COVID-19 Updates

To continue protecting the health and safety of the UD community, the University of Delaware will require all students to be fully immunized with the COVID-19 vaccine and submit a valid vaccination record to Student Health Services. New and continuing international students are expected to have received both doses of a two-dose vaccine, or the single dose of a one-dose vaccine.

You will be able to start the semester as you await to receive the second dose of your two-dose vaccine. You will be allowed to stay in the residence halls and attend classes while waiting for your second dose.

Per UD policy, if you are not fully vaccinated you must wear a mask at all times when indoors and maintain 3 feet of physical distance at all times. Unvaccinated students must also take a COVID-19 test weekly.

The University of Delaware will recognize vaccines that are approved by the FDA, CDC, State of Delaware, or the World Health Organization.

If your vaccine is not accepted by the World Health Organization you may need to get re-vaccinated with an acceptable vaccine. Studies have shown that re-vaccination is safe as long as there has been 28 days between the last vaccine and the new one.

If you have received a vaccine that is not on the approved list, please contact Student Health Services for guidance prior to arrival on campus.

It is recommended that you upload an English-translated version of your vaccine documentation to the SHS portal in order to streamline the review process. If you are unable to provide an English translation, please ensure that the vaccination dates (preferably using the Roman Calendar) and the company name for the vaccine are legible on your documents. Please remember when entering the dates of your vaccine in the SHS portal and online form that you are using the MM/DD/YYYY date format.

Students on campus who feel sick are asked to call Student Health Services at (302) 831-2226, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Walk-in visits are not being accepted. For after hours support the Aetna After Hours Nurse Medical Advice Line is available to all University of Delaware Students at 800-681-3957.

If you need a prescription filled or refilled, please call Student Health Service at (302) 831-2226 to make an appointment with the dispensary for pick up and to receive guidance on the safest way to enter the Student Health Services building.

As always, If you are experiencing a health emergency, please call 911 or utilize local emergency department services immediately.

Continuing F-1/J-1 Students: Per SEVP and Department of State guidance, F-1 and J-1 students with active I-20/DS-2019 SEVIS records are permitted to enroll in online only courses as long as they are otherwise maintaining status.

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. CGPS 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 at least one in-person course in order to be eligible to enter the U.S.

• New (Initial) Graduate students on a Graduate Contract: will need to enroll in one in-person/hybrid course outside of their graduate contract to be eligible to enter the U.S.
• New (Initial) Graduate students on Sustaining Status: Most sustaining students should already be active in SEVIS. However, if you are returning from a leave of absence and have finished all your coursework requirements, you should be permitted to enter the U.S. in sustaining status if you have research that requires your physical presence in the U.S. to complete your degree program.

If your I-20/DS-2019 grace period is expiring soon and you are unable to return to your home country after contacting your respective embassy in the U.S., the following are options that may still be available to you:

• Start a new program at UD
• Apply for F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) or J-1 Academic Training
• Transfer to another university’s F-1 or J-1 program
• Apply for a change of status with USCIS, or
• Depart for a third country.

F-1 Students: U.S. government agencies have not issued any official guidance or regulatory relief for F-1 students in this situation. At this time, you should still attempt to depart the U.S. no later than the end of your 60-day grace period following the conclusion of your program or OPT period. If this is not possible, consider one of the options listed above. Currently these are the only options available to keep your F-1 SEVIS record active after the end of your grace period.

J-1 Students and Scholars: Department of State (DOS) provided automatic program extensions for certain J-1 students and scholars with DS-2019s ending between April 1 and May 31. No guidance has been issued for J-1 exchange visitors with end dates beyond May 31, 2020. Please contact CGPS if you have any questions about your new program end date.

On April 22, 2022, the Department of State updated the Exchange Visitor Program COVID-19 FAQs to extend their COVID-19 accommodations through June 30, 2023. The FAQ continues to state that "new exchange visitors can participate in programs only if their host organizations have reinstated partial to full in-person activities." The updated FAQ also continues to allow telework in the College/University Student (Academic Training and Student Intern), Research Scholar, Short Term Scholar, Intern, and Trainee categories, but institutes a limit "of one to two telework days per week."

Working for UD while outside of the U.S. may trigger tax and other local employer obligations in the overseas country you may be visiting. Please discuss with your UD Department and HR/Payroll the UD policies regarding your eligibility to be paid while outside the U.S. ahead of any potential work arrangement abroad. If you have any questions, please contact UD Human Resources.

The allotted unemployment time has not been extended. Students on OPT are still only allowed to accrue 90 days of unemployment during OPT. Students on the STEM Extension may accrue up to 150 days total between their original period of OPT and the STEM Extension. If you have a job offer, you should discuss with your new employer whether it is possible to begin work remotely while you are here in the U.S. You can also continue to look for a different employer. Also, it is recommended that you keep all documentation regarding your current employment search and any difficulty you may have leaving the U.S. after the 90/150 limit.

Students currently participating in OPT, including STEM OPT, may temporarily work remotely if their employer and the employer can assess student engagement using electronic means. Students participating in STEM OPT do not need to submit an updated Form I-983 to report remote work. However, requirements to submit an updated Form I-983 for other changes remain in effect per federal regulations.

There is no official guidance on this topic, but if you let us know by completing the OPT Employment Update form, CGPS will make a note in your F-1 SEVIS record stating that you are working remotely due to COVID-19.

At this time, USCIS has not changed the guidance that requires students to apply for OPT while inside the U.S.. The I-765 form still requires a mailing address in the U.S., to which USCIS will mail your EAD as well as any correspondence, such as an RFE (Request for Further Evidence). If you are outside the U.S. and have questions about your OPT eligibility, please contact an International Student Advisor at CGPS to discuss your case.

You are eligible to depart the U.S. once an OPT application is pending at USCIS. However, CGPS recommends that students remain in the U.S. to ensure you can respond to any correspondence from USCIS. Mail may include your EAD card or an RFE (Request for Further Evidence). If you are abroad and unable to respond, your OPT application may be denied. If you are planning on traveling while your OPT is pending, please contact an International Student Advisor at CGPS to discuss your case.

For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, SEVP considers students who are working in their OPT opportunities fewer than 20 hours a week as engaged in OPT and maintaining status.

There is not specific guidance from SEVP or USCIS regarding OPT and furloughs. However, you should first determine whether you are being laid off or placed on a temporary leave but still considered an employee. A furlough is typically an employer-directed leave for a temporary, defined period of time after which you will return to work.

If you are laid off: this generally means you do not have a job to return to and are therefore considered unemployed. In this case, you are required to report the end of your employment within 10 days to CGPS.

If you are on a temporary leave: if you are placed on a temporary leave in accordance with your employer’s official policy and the employer expects you to return when they resume business, it is possible that the days you are not working will not count towards unemployment for OPT purposes.

Effective March 10, 2023 at 3pm ET, there is no longer a COVID test requirement for air travelers coming from mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information, please see the CDC press release.

Non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. immigrants must continue to show proof of being fully vaccinated with the primary series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine before boarding their flight to the U.S. For more information, please see the CDC International Travel Page.

As a reminder, all travelers must check with their airline for specific travel requirements prior to departure.

On December 31, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. ET, a new U.S. presidential proclamation revoked the travel ban for Southern African countries which was issued in November last year. Foreign nationals with recent physical presence in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are no longer subject to the travel ban. Please note that foreign nationals are still required to comply with the COVID-19 vaccination that became effective on November 8, 2021 for travel to the U.S.

Effective November 8, 2021, foreign nationals, including F-1, J-1 and H-1B visa holders, traveling to the U.S. by air are required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination prior to boarding a plane. The vaccination requirement replaces the previous COVID-19 travel bans on China, India, Brazil, Iran, Ireland, the Schengen Area, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. For more information on the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for air travel, please see the ISSS Announcement, CDC Requirements and NAFSA website.

Please note that effective March 10, 2023 at 3pm ET, there is no longer a COVID test requirement for air travelers coming from mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information, please see the CDC press release

As a reminder, all travelers must check with their airline for specific travel requirements prior to departure.

Effective January 22, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will require non-U.S. travelers entering the U.S by land or ferry across the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to provide proof of vaccination.  COVID-19 testing is not required for entry via a land or ferry port of entry. For more information on essential travel at land border crossings, please see the NAFSA website.

U.S. lawful permanent residents are not subject to the land/ferry vaccination requirement. For non-U.S. travelers, there are limited exceptions. For more information, please see the DHS Fact Sheet.

On December 23, 2022, the Department of State announced that it would extend the authorization of consular officers discretion to waive the in-person interview requirement for the following individuals until December 31, 2023:

• "Individual petition-based H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q applicants who were previously issued any type of visa, and who have never been refused a visa unless such refusal was overcome or waived, and who have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility; or"

• "first-time individual petition-based H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q who are citizens or nationals of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), provided they have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility and have previously traveled to the United States using an authorization obtained via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)."

The December 23, 2022 announcement also extends until the end of 2023 the policy that authorizes consular officers to waive, in their discretion, the in-person interview requirement for the following individuals:

• “students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, or specialists (F, M, and academic J visa applicants)... who were previously issued any type of visa, and who have never been refused a visa unless such refusal was overcome or waived, and who have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility; or"

• "first-time F, M, and academic J visa applicants who are citizens or nationals of a country that participates in VWP and who have previously traveled to the United States via an ESTA authorization, provided they have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility."

Applicants renewing a visa in the same classification within 48 months of the prior visa’s expiration are also eligible for interview waiver. This authority is in place until further notice.

Important: Resources and local government restrictions vary widely, and each consular section is continuously reviewing its capacity to adjudicate visa applications.  Students and scholars should check with their relevant U.S. embassy/consulate to confirm the level of services currently offered and for guidelines for applying for a visa without an interview. For more information, please see the NAFSA website.

Yes. CGPS can provide a general letter regarding your current immigration status and program at UD. If you would like a letter from CGPS for your visa appointment and/or for the U.S. port of entry, please contact oiss@udel.edu.  

If you need to show proof of enrollment, you can print an Enrollment Verification Certificate directly from your UDSIS student page. This enrollment certificate along with a copy of your I-20 or DS-2019 should suffice in proving your status.

For information regarding your academic program and coursework requirements, we recommend that you reach out to your academic advisors and department for any documentation related to your specific program details.

Information about nonimmigrant visa appointments are available on the Visa Wait Times website. We recommend that you reach out to your respective U.S. embassy/consulate for further details as information varies regarding openings.

Active/Returning Students: While COVID-19 restrictions are in place at the university, SEVP and U.S. Department of State (DOS) guidance for active/returning students states your SEVIS record can remain active if you are enrolled full-time whether abroad or in the U.S. Once UD returns to “normal” operations, if you cannot or choose not to return to the U.S. to study, SEVP guidance requires CGPS to terminate the SEVIS record.

Please keep in mind that students planning to return to campus will need to be enrolled full-time and have a valid visa and an I-20/DS-2019 (with a valid travel signature) to return to the U.S. Please contact CGPS for any specific questions regarding students’ immigration or visa status.

New international students: CGPS is required to defer your I-20/DS-2019 until you can enter the U.S. on your “Initial” F-1/J-1 status. You are still eligible to start your program online while outside the U.S., but your F-1/J-1 visa status would not be activated yet.

International students should not enter the U.S. on a tourist visa/visa waiver for the purpose of starting a full-time academic program. This could be considered a violation of your current B-1/B-2/ESTA status. You would not be eligible to study in the U.S. while waiting for the change of status to possibly be approved (7-12 months). In addition, filing for a change of status in the first 90 days of entering the U.S. could be considered “misrepresentation.” It is possible that your change of status request could be denied as well as impact future eligibility for an F-1 and other visas.

Typically, we encourage students to give themselves at least 6-8 weeks before the start of their program to request an I-20/DS-2019 (this allows for the I-20 processing, shipment, visa appointment, and travel). While there is no specific deadline for the visa appointment, CGPS is required to register your SEVIS record within the first 30 days of the start of the semester. If you are planning on entering the U.S. after the official start of the term, please work with CGPS regarding your I-20/DS-2019 program start date as well as your academic department/advisor regarding late arrivals and availability of in-person coursework upon arrival.

New F-1/J-1 students with “Initial” SEVIS Status: CGPS is required by federal regulations to report SEVIS registration within the first 30 days of the start of the semester/term. We do not recommend that you enter the U.S. after the end of the drop/add period for any academic term. If you are arriving late, please work with your academic department/advisor regarding late arrivals and availability of in-person coursework.

If you are unable to arrive within the first 30 days of the start of the semester, please contact CGPS to defer your I-20/DS-2019 start date to the next available term. You may continue your program online from abroad, but your I-20/DS-2019 will be deferred for the next available term.

If you are deferring your admission to the university, your I-20/DS-2019 will need to be deferred to your new admission term.

Continuing F-1/J-1 students with an “Active” SEVIS record: While COVID-19 restrictions are in place, SEVP and U.S. Department of State (DOS) guidance for active/returning students states your SEVIS record can remain active if you are enrolled full-time whether abroad or in the U.S. If you are planning on returning to campus mid-semester in the fall, you must be enrolled full-time, have a valid visa and I-20/DS-2019 (with a valid travel signature).

ELI and AT students: please contact an immigration services advisor at CGPS to discuss your situation and late arrival policies (titaley@udel.edu or asausman@udel.edu).

All F-1/J-1 Students: please note, it is at the discretion of Customs & Border Protection (CBP) to grant entry into the U.S. It is recommended that international students carry supporting documentation (transcripts, enrollment letters, etc.) showing their requirement to be in the U.S. for academic purposes.

F-1 Students: SEVP guidance allows DSOs to issue electronic I-20s. If you need a travel signature, please fill out the Student Request for Travel Signature and one will be emailed or shipped depending on your preference. The emailed copy can currently be used for visa appointments and at the port of entry (airports). ELI Students: Please contact an CGPS ELI Immigration Advisor for specific instructions and forms.

J-1 Students & Scholars: Current U.S. Department of State guidance does not permit the use of electronic DS-2019s for “formal processing.” Please fill the applicable scholar or student online travel request below and one will be mailed to your current location.

• Student Request for Travel Signature
• Scholar Request for Travel Signature

The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends that international students and exchange visitors reach out to their respective embassies or closest consulate if they are unable to book return flights home. A growing number of embassies are posting special communications on their websites and social media for international students and exchange visitors in order to make contact with them.

For more information, please visit COVID-19 Country Specific Information  and DOS: Embassies Reaching Out to Exchange Visitors and review your respective embassy information.

It is highly encouraged to check in with your respective embassy in the U.S. If you are considering making travel plans, please contact an immigration services advisor at CGPS to discuss your situation. It remains important for international students and exchange visitors to notify CGPS of all travel plans.

If you are a new international student who was not able to start your program at UD this semester, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions (for new undergraduate students) or Graduate College (for new graduate students) to defer your program start date at UD.

Visiting Scholars should notify their host department about their travel delay, and contact CGPS Scholar Services at oiss-scholars@udel.edu to adjust their SEVIS record and immigration status accordingly.

UD offers a number of resources should you need someone to talk to. International students and scholars are encouraged to contact the Center for Counseling & Student Development at (302) 831-2141 or (302) 831-1001 if they are concerned for this situation and the impact it may be having on their loved ones back home. For health-related concerns, contact Student Health Services at (302) 831-2226. For after-hours emergencies, please call 911 or contact University Police at (302) 831-2222.

At UD, we work hard to put our values of supporting members of our community into practice – from all races, ethnicities, nationalities, minoritized social identities and individual backgrounds – welcoming them with kindness and compassion, especially at a time like this when we collectively monitor the health of our community. The diversity of the University of Delaware is one of its greatest strengths. Racist, discriminatory and xenophobic behaviors and biases are not in line with our community values.

UD and CGPS take reports very seriously, and support is available 24 hours a day for anyone who experiences incidents of discrimination or harrassment. Support is available 24 hours a day and if you would like to speak with a clinician, we encourage you to call 302-831-2141 to connect with our Center for Counseling and Student Development. If it is after normal business hours, you can call (302) 831-1001 or text UDTEXT to 741741. If you would like to officially report this incident, please visit udel.edu/oei to file a complaint with the Office of Equity and Inclusion. If this is potentially a criminal matter, UDPD can assist by calling them at (302) 831-2222.