National Interest Exceptions Expanded to F-1 Students from China, Iran, Brazil, and South Africa
Tuesday, April, 27th, 2021 COVID-19 Immigration News and Updates
On April 26, 2021 the Secretary of State announced an expansion of national interest exceptions (NIE) to Presidential Proclamations 9984, 9992 and 10143, relating to entry restrictions imposed by the United States due to COVID-19. These proclamations stipulated that persons (with limited exceptions for US permanent residents and others) who were physically present in China, Iran, Brazil, South Africa, and the Schengen Area (plus the United Kingdom and Ireland) within 14 days prior to seeking entry to the US were barred from entry in the US due to concerns relating to the spread of COVID-19.
Until now, only F-1 students arriving from the Schengen Area and the United Kingdom and Ireland were granted automatic national interest exceptions to the COVID-19 entry suspension. This allowed F-1 students with valid F-1 visas to come to the US to start or continue their academic programs, without having to obtain a special national interest exception from the US consulate in their home country before coming to the US. F-1 students in the other countries and regions covered by these proclamations had to request national interest exceptions from the US consulate nearest them, or spend 14 days in a third country not designated for a COVID-19 entry suspension, before they could travel to the US.
The April 26 announcement now expands this automatic national interest exception to F-1 students arriving from other countries previously subject to the COVID-19 entry suspension. In effect, F-1 students arriving from China, Iran, Brazil, and South Africa will also be permitted to enter the US directly as long as they have a valid F-1 visa and other supporting documents (including a valid Form I-20), and they are coming to the US for programs starting on or after August 1, 2021. Special national interest exception approvals from the US consulate will not be required.
The announcement leaves a number of special situations unclear, and the International Center is waiting for further details before issuing further detailed guidance. At this time, however, it appears that Tufts University F-1 students who meet the following conditions will be able to enter the US for Fall 2021 semester if these conditions are met:
- You have an initial attendance I-20 issued for the Fall 2021 semester starting in September 2021
- You have a continuing attendance or transfer I-20 and plan to come to the US for the Fall 2021 semester starting in September 2021
- You have a valid F-1 visa, based on your Tufts I-20 or attendance at a previous school, college, or university
Please remember that F-1 students with initial attendance I-20s may enter the US only thirty days prior to the start of the program indicated on the I-20.
This announcement still does not address when the US State Department will resume student visa operations in these different countries. Students who do not have valid visas will still need to obtain one prior to coming to the US, regardless of this announcement.
Please continue to monitor the International Center web site and email for further information regarding this development.
Sincerely,
Tufts International Center