COVID-19 Updates & FAQ

Travel to the US

As of 12:01 am EDT May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. See the CDC travel page for more information.

Travel to the US

As of 12:01 am EDT May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. See more CDC travel page information.

Other countries may have travel restrictions and entry requirements of their own. If you do need testing before you leave the US, the University Health services has an information page about available COVID travel testing including on and off-campus resources.current 

See current UC Berkeley vaccination requirements here on the UHS Immunization Requirements page.

The Department of State continues to implement a phased resumption of visa services, including F-1 and J-1 category visas. Visit your local U.S. embassy or consulate website to confirm operating status and find information about appointment rescheduling and/or emergency services. Please also be aware that global travel conditions remain impacted and could change rapidly, and visa applicants could face serious delays.

If you are currently maintaining a student, scholar or employee immigration status in the U.S. and you depart, BIO can never guarantee your ability to return to the U.S. in a timely manner, which could have an impact on your U.S. visa status if you are unable to resume to continue your requirements as a student, scholar or employee. Additionally, other countries may have travel restrictions of their own, which could impact your ability to enter those countries or move freely or return to the US in the timeline you wish. You will need to check with your airline and/or that country’s consulate to be sure you understand any requirements for vaccination, testing, quarantine or other requirements for travelers. If you do need testing before you leave the US, the University Health services has an information page about available COVID travel testing including on and off-campus resources.

If you are considering a short trip to a country which is not your home, you may also want to consider the risk that you could remain stuck there if the travel situation changes while you are away, possibly limiting your ability to enter the U.S. (or any other country).

When traveling internationally, please carefully review the BIO Travel & Re-Entry page for general information regarding travel and required re-entry documents. If your U.S. entry visa is expired, be aware that applying for a visa for entry could be unpredictable and could cause you to face further delays.

UC Berkeley is following the guidance of UCOP and the CDC when outlining travel policies. Please review UC Berkeley’s guidance on travel before you travel or make travel plans for the duration of  the COVID-19 pandemic – particularly for international travel as advance approval may be required and local public health and border entry requirements frequently change.

Please also consult your Berkeley International Office advisor to ensure that travel will not impact your visa status.

There are currently no restrictions on US travel.

Yes, it’s OK! Please know that you do not need a travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 document to either remain in OR to depart the U.S You DO need a valid travel signature to return to the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status. A valid travel signature must be no more than twelve months old on the date that you return to the U.S. (For F-1 students on post-completion Optional Practical Training or STEM OPT Extension, travel endorsements are only valid for 6 months.) You will only need a valid signature to apply for a new visa if the F-1 or J-1 visa stamp in your passport is expired and/or for your re-entry into the U.S.

See sections below for instructions for Enrolled F-1/J-1 Students or J-1 Scholars to request a new travel endorsement.

No! The visa is just an entry document. Your I-20 or DS-2019 has a future expiration date (or post-completion F-1 OPT) on it to maintain its validity. If you remain in the U.S. with a valid I-20 or DS-2019, you are not required to extend the visa stamp in your passport. The visa in the passport only needs to be extended if you leave the U.S. and need to reenter the U.S. If you are presently in the U.S., your I-20 or DS-2019 is still valid, and the visa stamp in your passport is expired, there is no need for you to make a trip just to extend the visa.

BIO is aware that many flights to impacted regions have been canceled, and that travel may not be available at this time. If your program is ending soon and you are unable to depart the United States, please notify Berkeley International Office to let us know about your situation. We urge you to also contact your home country’s local consulate or embassy in the U.S. for support and information regarding travel home. We will work with our clients on a case-by-case basis to determine the best path forward.

F-1/J-1 students, please see this question for more specific options.

With the ongoing concerns around COVID-19, BIO understands that there may be concern and anxiety about family around the world. In addition, with the increasing level of news coverage and concerns about the spread of the virus locally, some of you may be experiencing anxiety or stress. Please know that these reactions are normal and there are ways in which you can take care of yourself during these stressful times.

The university has many resources available to help you cope with these situations. At the following links you can access various resources that you may find useful about how to take care of yourself.

Resources available for students, scholars and employees:

• UHS: Staying Healthy: Hygiene, Mental Health Resources

• University Health Services (UHS) - Self Care Resources

• UHS - Look for the Signs

• UHS Emergency/Crisis Support

• Outside of the U.S. crisis support: Suicide Hotline information by country 

• China mental health resource list

Counseling resources just for students:

• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

• CAPS Let's Talk Drop-in consultations (available outside the US)

• CAPS After Hours: For after hours support, please call the 24/7 line at (855) 817-5667

• CAPS Resources for Students Outside of California

• CAPS Video: Mental Health Resources for International Students

• Support Connecting to an Off-Campus Mental Health Provider workshops

• TAO (Therapy Assistance Online) - an online library of engaging, interactive programs that help you learn life skills and bounce back from stumbling blocks and disappointments. CAPS offers free coaching sessions to help students use TAO. Sign up here

• UHS Manage Stress and Depression

Counseling resources just for scholars and employees:

• Be Well at Work- Employee Assistance

Also be aware that BIO advisers are always ready and willing to be of assistance in any way we can. Please contact us for support or resources.

Please see our Resources section on the right sidebar of this page. BIO will continue to update this as we discover new resources.

Please notify Berkeley International Office so that we are aware of your situation and can assist with connecting you to support. 

UC Berkeley and BIO are committed to upholding our Principles of Community, to ensure that all members of our campus community, regardless of race or country of origin, feel welcome, safe, and respected.  

Please know that these behaviors have no place in the UC Berkeley community. UC Berkeley prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of categories including race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation/identity and/or sexual violence status. If you have experienced physical assaults, hate crimes, and/or threats of violence, you have the right to report them to UCPD and the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD). Concerns about hateful incidents or messages also can be made via stophate.berkeley.edu, the systemwide portal for making those reports.

Students can seek counseling support at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Scholars and employees can access counseling services through Be Well at Work

If you entered or will enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status after March 9, 2020, are not permitted to enroll in fully remote instruction. You can search for classes using the Berkeley Academic guide, which also allows you to filter for mode of instruction. For Fall 2022, a class is 100% online if the course instructional mode mode is listed as “Online” or “Web-based” . Courses considered “in-person” are coded with “In Person”  instructional mode and have at least one in-person meeting during the semester. If you are a student in this category and you do not  plan to enroll in any in-person courses, your F/J record will be canceled and you should should instead plan to participate in remote classes while remaining outside the U.S. - or  you can choose to add in-person instruction to your schedule to keep an active F/J record. You can search for classes using the Berkeley Academic guide, which also allows you to filter for mode of instruction.

F-1 and J-1 students are expected to remain enrolled in full-time units, or to apply and be approved for an authorized Reduced Course Load for Academic or Medical Reasons. 

If you entered or will enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status after March 9, 2020, are not permitted to enroll in fully remote instruction. You can search for classes using the Berkeley Academic guide, which also allows you to filter for mode of instruction. For Fall 2022, a class is 100% online if the course instructional mode mode is listed as “Online” or “Web-based” . Courses considered “in-person” are coded with “In Person”  instructional mode and have at least one in-person meeting during the semester. If you are a student in this category and you do not  plan to enroll in any in-person courses, your F/J record will be canceled and you should should instead plan to participate in remote classes while remaining outside the U.S. - or  you can choose to add in-person instruction to your schedule to keep an active F/J record. You can search for classes using the Berkeley Academic guide, which also allows you to filter for mode of instruction.

F-1 and J-1 students are expected to remain enrolled in full-time units, or to apply and be approved for an authorized Reduced Course Load for Academic or Medical Reasons

If necessary, students who first entered the U.S. on a new F-1 or J-1 record on or before March 9, 2020may enroll in a full course of study that is 100 percent online.

If you were in Active F-1/J-1 status and enrolled at a U.S. school on March 9, 2020 and have remained continuously enrolled and in Active F/J status since then- you can enroll for Fall 2022  in classes that are all online, all in-person, or a combination of in-person and online classes. We advise you to only utilize this option if it is academically necessary. 

Remember that all F-1 and J-1 students are expected to remain enrolled in full-time units, or to apply and be approved for an authorized Reduced Course Load for Academic or Medical Reasons. Reductions in course load must be approved by your College and by the Berkeley International Office in advance of making any schedule changes.

If you do plan to be here for Fall 2022 or Spring 2023, we encourage you to take all necessary steps to begin your new student visa or continuing student re-entry processes. If you are a student returning after withdrawal, please be sure to review our Returning Students webpage for specific information regarding your re-entry and visa requirements.

Late Arrivals
If you think you will need to arrive later than the start of in-person instruction, you will need to first contact your academic department to see what options are possible for you. After you’ve consulted with your academic advisors, contact Berkeley International office internationaloffice@berkeley.edu . BIO will work with students who face arrival difficulties for Fall 2022 or Spring 2023, including late arrivals, readmission and return after deferral/withdrawal, and how to receive updated I-20/DS-2019 documents if needed.

Admissions Deferrals
If you have been approved for a deferral of your admission to a future semester, please notify Berkeley International Office. Upon notification by Admissions of your official deferral, we will work with you to adjust your I-20 or DS-2019 start date to the future term.

• Newly admitted undergraduateswill need to contact the Office of Admissions to determine if you have an option to defer to a future semester.

• Graduate studentsshould also communicate with their academic department regarding any option to defer.

Withdrawal
Please note that students who are not enrolled in the current semester are not eligible to enter or remain in the U.S. during their semester of withdrawal. You must contact Berkeley International Office regarding your cancellation/withdrawal for approval prior to withdrawal or cancellation. Please review the Registrar’s Cancellation/Withdrawal information regarding cancellation/withdrawal processes, impacts to your UC Berkeley admission, tuition/fees, and deadlines. If you intend to attend UC Berkeley in the future, BIO recommends consulting with your College adviser (undergrads) or your department (graduate) before taking any steps to cancel or withdraw. Continuing students who withdraw after the start of classes should also be sure to review BIO’s Returning Student information for steps to return again in F-1 or J-1 status.

The primary instructional mode at UC Berkeley is in-person instruction, with limited remote classes. All students should plan to be present on-campus. BIO does not recommend building a plan in advance for fully remote instruction. However, if you face difficulties entering the U.S. for your current semester of enrollment you should be in contact with your academic department regarding your academic options. After you’ve determined an appropriate academic plan, please contact Berkeley International Office so that we can advise you regarding any adjustments that may be required to your I-20 or DS-2019.  

Additionally, students who come from a U.S. sanctioned country (Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Ukraine - Crimea Region, Sudan, Syria) are not permitted to enroll remotely from abroad.

We are currently accepting student requests by email by email to internationaloffice@berkeley.edu. The standard processing time for student requests is 5 business days (excluding weekends and holidays). Barring any technical issues, documents will be ready by 1 p.m. on the fifth business day.

Our processing time begins on the date that we receive a fully completed request. Incomplete requests are not considered fully submitted until all required documents are received. Processing for requests received after 4 p.m. or on a weekend/holiday are counted as starting the next business day.

Yes! BIO is able to offer email distribution for all F-1 I-20s. If you receive an electronic I-20, you must print out the I-20 and sign it by hand for it to be valid. 

Documents are also available by regular and Express mail, and pick-up at the BIO office during normal business hours. Make sure to select your preferred delivery option when submit your request form.

J-1s: The U.S. Department of State DOES NOT allow electronic signatures or distribution of J-1 DS-2019s.

Please note that you do not need an updated travel endorsement on your I-20/DS-2019 to leave the country. You will only need it to re-enter the U.S or apply for a new visa if your current F-1/J-1 visa stamp has expired. See here for how to receive an updated travel endorsement.

Please submit a Program Extension Request to extend your I-20 or DS-2019. 

If you have already applied for F-1 OPT employment or J-1 Academic Training OR if you are eligible to apply now, please contact a BIO adviser regarding your situation, so that we can determine your next steps.

If you are OUTSIDE of the U.S. (or you are departing the U.S. before the end of your grace period) and 1) you WILL NOT return to the U.S. and 2) you do NOT intend to apply for post-completion F-1 OPT employment or J-1 Academic Training: You can choose to allow your I-20 or DS-2019 to expire, but you will need to work with your academic department and advisers to be sure you can complete your requirements from abroad.

If your program is ending soon and you are unable to depart the United States, please notify Berkeley International Office to let us know about your situation. Please make every effort to exit the US before the end of your F/J student grace period- this may mean you have to select a flight that is inconvenient or expensive. US immigration rules have not made any exceptions for departure periods and the rules remain the same. We urge you to also contact your home country’s local consulate or embassy in the U.S. for support and information regarding travel home. We will work with you to determine the best path forward.  Some options include:

• Exit the US to a 3rd country (example: Canada, Mexico, etc), and then make your departure plans from that country

• Consider applying for post-completion employment: F-1 OPT employment or J-1 Academic Training.

• Consider continuing your academic degree program if further enrollment is appropriate for you in your degree program. If you think it would be better for you to continue your degree program at this time, please contact a BIO adviser regarding your situation, so that we can determine your next steps. 

• Transfer to another US school to continue your studies & F/J status.

• Consider applying for a change of status through USCIS to that of a tourist (B1/B2) visa. The USCIS website contains instructions, checklists, and filing tips. If you need further guidance then you may consider hiring an attorney.

• If you have no other option, then document your attempts to exit the US on time- including keeping records of your attempts to contact your embassy, cancelled flights, etc. But be aware that if you fail to leave on time, this late departure will be in your US immigration record and could cause you future issues when returning to the US. 

The current DHS guidanceallows active students to be outside of the U.S. for more than 5 months, and indicates that the visa stamp in your passport will remain valid as well. Additionally, F-1 active students outside of the U.S. will continue to accrue time towards their CPT or OPT requirements. Be sure to properly maintain your student visa status while abroad and have all required travel documents for re-entry (including a valid, unexpired visa) when you return.

Please see our Financial Aid webpage with more information about financial resources available to international students. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please feel free to use our Virtual Advising to speak with an adviser about your situation.  You may also find helpful resources listed on the Basic Needs Center's website. 

Changing your grading option will not impact your F or J student status.   

F-1 and J-1 students are expected to remain enrolled in full-time units, or to apply and be approved for an authorized Reduced Course Load for Academic or Medical Reasons. Reductions in course load must be approved by your College and by the Berkeley International Office in advance of making any schedule changes.

If you are on a student visa status and you withdraw or cancel your enrollment, this will have a direct impact on your F-1 or J-1 student visa status. Please contact a BIO adviser before you take any steps to officially withdraw or cancel future semesters. If you withdraw without communicating with BIO, this may result in a negative termination of your student visa record.

BIO considers Filing Fee to be a normal registration status, and this is not impacted by the current guidance. Students on In Absentia are expected to remain enrolled in full-time units, or to apply and be approved for an authorized Reduced Course Load for Academic or Medical Reasons. Students applying for Filing Fee or In Absentia should consult with a BIO advisor in advance.

Your travel outside of the U.S. will not impact your eligibility for F-1 or J-1 on-campus employment for visa purposes, and you should continue to follow all F-1/J-1 rules regarding on-campus employment. However, F and J students should check with their employing department and HR regarding remote work policies and procedures, as the university has restrictions on remote employment from abroad.

If you are on a student visa status and you withdraw or cancel your enrollment, this will have a direct impact on your F-1 or J-1 student visa status. Please contact a BIO adviser before you take any steps to officially withdraw or cancel future semesters. If you withdraw without communicating with BIO, this may result in a negative termination of your student visa record.

You can find detailed information regarding returning to studies in the U.S. on BIO’s Returning Students page. You will need to apply for readmission to your College (undergraduates) or your department (graduates). 

After readmission, all F-1/J-1 students must submit the Nonimmigrant Information Form (NIF). The NIF will allow you to submit a request for your F-1 or J-1 documents for return. You will need to determine if you will require a New SEVIS Record (F-1 or J-1 students) or SEVIS Reactivation (F-1 only).

F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is used for internships during the degree program, and F-1 Optional Practical Training can be used for post-completion employment. J-1 Academic Training is used for internships during the degree and post-completion employment.

If you are unable to enter the U.S. to begin your degree program in Fall 2021 or later, it could have an impact on your F-1 CPT or OPT employment eligibility, or impact the duration of J-1 Academic Training available. Please be advised that this information is based on current Department of Homeland Security guidance and current F-1/J-1 regulations, and is subject to change.

F-1 CPT or OPT Eligibility

To be eligible for F-1 CPT or OPT authorization, students must have been enrolled continuously for 1 academic year in Active F-1 status. (The only exception is that CPT is available to graduate students for whom internship is a degree requirement for all students in the program prior to completion of 1 academic year. No exception exists for OPT.) Current guidance has clarified that an F-1 student accrues eligibility for Practical Training only if they are in “Active” status in SEVIS. Prior to entry in the U.S., the I-20 and SEVIS record are in “Initial” status. The SEVIS record cannot be made “Active” “until after entry to the U.S. for the first time in F-1 status.

OPT Example: You are in a 1 year program from August 25, 2021–May 13, 2022 (1 academic year = 2 semesters: Fall 2021 + Spring 2022). If you are unable to enter the U.S. to begin your program for Fall 2021, BIO will be required to change your I-20 start date to January 2022, the start of Spring 2022, even if you enroll remotely from abroad. But, if you enter the U.S. in January 2022, your F-1 record will be Active for only 1 semester and you will NOT qualify for OPT.

CPT Example: You are in a 2 year program from August 26, 2020-May 13, 2022 (1 academic year = 2 semesters: Fall 2020 + Spring 2021). If you were unable to enter the U.S. to begin your program for Fall 2020, BIO was required to change your I-20 start date to January 2021 while you were enrolled  remotely. But, if you entered the U.S. in January 2021, your F-1 record was only be Active starting with the Spring 2021 semester and you will not qualify for CPT in Summer 2021. You would qualify for CPT starting only after the end of Fall 2021.

J-1 Academic Training

AT is available after completion of 1 semester in the U.S., unless the student has a degree requirement for internship for all students in the degree program. The amount of AT granted is either 18 months OR the length of the J-1 program in the U.S., whichever is less.

AT example 2 year program: You are in a 1 year program from August 25, 2021–May 13, 2022 (1 academic year = 2 semesters: Fall 2021 + Spring 2022). If you are unable to enter the U.S. to begin your program for Fall 2021, BIO will be required to change your DS-2019 start date to January 2022, the start of Spring 2022, even if you enroll remotely from abroad. But, if you enter the U.S. in January 2022, your J-1 record will be Active for only 1 semester and you would only have 4 available months of J-1 Academic Training.

AT example 2 year program:You are in a 2 year program from August 26, 2020-May 13, 2022 (1 academic year = 2 semesters: Fall 2020 + Spring 2021). If you were unable to enter the U.S. to begin your program for Fall 2020, BIO was required to change your DS-2019 start date to yoru semester of entry. If you entered the U.S. in January 2021 for Spring 2021, you can qualify for 13 months of total Academic Training.

Current DHS guidance allows remote work from abroad, so long as your employer is a U.S.-based entity. If you are currently outside of the United States and are unable to return, please notify Berkeley International Office to let us know about your situation. We will work with our F-1 OPT students on a case-by-case basis to determine the best path forward. Be sure to review OPT information on the BIO website, including the OPT tutorial, application instructions, employment/address reporting, and required travel documents.

Be aware that you may not exceed 90 days of unemployment during OPT. If you are currently approved for OPT, you may need to determine if you can work remotely for your employer. If you do not have an employer, it’s possible that you might exceed the 90 days of unemployment if you are unable to begin employment. Current guidance DOES allow less-than-full-time employment (meaning less than 20 hours per week) if the change is due to the COVID-19 emergency.

If you are currently outside of the U.S. and have not yet applied for OPT, you must re-enter prior to your program completion date in order to qualify to apply for OPT. You cannot submit your OPT application to USCIS while you are abroad. Please contact BIO as soon as possible for advising, which might include planning to extend your program of study.

Please be advised that this information is based on current Department of Homeland Security guidance and current F-1/J-1 regulations, and is subject to change. There have been no changes to the application process for OPT or to OPT itself. We have not received any guidance regarding the possibility of extending the period of time when someone is not engaged in employment while under OPT or OPT STEM Extensions. Current guidance DOES allow less-than-full-time employment (meaning less than 20 hours per week) if the change is due to the COVID-19 emergency.

Please continue to check the USCIS website for updates or visit the USCIS COVID-19 response page regarding any changes to USCIS processing of requests. See the BIO OPT webpage and tutorial for information regarding unemployment, what can be considered “employment” during the OPT period — including unpaid internships or volunteer work.

If you are still finishing your degree and have concerns about your post-completion employment, you could also consider continuing your academic degree program, if further enrollment is appropriate for you in your degree program at this time. If you think it would be better for you to continue your degree program at this time, rather than continue with your OPT application, please contact a BIO adviser regarding your situation, so that we can determine your next steps.

Remote work is OK, but you need to be working for a U.S. based employer! DHS has indicated that you DO NOT need to update the employer address information in SEVIS nor on the Form I-983 for students working remotely. Students on OPT should be sure that the work continues to meet OPT requirements or STEM requirements for eligible employment. Make sure to continue to report any OPT/STEM  changes in living address, employment, or unemployment via the SSU Hub

The current DHS guidance does not directly address OPT/STEM students and the 5-month rule. But the guidance that exists states “ If an Active F student is outside the United States, their SEVIS record can remain in Active status and not be terminated”, and indicates that the visa stamp in your passport will remain valid as well. The guidance does explicitly state that F-1 active students outside of the U.S. will continue to accrue time towards their CPT or OPT requirements and that they are permitted to work remotely.

Furlough, leave of absence, laid-off and termination have different meanings. You should confirm in writing with your employer exactly what your employment status is. 

A furlough or paid or unpaid approved leave of absence may still be considered employment for OPT/STEM OPT purposes. F-1 regulations allow for “time off taken consistent with leave-related policies applicable to the employer's similarly situated U.S. workers in the area of employment.” If this is your situation, request documentation form your employer (usually your supervisor or HR) confirming that your period of furlough or official leave of absence.

A termination or lay-off would be an ending of the employment, and would result in the beginning of days of OPT or STEM OPT unemployment. You’ll need to report your employer end date via the SSU Hub

BIO is unable to answer questions about eligibility for unemployment benefits. There is information here about state unemployment programs. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that unemployment benefits are not considered “public benefits” that would violate the public charge rule. However, it is unclear whether use of unemployment benefits could make a student likely to seen as someone who could become a public charge in the future. Being seen as a potential public charge could negatively impact applications for future visas or immigration benefits.

Please contact BIO as soon as possible so that we can advise you on your available options.

Current guidance suggests that students on Academic Training may have a hybrid work schedule, but should aim to work only 1-2 remote days per week through June 30, 2023.