Updated Travel restrictions to U.S. to include South Africa, effective January 30, 2021 On January 25, 2021, President Biden signed a Presidential Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Non-Immigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease. This proclamation continues the 14-day entry restrictions to the U.S. on individuals who were present in the People’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the European Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, or Brazil, and, effective on January 30, 2021, adds South Africa to the list of countries with travel restrictions to the U.S. Certain travelers, including F-1 and J-1 students as well as their F-2 and J-2 dependents seeking to enter the U.S. from the Schengen area, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, may continue to qualify for National Interest Exceptions.
Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to the United States On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed a Presidential Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to the United States. This proclamation ends the travel restrictions under Presidential Proclamations 9645 and 9983 that had suspended entry into the United States of certain nationals, based on visa type, from Burma, Eritrea, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Yemen. While the previous travel bans did not directly affect students in F-1 or J-1 status from these countries, this Presidential Proclamation should be a comfort to international students whose family members from affected countries were unable to enter the U.S. for visits due to the now rescinded travel bans.
Pursuant to President Biden’s proclamation, the U.S. Department of State (DoS) can immediately process visa applications for individuals from the affected countries. Please note that the rescission of Presidential Proclamations 9645 and 9983 does not necessarily mean that local U.S. embassies or consulates are able to immediately schedule all affected applicants for visa interviews. The resumption of routine visa services during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, prioritized after services to U.S. citizens, will occur on a post-by-post basis, consistent with DoS’s guidance for safely returning their workforce to consular facilities.
DHS Proposes Regulation to Eliminate "Duration of Status" Policy The Department of Homeland Security is proposing a regulation that would subject international students, exchange visitors and representatives of foreign information media to fixed periods of stay, eliminating the longstanding “duration of status” policy, among other changes. If the rule is finalized as proposed, F, J and I nonimmigrants would be required to apply for extension of stay with USCIS to continue their activities beyond their admission period and fulfill the related biometrics requirements. This application is fee-based and may be subject to lengthy USCIS processing times. International students may need to file for the extension multiple times, depending on their program length and if they would like to pursue post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT). Nonimmigrants in these categories that stay beyond their fixed periods of stay would become subject to the unlawful presence rules currently in place for other nonimmigrant categories. View the complete DHS proposed rule published in the Federal Register.
This item is at the proposed rule stage, and there is a 30-day comment period before the final rule is published. We encourage students to read the proposed rule and submit comments by October 26, 2020 in order to advocate against this change to be finalized as proposed, and for the “Duration of Status” Policy to remain. A Comment Now! button appears at the upper right corner of the proposed rule on Regulations.gov, at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DHS_FRDOC_0001-1933. Follow the website instructions to submit comments.
International students are core and valued members of the University of Miami community. Be assured that the Department of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) will advocate against any legislation that negatively affects international students and scholars, and will continue to support you.
As of July 14, 2020, U.S. Embassies and Consulates are beginning a phased resumption of routine visa services, including the processing of F-1 and J-1 visas. Please check your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate’s website for re-opening dates and up-to date information.
As of July 16, 2020, students may qualify for National Interest Exceptions to the presidential proclamations restricting travel from the Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland. The announcement specifies that:
The following countries make up the Schengen Area: 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.
For a summary of the national interest exception for F-1 students and their F-2 dependents and
a list of the 15 U.S. airports authorized to receive flights from those countries, see July 24, 2020
CBP’s Carrier Liaison Program Information Sheet.
If you are a student who has been physically present during the 14-day period preceding your entry to the U.S. from People’s Republic of China, Islamic Republic of Iran, and Brazil, the National Interest Exceptions do not apply to you.
U.S. Suspends Entry of Aliens who present a Risk to U.S. Labor Market following Coronavirus Outbreak: On June 22, 2020, President Trump signed a proclamation, suspending the entry of certain nonimmigrants to the U.S. The proclamation is part of the Trump Administration’s response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic:
- People’s Republic of China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau)
- Islamic Republic of Iran
- European Schengen area (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, Switzerland). In addiition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.
- United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
- Republic of Ireland
- Brazil
U.S. Imposes Travel Restrictions on Individuals Traveling from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland: On March 14, 2020, the White House issued a presidential proclamation imposing travel restrictions on individuals traveling from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland to the United States due to the current Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak:
U.S. Imposes Travel Restrictions on Individuals Traveling from the Schengen Area in Europe: On March 11, 2020, the White House issued a presidential proclamation imposing travel restrictions on individuals traveling from the Schengen Area in Europe due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak:
U.S. Imposes Travel Restrictions on Individuals Traveling from Iran: On February 29, 2020, the White House issued a presidential proclamation imposing travel restrictions on individuals traveling from the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United States due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak:
South Korea Travel Advisory: On February 26, 2020, The U.S. Department of State published a Travel Advisory that advises to reconsider travel to South Korea due to an outbreak of COVID-19. Click on South Korea Travel Advisory to read the entire advisory.
Italy Travel Advisory: On February 26, 2020, The U.S. Department of State published a Travel Advisory that advises to exercise increased caution in Italy due a recent outbreak of COVID-19. Click on Italy Travel Advisory to read the entire advisory.
China Travel Advisory: On February 2, 2020, The U.S. Department of State published a Travel Advisory that advises against travel to China due to the novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China. Travelers should be prepared for the possibility of travel restrictions with little or no advance notice. Most commercial air carriers have reduced or suspended routes to and from China. To view the complete advisory, please visit China Travel Advisory.
U.S. Imposes Travel Restrictions on Individuals Traveling from China: On January 31, 2020, the White House issued a presidential proclamation imposing travel restrictions on individuals traveling from the People’s Republic of China (PROC) to the United States due to the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak:
Also, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China have cancelled visa appointments for the week of February 3, 2020, following the Chinese government’s decision to impose restrictions on large gatherings. While the U.S. Department of State has indicated that it hopes to resume routine visa services as soon as possible, it is unable to provide an exact date for the resumption of visa services at this time.
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Travel Ban: On June 26, 2018, the United State Supreme Court upheld a presidential proclamation that imposes indefinite travel restrictions on certain nationals of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, reversing a federal district court’s grant of a preliminary injunction against the restrictions. For detailed, up-to-date information on the travel ban/entry bar, please visit NAFSA’s Travel Advisory on the Section 2(e) Entry Ban.
Chad Removed from List of Travel Ban Countries: Effective April 10, 2018, a Presidential Proclamation removed Chad from the list of countries subject to the country-specific travel ban. For updated information, please visit NAFSA's Advisory on the Indefinite Entry Bar Under Executive Order.
New U.S. Domestic Air Travel ID Requirements Take Effect on January 22, 2018: Beginning January 22, 2018, air travelers in the United States must show identification that complies with the document security requirements of the REAL ID Act. If you use a state-issued driver's license or identification card when traveling domestically:
To date, most U.S. states have either complied with the REAL ID Act or have received an extension. This includes the State of Florida which is compliant.
For information on how to obtain a Driver’s License or ID in Florida, go to Obtain a Driver's License.
Is your state driver's license acceptable for air travel?
Before January 22, 2018, check the REAL ID Act compliance status of your state using the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's color-coded map.
Other acceptable forms of identification
If your state has not met REAL ID requirements or received an extension, the Transportation Security Administration will accept the following documents, among others:
For additional acceptable documents, see the TSA's full list.
Looking ahead
By October 1, 2020, all U.S. states will be required to issue REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses and state identification documents. All domestic air travelers will be required to use a REAL ID-compliant document by that deadline.
Greater Scrutiny for Visa Applicants at U.S. Consular Offices: The U.S. Department of State has ordered U.S. consulates to increase the screening of visa applicants and restrict the number of visa appointments held each day. Visa officers will conduct more intensive interviews to determine whether visa applicants are eligible for the immigration category they seek and will have more discretion to order additional security checks beyond the regular background checks that all visa applicants undergo. These new processes, and the limits on the number of visa interviews, are likely to cause longer waits for interview appointments, and longer waits for passports with visas to be returned after the interview. For detailed information on how to apply for an F or J visa and approximate wait times for visa interviews and visa application processing, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s website.
Foreign nationals flagged by a US consular officer for additional security screening will be asked to complete new visa application questions and may be asked to provide the following additional details:
Though not every visa applicant will be subject to the new questions, foreign nationals may wish to prepare for the possibility that they will be asked to respond. Gathering social media, travel, work and residence history, details of prior passports and the like before a visa appointment can help minimize delays in the event a traveler is asked to provide additional information.
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