Summer 2020 | Week 5 |
Weekly updates for International Students @ UC San Diego
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FALL ENROLLMENT & PLANNING AHEAD
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Are There Requirements to Study in the United States this Fall for Continuing Students?
At this time, UC San Diego continues to remain flexible in course offerings to provide students who are able to arrive on campus and begin their program on site to do so through
a
hybrid model of instruction--a combination of in-person and online components of instruction. UC San Diego continues to monitor the situation, working closely with local, state and national health officials, and will prioritize the safety and health of our campus community.
The latest guidance clarifies that students who
hold an ACTIVE SEVIS record and enroll full-time
are able to:
- Study in the U.S. this fall
- Enroll in a 100% fully remote course load
- Maintain their F-1 Status
- If outside the U.S., apply for a visa and seek re-entry into the U.S.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
At this time, continuing students who are outside the U.S. and have been issued a new INITIAL I-20 (with a new SEVIS ID Number) to re-enter the U.S. in order to resume their program of study should
refrain from seeking entry into the U.S
unless they can enroll in a courseload that is not 100% online. Research, seminar, and independent study courses may be permitted if they involve in-person or hybrid modes of instruction.
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ISPO's CORONAVIRUS PAGE:
8/03 UPDATED FAQs
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The International Students & Programs Office (ISPO) acknowledges how confusing the last several weeks have been with so many changes in guidance for our students. Since the latest
July 24 SEVP guidance
provided more clarification regarding document issuance, ISPO continues to evaluate how this impacts our continuing students. Early next week, ISPO will post updated Frequently Asked Questions on the Continuing Student's Coronavirus FAQs page so that you can plan for the Fall 2020 quarter.
We thank you for your patience as ISPO reviews this new guidance, seeks information from the UC Office of the President, and reviews campus policies and practices to ensure we are providing you with the most accurate information. These FAQs will address several topics regarding travel and entry, enrollment, and employment to name a few. Stay tuned for more news soon!
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Q: How Is ISPO Supporting Student's Travel Plans for Fall?
Nationwide, international students have reported issues in obtaining visa appointments if they lack certain remarks on their Form I-20 or DS-2019 despite the rescinded guidance. To support our students and facilitate their visa application and entry into the U.S., ISPO will continue to include remarks referencing UC San Diego's hybrid model for the fall on a student's Form I-20 and DS-2019. In addition, ISPO, in close collaboration with the Registrar's Office.
If you are currently outside the U.S. and are seeking entry into the U.S., you can access, download, and print a travel support letter by logging into
iPortal.ucsd.edu
.
This letter is available for download under the notifications section of the home screen.
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Q: Can I Stay In The U.S. if My Visa Is Expired? How Can I Renew It?
Students who are in the U.S. and have an expired F-1 or J-1 visa are permitted to remain in the U.S. if they are maintaining their Form I-20 or DS-2019. Remember that your visa is like a key - you only need it to be valid upon entry into the U.S. However, if it expires while you are inside the U.S., you are eligible to remain in the U.S. and hold lawful F-1 or J-1 status if you are maintaining your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019.
You cannot renew or apply for a visa INSIDE THE U.S. Visas are only issued at U.S. Embassies or Consulates outside the U.S.
If you are outside the U.S., have an expired visa, and are planning to enter the U.S. to continue your studies at UC San Diego, ensure that your Form I-20 or DS-2019 is valid and up to date and that you have a valid F-1 or J-1 Visa.
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Q: As a continuing student with an active SEVIS record, do I need remarks on my Form I-20 as stated in the July 6th SEVP Guidance?
On July 14th, the July 6th SEVP Guidance requiring remarks was rescinded. However, the rescission of the July 6th SEVP guidance for Fall 2020 resulted in some inconsistencies among government officials in their correspondence with international students.
The July 24th guidance clarifies that no remarks are required to support student's travels into the U.S.
Continuing students who hold an active SEVIS record remain eligible to apply for a visa and seek re-entry into the U.S. and that continuing students who hold an active SEVIS record remain eligible to apply for a visa and seek re-entry into the U.S.
Travel Support Letter:
If you are currently outside the U.S. and are seeking entry into the U.S. and are being asked by a U.S, consular officer for a support letter, you can access, download, and print a travel support letter provided by ISPO and the Registrar's Office by logging into
iPortal.ucsd.edu
.
Instructions for download:
- Go to iportal.ucsd.edu
- View the “Notifications” section on the home screen
- Click to download support letter (for continuing students) and print. Bring the support letter to your visa appointment and/or port of entry for travel into the U.S.
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Q: Will ISPO remain open for virtual advising through the summer? Who should I contact if I experience emergencies upon entering the U.S.?
Yes,
ISPO remains open for advising through the Summer. We are here to support you all year. Remember that ISPO is open throughout the summer for virtual (“Zoom-In”) advising as well as advice over email. To talk to an advisor, please feel free to reach out to us at
iContact.ucsd.edu
.
The health, safety and security of our students is a top priority. It is important that you know your rights as a student and how you can be proactive in having a safe and enjoyable program of study at UC San Diego. The
International Student & Scholar Emergency Resource Card
has important contact information and resources close at hand and is designed to fit in your wallet. It also includes information for what to do if you are questioned and/or your travels are delayed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the port of entry.
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Q: How does the July 24th SEVP Guidance impact my ability for on and off-campus employment?
We are still reviewing the guidance.
At this time, ISPO is evaluating how the July 24th guidance may impact students ability to seek employment in the Fall 2020 term and expect that there may be forthcoming guidance from SEVP. We continue to work collaboratively with campus partners to discuss the logistics of students working on and off campus and hope to provide more information soon!
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HOUSING & 14-DAY QUARANTINE
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Because of the San Diego County Public Health Services order requirement and CDC guidelines, newly admitted and continuing Fall 2020 students coming from international locations will be required to self-quarantine for 14-days after arrival in San Diego.
- Students with Fall 2020 on-campus housing contracts: They can complete the quarantine period in specially designated on-campus housing with no additional housing fees. Students will be charged for meals that will be delivered to the housing unit during quarantine. The on-campus housing option will be available from August 27-September 3, 2020 in order to allow enough time to complete the required quarantine period before the beginning of the Fall term.
- Students without on-campus housing contracts or those who arrive AFTER September 3: They can complete the quarantine period at an off-campus location with family and/or friends. Students would be responsible for their own housing and meals costs.
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ISPO Office Hours:
Virtual Advising
While ISPO's Office (Student Center B) is closed to the public for in-person service through Summer 2020, we continue to provide all advising services through virtual Zoom advising!
Visit iContact.ucsd.edu
for various ways to contact an ISPO Advisor!
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WHY AM I RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER?
All international students studying at UC San Diego are automatically subscribed to the iStudents Newsletter to ensure they receive proper immigration updates from our office. The information sent in this Newsletter is available on ISPO's website, iStudents.ucsd.edu, or may direct students to other external resources.
You have the right to unsubscribe from receiving updates from our office at anytime. You can do this by emailing
[email protected]
.
Note, all international students at UC San Diego are responsible for staying up to date with immigration regulations that may affect them. To learn more, visit our website at iStudents.ucsd.edu
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