U.S. Travel Ban – Can International Students Enter The U.S. For The New 2021 Academic Year? – Path2USA

The Biden administration introduced journey restrictions towards a number of nations together with India, China and the Schengen nations with an intent to curb the unfold of Covid-19 virus. Whereas China and India provide the most important variety of worldwide college students to universities within the U.S., the pandemic induced 18% fewer scholar visas being issued for the tutorial 12 months 2020-21. Over 64% fewer visas have been issued to only Indian scholar candidates final 12 months.

What occurs this 12 months? Can worldwide college students enter the U.S.? Do they get an exemption from the journey ban? How do they get a visa if the consulates overseas are nonetheless closed? We reply these questions under and elaborate on how worldwide college students can navigate the quick time between the journey ban introduced on Might 4, 2021 and the courses starting in August/September 2021.

Who Is Impacted By The Newest Journey Ban?

President Biden via his proclamations, has suspended or restricted entry into america for sure people who have been bodily current through the 14-day interval previous to their entry/tried entry from the next nations – 

This consists of non-U.S. residents and non-immigrant visa holders with legitimate visas in hand.

Who Is Exempted From U.S. Visa Journey Restrictions?

In response to the proclamation signed by Biden, the next people might be allowed to journey:

• Residents of america in addition to non-citizen nationals and any lawful everlasting resident of the nation.
• Overseas college students with F, J or M visas whose courses start on or after August 1, 2021.
• Spouses, or fiancé(e)s of residents.
• H4 dependent visa holders, if their H1-B partner is already current within the U.S.
• Journalists.
• Pilots and aircrew touring to america for coaching or plane pickup, supply, or upkeep.
• Vacationers who’re looking for to offer very important help for essential infrastructure sectors.
• Anybody who’s essential in mitigating the Covid-19 pandemic signs and supporting its remedy, analysis and/or eradication.

Can Overseas College students Enter the U.S.?

The quick reply is Sure, international college students can enter. However this has a caveat.

Whereas the journey ban is for all non-immigrant visa holders, worldwide college students with U.S. scholar visa are exempted. In response to the U.S. Embassy in India, “Below the present Presidential Proclamation, scholar visa holders are in a position to enter america if their courses begin on or after 1 August 2021. We’re sadly unable to approve exceptions for F visa holders with a program begin date earlier than 1 August 2021.”  College students can enter the nation solely 30 days earlier than courses start — not earlier.

Overseas college students who’ve an admit to a U.S. college for the subsequent educational 12 months 2021-22 could also be thought-about for a Nationwide Curiosity Exception (NIE). The scholars who have already got an I-20 from their universities won’t need to specifically apply for an NIE and might be routinely allowed to use for a U.S. scholar visa. This covers F1, J and M visas. 

What Is A Nationwide Curiosity Exception (NIE)? And Do Worldwide College students Qualify?

How Can Worldwide College students Get An F1 Scholar Visa?

In case you are planning to come back to the U.S. to pursue training this fall however haven’t utilized for a visa but, you must act quickly. U.S. consulates and embassies in most nations together with India are closed as a result of pandemic. Nevertheless, they’re providing emergency companies, which suggests most non-immigrant visa purposes aren’t prioritized. College students might be thought-about for the Nationwide Curiosity Exception (NIE) and granted scholar visas if their courses start after August 1, 2021.

Associated Article: Calculate Your Visa Appointment Wait Instances 

Worldwide College students: How To use For Nationwide Curiosity Exception (NIE)

The newest replace to the journey ban Proclamation says, “college students with legitimate M1 and F1 visa intending to start or proceed an educational program commencing 1 August 2021 or later don’t have to contact an embassy or consulate to hunt a person Nationwide Curiosity Exception to journey. They might enter america no sooner than 30 days earlier than the beginning of their educational research’. 

This consists of college students and sure teachers taking part in elective sensible coaching (OPT), which begins August 1, 2021 or later.

Must you really feel that you just qualify for the NIE to be able to journey to america, you must contact a U.S. Embassy closest to you and apply for a NIE. IDs like [email protected] or related are offered for various consular posts. 

The next particulars will be submitted to use for an NIW – 

• Final identify
• First identify
• Date of delivery
• Fatherland
• Nation of citizenship
• Passport quantity
• Title & location of faculty/U.S. college of admit
• Deliberate journey dates, ideally with itinerary and duplicate of flight tickets
• Function of journey – describe particulars of coursework, dates of admission and particular person of contact on the establishment, ideally the DSO.
• Contact data, each within the US in addition to in house nation together with cellphone numbers, emails, and so forth.

Congratulations to those that received chosen to pursue an training in america & Good Luck!