Spring 2021 Update
January 13, 2021: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is requiring all air passengers travelling to the United States have a documented COVID-19 test within 3 days of departure. This will be effective January 26, 2021.
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0112-negative-covid-19-air-passengers.html
Texas A&M University recommends persons who have recently returned to the United States receive a COVID-19 test with in a few days upon arrival.
January 12, 2021: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of State has stated through the media and SEVP representatives that the Fall 2020 COVID-19 guidance will apply for Spring 2021. It is likely that they will not publish revised guidance and we have adjusted the COVID-19 FAQ to reflect the Fall guidance. If more guidance is released, we will update the FAQ and email students.
December 9, 2020: A news article stated, "Nonimmigrant students should continue to abide by SEVP guidance originally issued in March 2020," said the spokeswoman, Carissa Cutrell. "The guidance enables schools and students to engage in distance learning in excess of regulatory limits due to the public health emergency generated by COVID-19." https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2020/12/09/federal-guidance-foreign-students-remains-same-spring
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of State have not yet published Spring 2021 guidance related to COVID-19 and F or J regulations. ISS will be updating the ISS COVID-19 FAQ to reflect the recent statement from SEVP.
For the most updated version of the Frequently Asked Questions on the March 2020 SEVP COVID-19 Guidance, please check: www.ice.gov/doclib/coronavirus/covid19faq.pdf
November 24, 2020: A letter has been drafted by ISS for your use at the port-of-entry. This is to explain to the port-of-entry official that Texas A&M University will be having courses face-to-face and students will have the option to enroll in hybrid courses (face-to-face course with a remote option). The letter explaining this is available at https://iss.tamu.edu/ISS/media/ISS-Files/ISS-PDF/ISS%20Information/Spring-2021-PDSO-Letter.pdf
Beware of COVID-19 Scams!
Unfortunately, there have been numerous new scams that have developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a U.S. federal government agency aimed at protecting consumers and they have developed a comprehensive Coronavirus Advice for Consumers webpage: https://www.ftc.gov/coronavirus/scams-consumer-advice. ISS encourages all international students to review this information in order to learn about acceptable practices in the U.S. and how to identify potential coronavirus scams so they can be avoided – and reported.
COVID-19 Second Stimulus Relief Payment
Please navigate to these pages for more information on the COVID-19 Second Stimulus Relief Payment as an international student:
International Student Services Office Operations
International Student Services (ISS) stands with our international students and will provide support and adjust guidance as needed due to the fluid nature of this difficult situation. This webpage will be monitored and updated as frequently as possible. All answers are subject to change as the situation with the COVID-19 virus evolves.
Interacting with ISS
The ISS lobby will be open for 10-minute front desk appointments
Monday thru Friday at the following times:
- Every morning from 8:30am to 12:00pm (Final appointment slot is 11:50am)
- Every afternoon from 1:00pm to 4:30pm (Final appointment slot is 4:20pm)
Students may sign up for a front desk appointment to come to the ISS lobby to pick-up documents or to schedule an advising appointment. Front desk appointments to come to the ISS lobby can be scheduled at
swan.tamu.edu/ISS. Appointments are required. Walk-ins are not permitted.
COVID 19 Considerations: Please be advised that all visitors to the Pavilion are REQUIRED to have a mask or other face covering to enter. Please plan accordingly.
What to Bring: Please ensure that you bring your TAMU Student ID or other form of identification to your scheduled front desk appointment.
Notification: After you have scheduled your front desk appointment, you will be notified via an automated message to your Texas A&M University email address.
Students can continue to schedule advising appointments by calling 979-845-1824 or you can schedule a 10-minute front desk appointment to visit ISS in order to schedule your advising appointment. All advising appointments will continue to be conducted by telephone or by ZOOM. ISS is not conducting advising appointments in person at this time.
ISS receives hundreds of emails on a daily basis, so in order for us to best assist you, we ask that you please do the following:
- Always include UIN and your full name
- Avoid using words such as urgent or emergency
- Do not send multiple emails
- If you are asking questions, please number the questions separately.
- If you are requesting an appointment, describe your specific situation and questions in as much detail as possible.
- If you are providing your mailing option, please be sure to include either the regular mailing address or an order number from eShipGlobal.
The student will submit their request through Terra Dotta. They will submit the application and any required documents online. Instructions for how to log in to Terra Dotta can be found at
http://iss.tamu.edu/Terra-Dotta.
Tips for Submitting Processing Requests to ISS:
- Please submit documents in PDF format.
- Make sure your request includes all the correct documents and all questionnaires are filled out correctly. Most incomplete requests are missing key information needed to process the request.
How Can I Help to Make the Processing Go Faster?
- Make sure your student local physical address is up-to-date. Visit http://iss.tamu.edu/ISS/media/ISS-Files/ISS-PDF/Current%20Students/Updating-Your-Local-Address-Phone.pdf for instructions.
- Make sure you don’t have ANY registration HOLDs on your account.
- Make sure you check your Texas A&M University email regularly. ISS advisors will contact you if your request is incomplete and additional actions are needed.
- Make sure you select an option to either pick up the document from the ISS office or to receive it through regular or express mail.
- Schedule your front desk appointment for document pick-up; and/or
- Complete the Mailing Options Questionnaire in Terra Dotta to provide your preferred mailing choice.
Pick up in-person
- If your request in Terra Dotta contains this option, indicate in the Mailing Options Questionnaire that you choose to pick-up your document(s) in-person at the ISS office
- Schedule your front desk appointment for document pick-up using the instructions provided below
- ISS cannot accommodate walk-ins for document pick-up. You must have a pre-scheduled front desk appointment.
Delivery through mail
- If your request in Terra Dotta contains this option, indicate in the Mailing Options Questionnaire that you choose to have your document(s) mailed to you and provide the required information in the questionnaire
- If you do not have the opportunity to provide your mailing option through Terra Dotta or you need assistance with this, please email iss@tamu.edu with your full name, UIN, and mailing option. If you are choosing express mail, provide your eShipGlobal Order #. If you are choosing regular mail, provide your complete mailing address.
If you are experiencing an emergency, first ensure your safety then call our office at 979-845-1824. If the call is after hours, press 2 to be taken to the after-hours call service. The call center is available 24/7 but is only for emergencies at the port-of-entry or if you are being detained by a government official. More information about informing ISS about an emergency can be found at
http://iss.tamu.edu/Current-Students/Safety-Information/Informing-ISS-about-an-Emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions (updated 1/11/2021)
International Student Services has created three COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpages to help our new, current, and graduated international students understand the evolving issues regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). As the situation evolves, we will regularly update you and this webpage. We strongly encourage you regularly monitor official Texas A&M University communications via email and the web as well as our website for updates.
Additional COVID-19 Resources
Texas A&M University is committed to keeping our community safe, healthy, and informed the University’s response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Texas A&M University continues to closely monitor latest developments and take the appropriate actions. The Texas A&M Coronavirus (COVID-19) information is located at
https://www.tamu.edu/coronavirus/.
ISS understands that this situation may cause students extra stress and anxiety. We want to remind students that the following campus resources are still operating and available to you:
ISS encourages all international students to monitor COVID-19 developments through various local, state, and federal agencies, including those listed below.