The Office
of International Services understands that many members of the international
community may be feeling uncertainty and stress as a result of the
coronavirus/COVD-19 outbreak and the ever-changing news and recommendations
surrounding it. We are a global community with loved ones around the world and
international travel is part of our lives. Know that OIS is always here to
support you and help you navigate the resources you may need. Please call (312)
996-3121 or email (ois@uic.edu) us with any
concerns you may have. We are here to listen, help and connect.
The
remainder of this message is to share our international travel recommendations
for the UIC international community. Please continue to check today.uic.edu/coronavirus
which will be updated regularly to keep the UIC community notified with the
most relevant information regarding COVID-19. Our OIS recommendations are made
within the context of guidance from the University
and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, we have taken
into account the possibility for additional international travel restrictions
enacted by the U.S. and other governments along with disrupted visa services at
U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad. The immigration environment surrounding
this outbreak is changing quickly and it is not possible to predict exactly
when travel or visa restrictions will occur.
In light of
guidance and the volatile immigration environment, the Office of International Services is strongly discouraging all
international students, scholars and employees from traveling outside the U.S. in
the near future, including during
the upcoming spring break period.
If you are considering international
travel, review your immigration documents immediately. If your visa has
expired, you will need to renew it while abroad. Consult the webpage of the U.S.
Embassy or Consulate nearest your destination and confirm that visa
services remain open and note processing times. Review the OIS website for additional
information about documents and travel.
Individuals who choose to travel outside
the U.S. should closely monitor their symptoms upon returning to campus and
contact UIC healthcare providers immediately if they experience fever, cough or
shortness of breath. Students should contact Student Health at University
Village (312) 996-2901 and employees should contact University Health Service
at (312) 996-7420 during business hours or the University of Illinois Hospital at
(866) 600-2273 after hours. Additionally, monitor the CDC
Information for Travel page regularly and self-quarantine if your
travel location is added to list of CDC Travel Alert Level 3 countries during
your trip or within 14 days of your return to campus.
Individuals who choose to travel to a
country with a CDC Travel
Alert Level 3 (currently China, Iran, South Korea and Italy)
should self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return, regardless of symptoms.
Self-quarantine means staying home and avoiding contact with others even if you
do not have a fever, cough or shortness of breath. If symptoms do present
during the period of self-quarantine, contact UIC healthcare providers as
listed above.
UIC students who must self-quarantine
due to experiencing symptoms or as a result of travel to a CDC Travel Alert 3
country should notify their instructors via email or phone. UIC faculty and
staff should notify their supervisors. Members of the UIC international
community must also contact the Office of International Services via email
(ois@uic.edu) or phone (312) 996-3121 for additional support and guidance with
regards to maintaining immigration status.
Lastly, OIS cannot guarantee our ability to
intervene on the behalf of international students, faculty or staff who choose
to travel to a CDC Travel Alert 3 country and are unable to return to
campus due to travel restrictions or visa delays. Currently, travel to the U.S.
is only restricted from China and Iran but this list could likely change as the
outbreak progresses.
We
understand that the decision to travel is personal and circumstances are
different for each case. If you absolutely must travel outside the U.S. with an
intention to return to campus, please review the
Office of the Provost’s recent message carefully and contact OIS
with any questions or doubts.
Questions?
Feel free to contact
the Office of International Services.