Travel and Entry for Spring 2021
Students who are currently in the U.S. should think carefully about their plans for winter break and the risks involved in traveling abroad. Among the factors to consider are the following:
- There are still travel bans preventing people from entering the U.S. if they have been present in any of several countries prior to their entry. We do not know if or when these bans will be lifted.
- Visa services are delayed or backlogged at many U.S. embassies worldwide. If you would need to apply for a new visa and do not already have an appointment scheduled, it may not be wise to travel. Keep in mind that you can stay in the U.S. legally after your visa expires as long as you are maintaining legal status.
- We do not yet have guidance from the government regarding online study for Spring, so it is not clear if students will be able to maintain legal status while enrolled fully online from outside the U.S.
- Consider the requirements that are in place in your home country. These may involve testing for COVID prior to traveling, quarantining after travel, and possible restrictions on traveling out of your home country.
If you plan to travel abroad, we recommend that you have travel insurance and flexibility in case you need to change or cancel your travel plans. Be sure to request a travel signature for your I-20 via InterLink. I-20s are being processed electronically and sent to students via email. We will include remarks on the I-20 indicating that Miami plans to offer in-person, hybrid, and online coursework for Spring 2021.
