Update for F-1 International Students from the International Center

March 25, 2020

Dear F-1 Students:

As the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester gets underway through online teaching and distance education, the staff of the Tufts International Center wanted to reach out to reaffirm our commitment to you during these truly unprecedented times. We know that the last two weeks, in particular, have been extremely stressful and unsettling. We are striving, as each of you are, to navigate our way through these difficult circumstances, and we continue to work with our University colleagues to review the steps we have taken and address the steps we still need to take to continue to support you in your education at Tufts. Above all, we hope that you and your family and friends are safe and well and are staying healthy as we collectively confront the COVID-19 crisis.

As you resume your Spring 2020 classes, we wanted to send you some announcements and reminders regarding the International Center and visa and immigration related matters. Moving forward, we will be sending a weekly e-mail update with any immigration-related news or other developments that may relate to your status as an international student. In addition, please continue to visit our web site at https://icenter.tufts.edu, where we post notices and news concerning COVID-19 and its impact on international student status and travel.

The International Center’s Virtual Office

Like many other university offices, we are temporarily working remotely in order to promote social distancing. However, our virtual office is open (go to our home page at https://icenter.tufts.edu to access the link to our Virtual Operations Guide) and we are working normal business hours (9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday). We continue to provide advising and immigration document services to you through electronic means, including email, phone and web-based advising. If we need to mail you important immigration documents, we’ll work with you to coordinate delivery. Please bear with us – we’re getting a high volume of calls and emails right now, but we will respond to you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for OPT Applicants

If you have applied, or intend to apply, for Optional Practical Training (OPT), we’ve created a dedicated web page containing frequently asked questions about OPT (and STEM OPT). We know that many students will have questions about how OPT and STEM OPT will work given the global uncertainty created by the pandemic, and our answers to common questions can be found at https://icenter.tufts.edu/blog/2020/03/24/opt-and-covid19-faqs/. If you have more questions about your individual situation, send us an email at internationalcenter@tufts.edu.

Our First Virtual OPT Workshop - Friday, March 27 at 10am EDT

We will be holding our first virtual OPT workshop by Zoom this Friday, March 27 at 10am EDT. You are required to register for the workshop and will receive a passcode shortly before the workshop begins. The workshop will cover F-1 OPT application basics, plus updates on the COVID-19 situation and its impact on OPT processing.

I-20 Extensions

If your I-20 is due to expire by May 2020, and you think you will need more time to complete your requirements, please be assured that we are processing extensions now through the end of the semester. It is understandable that given the current environment, many students may need more time to finish their degree requirements. Review our I-20 program extension instructions on our web site. You can start the process after reviewing your individual situation with your academic advisor. I-20 extension requests can be processed at any time through the last day of the term (May 17).

Update your US Address

If you have moved to another US address (whether in Massachusetts or another US state), please update your US address in the “current address” field in the Student Information System within the next ten days. Please also be sure to update your emergency contact information if necessary.

Avoid Scams and the Rumor Mill

Unfortunately, a situation like the COVID-19 panic has generated many scams and an equal number of rumors. If you are concerned about your visa, immigration status, or overall personal situation – contact the International Center to talk to an advisor (or call the Tufts University Police Department to describe your concerns). Also, during a time of high uncertainty, many students are “hearing stories” about visa or immigration rule changes. While there have been fast-moving developments in recent days, we want to be sure that you get your immigration and visa advice from the International Center, and that you also take care to protect your personal, financial, health, and other information from outside parties seeking to take advantage of the current situation.

University Resources Related to COVID-19 Response and Student Assistance

As a reminder, the University posts updates about the COVID-19 situation at https://emergency.tufts.edu/coronavirus. You’ll find more university-wide announcements plus resources available to you as a student, including tele-access to health and counseling services. Please use these resources to help you. If you have general questions about the University’s COVID-19 response, send your questions to covid19@tufts.edu.

We hope this information is of help. As always, reach out to us at internationalcenter@tufts.edu with your questions so that we can find answers or resources to assist you. We’ll continue to be in touch as the semester proceeds.

Sincerely,

Andrew Shiotani
Director, Tufts International Center