Message to International Students and Scholars from Iran Regarding COVID-19 (March 2, 2020)

Dear Students and Scholars from Iran:

I am writing on behalf of the International Center in relation to developments concerning the COVID-19 coronavirus and its rapid expansion in different countries, including Iran.

I would like to begin by emphasizing our support and concern for our Iranian international students and scholars, as well as our thoughts for your friends and family members. The current COVID-19 situation is of course deeply unsettling, as different countries attempt to combat a virus that has spread in uncertain and unpredictable ways. We also recognize that COVID-19 has only exacerbated added to what has been a series of recent immigration and related challenges that students and scholars from Iran have faced, especially over the past six months. In this light, we welcome the opportunity to assist you. Please do not hesitate to seek our support if we can be of help, whether regarding worries about the impact of COVID-19 or any other issue affecting your status as at Tufts.

As a part of this update, I also wanted to advise you of a February 29 US Presidential proclamation in which President Trump expanded temporary travel restrictions in relation to COVID-19 that were previously limited to students and visitors from China. Specifically, the proclamation suspends the entry of most nonimmigrants and certain immigrants who were physically present in Iran within 14 days of the date of attempted entry into the US. As indicated in Section 2 of the proclamation, certain exceptions will apply to persons who are US permanent residents, family members of US citizens and US permanent residents, and specific categories of non-immigrant visa holders. The proclamation went into effect on 5pm EST, Monday March 2, 2020 and will remain in force until further notice.

Note that this temporary travel suspension is different from the ‘travel ban’ put into place in 2017 that restricted the US entry of Iranian nationals except for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and M-1 vocational students. Because the current COVID-19 travel suspension applies to persons who plan to be physically present in Iran, it is important to consider the potential impact this suspension may have on any of your spring or summer travel plans if these plans include return travel home.

As always, the International Center is working to monitor current developments and we are available to advise you with any questions you may have relating to this suspension or other matters. Please don’t hesitate to let us know how we can assist.

Sincerely,

Andrew K. Shiotani
Director, Tufts International Center