• August 12, 2020
  • Updated quarantine guidance. Read "Do I need to quarantine when I arrive in Bloomington?" below.
  • Updated guidance for students starting a new degree program. Read "I was an IU student in spring or summer 2020 and am beginning a new program at IU in fall 2020, what do I need to know?" below.
  • Moved travel-related questions to a Travel section.
  • Added an insurance and fees section.
• July 24, 2020
  • Added information based on the updated guidance from SEVP.
• July 14, 2020
  • Removed information related to the guidance from SEVP on July 6. The U.S. government has agreed to rescind its policy.
• July 10, 2020
  • Added a link to the news story that IU has joined an amicus brief in support of the Harvard/MIT lawsuit against the new regulations.
• July 8, 2020
  
  • Added new FAQs based on the questions we've received. Review the questions labeled with July 8 to see the new information.
• July 7, 2020
  • Updated guidance based on Student and Exchange Visitor Program's (SEVP) guidance for fall 2020.
• June 10, 2020
  • Provided information about expedited visa processing.
  • Updated guidance related about self-quaratining when arriving on campus from an international location. Read the FAQ "Do I need to quarantine if I arrive in Bloomington?" question.
• May 30, 2020
  • Major edits on the whole page related to the announcements from IU leadership regarding the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters.
  • Removed information related to spring 2020.
• May 20, 2020
  • Added a FAQ in Visa and immigration about things to know if you want to enter the U.S.
• May 11, 2020
  • Updated the FAQ in Visa and immigration about the ability to email I-20s
• April 24, 2020
  • Updated the FAQ in Visa and immigration about the signed executive order about the temporary pause of green card issuance
• April 22, 2020
  • Added a new FAQ in Visa and immigration about the pending executive order about the temporary pause of green card issuance
• April 9, 2020
  • Added a new resource for admitted students under the Summer and fall semester plans section
• April 7, 2020
  • Added an FAQ in Visa and immigration for Satisfactory/Fail grading option
  • Updated resources in the requesting emergency financial assistance FAQ
• April 6, 2020
  • Added an FAQ in Visa and immigration for assistance in finding flights homes
  • Added an FAQ in Visa and immigration for requesting emergency financial assistance
  • Added additional details in the information for admitted students
• April 3, 2020
  • Added an FAQ in Visa and immigration about electronic I-20s

No, if you were enrolled in IU classes in spring 2020, you can take classes online from outside the U.S. On March 13, the U.S. government announced that as long as you maintain full-time enrollment online during the COVID-19 emergency, there will be no negative impact on your immigration status, even if you depart the United States and take your IU classes online from elsewhere.

This temporary provision is in effect for at least the fall 2020 semester.

The 5-month rule does not apply in this situation. As long as you maintain full time enrollment with your IU classes for fall 2020, you are considered in valid status.

Look to be sure that your visa stamp is truly expired. This is the sticker in your passport, given to you by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. It is only possible to get a new visa stamp at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside of the U.S. If you are outside of the U.S., and your visa stamp is expired, you will need to apply for a new visa stamp at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

You do not need to leave the U.S. if your visa stamp is expired. The visa stamp in your passport only needs to be valid to seek re-entry to the U.S. If you are in the U.S. and remain in the U.S. with an expired visa stamp, you do not need to take any action to get a new visa. You may do so on a future trip outside of the U.S.

You may have heard that you can file Form I-539 to extend your stay in the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 student, but that is generally not true for F-1 and J-1 students at Indiana University. It is always best to contact our office with any questions related to your immigration status instead of relying on information you’ve heard from others.

Generally speaking, your F-1 or J-1 student status is valid (as long as you follow applicable rules for F-1 students and J-1 students) until you complete your program end date (plus the additional time for your grace period, which is 60 days for F-1 students and 30 days for J-1 students). If you wish to extend your stay in the U.S. beyond the end of your grace period, you only have a few options (learn more for F-1 students and J-1 students).

At this time, the U.S. government has not provided any additional grace period benefits because of COVID-19. If you are unable to leave the U.S. or extend your stay through employment authorization or further academic study by the end of your grace period, you need to speak to an experienced immigration attorney to discuss your options. An attorney may be able to identify a non-student immigration status that you can apply for. You can find an immigration lawyer through the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Our office cannot assist you with an application to change to a non-student status.

Yes, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has stated that it is possible for schools to email the scanned I-20s to students.

We have introduced this as an option for any I-20s we created since our office closed to in-person traffic (on March 13) or for any I-20 we create over the next couple of months. It is likely this will be a short-term option from SEVP. We will continuously evaluate any guidance we receive from SEVP, and adjust our processes accordingly.

Students eligible for this option will receive a link from our office so they can request their electronic I-20. The significantly increased number of document requests received by OIS during this time is impacting processing times. Please be advised that processing of your request may be delayed due to this, but we are working diligently to respond as quickly as possible.

Note: Because the use of electronic I-20 forms are new processes for both the Department of State and Customs and Border Patrol, you may consider requesting the physical I-20 be shipped to you for use at consular appointments or entry into the United States. If you would like both an electronic and physical copy of your I-20, both can be provided. Shipping costs for the physical I-20 form apply.

Additionally, this is not a possibility for students who receive J-1 documentation, as the Department of State's Exchange Visitor Program, which governs the J-1 program, has stated that an electronic Form DS-2019 is not permissible.

Contact our office to discuss taking a semester off. There are multiple things to consider, and we can help you work through that process.

Immigration considerations

Review our leave of absence website for F-1 students and J-1 students.

If you choose to not enroll in classes this fall, we would need to end your current SEVIS record, which has some important results.

• You would have to leave the U.S. (if you are in the country).
• You would not be able to reenter the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 student until you have a new I-20 or DS-2019 and have paid the SEVIS fee (currently $350 USD for F-1 students and $220 USD for J-1 students) again.
• You would not be eligible for off-campus work authorization (CPT or OPT) until you have completed a full academic year in the U.S.
  • For example, if you returned in spring 2021, you would not be able to hold an off-campus internship until the spring 2022 semester.
• If you only need one semester to complete your program, you would not be eligible for CPT or OPT for that degree program.

If you choose to do so, complete the Student Exit form in Atlas before the first day of classes (August 24). Then, you need to contact us at least three months before the semester you plan to return to IU.

If you have an active I-20 or DS-2019 issued by IU, make sure you also complete the fall 2020 plans e-form.

If you have already been approved for a Reduced Course Load, you are considered to be a full-time student—even if you are enrolled in fewer courses than is typically considered full-time. The update to the academic calendar does not change your approval.

If you have concerns about your enrollment, please contact your academic advisor and the OIS.

If you are ill for several days and unable to participate in online class (students), contact us to discuss the immigration options you have. International students may have an option to withdraw for a medical reason, and we would be able to assist you with that process.

If you are on an IU-sponsored medical insurance plan, you will not have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses for the focused test used to diagnose COVID-19. Any treatment related to the illness would have the same coverage that is currently available for any emergency or non-emergency illness (subject to the normal deductible, copay, or out-of-pocket amounts associated with your medical plan). Review the Anthem plan details for specific information or contact the IU Student Health Insurance Coordinator if you have questions about your coverage.

If you are a continuing student and you are unable to return to Bloomington, IU will help you continue your degree online to the greatest extent possible—some exceptions may include courses with clinical, studio, or performance components.

In all cases, you should work with your academic unit for guidance on how to continue making progress toward your degree.

The U.S. government has indicated that as long as you enroll in a full course of study, your SEVIS record will remain in active status.

If you have an active I-20 or DS-2019 issued by IU, make sure you complete the fall 2020 plans e-form.

If you were actively enrolled as a full-time student at IU on March 9, 2020, are starting a new degree program at IU (including F-1 students with a Change of Level I-20) and otherwise complying with the terms of your status, you are not required to take an in-person course for fall 2020.

However, we encourage all Hoosiers to continue to build their campus and community networks in Bloomington, even if they may be enrolled in only online courses.

If you are a continuing student currently in the U.S., we recommend remaining in the U.S. now because of the difficulties you would experience trying to return.

If you leave, you need to take the following:

• Signed I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 students)
• Passport
• Print and keep a copy of your most recent I-94
• Save evidence of your departure from the U.S. (boarding passes, copies of stamps in your passport)

If you are a continuing student currently in the U.S., we recommend remaining in the U.S. now because of the difficulties you would experience trying to return.

However, if you leave, we suggest you contact your nearest embassy/consulate in the U.S. They may have information to help you find a way back home, even if you cannot find a commercial flight.

For current students, the U.S. government has indicated that you can enter the U.S. even if you are enrolled in only online classes.

For new students, you will need to enroll in at least one class that has an in-person component.

Review entry restrictions

The U.S. has entry restrictions if you are traveling from or have visited certain countries in the 14 days prior to your entry to the U.S.

Learn more

Documents to carry with you

We recommend you carry the following documents with you, and present them to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent.

• I-20 or DS-2019 (for F-1 or J-1 students), with a valid travel signature
• Valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp
• Passport valid for at least six months from your planned entry date

We recommend you carry the following with you in your carry-on luggage but only present them to the CBP agent if requested.

• A copy of your class schedule
• This signed letter that indicates IU is open
• If applicable, this PDF from U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Carrier Liaison Program clarifying that persons seeking F-1 and F-2 statuses may travel to the U.S. from Schengen area countries, the United Kingdom, or Ireland while the Presidential Proclamation is in effect.

Additional information for current students or scholars

You need to submit a Travel Signature Request form in Atlas if one of these are true for you:

• Your most recent travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 is going to be older than 12 months from the date you plan to reenter the U.S. in the same program of study
• You are an undergraduate student with a new major

If you obtain a pre-arrival COVID-19 test within 10 days before coming to Bloomington, and the test result is negative, you do not need to quarantine when you arrive.

If you do not obtain a pre-arrival COVID-19 test, you will need to quarantine until you receive your on-arrival COVID-19 test and the result is negative. For students living off campus, you need to schedule your on-arrival COVID-19 test and quarantine until your appointment. For students living on campus, your COVID-19 test is part of the centralized check-in process and will happen before you move in to your residence.

The cost of tuition is the same no matter where you live or what mode of instruction the classes are (online or in-person).

All students are required to pay the Combined Mandatory Fee based on the number of credit hours you are enrolled in. If you are taking fully online classes outside of Bloomington, you can apply for a discount.

Learn more

Note: the Combined Mandatory Fee does not include the international student fee, which you will still be charged even if you are fully online.

IU will help you continue your degree online to the greatest extent possible—some exceptions may include courses with clinical, studio, or performance components.

In all cases, you should work with your academic unit for guidance on how to continue making progress toward your degree.

IU provides a VPN to all students but you will likely have access to many campus resources (Canvas, One.IU, etc.) without a VPN. Zoom has some restrictions in China, but there is a workaround so you can access Zoom from China.

If you have questions or concerns, contact IU's University Information Technology Services (UITS).

The F-1 visa stamp in your passport is just a stamp that you show at the U.S. border to ask to enter the U.S. in F-1 status. It has no purpose again unless you choose to travel outside the U.S. and want to apply again to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status. It is not required to be valid to remain inside the U.S. in F-1 status; you do need a valid F-1 visa stamp to enter the U.S.

Please note some U.S. embassy and consulates around the world may be closed or offering limited services as the COVID-19 challenges are global and not limited to the U.S., and an F-1 visa stamp can only be obtained at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of the U.S.

Your F-1 status is what allows you to remain legally inside the U.S. and continue to remain in the U.S. even with an expired F-1 visa stamp. Your F-1 status is shown by your I-94 that indicates you’ve been granted F-1 status and you are admitted in F-1 status for “D/S”. “D/S” means duration of status. That means you can continue to remain inside the U.S. in F-1 status for as long as you have a valid I-20 and you are continuing to meet all of the F-1 status requirements.

Otherwise, your F-1 status stay in the U.S. only ends once you’ve completed your study for the degree listed on your I-20 or until your OPT authorization ends. As you are on OPT, your F-1 status would remain valid as long as you continue to meet the F-1 status OPT requirements including working full-time in your field of study and reporting that employment.

This is a record in the U.S. government’s SEVIS database. To maintain the SEVIS record, an F-1 student has to be maintaining all of the U.S. government’s F-1 status requirements, including the enrollment requirements.

Please note the F-1 status requirements are not the requirements of the OIS or of Indiana University. They are the requirements of the U.S. government directly to each F-1 student in the U.S. If the F-1 status requirements cannot be maintained, this is a SEVIS violation and the SEVIS record has to be ended.

If the SEVIS record is ended while an F-1 student is inside the U.S., this reflects that there is a problem with the student’s F-1 status in the U.S. If the SEVIS record is ended while the student is outside the U.S., a new SEVIS record has to be created before the student can return to the U.S. again in F-1 student status.

The document created by the university’s Designated School Officials in the U.S. government’s SEVIS database. A valid I-20 is required to: apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate for an F-1 visa stamp; enter the U.S.; and to maintain F-1 status while inside the U.S.

The I-20 is issued for a specific program of study for a specific length of time for study in that program. If a student is maintaining F-1 status requirements, the I-20 ends on the date the student completes the final academic requirements for the degree program listed on the I-20, even if that is earlier than the estimated program end date printed on the I-20. If a SEVIS record is ended, that also ends the validity of the I-20.