International Student & Scholar Services

Since January 26, travelers entering the United States have been required to have a negative COVID test.

During the pandemic, there has been a series of presidential proclamations temporarily restricting travel for people who have been in certain countries in the past 14 days. Here is a list of these countries provided by the CDC. Please note that there is an exception to the rule for students in F-1 status traveling from the Schengen Area, Ireland, or the UK.

Please refer to our continuing student Travel Checklist for information on what you need to prepare to re-enter the United States. Please also check the COVID testing/quarantine requirements for New York State and the CDC website for a list of COVID travel restrictions.

Information for new students preparing to come to the United States for the fall 2021 semester will be available shortly.

Spring 2021
All spring 2021 new/initial international students must be enrolled full-time with at least one in-person hybrid course in order to enter the United States and maintain immigration status.

Fall 2021
Fall 2021 new/initial international students are students who receives an initial I-20 or DS-2019 with a August 2021 start date. This includes all of the following:

• Students who will start their degree in fall 2021
• Students who started their degree online in fall 2020 or spring 2021 
• Students who transfer their F-1 or J-1 immigration record to The New School for fall 2021
• All students returning from a personal leave of absence in fall 2021

In order for your immigration to become active, you must study full-time in the United States for the fall 2021 semester. More information about fall semester in-person classes will be provided soon.

Go to Coming to The New School for additional information for new international students.

Spring 2021 continuing students with an active F-1 or J-1 student status should consider the following:

• You may continue to study completely online in or outside of the United States.
• You do not need to register for an in-person/hybrid course during the spring semester.
• You must continue to be enrolled full-time in order to maintain your status.
• You should review the Continuing International Student Travel Checklist if you will travel to the United States for the spring semester.

For fall 2021, The New School's goal is to re-open the New York City campus and return to in-person teaching and learning. Additional information about the requirements for continuing international students will be shared soon.

ISSS will provide students with additional information through detailed email notifications, Zoom live advising sessions, updates on the ISSS website, and @ISSSNewSchool Instagram posts.

• Remote office hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT.
• The main phone, 212.229.5592, line is operational.
• For virtual advising by phone or Zoom, make an appointment through Starfish.
• All processing requests can be made through iGlobal.
• All workshops and/or Live Advising Sessions will be held online through Zoom and are advertised on our Instagram and in our newsletters.

NAFSA: Association for International Educators is the world's largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. Please visit the NAFSA webpage for information on the Biden administration's executive actions and priorities related to international education and immigration.