fully online curriculum. Therefore, students may plan to enroll in all online courses as long as this guidance remains in effect. 

Please note:

• You must report to ISSS where you will take courses this semester – in the U.S., at home online, or through home country study abroad. Please report this to ISSS through the Fall 2020 Student Check In Form as soon as your plans are confirmed.  
• If you are studying in the U.S. you must take a full-time course load or if part-time, be approved to take a Reduced Course Load. ISSS will not issue you an updated I-20 with comments about Fall 2020 Semester, as the government no longer requires this. 
• If you are taking classes online from your home country, ISSS will keep your SEVIS record active if you are enrolled on a full-time basis or enrolled part-time with an approved Reduced Course Load. We will issue you an updated Form I-20 that confirms you are enrolled as a full-time student and includes a travel signature for your return. While we plan to keep the SEVIS records active for students who are in their final semester, you will not be allowed to travel to the U.S. with your visa/I-20 after you have finished your program.
• If you are an undergraduate student studying abroad in your home country at a UConn partner institution, ISSS will keep your SEVIS record active. We will issue you an updated Form I-20 with remarks about your study abroad, and a travel signature for your return. If you have not considered this option, but would like to, please reach out to the UConn Education Abroad office as soon as possible to inquire if this is possible. 
• Current students who would like to cancel their enrollment at UConn for fall semester or take a temporary leave or “gap term”, should reach out to the Dean of Students office dos@uconn.edu (undergraduate students) or the Graduate School gradschool@uconn.edu (graduate students). 

Please continue to check the ISSS website for updates and reach out to international@uconn.edu if you need help. Thank you so much for your flexibility and patience during this time.