Dear Student,
On Tuesday, July 15, the Department of State reduced the visa validity periods for non-immigrant visas to three-month, single-entry visas for applicants from the following countries:
- Afghanistan;
- Angola;
- Antigua and Barbuda;
- Benin;
- Bhutan;
- Burkina Faso;
- Burma/Myanmar;
- Burundi;
- Cabo Verde;
- Cambodia;
- Cameroon;
- Chad;
- Cote D’Ivoire;
- Republic of Congo;
- Democratic Republic of Congo;
- Cuba;
- Djibouti;
- Dominica;
- Egypt;
- Eritrea;
- Ethiopia;
- Equatorial Guinea;
- Gabon;
- Gambia;
- Ghana;
- Haiti;
- Iran;
- Ivory Coast;
- Kyrgyzstan;
- Laos;
- Liberia;
- Libya;
- Madagascar;
- Malawi;
- Mauritania;
- Micronesia;
- Niger;
- Nigeria;
- Palau;
- Saint Kitts and Nevis;
- Saint Lucia;
- Sao Tome and Principe;
- Senegal;
- Sierra Leone;
- Somalia;
- South Sudan;
- Sudan;
- Syria;
- Tanzania;
- Timor-Leste;
- Togo;
- Tonga;
- Tuvalu;
- Uganda;
- Vanuatu;
- Venezuela;
- Yemen;
- Zambia;
- Zimbabwe.
The International Services Office (ISO) advises students to carefully consider this new policy. Upon arrival in Rochester, you may wish to remain in the U.S. until completion of your degree, because leaving the U.S. may jeopardize your ability to return and resume your studies. The “single entry” portion of the policy means that if you leave the U.S. during your studies, you will be required to apply for a new student visa at a U.S. Consulate to re-enter. (For information regarding travel to Canada, please view the regulations on Automatic Revalidation prior to your departure.) Please note, if your country is subject to a travel ban, your visa application will likely be denied.
As of this writing, it is legal to be in the country with an expired visa. Be advised, if you choose to remain in the country for the duration of your degree program, you will need to ensure you have funding, in addition to tuition, to cover the costs of housing, food, and related expenses.
If you do not currently have your visa and are unsure of your ability to begin the semester in Rochester on time, please contact your academic department for guidance.
If you have immediate financial concerns or are unable to enter the country, work with your academic program.
The University and the International Services Office (ISO) will continue to closely monitor developments regarding travel restrictions and will provide you with timely updates. Additionally, we will keep The Federal Policy Changes on our website updated as information becomes available.
Kindest regards,
Ravi Shankar
Interim Vice Provost for Global Engagement
Wendy Fritz
Interim Assistant Vice Provost for International Services & Support