Mar. 2, 2020 – Travel Updates for International Students and Scholars
Dear International Students and Scholars
We want to make sure that you have the appropriate emergency contact information should you experience difficulties while traveling internationally. Please note that with the jump in confirmed COVID-19 cases in Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea the CDC and Department of State travel advisory warnings have changed. It is possible that students carrying passports from countries with Department of State Level 4 or CDC Level 3 warnings may experience difficulties or delays. We strongly recommend that you continue to monitor the Vanderbilt University COVID-19 information page for updates.
Entry Restrictions
The entry restrictions for foreign nationals who were physically present in Mainland China during the 14-day period prior to their entry to the United States remain in effect. Please also note that there is a new entry restriction that applies to foreign nationals who were physically present within the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States. This entry restriction will be effective starting 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on March 2, 2020. The new restriction does not apply to persons aboard a flight scheduled to arrive in the United States that departed prior to 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on March 2, 2020.
Students who hold passports from countries with Department of State Level 4 or CDC Level 3 countries may want to consider preparing the materials below (electronically or on paper) to help navigate entry inspection at the U.S. Port of Entry and with airlines prior to boarding.
- I-94 Travel history and most recent I-94 (retrievable electronically from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94)
- Class Schedule
- Previous entry and exit stamps in your passport (review these and know where to find your most recent exit and entry stamps)
- Printout of your travel itinerary showing no travel to China or Iran within the last 14 days
- Copy of your hotel reservation for your trip
Vanderbilt Incident Response for Travel (VIRT)
If you encounter health, safety or emergency situations while traveling and need to reach the VIRT team, call +1 615-322-2745 any time of the day or night. Tell the VU Public Safety dispatcher that you want to report an issue to VIRT. We recommend that you add this number into your cell phone for quick access. VIRT can also be reached by email in non-emergency situations or situations where email is the most easily accessible mode of communication: VIRT@vanderbilt.edu.
After-hours/Emergency Contact for ISSS
If your difficulties are related to reentry or return to the US please also contact ISSS. For after-hours emergencies, call the Vanderbilt University Operator +1 615-322-7311 and ask for the ISSS after-hours contact. You can also email isss@vanderbilt.edu. If you reach out to us via email, please add “Travel Emergency” to the subject line of your message.
Self-isolation Protocols
As a reminder, Vanderbilt is instructing all community members returning to the United States from mainland China, South Korea, Iran and Italy to self-isolate for 14 days. Any individual who may have been in contact with someone who has been infected by COVID-19 or who exhibits symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection should also self-isolate. The self-isolation guidance may change quickly, so please stay informed. For additional information on how to gauge your risk of COVID-19 infection, see the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/risk-assessment.html. The university will work with students to minimize disruptions to their academic progress during the isolation period. Please visit the Vanderbilt COVID-19 information page for a full description of the self-isolation protocols for students, faculty, postdocs and staff.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Vanderbilt ISSS Team
Sarratt Student Center, 100 | isss@vanderbilt.edu | 615.322.2573 ph.
https://www.vanderbilt.edu/isss | ISSS Portal: https://isss-terradotta.vanderbilt.edu