August 19, 2020
Dear student,
Welcome to the University of Delaware! Whether you’re taking classes in-person or fully online, the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) is excited to help you prepare for a successful semester ahead. This email contains several key updates to campus operations. Please read through the information below to make sure you’re prepared for Fall 2020. Additional information is available on the OISS website.
Enrollment in Online Classes
New Initial F-1/J-1 Students outside the U.S.: International students are eligible to start their academic program online while outside the U.S. but your F-1/J-1 status would not be activated until you arrive in the U.S. for in-person coursework. OISS is required to defer your immigration record (I-20/DS-2019) until your program has a “physical presence” requirement in the U.S.
New Initial F-1/J-1 entering the U.S.: You may not enter the U.S. for a program that is 100% online. You will need to enroll in full-time coursework with at least one in-person course in order to be eligible to enter the U.S.
New (Initial) Graduate students on a Graduate Contract: You will need to enroll in one in-person/hybrid course outside of your graduate contract to be eligible to enter the U.S. To discuss the specifics of your graduate contract, please contact the Graduate College.
Letter of Support for U.S. Port of Entry
OISS will issue a letter of support to facilitate your entry in the United States. You will be receiving the letter as an email shortly with personalized information regarding your UD program. If you are enrolled in at least one in-person course and plan to travel to the U.S., it is recommended that you print and have the letter available when you enter the U.S.. If you do not see the email in your inbox, please log into your OISS account at oiss.udel.edu using your UD username and password credentials. In the OISS account home page in the Messages section, you can view and print the email named: OISS Letter of Support for U.S. Port of Entry.
Where to Find Answers to Your Questions
OISS continues to monitor health and safety guidelines surrounding the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. We understand that this might be a very difficult time for you and your families, and that you probably have a number of unique questions and concerns, whether you are on campus or abroad this semester. To ensure that you stay informed on current information, we will continue to update the OISS Frequently Asked Questions page with new guidance from the University and federal agencies. The University also maintains a dedicated COVID-19 resource page to help you stay updated and safe. Questions may be emailed to coronavirus@udel.edu.
For information about preparing for the fall semester, please visit the University’s Fall 2020 resource page. If you have any specific questions about your academic program and enrollment in classes, we strongly encourage you to consult with your academic advisor or program director.
If you have any questions about travel or your immigration record, please email us at oiss@udel.edu so we can advise you accordingly. If you have decided to defer your program and will not be attending UD in the fall semester, please fill out the Fall 2020 Status Survey and contact Elly Barczak, ebarczak@udel.edu, to defer your I-20/DS-2019. You will also need to inform your academic department of your plans, if you have not done so already.
Testing & Quarantining
The university has provided guidance for everyone who will be on campus this fall, including testing and self-quarantining. Individuals must be tested within 14 days before arriving on campus and then self-quarantine until you travel to/arrive on campus. Students must submit test results before arrival on campus. Read more about this UD pre-arrival guidance. Anyone traveling from outside of the U.S. must self-quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival, regardless of how they enter the country.
Welcome Events
We look forward to seeing you at International Student Orientation (ISO) on Friday, August 28, 2020 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. EST via Zoom! At ISO, you will hear from UD leadership and OISS immigration advisors with everything you need to know to maintain your visa and student status and get connected to services at UD. ISO is a required event for all new international students.
Mark your calendars for International Coffee Hour on Friday, August 28, 2020 from 4 to 6 p.m. EST via Zoom! Join us at this weekly OISS tradition as we welcome all international students and their families to UD.
The UD Virtual Hub
The newly launched Student Life Virtual Hub is designed to provide digital connection points for students that support their continued success and engagement. These resources are organized into six areas: Career, Diversity & Inclusion, Hengagement, Recreation, Support, and Wellbeing. We encourage you to get familiar with these resources as we continue the fall semester virtually.
Airport Transportation
Anyone using public transit, including airport shuttles, taxis, or ride share companies like Delaware Express, Lyft or Uber, is advised to: wear a cloth mask, practice social distancing, avoid touching surfaces, and practice hand hygiene. Read more guidance about using transportation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Delaware Express offers a one-way shuttle from Philadelphia International Airport - PHL (for $45 without tip), which is significantly less expensive than the shuttle from BWI ($138 WITH tip and tolls) or New York area airports. If you decide to use this service, please mention that you are a UD student for an approximate 5% discount. You do not need to show an ID to get this discount.
Housing & Local Transportation
Check your UD email regularly for detailed instructions on Fall move-in from UD's Residence Life & Housing. If you’re living off-campus, please refer to UD’s Off-Campus Housing Guide.
The UD shuttle and other public transportation options have adjusted their schedules due to COVID. We have published all of the information we have gathered about these options on the OISS Upon Arrival webpage.
Connect with OISS
We encourage you to follow along with OISS on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, where you will find real-time updates on the latest events, programs and announcements at our office. Tag us on social media and use the hashtags #UDWelcome and #UDOISS to share your experience as a new international community member at UD!
On behalf of the OISS team, we wish you a productive and successful semester! If you have any questions about your immigration status or life at the University of Delaware, please do not hesitate to contact our office at any time. We can be reached Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST at (302) 831-2115 or at oiss@udel.edu.
Sincerely,
Ravi Ammigan, Ph.D.
Associate Deputy Provost, International Programs
Executive Director, International Services
(302) 831-2115
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You are receiving this email as a member of UD's international community. You can verify this email is legitimate by contacting the Office for International Students & Scholars at (302) 831-2115 or by emailing oiss@udel.edu.
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