Fall 2020 | Vol 3 | Updates from the International Students & Programs Office @ UC San Diego.
Hello Campus Partners,
 
As new federal and state regulations are released to the public, ISPO strives to provide information on how these will impact current processes, international students, and campus partners. See important announcements below. Please contact ISPO and let us know how we can continue to support your efforts. 
Visa and Immigration Policy Updates 
Shift to No Indoor Instruction

New State of California and San Diego County public health orders require all universities to move any indoor instruction to outside spaces or the remote learning environment for the remainder of Fall term. The most current SEVP guidance issued on August 7 states that international students "may remain in the United States even if their educational institution switches to a hybrid program or to fully online instruction" so there is no negative impact on international student status or enrollment at this time. 
Travel Guidance for International Students Arriving in Winter 2021 

As of today, nearly 1,400 international undergraduate and graduate students have requested immigration documents to facilitate their visa application and arrival in January to start the Winter 2021 term. Here are seven factors that students should consider when planning their arrival to UC San Diego: 
1) Valid Immigration Documents: Students planning to arrive in WI21 must have a valid Form I-20 or DS-2019 from UC San Diego with a January 4, 2021 start date. Students who do not have an appropriate Form I-20 or DS-2019 should submit a request via ISPO’s iPortal Document Request System as soon as possible. Newly admitted students opting to remain outside of the U.S. during the Winter 2021 term and enroll in a fully remote course load must request an adjustment to their Form I-20 or DS-2019 so it can reflect a future arrival date in Spring 2021 or Fall 2021.  

2) Visa Approval: Many U.S. embassies and consulates suspended routine visa services due to continued health and safety concerns. Some will allow emergency appointments. Students should visit the State Department website and review the Visa Appointment Wait Times to assist with advanced planning.

3) Travel Restrictions: Current U.S. COVID-related and employment-related travel restrictions are still in effect for individuals from certain countries so this may impact their entry into the U.S. Review the Travel Advisories for an updated list. 

4) Flight Availability: Some airlines may have limited flight availability or change their schedules with little notice. The International Air Transportation Association maintains a travel page for each country and provides information on passenger requirements. 

5) Course Enrollment Requirements: The latest Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Guidance released on August 7, 2020 only outlined procedures for the current Fall 2020 term. Guidance for Winter 2021 is still pending from SEVP. In the absence of guidance, ISPO continues to issue immigration documents such as Form I-20 or DS-2019 to facilitate visa applications and travel to the United States. We also continue to advise students that they may encounter difficulty seeking entry into the U.S. if they are enrolled in a fully remote course load for Winter 2021. Students should review the Winter 2021 Schedule of Classes FAQ or contact their academic or faculty advisors via the Virtual Advising Center if they have questions regarding their WI21 admission or enrollment.

6) Housing Availability: Prior to arrival, students should finalize their housing accommodations. The Undergraduate Housing Waitlist and Graduate and Family Housing Waitlist are now available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students may also look for Off-Campus Housing or Short-Term Housing options as well.

7) Quarantine and Sequestration Requirements: At this time, students arriving to campus are not required to quarantine. However, individuals coming from out-of-state or international locations will be required to sequester and conduct additional testing. UC San Diego updated campus requirements to include masking for campus residents and visitors as well as sequestration following unmasked off-campus activity. HDH’s COVID-19 Updates is a good resource for students. 
Under-enrollment for FA20 Admits with Initial Records that are Outside the U.S.:  

  • Under-enrollment for FA20 Admits with Initial Records that are Outside the U.S.:  Students with initial SEVIS records that are outside the U.S. do not need to submit a Reduced Course Load (RCL) request if enrolled in less than 12 units.  
  • Continuing students with an Active SEVIS record:  Continuing students with active SEVIS record are advised to enroll full time, and if eligible for a RCL, should submit a RCL if they will drop below 12 units.  

Campus Partners can refer international students to ISPO or Reduced Course Load webpage with questions.  
ISPO Web Resources
Program Spotlights
Do you know any students staying in San Diego and wanting to connect with other Tritons during the Fall Break? ISPO will match each student with two other students for a total of three students (in the spirit of Three’s Company at UC San Diego).  
Immediate food security resources for students experiencing financial difficulty. Partnership with The Hub and generous sponsorship from the Basic Needs Committee. 
Celebrate International Education Week! On the “Triton Global vIEW” episode, learn about opportunities to study abroad and how to engage with the global community from home. Hear from an alumni faculty member and peer Triton on how global education expands your world view and build bridges across cultures. 
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WHY AM I RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER? As a campus partner, your collaboration is important to us in supporting our international student community. The information sent in this Newsletter is available on ISPO's website, iStudents.ucsd.edu. You have the right to unsubscribe from receiving updates from our office at anytime. You can do this by emailing [email protected] .