We recommend that students download and carry a copy of this letter confirming Cornell's hybrid academic program when entering the United States.

The withdrawal of this ruling means that F-1 students enrolled in a course of study on March 9, 2020, remain protected by the March 20 guidance. These continuing students will be permitted to enroll in a fully online course of study from inside the U.S. or from abroad. The guidance is different for new students, those who did were not in active SEVIS status on March 9, 2020. New students may not enroll in a 100% online course of study and should enroll in at least one hybrid course.

According to the July 24 ICE guidance, students pursuing studies in the fall 2020 school term will be able to continue study in the U.S. if their university shifts to online instruction due to the pandemic. If you choose to go home mid-semester, maintaining full enrollment in your online classes will maintain your SEVIS record.

According to July 24 ICE guidance, if you have an initial SEVIS I-20, you may enter the United States if your coursework is not 100% online. We recommend that international students with I-20s marked “initial attendance” enroll in at least one hybrid class that has a significant in-person component. Consistent with existing policies, new international students outside of the United States who wish to take classes 100% online are not eligible for visas. If you defer your in-person program until spring 2021, please coordinate with your admissions office to obtain a new I-20 with a spring start-date.

Some Cornell degree programs, including those supporting almost all new first-year undergraduates and new students in PhD programs, have continued to routinely consider and grant the opportunity to defer admission, as well as to renew the funding commitment for entry at a later term. Others, including professional degree programs, can sometimes allow students to defer, but future funding options may vary. Some Cornell programs are unable to offer deferral opportunities but will be eager to support students in renewing their applications for admission and applications for funding to start in a later semester.

Deadlines for deferral requests for the upcoming semester have passed for most students, but new international students who remain unable to secure either a visa or any reliable plan to access online coursework should contact their college or school admission office for information and guidance.

No. Under the July 24 ICE guidance, this is no longer necessary unless there are other changes that would trigger an I-20 update.

If you’re already in the United States, or if you enter the United States and check in with International Services, you are considered a continuing student in SEVIS. If you’re outside of the United States for the fall 2020 semester, your SEVIS record will remain in initial status, and you are considered a new student in SEVIS. There may be an impact to your SEVIS record if you are unable to check in. Contact us if you are transferring, and you are not in the U.S.

If you’re already in the United States, or if you enter the United States and check in with International Services, you are considered a continuing student in SEVIS. If you’re outside of the United States for the fall 2020 semester, your SEVIS record will remain in initial status, and you are considered a new student in SEVIS. There may be an impact to your SEVIS record if you are unable to check in. Contact us if you are transferring, and you are not in the U.S.

Yes, continuing students have the option to participate in Study Away or to study remotely from home. You can find answers to your questions about Study Away on the Study Away FAQ page.

The goal of Study Away is to provide international students with a local Cornell community, as well as access to educational facilities, services, and collaborations. Answers to your questions can be found on the Study Away FAQ page.

Under the terms of the March SEVP guidance, if you are a continuing student, with an active SEVIS record, you may study remotely from abroad and we can keep your SEVIS record active. In this case, you would return to the U.S. with the same I-20.

Yes, if you’re a continuing international student with an active SEVIS record, you may take a fully online course load from the United States. The temporary exemptions issued in March due to COVID-19 were extended in July 15 ICE guidance.

If you were in the U.S. on or before March 9, 2020 and have an active F-1 SEVIS record, you are permitted to enroll in a fully online schedule. If you are a new student (did not have an active SEVIS record on or before March 9, 2020), you will not be permitted to enroll in a fully online course of study and should take at least one hybrid course.

If you are not taking classes abroad, but are instead engaged in another activity abroad which standard policy would have permitted, we will keep your SEVIS record active. Please note that ICE guidance on this may change. If we are permitted to keep SEVIS records active for continuing students abroad, we will do so.

The governing regulation for online study is 8 CFR 214.2 (f)(G), which states: “For F-1 students enrolled in classes for credit or classroom hours, no more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per session, term, semester, trimester, or quarter may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken online or through distance education and does not require the student's physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class.”

The July 24 ICE guidance exempts new and continuing international students from the regulation, meaning that they can take more than one class or three credits of online or remote instruction in fall 2020. For continuing students, this may include a hybrid of online and in-person classes or a fully online course load. For new students, this must include at least one hybrid class with a significant in-person component. New international students may not enter the United States to take fully online courses in fall 2020.

Cornell continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and will follow guidance on travel advisories, quarantine, and other requirements from global, national, and local health and government officials. Read Cornell Health's quarantine information. For information on move-in procedures for on- and off-campus housing, quarantine procedures after arriving in another state, and checking in for COVID-19 testing, see the information here

SEVP is a Department of Homeland Security program—but visa decisions come from the Department of State. While it is “likely” a continuing student would get a visa, the Department of State has discretion to issue or deny a visa. To strengthen your application, have your financial certification ready, and carry a copy of this letter confirming Cornell's hybrid academic program when entering the United States.

Yes, as a new or continuing student, you can enter the U.S. for the fall term as you would normally. The July 6 guidance requiring an updated I-20 showing hybrid semester was revoked on July 14. Travel documents can be found on the Travel Documents for Students page. 

New international students who plan to come to campus may not enroll in a 100% online course schedule. You will need to obtain an F-1 visa and arrive in Ithaca no later than October 5, 2020, to begin a quarantine period and/or testing before joining classes. If you plan to arrive in the U.S. after the start of the fall semester (September 2), please check with your academic department or college advising office to confirm that you can participate in at least one hybrid class with an in-person component before finalizing your travel arrangements.

Students who are unable to obtain an F-1 visa and arrive before October 5 will typically need to complete the fall semester remotely. We will work with you to update the program start date on your I-20 form for a spring semester arrival in January. Graduate students please contact your graduate field or program to confirm your fall enrollment plans. Undergraduate and professional students please contact International Services.For those hoping to arrive for the fall semester after October 5, we are establishing a late arrival request form and will make that information available soon. You will have to have a confirmed visa appointment in order to complete the form.

Students who be unable to get to campus by October 5 can contact abroad@cornell.edu about the possibility of late enrollment in a Study Away site (options are limited).

Note: Does not apply to Cornell Tech students; Cornell Law students must arrive by October 2.

Please refer to your local embassy’s website through the U.S. Department of State for any updates about visa issuance.

Incoming students have the option to study remotely. However, if we have issued your I-20 for the fall semester, we will need to update your program start date to reflect your new anticipated arrival date. You must coordinate this date with your academic department (or Cornell Tech, if applicable).

Yes, but please contact us before your return. International Services will need to create a new I-20 (with new SEVIS ID and SEVIS fee payment) before your return to campus in spring 2021 or later.

On July 16, the U.S. State Department announced a National Interest Exception for Certain travelers from the Schengen Area, United Kingdom and Ireland. "Students traveling from the Schengen Area, the UK, and Ireland with valid F-1 and M-1 visas do not need to seek a national interest exception to travel. Students from those areas who are traveling on a J-1 may contact the nearest embassy or consulate to initiate an exception request." At this time, we recommend that students and exchange visitors carry a copy of the July 16 State Department announcement with their other travel documents.

Guidance for the fall is now based on the March guidance, which temporarily relaxes the five-month rule, during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are outside the U.S. and will return, you can find travel documents on the Travel Documents for Students page.

For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, the Department of State and CBP will allow electronic issuance and signing of I-20 forms. Please print your I-20 prior to boarding your flight. Additionally, we will send your original to you. If you need clarification on when the COVID-19 emergency is considered over, please contact us.

Please avoid any unnecessary travel. We cannot predict when embassies or consulates will reopen, and delays may impact your ability to return to the U.S.

No. Immigration regulations do not allow tourist visa holders to participate in degree programs. Students who are issued a Cornell I-20 for an F-1 visa or DS-2019 for a J-1 visa must apply for the appropriate visa to study in the United States.

Please refer to Cornell’s current travel policies.

Currently, no student travel is permitted on Cornell business. When the CDC deems it safe to travel, Cornell will also allow travel. At that time, you should work with your committee to determine when it is safe to travel to your research site.

Online resources and virtual research help are always available, but physical books currently are not. Read about enhanced online resources for fall 2020. Make sure you check the library’s service updates frequently as the situation is fluid.

Cornell does not provide VPNs to students off campus. Based on student experience, you will have the best success connecting from China if you can connect via cellular service. Verizon and AT&T are widely available, and students report that local carriers and wi-fi in China also allow access to Canvas and Zoom. Faculty have been made aware that Canvas is accessible in China, but Google is not, meaning that students may not be able to access their Cmail accounts. Cornell has recommended that faculty communicate with students by sending announcements in Canvas or using the Canvas inbox to mail students directly from Canvas. Zoom is also currently accessible in China and can be used to communicate directly with faculty if needed.

Yes, if you are in F-1 status and you enroll in Cornell (or Cornell Tech) classes, the fall 2020 hybrid semester will count as part of your two-semester eligibility requirement for OPT/CPT.

Based on F-1 regulations, a student must be physically present in the U.S. to apply for OPT/CPT. If you are a current student and participate in Study Away or are otherwise enrolled in a full course of student from abroad, the time outside of the U.S. will be counted toward the two-semester OPT/CPT eligibility requirement. If you are a new student, who has not yet had active F-1 status within the U.S. time spent studying abroad will not count towards CPT/OPT eligibility.

Yes. The ICE guidance does not impact eligibility of full-time CPT. If you’ve received an internship offer for the entirety of the fall semester, you need to apply for full-time CPT.

Current regulations affecting F-1 students do not allow for OPT applications from outside of the U.S. The Office of Global Learning will provide an update if the Department of Homeland Security introduces any flexibility in these regulations.

Students currently participating in OPT and STEM OPT may work remotely if their employer has an office outside of the U.S. or the employer can assess student engagement using electronic means. Students participating in OPT do not need to update the SEVP portal, and STEM OPT recipients do not need to submit an updated Form I-983 to report remote work. However, requirements to submit an updated Form I-983 for other changes (pay, duties, supervisor, etc.) remain in effect.

During the COVID-19 emergency, SEVP considers students who are working in their OPT opportunities fewer than 20 hours a week as engaged in OPT. If you need clarification on when the COVID-19 emergency is considered over, please email us.

Students can engage in CPT from abroad if the employer has an office outside the U.S. or if the employer can assess student engagement and attainment of learning objectives electronically.

You do not need an SSN in order to start working, but you can apply for one once the SSA resumes full public services. Please contact us to see if you need to change your CPT dates.

Yes, as long as you remain in the United States and maintain F-1 status by continuing your full course of study with online instruction. Read more about F-1 OPT. We do not recommend that you leave the United States until you have received an official receipt notice from USCIS (information about OPT and travel).

There is no indication that the processing times will be slower this year than in other years.

Please contact us for advice and answers to your questions on OPT and the H-1B visa.

No. You must wait until the start date on your OPT card to perform any paid employment.

Please contact us for advice and answers to your questions on OPT.

As an F-1 or J-1 student, off-campus employment is restricted by U.S. law, but may be authorized under certain conditions. If you are maintaining your visa status, and you will be paid by Cornell as usual, you may work remotely so long as you remain in the United States. No special permission is needed, but don't hesitate to email us if you have questions about your situation.

International students who have left the United States are generally ineligible for remote work abroad (e.g. graduate assistants). There is a narrow exception for students who left the US and are unable to return due to government mandated travel restrictions The exception criteria are outlined here.  Cornell cannot approve additional exceptions for students who choose to remain abroad after travel restrictions are lifted.

Cornell tuition will not change, since tuition and fees for the 2020-21 academic year were set prior to the COVID crisis. Visit the Office of the Bursar page for more information about Cornell tuition rates and resources. 

Please check with your college's student services office to find out if you are eligible for support. 

Each department will determine if and how to maintain research and teaching assistantships and lecturer positions. In general, these positions are critical to the university’s mission and are likely to continue.

Yes, it does. Read our U.S. Income Tax Basics to learn more.

File via Sprintax and print your returns. Mail the returns through USPS.

Sprintax will create multiple returns for each state that you have to file.

The International Services team is ready to work with you during our regular hours. Our advising staff is working remotely to support Cornell's international community and campus partners. Reach us by email or phone. Read Get Advice for more information about hours and services. Cornell Tech students should continue to work with Cornell Tech Student Services during office hours or by email.

Consult Cornell’s Coronavirus Resources and Updates and FAQ pages. A COVID-19 Study Abroad FAQ is also available. For information on the Cornell Tech campus, please visit Cornell Tech's COVID-19 Updates.

Check out Cornell's Coronavirus FAQ page.

The May 29 proclamation only applies to certain graduate students and postgraduate researchers. Learn more about the proclamation.

The April 22 presidential proclamation (extended through December 21, 2020) only applies to those applying for U.S. permanent residence from a location abroad. Cornell faculty and academic staff filing for permanent residence typically file these applications from within the United States and are not impacted. This proclamation does not apply to F-1, J-1, H-1B, TN, or other nonimmigrant visa holders.

There have been several Presidential proclamations limiting travel to the U.S. for those who have been in one of the following countries within the past 14 days. Currently, there are travel bans in place for China, Iran, Brazil, the European Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City); the United Kingdom and Ireland. For exceptions to the policy, please check the relevant proclamation.

On July 16, the U.S. State Department announced a National Interest Exception for Certain travelers from the Schengen Area, United Kingdom and Ireland. "Students traveling from the Schengen Area, the UK, and Ireland with valid F-1 and M-1 visas do not need to seek a national interest exception to travel. Students from those areas who are traveling on a J-1 may contact the nearest embassy or consulate to initiate an exception request."   At this time, we recommend that students and exchange visitors carry a copy of the July 16 State Department announcement with their other travel documents.

On June 22, 2020, a new proclamation restricted the availability of H-1B (and H-4) visa stamps for anyone outside the U.S. who did not already possess a valid H1B visa stamp as of June 24. This suspension is in effect until December 31, 2020. It does not impact those with valid H1B visas stamps prior to June 24. It does not impact H-1B's within the U.S. For example, changes of status to H-1B are still possible, as are extensions of existing H1B status (for those eligible).
All Cornell-related travel is currently restricted to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Please see Cornell's coronavirus FAQ for more information and policies regarding travel. If you are at Cornell Tech, see Cornell Tech's COVID-19 Updates.

All Cornell-related travel is currently restricted to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Please see Cornell's coronavirus FAQ for more information and policies regarding travel. If you are at Cornell Tech, see Cornell Tech's COVID-19 Updates.

Treatment or preventive services related to COVID-19 concerns will not negatively affect any foreign national as part of a future public charge analysis. Learn more about the public charge rule and read more FAQS on our public charge page. For information on COVID-19 in the state of New York, visit the NYS Department of Health website. 

Contact Cornell Health to confirm the current availability of services.

As of July 1 the Finger Lakes Region is partially reopening though many indoor activities are closed. You can track the industries that are reopening by phase. The Ithaca area offers many opportunities to get outside and enjoy nature. Explore the natural trails around Ithaca.

Many childcare services are temporarily closed. Use the resources provided by the Cornell Students with Families page to learn about your options during regular operations.

Learn more about campus safety and operations.

If you are a nonresident alien in 2020, you are not eligible for the stimulus payment. Residents for U.S. tax purposes are eligible for the payment only if they qualify as resident aliens in 2020 and can't be claimed as another taxpayer's dependent. Tax residents must have a valid social security number. If you received a payment but don't qualify as a resident alien for 2020 tax purposes, you must return the payment. See the next question to find out how.

Follow these instructions from the IRS if you need to return a payment that you're not entitled to receive.

Scammers are taking advantage of fears surrounding coronavirus. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) outlines steps to protect yourself from these scams. 

As a J-1 professor or research scholar with a valid DS-2019, we are permitted to keep your J-1 program active in SEVIS, if you will be continuing your exchange program activity with your Ithaca-based department or faculty while abroad. If your re-entry is delayed for more than 30 days due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, please contact International Services for your immigration status. Please reach out to your supervisor with any questions related to your work activities and your current appointment.

A leave of absence (LOA) is not permitted for J-1 exchange visitors who remain in the U.S. If you are abroad, a LOA is possible, but not recommended. The Department of State considers a J-1 exchange visitor in “active” status to be indicative of uninterrupted program participation.

If the J-1 exchange visitor takes a LOA, International Services will seek verification from the host department, that program participation is expected to remain uninterrupted while the J-1 is abroad. On return to the U.S., if the J-1 exchange visitor was on a LOA, the host unit must immediately reappoint the J-1 exchange visitor in Workday effective the date of their admission to the U.S. There may be tax or benefit implications to a LOA and you are encouraged to discuss this with your supervisor or local HR representative.

Under limited circumstances and with prior approvals from the appropriate offices and individuals (International Services, HR, Export Controls, Divisional representatives, etc.), it may be possible to go on a leave of absence (LOA) or continue working from abroad. Please note that the continuation of benefits during a LOA can vary by employment type and eligibility. Please reach out to your supervisor with any questions related to your work activities and your current appointment.

International Services must review and approve all leave of absence requests for H-1B and O-1 temporary workers in advance to ensure compliance with immigration regulations.

Working remotely outside the United States is not permitted. Cornell is a U.S.-based employer and unable to sponsor work authorization in other countries. Please reach out to your supervisor with any questions related to your work activities and your current appointment.