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Dear International Students and Scholars,

If you are planning to travel abroad over the break, now is the time to make sure you have your immigration documents in order. Please note that like most offices on campus, CGPS will close for the holiday break on December 23 at 5:00pm and re-open on January 3, 2022.

Before you travel abroad, please make sure to complete the following: 

  • Check your visa expiration date: In order to re-enter the US, you must have a valid visa in your passport. If your visa has expired you will need to apply for a new visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad.  
  • Check whether you have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019: Travel Signatures cannot be more than one-year-old (6 months for OPT students) on the date of re-entry to the US. 
  • F-1 Students: SEVP guidance allows DSOs to issue electronic I-20s. Please fill out the Student Request for Travel Signature. You may pick up the I-20 at CGPS or have it emailed to you depending on your preference. The emailed copy can be used for visa appointments and at the port of entry (airports). 
  • ELI Students: Please fill out the ELI Travel Request Form. Once you have received approval from the ELI, you may either come to the CGPS office with your I-20 document to request a travel signature or forward the approval email to titaley@udel.edu to receive the electronic I-20 and travel signature sent to your email.
  • J-1 Students & Visiting Scholars: Current U.S. Department of State guidance does not permit the use of electronic DS-2019s for “formal processing” such as visa appointments or travel. Please complete the applicable student or scholar application below and your DS-2019 can be picked up at CGPS or mailed to you depending on your preference:
  • Student Request for Travel Signature
  • Scholar Request for Travel Signature
  • Remember to bring your most current I-20 or DS-2019: When entering the US, you will need to show your immigration documents, including a physical copy of the I-20 or DS-2019. 
  • Check your passport expiration date: Please ensure that your passport will not expire sooner than six months from your re-entry date. If your passport expires in less than six months, you may be denied re-entry to the U.S.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Travel 
Please be aware that foreign nationals, including F-1, J-1 and H-1B visa holders, traveling to the U.S. by air will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination prior to boarding a plane. The vaccine requirement is in addition to the requirement for all international travelers to provide a negative COVID test no more than 1 day before you travel by air into the United States. For more information, please see the ISSS AnnouncementCDC Requirements and NAFSA website.

New COVID-19 Travel Ban Issued for Several African Countries
On November 26, 2021 a Presidential Proclamation was issued imposing a new COVID-19 travel ban on foreign nationals with recent physical presence in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Foreign nationals who have been physically present in any of the above countries within 14 days of travel to the U.S. will be barred from entry. For more information, please see the NAFSA website

What to expect at the U.S. Consulates and Re-entry into the U.S.:
  • Plan for possible visa issuance delays at U.S. consulates: During COVID-19, US consulates may not be open or accepting appointments. Consulates that are open are busier than ever and may have reduced hours. 
  • Plan for possible delays during the visa application process: If you will apply for a new visa before returning to the United States, be prepared for lengthier wait times and the possibility that your application will be flagged for enhanced security checks. 
  • At the U.S. port of entry, be prepared for enhanced security screening procedures: You may be subject to increased questioning about your immigration status, travel history, the purpose of your visit, background, employment and other issues. 
  • Obtain your Form I-94 arrival record: After your arrival in the U.S., please review and print your I-94 online for accuracy. You may access your I-94 online here.

To ensure that you stay informed on current information, please visit the ISSS COVID-19 Updates & FAQs and the university’s Coronavirus Resource Page for details about the remainder of the academic year.  

Please do not hesitate to contact the Center for Global Programs & Services should you have any questions or need additional information. We can be reached at oiss@udel.edu or (302) 831-2115.
We wish you a wonderful break!

All the best for the upcoming holiday break,

The International Student and Scholar Team at CGPS
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