Travel Alerts

Students with valid F-1 and M-1 visas, and their F-2 and M-2 dependents traveling from or otherwise physically present in the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, or Ireland during the preceding 14 days may travel to the United States while these Proclamations are in effect.

F and M visa holders subject to these Proclamations have been granted a national interest exception to travel and can be boarded without contacting CBP as long as all admissibility and document requirements are met. For details refer to the CBP Bulletin below.

On March 11, 2020, President Trump signed a proclamation restricting entry to the United States entry for those who were physically present within the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States, effective March 13, 2020. The proclamation will remain in effect until terminated by the president. 

The European Schengen area includes Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

1. a lawful permanent resident of the United States
2. a spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
3. a parent or legal guardian of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21;
4. a sibling of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21;
5. a child, foster child, or ward of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or who is a prospective adoptee seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications;
6. an alien traveling at the invitation of the United States Government for a purpose related to containment or mitigation of the virus;
7. C (transit) or D (air or sea crewmember) nonimmigrants
8. seeking entry into or transiting the United States pursuant to an A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (as a foreign government official or immediate family member of an official), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 visa;
9. an alien whose entry would not pose a significant risk of introducing, transmitting, or spreading the virus, as determined by the CDC Director, or his designee;
10. an alien whose entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees based on a recommendation of the Attorney General or his designee; or an alien whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees.*see below
11. a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and spouses and children of members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

• A May 22, 2020 DHS order established a "national interest exemption" under Proclamations 9984 (China), 9992 (Iran), 9993 (Schengen Area), and 9996 (UK and Ireland), for "certain foreign professional athletes who compete in professional sporting events organized by certain leagues, including their essential staff and their dependents." The order will not benefit individuals covered by the Brazil COVID-19 Proclamation 10041. See NAFSA's page on the order.
• A DOS news item last updated October 1, 2020 confirms, "Students traveling from the Schengen Area, the UK, and Ireland with valid F-1 and M-1 visas do not need to contact an embassy or consulate to seek an individual national interest exception to travel. Students seeking to apply for new F-1 or M-1 visas should check the status of visa services at the nearest embassy or consulate; those applicants who are found to be otherwise qualified for an F-1 or M-1 visa will automatically be considered for a national interest exception to travel...Business travelers, investors, academics, J-1 students, journalists, and treaty traders who have a valid visa or ESTA authorization that was issued prior to PP 9993 or 9996’s effective date or who are seeking to apply for a visa, and believe they may qualify for a national interest exception should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate before traveling. If a national interest exception is approved, they may travel on either a valid visa or ESTA authorization, as appropriate." Travelers who would otherwise be subject to the Schengen, UK, and Ireland proclamations should contact the U.S. embassy in the country from which they will be traveling to the United States to verify if an exception applies to them.
• A July 24, 2020 Information Sheet from CBP's Carrier Liaison Program contains a good summary of the national interest exception for F-1 and M-1 students and their F-2 and M-2 dependents who are traveling to the United States from the Schengen area, UK, or Ireland. (08/06/2020)

For aliens not excluded by the ban, the proclamations direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish standards and procedures at and between all United States ports of entry to regulate the travel of persons and aircraft to the United States to facilitate the orderly medical screening and, where appropriate, quarantine of persons who enter the United States and who may have been exposed to the virus. "Such steps may include directing air carriers to restrict and regulate the boarding of such passengers on flights to the United States."

On Friday, May 29, 2020, President Trump signed a proclamation restricting entry to the United States on F or J visas for some students and researchers from China, effective June 1, 2020. The proclamation will remain in effect until terminated by the president.

The proclamation states that students or researchers from China who have connections to organizations in China that, in the judgment of the U.S. Department of State, implement or support that country’s “military-civil fusion strategy”, will not be issued F-1 or J-1 visas and will not be allowed to enter the U.S. in F or J status. “Military-civil fusion strategy” is defined as actions by or at the behest of China to acquire and divert foreign technologies, specifically critical and emerging technologies, to incorporate into and advance China’s military capabilities.

• New and continuing undergraduate students, including transfer students
• Anyone studying or conducting research in a field involving information that would not contribute to China’s "military-civil fusion strategy". These fields are not identified in the proclamation.
• F-1 and J-1 students and researchers who are currently in the U.S. It is not yet known if the State Department will cancel or revoke visas of individuals who are currently in the U.S. so that they cannot re-enter.
• The proclamation also lists some additional exceptions, including permanent residents, spouses of US citizens or permanent residents, or anyone whose entry would be in the US national interest.

The potential impact of this proclamation on UB ‘s international population will not be clear until additional information from the Departments of State and Homeland Security is available, and until routine visa issuance, which is currently suspended due to the COVID-19 crisis, resumes. It is important to note that COVID based travel restrictions that disallow the entry of foreign nationals who have been physically present in China during the previous 14 days are also still in effect and may have an impact on students not otherwise banned by this new proclamation.

Note that the proclamation only applies to visa issuance and entry into the U.S. and not to other immigration benefits. International Student Services will continue to process requests for non-immigrant benefits such as OPT or CPT for all students as usual and the University will continue to issue initial I-20s for newly admitted incoming students.

The University at Buffalo is actively monitoring the situation. ISS will post additional information as soon as more specific details from official sources are available.