COVID Email Outreaches

December 17, 2020

Email to Initial F-1 International Students

From: International Students [ISS] <isso@iastate.edu>
Sent: 12/17/2020
To: International Students [ISS] <isso@iastate.edu>
Subject: Initial F-1 Students Traveling to the U.S. for Spring 2021

Dear Student,

As you prepare to travel to the United States for the Spring 2021 semester, we wanted to provide you with information to assist you on your travels. For the Fall 2020 semester, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued updated guidance for international students due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. SEVP has not issued guidance yet for the Spring 2021 semester, but based on a recent article we expect the guidance from Fall 2020 to continue to the Spring 2021 semester. Once Spring 2021 guidance is officially released by SEVP, we will communicate that information with students and update our [COVID-19 Updates] page.

The SEVP guidance from Fall 2020 stated that F-1 students travelling to the United States on an initial I-20 could not enter the U.S. if their program of study was 100 percent online. Therefore, initial students needed to have an in-person component to their enrollment in order to enter the United States, and students enrolling 100 percent online needed to remain outside of the United States.

Based on the expectation that the guidance will continue to the Spring 2021 semester, we recommend that students entering the U.S. on an initial I-20 register for at least one in-person or hybrid course towards their full-time enrollment for Spring 2021, and students whose enrollment will be 100 percent online should remain outside of the United States. It is possible that students could be asked to show that there will be an in-person component to their Spring 2021 enrollment when applying for an F-1 visa or by Customs when entering the United States. Therefore, we recommend that students have the following documentation in addition to their immigration documents:

Print a copy of the letter from ISU confirming course delivery methods for Spring 2021.
Print a copy of your spring 2021 schedule showing in-person or hybrid course delivery for at least one course.
If you would like further documentation you can also request a letter from your academic/major advisor confirming there is an in-person component to your Spring 2021 enrollment.

We look forward to you being a part of the Iowa State community, and please contact isso@iastate.edu if you have any questions.

Regards,

ISSO

July 24, 2020

Email to Continuing F-1 International Students

From: isso@iastate.edu <isso@iastate.edu>
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2020 4:01 PM
To: International Students [ISS] <isso@iastate.edu>
Subject: Additional updated for Fall 2020

Dear International Iowa State Students,

New Student and Exchange Visitor Program’s (SEVP) guidance was issued today. This guidance, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Clarifying Questions for Fall 2020 clarifies that students who were in valid F-1 status as of March 2020 are able to maintain their immigration status by taking only online courses from within the US or from outside the US.

Students coming to or remaining in the US for Fall 2020:

Students who left the US, but continued their full-time enrollment for Spring 2020 semester, can reenter the US for the Fall 2020 semester, if they so choose.
- These students will still need a valid passport, F-1 visa, and I-20 with travel signature to return. If you need a new travel signature, please complete the Updated I-20 for Fall 2020 e-form in CyStart.
Students studying in the US for Fall 2020 may remain in the United States even if Iowa State University were to switch to fully online instruction.
If you have a visa appointment or will be traveling to the US for the Fall semester, please complete the Updated I-20 for Fall 2020 e-form in CyStart to receive an updated I-20.
Those entering the US from abroad will be required to self-quarantine. Please read the ISU Self-Quarantine Requirements.

Student remaining outside of the US for Fall 2020:

Students may maintain their F-1 status for Fall 2020 while outside the US by taking full-time online classes or an approved Reduced Course Load (RCL).
- Undergraduates must be enrolled in at least 12 credits. Graduate students must be enrolled in at least 9 credits.

If you have any questions about the information above or your situation for Fall 2020, please contact us at isso@iastate.edu, during call-in hours (Monday-Friday from 1-3pm), or by making an appointment with your International Student Adviser through the ISU Appointment system in AccessPlus.

Regards,

ISSO

Email to Initial F-1 Graduate Students

Dear New International Iowa State Graduate Students,

We hope that you are well and we hope to see you soon at Iowa State University. We recognize that we are living in a challenging time and unfortunately some may not be able to come for an in-person study experience at Iowa State this semester. If you are not able to join us in person for Fall 2020 please work with your academic department to see what options you have.

As you may be aware, the guidance released by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) last week (on enrollment requirements for F-1 International Students for the Fall 2020 semester) has been rescinded. You can find Iowa State University President Wintersteen’s remarks about the update here.

New international students for Fall 2020 have two choices:

Although the SEVP guidance has been rescinded, it is important to note that if you come to the United States to study, you are required to enroll in a full course load that includes at least some in-person classwork. If you have arranged it with your department to engage in online study only, you will not be allowed to enter the US and must take those classes from outside the U.S. We will assist you to change the start date on your I-20 to a later semester when you can join us for in-person study, with your department approval.
For those of you intending to come to Iowa State to enroll for in-person and/or hybrid courses, you must possess a valid passport, I-20, and F-1 student visa. Some of you may be subject to the travel restrictions outlined here, and exceptions found here. And you must follow the United States Center for Disease Control guidelines related to self-quarantine upon arrival in the U.S. (See: CDC guidance)

Please be sure your I-20 has an appropriate start date for the semester you plan to begin study in the U.S. Iowa State University’s Fall Semester begins on August 17, 2020. If you need an updated I-20, please email the Office of Admissions at admissions@iastate.edu.

Regulations related to international travel and entry to the United States are frequently changing. The ISSO will do our best to provide you with current information and to support you throughout your educational journey. We look forward to welcoming you to our campus when you are ready to begin in-person study. If you have any questions, please email us at isso@iastate.edu. Be well and best wishes.

The ISSO team

Email For Continuing F-1 International Students

Dear International Iowa State Students,

We want to be sure you are aware of the good news that the guidance released by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program last week (on enrollment requirements for F-1 International Students for the Fall 2020 semester) has been rescinded. You can find President Wintersteen’s remarks about the update here.

What this means:

Continuing students currently in the US will now be allowed to remain in the US and take only online courses for the Fall 2020 semester, if they so choose. These students must still be enrolled full-time to maintain their status.

Continuing students currently outside the US: If you intend to return to Iowa State to engage in some form of in-person study and you have a valid F-1 visa, passport, and I-20, you should be eligible for entry to the United States. If you are intending to engage only in on-line study and you will not be registering for any in person study, it is not clear if you will be eligible for entry to the United States. We are still waiting for further clarification from the US Government on this issue. We will email with further information as soon as it is available.

If you have questions or concerns, you can also schedule a virtual appointment with your International Student Adviser in Accessplus (ISU Appointments), email isso@iastate.edu, or call ISSO during call in hours (1-3pm CST Monday-Friday).

Regards,

ISSO

July 21, 2020

Email to Initial F-1 International Undergraduate Students

From: International Students [ISS] <isso@iastate.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2020 2:09 PM
Cc: International Students [ISS] <isso@iastate.edu>
Subject: Iowa State Updates for Fall 2020

Dear New International Iowa State Students,

We hope that you are well and we hope to see you soon at Iowa State University. We recognize that we are living in a challenging time and unfortunately some may not be able to come for an in-person study experience at Iowa State this semester. We hope that our future Cyclones who are not able to join us in person for Fall 2020 will begin their Iowa State academic program remotely and join us in Ames for in-person study as soon as possible.

As you may be aware, the guidance released by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) two weeks ago (on enrollment requirements for F-1 International Students for the Fall 2020 semester) has been rescinded. You may read Iowa State University’s President Wintersteen’s remarks about the update.

New international students for Fall 2020 have two choices:

Although the SEVP guidance has been rescinded, it is important to note that if you come to the United States to study, you are required to enroll in a full course load that includes at least some in-person classwork. If you are intending to engage in online study only, you will not be allowed to enter the US. If you prefer to enroll for online classes only, you must take those classes from outside the U.S (Learn more about the Iowa State International Adventure Learning Community). We will assist you to change the start date on your I-20 to a later semester when you can join us for in-person study.
For those of you intending to come to Iowa State to enroll for in-person and/or hybrid courses, you must possess a valid passport, I-20, and F-1 student visa. Information about travel restrictions, as well as exceptions, can be found on the CDC and Department of State websites. You must also follow the United States Center for Disease Control guidelines related to self-quarantine upon arrival in the U.S. (See: CDC guidance)

Please let us know which of these options you choose for Fall 2020 by emailing isso@iastate.edu so we can be sure your I-20 and ISU records are correct. If you will be coming to Iowa State to enroll for in-person and/or hybrid courses this Fall, please complete the Updated I-20 for Fall e-form in CyStart, after you schedule a visa appointment, to request an updated I-20.

The ISSO team