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- Spring 2023 Semester
- Employment and Immigration
- Travel and Visa Status
- Travel Rules
- Academic Resources
- Stimulus Funds and Scams
Spring 2023 Semester
The Vaccination at Cornell page is the main source of information on Cornell's vaccine policies, including the current list of accepted vaccines. Visit Cornell Health for answers to your questions about COVID-19 vaccination. Please monitor Cornell's COVID-19 Response for information about campus policies.
Is Cornell planning any vaccine or testing changes for the spring 2023 semester?
Read Cornell's April 2022 statement about COVID requirements for the 2022-23 academic year.
Where can I learn more about vaccination requirements and procedures?
What happens if I'm not able to meet my immunization requirements before arriving on campus?
Visit this Cornell Health webpage to find out what you need to know about immunization compliance.
Where can I get information about housing and move-in?
Watch Cornell Housing's move-in page for arrival instructions.
Will there be a spring 2023 orientation for new/transfer students?
Ithaca students, please check the Orientation Options page for registration information.
Is international orientation mandatory for international students?
What visa-related steps do international students have to complete on arrival?
Where can I learn about transportation options to get to Ithaca from nearby cities and airports?
How can I find out about local banking availability?
Check out Your First Week for pointers on local banks and other important things to know and do when you arrive on campus.
Are scholarships and financial aid available for international students?
Undergraduates: Learn about need-aware financial aid. Graduate students: Find out how to apply for grants and loans.
Where can I find the class roster, and how do I sign up for my classes?
Follow these links to find the course roster and information on enrollment.
I want to make sure I'm on your email list for international students. How can I check?
All international students automatically receive immigration updates from the Office of Global Learning, including a monthly newsletter. Non-international students (per Cornell's records) can sign up for our mailing lists here.
U.S. embassies and consulates in some countries have long waits for visa appointments. How will this affect my ability to study in person at Cornell this fall?
We expect that visa appointments at US embassies and consulates will improve in 2023, and we understand that they will prioritize students when possible. Please monitor the status of appointments in your home country if you expect to be impacted.
Cornell will continue to monitor visa and travel issues that might affect returning international students and will make adjustments to address your needs as much as possible. While Cornell does not officially recommend this practice due to the risk of delays or denials, we understand that some students and scholars have been successful in applying for a visa in a third country.
I begin my program in spring 2023, but the earliest available visa appointments are after classes start. What should I do?
Visa appointment times are taking longer due to COVID-19 and other issues. It is best to take the earliest available appointment time—even if the appointment is after your program start date—so that you can apply for an expedited visa request. You need to have a scheduled appointment before you ask to have the appointment expedited!
Please check with your nearest U.S. consulate or embassy to find out how to request an expedited or emergency visa appointment. Consulates will only schedule an expedited visa appointment within 60 days of your program start date. See the listed program start date on your I-20 to find out if you're eligible.
You may also request a visa support letter from your admitting academic department. Be sure to keep your academic department updated on your expected arrival if you plan on arriving after the listed program date on your I-20.
What do I do if my visa is not approved in time for me to make it to the campus by the enrollment date?
What are my options to defer my admission if I cannot obtain an F-1/J-1 visa to attend?
If you are unable to obtain a visa or will arrive late, you should contact your department or the admissions office and request information about your options for attending in a later semester. Cornell Tech students, please email admissions@tech.cornell.edu.
Is there any emergency benefit in case of a family emergency requiring a trip home or a medical or dental emergency in the U.S.?
Am I eligible to enroll in fully online courses?
F-1 students are normally permitted to take no more than three credit hours per term of online study. For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, ICE permitted F-1 students who were physically present and enrolled prior to March 9, 2020, to participate in a fully remote program of study. New students arriving in the U.S. after that date are not permitted a 100% online program.
We do not know when ICE will determine that the COVID-19 emergency provisions are no longer applicable, but the policy will be applied through the spring 2023 semester.
When the current emergency provisions end, the policy will revert to 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.”
Employment and Immigration
Where can I find a job on campus?
Check out our webpage about student jobs on the Ithaca campus before you begin your search. Then start on this page to search campus employment opportunities.
Who can I speak with about career questions?
Where can I find help with my I-9 employment authorization form?
How can I get a Social Security number ?
Am I eligible for OPT/CPT if I completed the first semester of my program remotely from outside of the United States?
Newly admitted students who were not previously enrolled in another academic program in the United States and do their first semester remotely outside of the United States must complete two consecutive semesters in F-1 status in the United States to be eligible to apply for OPT. However, newly admitted students who previously did another academic program in the United States and transferred their SEVIS record to Cornell are eligible to apply for OPT/CPT during the summer following their first academic year at Cornell, even if they completed their first semester at Cornell remotely from outside of the United States.
Newly admitted graduate students who were not previously enrolled in another academic program in the United States and who completed their first semester remotely outside of the United States are not eligible to apply for CPT during the summer following their first academic year.
If it is permissible to complete the internship or practicum at a later time in the academic program, then CPT is not possible for students who do the first semester of their program at Cornell outside of the United States.
I’m in OPT/STEM OPT. When permitted by my employer, can I start to work remotely? If so, do I need to submit an updated I-983 or update the SEVP portal?
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 I-983 for other changes (pay, duties, supervisor, etc.) remain in effect.
I can only work 20 hours per week on OPT because of the pandemic. Will this count as unemployment?
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.
Can I use CPT while abroad?
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.
I’m staying in the U.S. Am I authorized to work remotely for my campus employer?
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 and are otherwise maintaining the conditions of F-1 status. Don't hesitate to email us if you have questions about your situation.
I need to return to my permanent home residence. Am I authorized to work remotely for my campus employer?
F-1 and J-1 international students, including graduate assistants, who have left the United States are generally ineligible for remote work abroad. The university has developed a narrow framework of options for engaging qualified students who are legally stranded in their home countries during the semester.
If you are impacted by travel restrictions, government-mandated stay-at-home orders, or other government-imposed orders related to COVID-19, contact your appointing unit or assignment supervisor to discuss eligibility. Please note that some options will require prior approval by the department chair or dean. Cornell cannot approve additional exceptions for students who choose to remain abroad after travel restrictions are lifted.
Travel and Visa Status
My visa is expiring soon. Can I extend it from inside the U.S.?
I'm worried about obtaining a visa for the upcoming semester.
Can Cornell assist in making a visa appointment or filling out my DS-160?
While we can't assist in scheduling a visa appointment, you can find the most up-to-date wait times on the U.S. Department of State website. The DS-160 is a personal application, so we cannot assist in filling out the form, but the website offers guidance on the DS-160 form.
I'm thinking about traveling before classes start. Will I be able to get back to Ithaca or Cornell Tech?
Unfortunately, we are not able to predict travel conditions in the coming months with certainty. We will monitor the situation and advise as possible. If you intend to leave campus, ensure that your immigration documents are in order. If you leave and are not able to return before your planned graduation, be aware that you will not be eligible for OPT status.
Can I use an electronic version of my I-20 at the border?
The Department of State and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will allow electronic issuing and signing of I-20 forms by designated school officials (DSO's), but please print and sign your I-20 prior to boarding your flight.
I received my I-20/DS-2019 from Cornell and need a visa. How soon can I apply for a visa?
Make an appointment at a U.S. consulate to obtain an entry visa stamp. The appointment cannot be more than 120 days ahead of your program end date shown on your I-20/DS-2019.
Canadian citizens do not need a visa stamp. At the port of entry, show your Canadian passport and I-20/DS-2019 to request F-1/J-1 student immigration status to attend Cornell University. If you are a Canadian “landed immigrant,” please check with a U.S. consulate to find out if you need a visa stamp.
I've heard that if I'm outside the U.S. for more than five months, I need to apply for a new I-20 and F-1 visa stamp. Is this true?
Guidance for the spring 2023 semester continues to be based on the March 2020 guidance, which temporarily relaxed the five-month rule during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are outside the U.S. and plan to return, you can find travel documents on the Travel Documents for Students page.
If I’m pursuing an activity that would normally occur abroad (registered in absentia, PhD field research, etc.), can you keep my SEVIS record active?
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.
If I get my visa after the start of the semester, can I come to campus—as late as the middle of the semester?
If you’re an undergraduate or professional student and you expect to arrive late, email us. Your academic program has the final say in whether or not you can attend late.
My F-1 visa is close to expiring. What do you recommend for students like me who will need to reapply to enter if we leave?
Please review our travel and reentry information, find out what documents are necessary for travel, and information to determine whether you need an updated travel signature.
I'm planning to come to the U.S. on a tourist visa, instead of an F or J visa. Can I study on a tourist visa?
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. Email us if you have questions about your visa status.
Travel Rules
I am outside the U.S. and plan to conduct research for my degree. How do Cornell’s travel policies affect me?
What about travel within the United States?
Please see Cornell's COVID-19 Response page for more information and policies regarding travel. If you are at Cornell Tech, see Cornell Tech's COVID-19 Updates.
How does the presidential proclamation suspending Chinese students' and scholars' entry to the United States affect me?
The May 29, 2020, proclamation only applies to certain graduate students and postgraduate researchers. Read our May 2020 message about the proclamation.
Scams
How can I avoid coronavirus-related scams?
Scammers are taking advantage of fears surrounding coronavirus. The Federal Trade Commission outlines steps to protect yourself from these scams. Learn more about avoiding scams.