UPDATES SPECIFIC TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
We know that you have addition considerations beyond the campus updates listed above. Below is a list of the most important updates that we need to ensure you receive:

MAINTAINING YOUR F-1 VISA STATUS: Today we received guidance from SEVP regarding the maintenance of your visa status in the Fall 2020 semester. Because UW-Stout will be holding classes as face-to-face/hybrid in the fall semester, students must be physically present on campus in order to maintain their status. 

Students will not be allowed to maintain their F-1 visa status by taking online courses from their home country. 

VISA RENEWALS: Additionally, U.S. embassies and consulates across the world are still operating under a suspension of routine visa services. Unfortunately, we have not received any guidance as to when we can expect a resumption of visa services to embassies and consulates. However, we believe that reopenings could depend on the situation in the office's country. If you are outside of the U.S. and need to renew your visa before returning to the U.S. you can view the current Embassy/Consulate wait time information here. Please contact the relevant office for more information about processes and appointments.

QUARANTINE: Any student returning to Menomonie via international or domestic air travel must self-quarantine for 14-days in a designated self-quarantine location, after this time they will be allowed to move to their permanent housing assignment. 

If you will be arriving by air, you should prepare to arrive a minimum 14-days prior to the start of the fall semester which begins September 9, 2020. In order to fulfull this requirement, we are advising that new students arrive on August 23-24, 2020.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS: About 30% of Stout international students are outside of the U.S. right now. We know that in addition to concerns about visas, quarantines and course delivery, we also have the added complication of disruption the international flights. Even if your flight was already booked, you might find that there are last-minute changes or cancellations. For example, currently international flights can only arrive directly into 15 U.S. airports (MSP is not one of them). If this continues, you can expect that you will have a layover at another airport which can connect you to MSP.

Please be advised that Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) provides a current list of Travelers Prohibited from Entry to the U.S.. With specific expectations, foreig nationals who have been in these countries within the past 14 days may not enter the United States. This list currently includes: China, Iran, UK, Ireland, Brazil and the Schengen area but could change as time goes on. 

OIE'S COVID PAGE: The OIE has a page for COVID updates, which you can access here:https://www.uwstout.edu/academics/international-education/covid-19-office-international-education-updates

COVID DUNN COUNTY: So far, Dunn County, Menomonie and Stout have remained a relative safe haven from COVID. If you would like to see what the situation is here, you can view it here.

Please continue to check your email regularly for updates from Stout regarding plans for the fall semester. There is a large team of people and offices working hard to develop these plans and to get information out to you as soon as information is confirmed.

I hope to see you at the COVID Call-In on Wednesday, July 8!