With travel restrictions starting to ease up, many first-year international students will now have the option to come to the US for the fall 2021 semester. If you’re not quite ready to make the journey yet or you’re in a country where travel restrictions haven’t yet been lifted, we understand and so do colleges and universities. But if you are prepared to start school during the fall 2021, here’s a list of what you’ll need.
COVID-19 Vaccine
You may not necessarily need this one, however, many colleges and universities are requiring that students get vaccinated before going to school in the fall. Other colleges and universities might not require you to be vaccinated, however, it is strongly recommended, and no matter what, you will need to test negative for COVID-19 no more than 3 days before traveling. Returning international students who are currently residing in the US are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. To learn more about the vaccine process, including where to sign up, read International Student Insurance’s COVID-19 Vaccine Prep blog. Students who aren’t currently residing in the US should contact their future school’s international office for instructions on providing proof of vaccination. It’s important to note that students who are vaccinated outside of the US will need a vaccine that is authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, students who are partially vaccinated with a vaccine available in the US (Moderna or Pfizer) may enter the US and receive their second dose on campus or at a local vaccination clinic.
Student Visa
Over the past year, consulates have worked only on an emergency basis and routine services, such as student visa services, were not available. But as the US starts to open back up, US embassies are back to providing routine services in some locations. To find out the current status of your local US embassy or consulate, visit travel.state.gov or contact the embassy or consulate directly. It’s important to note that you’ll likely experience delays in visa services as embassies and consulates will be receiving a high number of requests. So, the sooner you can get started with the process, the better. If you don’t yet have access to visa services at your local embassy or consulate, our Visa & Immigration Center is a great place to start learning about the process of obtaining a US student visa while you wait.
Financial Aid
In a time where many have struggled with financial difficulties, exploring your financial aid options is more important than ever. We first recommend exploring your options for scholarships with our free College Scholarship Search tool. Then, if you require more financial aid, we recommend exploring your options for student loans with our free Find My Student Loan tool. With this tool, you can find and compare loans that you are eligible for. There is even a loan option for students without a cosigner.
In conclusion, we recommend preparing for fall 2021 as early as you can as delays are very likely. Your college or university will have a more specific checklist for you. However, those three things are the bare essentials for first-year international students this fall. If you have any specific questions about what other items you’ll need for the fall 2021 semester, we recommend reaching out to your college or university directly. In the meantime, make the most of your time off and enjoy your summer! We hope to see more of you on US college campuses this fall.
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