Travel Alerts
Know how changes in the immigration environment may affect you if you’re traveling.
Travel Alerts and Warnings
Travel during the ongoing COVID pandemic can be risky. Travel restrictions/bans, quarantines, and COVID vaccine requirements are possible. The U.S. Embassies and Consulates in some countries have also not yet resumed routine visa processing. If you choose to travel internationally, be prepared and plan ahead for possible delays and disruptions. Regularly review our travel alerts information, as well as the other travel resources mentioned below.
If you decide to travel, be sure that you have the required documents for travel outside the U.S. and check page 2 of your I-20 for a valid travel endorsement signature (the signature is valid for one year for enrolled students).
Non-immigrant air travelers to the United States must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the U.S., with only limited exceptions. Review the CDC Air Travel to the US Requirements for additional details.
Please consider carefully your desire to travel internationally.
Testing and Quarantine Requirements
Before Traveling
Effective November 8, 2021 all travelers to the U.S. will be required to be fully vaccinated with an approved U.S. FDA or WHO vaccine unless eligible for one of the few exceptions. The previous regional COVID-19 travel restrictions were revoked after President Biden issued a new Presidential Proclamation; this proclamation also discontinued use of the National Interest Exception (NIE) waiver.
The CDC order requiring vaccination also requires all travelers aged 2 years or older to travel with proof of a negative COVID-19 viral test result regardless of vaccination status.
Additional information on testing requirements and determining if you are fully vaccinated according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines is available on the CDC Testing for International Travelers webpage.
After Arriving in the US
Quarantine requirements can change as the COVID-19 situation evolves. You can read about current testing recommendations on the After International Travel CDC webpage.
Latest updates on UB specific information is available on the UB Coronavirus page.
Travel to Canada & Mexico
Effective November 8 2021: Fully vaccinated travelers from Canada and Mexico will be permitted to enter the U.S. at land borders and ferry crossings. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reminds these travelers to be prepared to:
- Provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website; and
- Verbally attest to their reason for travel and COVID-19 vaccination status during a border inspection.
>Canadian Government COVID Travel Restrictions
>U.S. Department of State COVID Travel Restrictions (Air travel & travel by land)
COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions
Detailed information on the travel restrictions related to COVID-19 can be found on NAFSA's Coronavirus Critical Resource page.
Before planning any travel, please review the U.S. State Department Travel Advisories and the ISS COVID-19 FAQs page. Be sure to also read the CDC Domestic Travel warnings.
The University at Buffalo and International Student Services welcome and support all members of our international community. We will continue to advocate for policies that do not diminish the quality of our academic community, and will work to ensure that educational opportunities are available for all students regardless of nationality.