Travel and Visa

Travel and Visa Policy

Travel Ban for Southern Africa Revoked Effective December 31, 2021

December 29, 2021

On December 28, 2021 President Biden issued A Proclamation on Revoking Proclamation 10315 which revokes the southern Africa entry ban effective 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2021. Additional information can be found on the Dept of State webpage...

Negative COVID-19 Viral Test Condition at Air Ports of Entry Removed Effective June 12, 2022

June 13, 2022

As of 12:01AM ET on June 12, 2022, CDC will no longer require air passengers traveling from a foreign country to the United States to show a negative COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight. Information on this change can be found on the CDC’s COVID-19 Testing Recision webpage

Coming April 27, 2023! J-1 DS-2019 Digital Signatures & Electronic Distribution

March 28, 2023

The U.S. Department of State announced the publication of an Interim Final Rule that permits designated sponsors for the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) to digitally sign and electronically transmit the J-1 DS-2019 form, effective April 27, 2023. With this change, sponsors like UC Berkeley can either

print and physically sign paper forms in ink, scan and save them, and electronically transmit them (e.g., via email). OR, sponsors onors may may use digital signature software to sign Forms DS-2019 and then electronically transmit them.

After receiving the DS-2019s electronically, J-1...

Stricter Testing Requirement for Travelers from or through the PRC, Hong Kong & Macau

January 3, 2023

On December 28, 2022, stricter testing requirements for international travelers to the US were announced by the CDC as part of a comprehensive strategy to fight COVID-19. The following is an excerpt from the CDC announcement: Starting at 12:01 AM ET on January 5, all air passengers two years and older originating from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will be required to get a test (such as a...

Visa Fee Increases Effective May 30, 2023

March 28, 2023

A Department of State (DOS) final rule published at 88 FR 18243 (March 28, 2023) raises visa processing fees, effective May 30, 2023. (These are the visa processing fees for an entry visa application at an embassy or consulate abroad.) Changes impacting students and scholars or employees:

NIV MRV*, non-petition-based (except E)- changing from $160 to $185 NIV MRV* petition-based (H, L, O, P, Q, R)- changing from $190 to $205

* NIV MRV...

CDC Terminates COVID Test Requirement For PRC Travelers

March 10, 2023

On March 10, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rescinded the Order titled “Requirements for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19 for Aircraft Passengers Traveling to the United States from the People’s Republic of China.”

This rescission takes effect for flights departing to the United States from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Designated Airports* at or after 3:00pm ET (8:00pm GMT) on March 10, 2023...

Presidential Proclamation Affecting Chinese Nationals FAQ

collapse all expand all What does “military-civil fusion strategy” mean?

Under the proclamation, "the term “military-civil fusion strategy” means actions by or at the behest of the PRC to acquire and divert foreign technologies, specifically critical and emerging technologies, to incorporate into and advance the PRC’s military capabilities."

Who are entities in the PRC that...