International Students and Scholars Office

Yes. Please visit the Student COVID-19 Vaccination Guidelines for information regarding vaccination requirements, including what to do if you cannot be vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to arriving in the U.S. 

The ISSO team works regular business hours, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. While we work on campus in Kutz Hall, we provide services remotely and by in person appointment, when requested. We can speak to you by phone, set up a Zoom meeting, or correspond by email. Just let us know how we can help! 
To contact the ISSO:

• Email: isso@brandeis.edu 
  • The ISSO team monitors the ISSO@brandeis.edu email account Monday-Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm EST. We assure you your questions will be answered in a timely manner. 
• Phone: (781) 736-3480 
  • In most instances, we will answer your call immediately. If your call “goes to voicemail,” please leave a voicemail, and we will return your call as soon as we can!
• ​​ISSO Virtual Drop In Hours (Zoom): https://brandeis.zoom.us/j/666866300
  • We offer virtual drop-in hours Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST and Tuesday & Thursday from 10:00 am - 11:00 am EST. 
  • If those times are not convenient for you, you may request an appointment with your ISSO advisor. See our contact page to connect with your ISSO advisor. 

Our students can submit applications for work authorization, travel documents, extensions, etc., through the ISSO Portal. A link to the ISSO Portal can be found in the sidebar on the left of the ISSO Home Page. Once we issue you a new document, we will email it to you via a secure file sharing system. 

Brandeis University will offer a robust, safe, in-person experience for all students in spring 2022. The spring semester will begin on January 18, 2022. 

The most up-to-date information relating to Brandeis' COVID response and plans can be found on the COVID-19 Response: What's Now, What's Next page.

As you know, Brandeis will be returning to in person instruction for classes that were scheduled for this modality as of February 1st, 2022.  During the spring 2022 semester, in-person instruction is considered the primary modality through which classes should be taken at Brandeis.

Should you have exceptional circumstances which would necessitate taking all of your courses online, please consult with your academic advisor (undergraduate students) or program advisor (graduate students) and also contact your ISSO advisor to assess how this may affect your immigration status.

Note about the summer session: During a vacation term when enrollment is not required (typically the summer session), students may enroll in any number of online courses. 

Yes, they do. Hybrid courses that have in-person teaching components are counted as in-person courses.

If you would like to take a leave of absence, you will need to contact your academic advisor (undergraduate students) or program advisor (graduate students) to complete any necessary university processes for a leave of absence. Also, please contact your ISSO advisor to set up a meeting. The ISSO will terminate your SEVIS record for “Authorized Early Withdrawal.” When you are ready to return to campus, you will need to contact your ISSO advisor and submit financial documentation so we can create a new I-20 for you to use when you return to the U.S. 

When a student returns from a leave of absence, they must re-enter the U.S. with an initial SEVIS record and an initial I-20 valid for the amount of time required to finish their degree. Students must be enrolled for at least two semesters after returning from a leave of absence in order to qualify for CPT or OPT. 

If you have Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Academic Training (AT) authorization for an off-campus internship you may participate in the internship, even if working remotely.

Please remember that CPT and AT permission is specific to a job, employer, location, employment dates, and work hours, as well as academic course registration. If there are any modifications to your employment conditions or academic registration, they must be approved in advance by your academic department/faculty and the ISSO.

No, you do not need a new I-20 or letter saying that Brandeis will have in-person classes. 

However, if you prefer to have additional documentation referencing the type of instruction for spring 2022, this letter from the Director of the ISSO is available on the ISSO website. It describes the course format for the spring 2022 semester. You may print the letter and bring it with you to your visa appointment or when entering the U.S. 

Entering the U.S.

For a summary of COVID-19 Travel Bans currently in effect for foreign nationals wishing to enter the US, please visit Presidential Proclamations on Novel Coronavirus. Please read the 11/05/2021 guidance from the CDC to determine travel and vaccination requirements related to COVID-19.

Starting November 8th, non-essential travelers can now enter land/ferry border ports of entry with proof of COVID vaccination. More information can be found on the Customs and Border Protection website.

On 11/26/2021 the White House announced a new travel restriction limiting noncitizen travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi. Travelers will not be admitted to the U.S. within 14 days of having been in one of the listed countries. Please read the full proclamation for more details.

Departing the U.S. 

Travel restrictions vary from country to country. Please review country-specific regulations and requirements and assess the risks prior to your travel. Please see our webpage on travel to make sure you have all the necessary documents to re-enter the U.S.

You are currently required to show proof of a negative test to board a flight to the U.S. Please check the CDC website for more information.

Please see our Travel Information page for more details. You may ask the ISSO to send you a new I-20 or DS-2019 by requesting a reprint in your ISSO Portal.

For more instructions on renewing your visa, please refer to the Renewing Your U.S. Visa section of our website.

You must arrive on or before January 31, 2022 so that we can register you in SEVIS. Please be sure to report your arrival to the ISSO by submitting the ISSO Check-In after you enter the U.S. You can access the check-in through your ISSO Portal, which can be found on the sidebar on the left.

You will need to assess your eligibility to defer your enrollment to fall 2022 or enroll in remote courses.

If you are an undergraduate student, please contact Brandeis Undergraduate Admissions. If you are a graduate student, please contact The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Heller School, or the International Business School.  

If you defer your enrollment to fall 2022, the ISSO will issue a new I-20 that reflects a fall 2022 program start date. 

If you are a SEVIS transfer student and you have been issued a transfer I-20, please inform your contact in Admissions so that the ISSO can be notified and adjust your SEVIS record accordingly.

To inquire about the possibility of taking remote courses, undergraduates should contact their academic advisor and graduates should contact their program advisor.

We understand that due to the pandemic, in some cases flights are being canceled.  If you face this issue, and need to arrive after 1/31/2022, please contact the ISSO@brandeis.edu as well as your academic or program advisor.  Depending on the circumstances related to your academics and estimated arrival date, you may be able to arrive a few days after January 31, 2022.

Incoming students should not enter the U.S. after January 31, 2022 on an Initial I-20 or DS-2019 as we will be unable to register and activate your record in the SEVIS database. If you cannot enter on or before January 31, 2022, you should work with the appropriate admissions team above to determine your eligibility to defer your admission to a future semester. If you are eligible for a deferral, the ISSO will provide you with an updated I-20 or DS-2019 that reflects this information. Undergraduate students can check with their academic advisor and graduate students can check with their program advisor for information on taking courses remotely.

Once you receive the updated document, you may enter the U.S. no more than 30 days prior to the date listed as the start date on the revised and updated I-20 or DS-2019.

We understand that due to the pandemic, in some cases flights are being canceled.  If you face this issue, and need to arrive after 1/31/2022, please contact the ISSO@brandeis.edu as well as your academic or program advisor.  Depending on the circumstances related to your academics and estimated arrival date, you may be able to arrive a few days after January 31, 2022.

The U.S. Department of State and Customs and Border Protection often offer conflicting guidance regarding the need to apply for a new visa after being outside the U.S. for an extended period of time or when SEVIS numbers and school names don't match on all documents (visa and I-20). It is typical for the U.S. Department of State to recommend that students apply for new visas if SEVIS numbers or school names do not match, or if a student has been outside the U.S. for more than 5 months. However, it has been our experience that Customs and Border Protection recognizes valid, unexpired visas, without exception, as long as the student presents a current I-20 or DS 2019. Ultimately, it is the student's decision on which guidance to follow.

Per the "Frequently Asked Questions for SEVP Stakeholders about COVID-19" released on April 26, 2021, the five-month rule related to student transfers will not apply to students affected by COVID-19.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recognizes that the spread of COVID-19 may affect students engaging in Optional Practical Training (OPT). In accordance with SEVP guidance, we would encourage you to work with your employer to seek alternative ways to maintain employment, such as teleworking or other arrangements.

For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, SEVP considers students who are working in their OPT opportunities part-time (fewer than 20 hours a week) as engaged in OPT.

If you are approaching the end of your 90 days of unemployment and are unable to book a flight home, you should keep a record of all communication with the airline that proves you made an effort to depart the U.S. before the end of your 90 days. You may also reach out to your ISSO advisor for information about other options, such as transferring your SEVIS record to a new academic program.

We strongly encourage you to reach out to your country's closest embassy or consulate in the U.S. if you are unable to book a return flight home. A growing number of embassies are posting special communications on their websites and social media for their international students and exchange visitors (students and others) in order to make contact with them. 

If you are approaching the end of your 60-day grace period and are unable to book a flight home, you should keep a record of all communication with the airline that proves you made an effort to depart the U.S. before the end of your 60 days. You may also reach out to your ISSO advisor for information about other options, such as transferring your SEVIS record to a new academic program. Please note that F-1 students are not eligible for a nonimmigrant status extension by filing Form I-539, and can only extend their status by enrolling in a new academic program.