FAQs: Information for International Students – Fall 2022

As of Saturday, March 26, 2022, the University of Hawaiʻi 10-campus system, including the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa suspended its mandatory vaccination rule for students and employees. Vaccinations will still be required on certain UH programs and courses embedded with partner institutions such as medicine, nursing, social work, dental hygiene and allied health. The changes are based on guidance from the UH COVID-19 Health and Wellbeing Working Group and reflect the latest COVID-19 guidance from the state and federal government. 

See the UH News announcement in full here: UH Suspends COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Requirements. 

Though being fully vaccinated reduces your risk of falling ill with COVID-19, your ability to travel depends on shifting guidelines regarding COVID-19 both in the Hawaiʻi/U.S and your home country, with little, or no notice at all. This could impact your ability to enter other countries, or return to the Hawaiʻi/US in your timeline. Please be sure to check your travel plan often. 

UH Mānoa campus has been open to the public since June 1, 2021 and will continue to adapt COVID-19 guidelines to reflect the most up-to-date state and federal recommendations.

F Program: On April 18, 2022 the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) extended its March 2020 Guidance (FAQs for SEVP Stakeholders About COVID-19) to cover the 2022-2023 academic year.

J Program: On April 22, 2022 the BridgeUSA (the Department of State Exchange Visitor Program-EVP) updated its FAQs and continues to allow temporary modification through June 30, 2023.

A hybrid class includes a mixture of scheduled face-to-face meeting(s) and online learning. 

Hybrid classes that combine at least one scheduled face-to-face class meeting and online learning can be considered as in-person class.

In STAR, the course attribute codes will be used to denote online and hybrid courses:

Fully online: C19

Hybrid: H19

To learn more  about UH Mānoa course formats, please see: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/undergrad/schedule/covid-19/

Yes, dissertation, thesis, and independent study credit hours are considered in-person credits.

Yes. Thesis and dissertation are considered in-person courses. Please continue to maintain active J-1/F-1 status and enroll  in a full-time course of study: GR = 8cr or GR with assistantship =6r.  1cr 700F or 1cr ABD 800 is considered a full-time course of study. 

F-1 Students: 

If conducting research in the U.S but outside Hawaii: 

• Please update your physical address in MyUH portal. 
• Please maintain sufficient health insurance coverage for fall 2022

If conducting research abroad:  

• Please complete the ISS form: ‘Certificate of Students Academic Status When Enrolled While Abroad and submit to the ISS office via UH FileDrop to issstaff@hawaii.edu
• Request for travel signature on your I-20 form: www.hawaii.edu/issmanoa 

J-1 Students: 

If conducting research in the U.S but outside Hawaii:

• Please update your physical address on MyuH portal. 
• Please inform the ISS of your primary site of research address: issmanoa@hawaii.edu

If conducting research abroad: 

• Please complete the ISS form: Certificate of Students Academic Status When Enrolled While Abroad and submit to the ISS office via UH FileDrop to issstaff@hawaii.edu
• Please continue to maintain sufficient health insurance coverage for self and dependent(s) for the duration of your J-1 program. 

Request for travel signature on your DS-2019 form:  www.hawaii.edu/issmanoa

Yes, an internship class with approved Curricular Practical Training (CPT) counts as an in-person class. Please make sure that you obtain CPT authorization prior to starting your internship.

You may need to take a Leave of Absence (LOA) and this may cause your F-1 status to be terminated. Students who take a LOA in fall 2022 should be prepared that a new “initial” I-20 form will likely be required to return to UH Mānoa to resume studies in a future semester. This will require payment of a new I-901 SEVIS fee. 

Important Note for F-1 students: Taking a LOA near the end of a student’s program may impact employment eligibility in the U.S. as the student will need to have been enrolled for at least one academic year/two semesters on their ‘new’ F-1 status to be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Continuing J-1 students may not apply any online course credit hours to meet the minimum full-time course of study requirement.

You can review the fall 2022 class availability here:  https://www.sis.hawaii.edu/uhdad/avail.classes?i=MAN&t=202310

Please be reminded to enroll in a full-time course of study at your education level:

• Undergraduate students = 12 cr
• Graduate students = 8 cr
• Graduate students with assistantship = 6 cr

F-1 students:

 You do NOT need to maintain health insurance if you are studying outside of the US for fall 2022.  To request for a health insurance waiver, please contact the ISS office.

J-1 students: 

You MUST maintain sufficient health insurance coverage for yourself (and J-2 dependents) for the duration of your J-1 status.

To check for holds on your student account, first log in to STAR GPS. Under “academic essentials”, click “view holds.” Once there, you will see what holds (if any) have been put on your student account. F-1 students should contact the Student Health Insurance Office to inquire about their health insurance hold while J-1 students may contact the ISS office directly.

F-1 students should inquire with the Student Health Insurance Office regarding IH holds on their student account while J-1 students may contact the ISS office directly.

The last updated April 18, 2022 COVID-19 FAQ guidance does not address the issue of whether the five-month out-of-country rule will be suspended for students who take a leave of absence. Students who take a leave of absence (LOA) in fall 2022 should be prepared that a new “initial” I-20 will likely be required to return to UH Mānoa to resume studies in a future semester. This will require payment of a new I-901 SEVIS fee. IMPORTANT NOTE: Taking an LOA near the end of a student’s program might impact their U.S. work eligibility as the student will need to be enrolled for two full semesters after their return to the U.S. in order to qualify for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).

For more information on LOA, please visit the ISS webpage: https://www.hawaii.edu/issmanoa/?page_id=3021

If you will be in the US in F-1 status during the fall 2022 semester, you must have at least three in-person or hybrid (a mix of in-person scheduled class meeting  with online learning) class on campus. According to the last updated April 18, 2022 COVID-19 FAQ guidance, F-1 students with initial I-20s who arrived in the U.S. cannot enroll entirely online. If you decide to take all online courses from outside the U.S., please report your plans to ISS: issmanoa@hawaii.edu

F-1 students: 

You will need a new visa if your previous visa has expired. Please make sure you have received a new I-20  with a new SEVIS ID from the ISS office. If you need to apply for a new visa, please see the US Department of State website for more information on when the US Consulate and Embassies visa services in your country. 

J-1 students: 

Please schedule an appointment with an ISS Advisor to review your circumstances: www.hawaii.edu/issmanoa

You can be considered to be maintaining F-1 status if you received a fall 2022 Reduced Course Load (RCL) per last semester authorization from ISS. Please complete and submit a Reduced Course Load form to the ISS office. With the RCL per last semester authorization,  if taking only one class, it MUST be an in-person or hybrid course. Please be reminded, however, that you can only apply for post-completion OPT if physically present in the U.S.

A doctoral student preparing for a Comprehensive Exam in Spring 2022 does not have to maintain a full-time course load. Please request for a Reduced Course Load per Comprehensive Exam from the ISS office.

New (initial)  international students who have NOT entered the U.S., would not have established F-1 or J-1 status. F-1 or J-1 students' eligibility for benefits, such as on/off campus employment are dependent on students maintaining their F-1 or J-1 student status. Furthermore, students will not be able to complete the I-9 Form-Employment Eligibility Verification with the Human Resource office, which requires students to be able to show valid immigration status and entry record, among other things. Additionally, the SSN application also requires an in-person request process, in the U.S. Other than these requirements, the assistantship associated fund sources may not allow for activities from a foreign location.

The last updated May 31, 2022 FAQs for SEVP Stakeholders about COVID-19, did not address on-campus employment for F-1 students. However, the March SEVP FAQ states: 

“If the current on-campus employment opportunity has transitioned to remote work or the employment can be done through remote means, students may continue to engage in on-campus employment remotely. Schools should be able to explain how the students are providing services associated with the employment while not at the location of the employer.”

“Remote” was not defined in terms of where the student can be located. 

Working for UH Mānoa from abroad involves multiple compliance considerations and may not be possible. From the US immigration compliance perspective, doing so during the COVID-19 crisis does not present challenges. However, working for UH Mānoa from abroad can have significant tax and legal implications for you and for UH Mānoa that are outside the ISS office purview. The assistantship associated fund sources may not allow for activities from a foreign location. Due to the unusual circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak, telecommuting from outside the US may be permitted within certain parameters. Requests to do so must be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be requested and supported by your hiring department. Please inquire with your hiring department to contact Human Resources. 

Please note that F-1 regulations as from Summer 2022 require that international students are not allowed to take more than 3 credits per semester for online courses as part of their full-time enrollment.  This regulation may prevent students from working abroad remotely as in-person or hybrid courses may require in-person attendance on the university campus.

You may remain in the U.S. on an expired F-1 or J-1 visa (in your passport) as long as you maintain your immigration status, have a valid I-20 or DS-2019 and are enrolled full-time (Canadian citizens do not need an F-1/J-1 visa to enter the US). 

The Department of State’s website lists estimated wait times for obtaining an interview appointment at each US embassy or consulate. F and J visa wait times are listed under Student/Exchange Visitor Visas. Student visa types receive priority and typically have a shorter wait time than other visa types. Please keep in mind that this website shows estimates and the information is subject to change. Once you submit the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) form and pay the associated fee you will receive specific instructions for scheduling your visa interview.

To locate embassy or consulate website, go to https://www.usembassy.gov 

It’s possible. It is generally recommended that you apply in your home country, as visa officers there are better able to assess your application. Different country embassies/consulates have different procedures. It is always good practice to contact the prospective embassy to inquire about third-country national applications.

Unfortunately the ISS is unable to help students secure or expedite visa appointments.

Please be advised  that a travel endorsement (travel signature) on your I-20/DS-2019  is not required to leave the U.S.

Request for a travel signature on ISS website: www.hawaii.edu/issmanoa. 

• For F-1: 
  • ISS will transmit a scanned copy of a physically signed I-20 or digitally signed I-20 to you via UH FileDrop.
• For J-1 
  • You may pick up your signed DS-2019 at the ISS Office, open from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm weekdays.

You may use it if it has been printed on white paper and clearly shows the official signature. I-20s saved on electronic devices will not be considered valid.

F-1 continuing students are advised to have the following for re-entry to the U.S.: 

• Valid I-20 with a valid travel signature from the ISS. Travel signatures are good for one year, or until the end of the program, whichever date is earlier. *NOTE: F-1 students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) must have travel documents signed every 6 months. 
• Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future: A current passport valid for at least six months after the date of your re-entry. If your country is listed on the U.S Custom and Border (U.S. CBP) 6-Month Club, your passport need only be valid upon entry, but it is recommended to use this option only in extreme cases where you have to enter but cannot renew your passport in time.
• Valid F-1 U.S. visa stamp (Canadian citizens exempt)
• Fall 2021 class schedule showing your courses (recommended)
• SEVIS I-901 Fee Receipt (recommended). If you don't have your receipt, you can print it at www.fmjfee.com
• Graduate students with assistantship: it may help to bring your graduate assistantship offer letter to support re-entry. 

No. You may return as long as you have proper documentation.

No, immigration regulations do NOT allow tourist visa holders to participate in a degree program. You must apply for the correct visa (F or J) to study in the U.S.

No. Hawaiʻi ended its Safe Travels Program and no longer has any restrictions on entering the state.

Your options may be to:

1. Remain in the U.S. and apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (for F-1 students) or post-completion Academic Training (for J-1 students), if eligible.
2. Remain in the U.S. during the grace period after your program completion. The grace period is 60 days (for F-1 students) and 30 days (for J-1 students).
3. Pursue another degree in the U.S. and/or transfer (if eligible) your SEVIS record to another institution, if eligible.
4. Change to another nonimmigrant classification (tourist B1/B2, H-1B for example), if eligible. Consider consulting/hiring an immigration attorney for a change of status.

If you are unable to book a flight or your flights keep getting canceled, we recommend reaching out to your country’s embassy or consulate within the U.S. to see if they are able to help. You should check the embassy's website and social media for special communications. Other options may include to:

1. Remain in the U.S. and apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (for F-1 students) or post-completion Academic Training (for J-1 students), if eligible.
2. Remain in the U.S. during the grace period after your program completion. The grace period is 60 days (for F-1 students) and 30 days (for J-1 students).
3. Pursue another degree in the U.S. and/or transfer (if eligible) your SEVIS record to another institution, if eligible.
4. Change to another nonimmigrant classification (tourist B1/B2, H-1B for example), if eligible. Consider consulting/hiring an immigration attorney for a change of status.

Beginning fall 2022, you must be present in the U.S. to apply for academic training, and that training must be in the U.S. Please refer to the ISS website for information on applying for academic training.  If you are considering post-completion AT, your authorization must be processed before your official academic program completion date. In addition, the AT must begin within the first 30 days after the official academic program completion date.