We want to share with you important information related to the recent announcement about the spring 2022 semester starting online. This message is for students who are returning to UConn and have active I-20 or DS-2019 forms. Please read carefully, and send us your questions.

International students who are returning to UConn and live off campus have flexibility to arrive when you like, as long as you arrive by January 30 to begin classes in person on January 31.  Arriving after January 18 carries some risk; see more below.

The University has delayed move-in for most on campus students until January 29-30.  We know that international students may have already purchased flight tickets to move in based on the original schedule, or may not have another place to stay in the U.S. 

• January 15 or 16th, with approval from Res Life  
  • What to submit: 
    • Spring 2022 Return to Campus Prior to January 29 Request Form by January 6, 2022 at noon (UConn time).  
• You may also delay your arrival to move in on January 29 or 30. Delaying your arrival also carries risk; see more below. If you do not submit the early arrival request form by January 6, UConn Residential Life will presume you are moving in January 29 or 30. 

• You must be able to participate in your coursework online from your location. If time zone differences or internet restrictions prevent you from participating fully in your online coursework, you should consider traveling here before classes begin January 18. Please be advised that the UConn VPN may not be available to access courses in China. 
• If you begin your in-person courses online from your home country, and then you cannot arrive in person to participate due to unexpected reasons (flight cancellations, illness, visa delays, travel lockdowns) you will still owe tuition, even if you cannot complete the course as planned. See the refund schedule for course tuition. 
• Graduate students who will arrive after January 18 (or after January 5, if a Graduate Assistant) need approval from The Graduate School, and your Graduate Assistant supervisor, should you have a GA. The late arrival request form can be found under the “Account & Forms” area of your Application Status Portal for new students, and on this website for returning students. 
• Due to federal laws, Iranian graduate students may only participate in courses online while outside the U.S. under limited circumstances. If you are an Iranian graduate student who cannot arrive before January 18th, your case must be reviewed by the appropriate offices at UConn. 

Returning students arriving from abroad need to carry their passport, unexpired F or J visa, and I-20 or DS-2019 with a recent travel signature from ISSS (signed within the last 12 months). You can find your I-20 or DS-2019 form in your ISSS Portal account by logging in to isssportal.uconn.edu and click on your Academic Objective record, listed under the term/year that you started your program. Find your scanned I-20 copies under “Attached Documents”. Check the date of your last travel signature on page 2, and if you need a new one, submit a Travel Information Record . You must download, print and sign your I-20 or DS-2019 to have with you at immigration. 

Students who will delay their arrival until January 29/30 can carry a spring 2022 travel letter in your carry-on luggage, in case you are asked to document why you are arriving late.  

We know that you still may have many questions. If you need help please contact international@uconn.edu or make an appointment with your ISSS advisor. 

Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Telephone: (+1) 202 349 2963

Email: ukrembus@gmail.com; consuluausa@gmail.com 

Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Phone: (202) 939-8914/Emergency Line: 202-298-5700 

Email: russconswdc@gmail.com; rusembusa@mid.ru

Announcement of Processing Posts for U.S. Visa Applicants from Ukraine: U.S. visa services are not available in Ukraine, but follow these guidelines to identify appropriate consular posts to apply for the U.S. visas outside Ukraine. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/announcement-of-processing-posts-for-visa-applicants-from-Ukraine.html

U.S. F/M/J Visa Processing for applicants resident in Russia: Due to lack of consular services for nonimmigrant visa processing in Russia, the U.S. Department of State has designated specific posts for receiving applicants who are residents of Russia and need student or exchange visitors visas. Read full post: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/announcement-of-F-M-J-processing-posts-for-applicants-resident-in-russia.html  

U.S. Visa and Humanitarian Information for Ukrainians in Poland: https://pl.usembassy.gov/humanitarian_assistance_ukraine_pl/ and https://pl.usembassy.gov/visas/humanitarian-assistance-and-visa-information-for-ukrainians/

Limited National Interest Exception of vaccine requirement for some travelers from Ukraine: Currently the U.S. requires that international travelers be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This limited National Interest Exception provides flexibility to arrive without vaccination for certain nonimmigrant travelers who were in Ukraine as of February 10, 2022. Read the full National Interest Exception, here:  https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/22_0215_S1_national-interest-exemption_0.pdf 

Executive Order Restricting Entry to U.S. of Certain Individuals who have been determined to engage in activities in support of Russia’s recognition of DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. Read the Executive Order, here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/02/23/2022-04020/blocking-property-of-certain-persons-and-prohibiting-certain-transactions-with-respect-to-continued   

AILA Practice Pointer: Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Options for Ukrainian Nationals, including travel considerations for entering neighboring countries across land borders. (Source: American Immigration Lawyers Association)

 Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine: 

On March 3, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. Read full announcement here: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/secretary-mayorkas-designates-ukraine-for-temporary-protected-status-for-18-months

Starting April 19, 2022 eligible Ukrainians may file for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Find filing details here: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/temporary-protected-status-designated-country-ukraine

ISSS recommends you seek legal assistance when filing for TPS.

Special Student Relief for Ukrainian students on F-1 visas:

Ukrainian students on F-1 visas who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the conflict in Ukraine may seek authorization to work more than 20 hours per week through on-campus employment authorization, or to work off-campus, part time or full time. Students working under SSR may also take a reduced course load and maintain F-1 status. Make an appointment with your ISSS advisor to discuss this option.

USCIS Immigration Help Available to those Affected by Special Situations

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/immigration-help-available-to-those-affected-by-special-situations-including-the-invasion-of-ukraine

Updated April 19, 2022

ISSS Legal Resources Handout– Includes immigration attorney listings close to UConn campuses.

ISSS Financial Resources Handout – includes university and external financial recourses.

IIE Emergency Student Fund: ISSS can nominate a limited number of Ukrainian students on F or J visas for an IIE emergency student fund grant if, due to the crisis in Ukraine, you are unable to meet educational, living or health costs this current academic year. Contact Rae Alexander, rae.alexander@uconn.edu for more information. Nominations are due March 21.

SHaW – Mental Health Services at Storrs campus provides support to students who may be struggling to cope with stressful situations and other mental health challenges. Please refer to their webpage for services currently offered and ways to access help.

At the Regional Campuses there are clinical case managers who can help you and connect you to local mental health resources: https://studenthealth.uconn.edu/regional-campuses/

If you are a staff member, or are on post-completion OPT, refer to your employer’s Human Resources department or health insurance provider for counseling/wellness program referrals. At UConn, the Employee Assistance Program for UConn staff and faculty offers counseling and mental health support: https://hr.uconn.edu/employee-assistance-program/

Psychology Today provides a listings of theapists worldwide: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/counsellors?domain=www&cc=us&cl=en

American Psychological Association article: How to handle the trauma of war from afar.

Meet with a Dean: https://dos.uconn.edu/about-dean-of-students/

Final Exam Rescheduling: https://dos.uconn.edu/reschedule-finals/

Take a break/leave UConn: https://dos.uconn.edu/leaving-uconn/

Bias Incidents: https://dos.uconn.edu/bias-reporting-2/

 

Guidance and Support Contacts: https://grad.uconn.edu/graduate-students/student-resources/guidance-support/

This post will continue to be updated with more resources as they become available. Last update: 3/4/22.

 

We want to share with you important information related to the recent announcement about the spring 2022 semester starting online. This is for new international undergraduate and graduate students to UConn, including students who started their UConn programs abroad and will arrive for the first time. Please read carefully and send us your questions.

 

International students who live off campus have flexibility to arrive when you like, as long as you arrive by January 30 to begin classes in person on January 31. Submit the ISSS Arrival Confirmation form so that ISSS knows when you will arrive. Arriving after January 18 carries some risk; see below for more information.

The University has delayed move-in for most on campus students until January 29-30.  We know that international students may have already purchased flight tickets to move in based on the original schedule. This means you may move in:

• January 13, 2022 between 8:30 and 4:30 pm., with approval from Res Life
  • What to submit: 
    • Spring 2022 Return to Campus Prior to January 29 Request Form by January 6, 2022 at noon (UConn time). Although the form lists January 15 and 16 arrival dates, you are allowed to move in on January 13 because ISSS provided your name to UConn ResLife as eligible for early arrival.
    • The ISSS Arrival Confirmation form, so that ISSS knows when you will arrive. If you are interested in joining an ISSS shopping trip in the evening of January 13, sign up here. 
• You may also move in January 15 or 16th, with approval from Res Life  
  • What to submit: 
    • Spring 2022 Return to Campus Prior to January 29 Request Form by January 6, 2022 at noon (UConn time).  
    • The ISSS Arrival Confirmation form, so that ISSS knows when you will arrive. 
• Graduate students living in on-campus housing may have arranged different move-in dates individually with Res Life.  Follow the instructions provided to you by Res Life, and submit your ISSS Arrival Confirmation form, so that ISSS knows when you will arrive. 
• You may also delay your arrival to the move on the weekend of January 29 or 30. Please see more details about that below. If you do not submit the early arrival request form by January 6, UConn Residential Life will presume you are moving in January 29 or 30. 

• You must be able to participate in your coursework online from your location. If time zone differences or internet restrictions prevent you from participating fully in your online coursework, you should consider traveling here before classes begin January 18. Please be advised that the UConn VPN may not be available to access courses in China. 
• If you begin your in-person courses online from your home country, and then you cannot arrive in person to participate due to unexpected reasons (flight cancellations, illness, visa delays, travel lockdowns) you will still owe tuition, even if you cannot complete the course as planned.
• Graduate students who will arrive after January 18 (or after January 5, if a Graduate Assistant) need approval from The Graduate School, and your Graduate Assistant supervisor, should you have a GA. The late arrival request form can be found under the “Account & Forms” area of your Application Status Portal for new students, and on this website for returning students. Undergraduates do not need to seek special approval to arrive after January 18, as long as you are here by January 30.
• Due to federal laws, Iranian graduate students may only participate in courses online while outside the U.S. under limited circumstances. If you are an Iranian graduate student who cannot arrive before January 18th, your case must be reviewed by the appropriate offices at UConn. 

Students who already have their visa will not need an updated I-20 or DS-2019 form. You can carry a spring 2022 travel letter in your carry on luggage in case you are asked to document why you are arriving late. Students who will have their visa appointment after January 11th and will not arrive by January 18th may request an updated I-20 form or DS-2019. You will need to email international@uconn.edu and provide your date of visa appointment and planned travel date.

The required in-person ISSS orientation and welcome activities January 14-17 will be postponed to a later date after in-person classes begin. Instead, we will offer a synchronous online orientation program on January 14 and 17 to help you adjust to your first few weeks of remote learning. We will send you more details soon.

We know that you still may have many questions. If you need help please contact international@uconn.edu or make an appointment with your ISSS advisor.  

 

We want to share with you important information related to the recent announcement about the spring 2022 semester starting online. This is for new international students who are at the regional campuses (Stamford, Hartford, Avery Point, Waterbury), the Graduate Business Learning Center and School of Law as well as returning students who are coming on a new, initial I-20 form.  Please read carefully and send us your questions.

International students who live off campus have flexibility to arrive when you like, as long as you arrive by January 30 to begin classes in person on January 31. Submit the ISSS Arrival Confirmation form so that ISSS knows when you will arrive.

The University has delayed move-in for most on campus students until January 29-30.  We know that international students may have already purchased flight tickets to move in based on the original schedule. This means you may move in:

• January 15 or 16th  
  • What to submit: 
    • Spring 2022 Return to Campus Prior to January 29 Request Form by January 6, 2022 at noon (UConn time).  
    • The ISSS Arrival Confirmation form, so that ISSS knows when you will arrive.
• You may also delay your arrival to the move on the weekend of January 29 or 30. Delaying your arrival carries risk: read more details about that below. If you do not submit the early arrival request form by January 6, UConn Residential Life will presume you are moving in January 29 or 30.

• You must be able to participate in your coursework online from your location. If time zone differences or internet restrictions prevent you from participating fully in your online coursework, you should consider traveling here before classes begin January 18. Please be advised that the UConn VPN may not be available to access courses in China. 
• If you begin your in-person courses online from your home country, and then you cannot arrive in person to participate due to unexpected reasons (flight cancellations, illness, visa delays, travel lockdowns) you will still owe tuition, even if you cannot complete the course as planned. See the refund schedule for course tuition. 
• Graduate students who will arrive after January 18 (or after January 5, if a Graduate Assistant) need approval from The Graduate School, and your Graduate Assistant supervisor, should you have a GA. The late arrival request form can be found under the “Account & Forms” area of your Application Status Portal for new students, and on this website for returning students. 
• Due to federal laws, Iranian graduate students may only participate in courses online while outside the U.S. under limited circumstances. If you are an Iranian graduate student who cannot arrive before January 18th, your case must be reviewed by the appropriate offices at UConn. 

Students who already have their visa will not need an updated I-20 or DS-2019 form. You can carry a spring 2022 travel letter in your carry on luggage in case you are asked to document why you are arriving late. Students who will have their visa appointment after January 11th and will not arrive by January 18th may request an updated I-20 form or DS-2019. You will need to email international@uconn.edu and provide your date of visa appointment and planned travel date.

We know that you still may have many questions. If you need help please contact international@uconn.edu or make an appointment with your ISSS advisor.  

NOTE: The information presented on this page is not in effect. We do not know if these changes will ever go into effect.

Rule History

The proposed rule to establish a fixed period of stay for F-visa students, J-visa exchange visitors and I-visa journalists was published September 25. The rule seeks to change regulations related to the admission and authorized period of stay for these visa holders and their accompanying dependents. The government accepted public comment on the proposed rule for 30 days after the publication date.  The comment window ended October 26. The Department of Homeland Security is required to read all comments, and may publish a final rule in the future that could be different from the content published in the proposed rule. 

The proposed rule would establish a maximum period of stay for F and J visa holders, with the possibility for extension to complete program program objectives. There would also be other changes to student eligibility and procedure for program extensions, OPT filing, ESL study length, and limitations on pursuing multiple programs at the same or lower education levels.  We have highlighted some changes in the proposed rule that would have greatest impact on F and J visa holders.

F and J visa holders would be admitted and allowed to stay for a specific period of time, instead of for Duration of Status (D/S), which allows you to stay for the duration of your program and any extensions related to your visa status. Under the proposed rule, that period of stay would be until the program end date listed on your Form I-20 or DS-2019 when you arrive, up to a maximum of four years, or in some cases, two years. Here are some scenarios of how this rule would impact your authorized period of stay:

If you have a Form I-20 or DS-2019 with program dates of 8/30/2021 to 5/31/2023, and you arrive in the U.S. on 8/1/2021 (earliest possible arrival date) your allowed period of stay would be until 5/31/2023, approximately 22 months, or two academic years.

If you have an I-20 or DS-2019 with program dates of 8/30/2021 to 5/31/2025, and you arrive in the U.S. on 8/1/2021, your allowed period of stay would be until 5/31/2025 (if you qualify for maximum 4 year stay) or until 7/31/2023 (if you qualify for maximum 2 year stay). If admitted for a maximum 2 year stay, your program length is longer than your period of authorized stay, so you would need to either apply for an extension of stay with the U.S. government, or depart the U.S. and return with your same I-20 to be admitted for a new period of stay. 

If you have an I-20 or DS-2019 with program dates of 8/30/2021 – 5/31/2028, and you arrive in the U.S. on 8/1/2021, your allowed period of stay would be either until 7/31/2025 (if admitted for 4 years) or 7/31/2023 (if admitted for two years). Your program length is longer than your period of authorized stay, so you would need to either apply for an extension of stay with the U.S. government, or depart the U.S. and return with your same I-20 to be admitted for a new period of stay.

If you have a one year research appointment at UConn, and your DS-2019 form lists program dates of 8/30/2021-7/31/2022, then you would be admitted until 7/31/2022, or a period of one year. If your appointment at UConn is extended beyond 7/31/2022, you would need to either apply for an extension of stay with the U.S. government, or depart the U.S. and return with your new DS-2019 to be admitted for a new period of stay.

 

Under the proposed rule, some students and scholars would only be eligible for a maximum two-year period of stay at a time, instead of four years. These include students and scholars who: 

• • Were born in or are citizens of countries designated by the U.S. as state sponsors of terrorism (currently, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Syria).
  • Come from countries that have a student and exchange visitor visa overstay rate of more than 10%. A current list of countries can be found on the most recent  DHS Visa Overstay Report (Table 4, Column 6). 
  • Are determined that it be in the U.S. national interest to admit for a maximum two year period of stay. For example, students who study in certain academic majors could be subject on this basis to a two year maximum period of stay. 
  • Attend schools that do not use the E-Verify system to process newly hired employees
  • Attend schools that are not accredited.
  • The government would issue a Federal Register Notification to identify countries that are subject to the two year maximum period of stay based on state sponsor of terrorism or visa over stay status, and any criteria where it may be in the nation’s interest to limit stay to maximum two years at a time. 

• ESL students would be limited to a maximum period of study of 24 months, including any vacation periods.
• The grace period to depart the U.S. after the period of authorized stay would be 30 days, instead of the current 60 days.
• There would be limits on the number of times a student can pursue a degree at the same education level, or to move to a lower educational level. 
• If students and scholars need to stay beyond the period of time listed on the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 to complete their program, they must request an extension of the Form I-20 or DS-2019, as they do now. But if this extension also brings you beyond your period of approved stay, you must either leave the U.S. and reenter with your new I-20/DS-2019, or apply for an extension of stay with the U.S. government. Here are some examples: 

If a student has an I-20 valid until May 31, 2022 and cannot finish their academic program by that day, they need to apply for an extension of the I-20 or DS-2019, to reflect the new program end date. ISSS approves an extension until December 31, 2022 and issues a new I-20. Presuming their period of approved stay also ends May 31, 2022, they need to use the new I-20 to leave and reenter the U.S., to be admitted until December 31, 2022, or they can use the I-20 to apply for an extension of stay without leaving the country, by filing Form I-539. 

If a student has an I-20 valid until May 31, 2022 and wants to apply for OPT, they will need to obtain an OPT recommendation I-20 from ISSS. For this example, the student requests an OPT period of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Presuming the current approved period of stay ends on  May 31, 2022 (matching the I-20 end date), the student would then need to apply to USCIS for the OPT with Form I-765, and the Extension of Stay benefit with Form I-539. The student would not be able to begin their OPT until both the EAD is issued and the start date is reached, and the extension of stay is approved. 

If a student has an I-20 or DS-2019 to study in their current program valid until May 31, 2022, and their current authorized stay also ends May 31, 2022. They want to begin a new program at another school in the United States after finishing this program, and so they work with ISSS to  complete the SEVIS transfer procedure, in order to get a new I-20 from their new school. However, they would also need to take steps to extend their approved stay. To do this, they can either depart the U.S. and reenter with their new school’s I-20, or remain in the U.S. and file for an extension of stay with USCIS. The new period of stay will end on the new school’s I-20 end date, not to exceed a maximum of 4 (or 2) years. 

A visiting scholar typically comes to UConn for a period of one year or less. The period of stay listed on the DS-2019 form matches the offer letter or contract that UConn provides to the scholar. It is common for UConn to extend the contracts for visiting scholars to continue their research or teaching. In this situation, the scholar would need to extend the DS-2019 with ISSS before the Form DS-2019 program end date, and then take steps to also extend their authorized stay with the government. This is done either by departing the U.S. and returning with the new DS-2019, or by filing an extension of stay application with the U.S. government. If the contract at UConn is extended annually, visiting scholars will need to take these same steps annually to extend their stay. 

 

 

The Connecticut’s  Attorney General signed on to a letter opposing the rule submitted by the State Attorney’s General coalition. Read that letter here. 

NAFSA, Association of International Educators maintains an up to date web page summarizing important details of the rule, and the latest case developments. Visit that page here.