COVID-19 Related FAQs for International Students

ISS advisors are still available via phone and email as usual (keithquatraro@boisestate.edu). We are also available for Zoom video meetings, if you would like to do so.

If you are a new student to Boise State University then please reach out to International Admissions, who are available to meet with you (remotely by video) and answer any questions you may have.

We’re here to help through these challenging times. We can chat by phone or video conference, and we’re also available by email.

To accommodate physical distancing and other safety measures necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the university made changes to its course schedule. Courses are being taught in four different formats: in-person, hybrid, remote and online.

If you would like to learn more about each mode of instruction click here.

For F1 student visa purposes hybrid and in-person courses count as on-campus courses. Unless you are ill, you must be genuinely attending the in-person elements of the class to count it as on-campus for immigration.

Remote and online classes, even if you are taking them while you are personally present at Boise State, do not count as in-person classes for F1 immigration purposes.

You must enroll full-time if you wish to remain in the U.S. in F1 status for the Spring 2021 semester. That is 12 credits (undergraduate) or 9 credits (graduate). There are some limited exceptions to enrolling full time for graduate students with only thesis/dissertation remaining, and for students in their final semester. In both cases, the exception requires prior approval from the ISS office.

Unfortunately, U.S. Immigration has not provided any formal guidance about registration requirements for Spring 2021 and may not do so. However, based on recent events, we understand that U.S. Immigration is extending the flexibility regarding on-campus enrollment requirements into Spring 2021. This means that students who were in the U.S. in F1 status on March 9, 2020 can remain in the U.S. while taking online courses.

Important: New students for Fall 2020 who had to take an on-campus course in Fall 2020 must have at least one on-campus course for Spring 2021. If you aren’t sure if this affects you then please contact International Student Services (internationalinfo@boisestate.edu).

If you are a new student at Boise State University for the Spring 2021 semester then please contact an advisor in International Admissions for registration requirements. In most cases, new students will need at least one on-campus or hybrid class to study in the U.S. New undergraduate exchange students (J1 visas) must enroll full time (12 credits) and at least 9 credits should be on-campus.

We will update this FAQ if we receive any additional formal confirmation from U.S. Immigration.

In most cases, thesis and dissertation credits are coded as in-person. Once you enroll you can see the mode of instruction within your Student Center.

As in regular semesters, you should plan to take the credits from the Boise area, unless your research requires you to be elsewhere in the United States. If you are doing research from outside the U.S. then please contact International Student Services (internationalinfo@boisestate.edu) for the appropriate form for research abroad.

You can request permission to be enrolled less than full-time if it is your final semester. You can read more about Final Semester requirements here.

You can also take your final courses online from outside the U.S.. However, if your final semester is outside the U.S. then it may impact your ability to apply for post-completion OPT work authorization. USCIS does not currently allow students to submit OPT applications from outside the U.S.

If you want to take your final semester online from outside the U.S. then please complete our Leave of Absence from Campus Form as soon as possible so that we can correctly update your immigration record.

If you are in the middle of your program and you are planning to study entirely online next semester from outside the US please complete our Leave of Absence from Campus form  before the semester starts, if possible. This will allow us to contact you if there are any immigration updates that might affect you.

We may be able to keep your F1 (I-20) active while you are outside the U.S. if you are enrolled full time. If you would like to be less than full time or take the full semester off studying, then you may need a new I-20 to return in the Fall semester. It’s very important to get permission from International Student Services (internationalinfo@boisestate.edu) before you drop below full-time enrollment, even if you are outside the U.S.

Please note that if your final semester is outside the U.S. then it may impact your ability to apply for post-completion OPT work authorization. USCIS does not currently allow students to submit OPT applications from outside the U.S.

If you have questions about health insurance enrollment while outside the U.S. then please look at the FAQ section on Health and Wellness on this page.

First, check the travel restrictions to make sure you can enter the U.S. These depend on where you are traveling from, and where you have traveled recently.

Please note that as of January 26, a negative COVID test is required for entry to the U.S. (see here).

We recommend that continuing students have the following documentation to enter the U.S. (required items are in bold):

1. Valid passport (generally must be at least 6 months left, but some countries must have 1 year of validity left)
2. Valid I-20, with a valid travel signature (a valid travel signature is less than 12 months old) if you need a travel signature on your I-20, please request one via our I-20 request form.
3. Valid F-1 visa stamp (Canadians are exempt from this requirement)
4. EAD card (ONLY for students on OPT or STEM OPT) as well as evidence of employment, and a travel signature that is less than 6 months old
5. Unofficial Boise State University transcript. This helps show that you are an active student making full-time progress towards your degree. It also helps to show that you were enrolled full-time. You may be required to show the mode of instruction for your courses, so be prepared to provide that information.

We understand that the holiday season and winter break is often a key time to reconnect with family and friends, especially after such a difficult and stressful year. You should make the best decision for your own personal circumstances but we urge you to carefully consider the challenges of travel outside the U.S.

We encourage you to review the Boise State COVID Travel page. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains a Travel Information website related to COVID-19, and specifically recommends avoiding all nonessential travel to countries at Warning Level 3. Please note that these ratings can change rapidly and without warning.

Here are some other considerations:

1. Airlines have restricted travel and are cancelling many routes, often with little notice. If you wish to travel home, please check for the earliest possible departure and routes. Keep in mind that this may also make it difficult to find a flight to return to the U.S.
2. Check that you are able to to enter your destination and transit countries (travel restrictions and transit visa requirements) and if there are any self-isolation requirements. The Embassy for your home country is one source of information on travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.
3. Check if your F1 visa has expired, or if it will expire soon. Many Embassies are still closed, and most do not have visa appointments without a long wait list. This could make it very difficult to renew your visa and may delay your return to the U.S.
4. You can only apply for OPT work authorization from inside the U.S. If you are outside the U.S. for your final semester then you may not be able to apply for OPT if you leave the U.S.

Consult an ISS advisor (internationalinfo@boisestate.edu) if you have questions about applying for OPT.

Although we cannot guarantee the up-to-the-minute accuracy of these websites, many people have found these websites to be useful. You may also wish to check with your airline before booking travel or traveling.

IATA website

US Department of State – on travel to other countries

CDC – on travel to the U.S.

The U.S. State Department has indicated that some Embassies are open for visa appointments, and others may open in the near future. As they reopen, the availability for visa appointments has varied depending on staffing and volume of requests. Continue to check the website for your Embassy or Consulate for more details.

Remember that you only need to apply for a new F1 visa stamp if your current F1 visa has expired and you are outside the U.S.

If you are having difficulty getting a visa appointment and are unable to get to Boise State then please contact us (internationalinfo@boisestate.edu).

You cannot apply for a new visa stamp from within the U.S.

However, you do not need to reapply for your F1 student visa if you are not leaving the U.S. It’s alright to be in the U.S. with an expired F1 student visa, so long as your I-20 has not expired and you continue to follow all the rules and regulations for F1 student status.

Please contact your local Embassy or Consulate inside the US for passport renewal requirements. Even if your Embassy or Consulate is not accepting applications be sure to document your attempts to renew your passport.

Yes, the regulations have not changed about contact information updates.  If you’ve moved to another address within the U.S. then please complete our Change of Address form within 10 days of the move. Students on OPT or STEM OPT should update their address using the SEVP OPT Portal.

Complete our online request for a new I-20. If you have changed your major or minor, complete our change of major/minor request for a new I-20.

Please complete our online request for a new I-20.

U.S. Immigration is temporarily allowing students to use emailed I-20s with travel signatures for travel but if possible, we recommend having an original document with an original signature for travel. If you have received an I-20 by email then remember to print it out and sign it before using it for travel.

If you are inside the US then we can mail the I-20 to your address by regular mail.

Please talk with your supervisor about your employment. Remember you are still restricted to 20 hours/week of on-campus work during the semester, even if classes are online.

U.S. Immigration is temporarily allowing F1 students to do their on-campus jobs on a remote basis.

The Dean of Students Office has a Student Emergency Fund.  It might be a good place to start if you are concerned about finances in the event of a university closure (see here for information).  They also operate a food pantry that you can access.

We’ll continue to update you if we learn of any other funding opportunities or exceptions the US Government provides related to on/off-campus work in this period.

Please contact us (internationalinfo@boisestate.edu) if you continue to have concerns that COVID-19 has affected your financial situation.

The F1 student visa regulations regarding employment have not changed.

International students on F-1 student visas are restricted to 20 hours/week of on-campus work only. No off-campus work is allowed, unless you are authorized under CPT (used for academic internships) or OPT (used for working after your degree).

There are some very limited options for work permits based on Unexpected Economic Hardship.

OPT is the work authorization students use to work in the US after completing their academic program.

USCIS still requires students to apply for OPT from within the U.S. The I-765 application form also requires a U.S. mailing address for your EAD (work authorization card) and any other OPT-related correspondence. You can get further information on OPT on our website.

If you are completing your degree in Spring 2021 then it is very important to attend an OPT informational workshop soon so that you are ready to apply when your application window opens in mid-February. Applying for OPT early in the application window is particularly important this semester. You do not need a job in place to apply for OPT.

You can depart the U.S. while your application is pending, but you should be aware that there are some potential risks in doing so.

• Any OPT-related mail will go to the mailing address that you put on your I-765 form. If no-one will be able to receive your mail then you should find another reliable U.S. mailing address and update USCIS and the ISS office with your address change.  If you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) at that address then you will need to be able to review it and respond to it very quickly, as they are time-sensitive.  If you do not respond to the RFE by the deadline provided then your OPT will be denied.
• If your OPT is approved while you are outside the U.S. then you will need your EAD card and updated I-20 (with travel signature) to return. You may have difficulties re-entering the U.S. after the program end date on your I-20 if your OPT is still pending.
• If your F1 visa has expired then you will need to apply for a new F1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, most of which are currently closed. It can be difficult to renew an F1 visa without your OPT approval and verified future employment.

If you have already left the U.S. then you are no longer able to apply for OPT.

Please continue to work directly with your employer on whether you can work remotely. If you cannot work remotely and you are getting close to 90 days of unemployment then please contact ISS/Ruth Prince for further guidance (ruthprince@boisestate.edu).

Please contact an ISS advisor if you are in this situation. There are some limited options if no flights are available and if it’s not possible for you to return home.  Please note that the 60-day grace period at the end of your OPT is only available if you have not reached the 90-day unemployment limit.

For the duration of 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 have lost your job or have no hours of work then you must update the last date you worked as the end date for your position in the SEVP portal. If you no longer have any employment or work hours then you would accrue unemployment days. Remember, you have 90 days of unemployment during your first year of OPT. If you’re already on the 2-year STEM Extension then you are allowed a total of 150 days in the 3-year OPT period. It’s OK to use those days!

SEVP has confirmed that you do not have to update your worksite address while temporarily working remotely during the COVID-19 period. If you work remotely on a permanent or long-term basis even after your company returns to working onsite, then you will need to update your worksite address at that time. Students on STEM OPT who have a worksite address change should contact Ruth Prince (ruthprince@boisestate.edu) for more guidance.

The letter request process will not change. If you need to submit a letter request, please visit Sponsored student letter requests.

The Sponsored Student Coordinator is still available via phone and email as usual (keithquatraro@boisestate.edu). Zoom meetings and Google Hangout sessions are also available.

As an international student at Boise State, your health and well being are our first priority. Please continue to check Boise State University’s main page for the latest Campus updates regarding COVID-19. Below are helpful links we have found to help you address stress and anxiety you may be feeling. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you feel you have any questions or concerns.

Coronavirus Resource Center

Tips and Strategies to deal with the effects of Physical Distancing

University Health Services

Bronco Fit

Boise State University requires all international students to have health insurance coverage.  You can learn more about the policy here.

Due to the COVID-19 measures that are currently in effect, international students studying remotely from outside the U.S. for the full duration of the insurance coverage period can request an iSHIP Waiver.  Please follow form submission instructions carefully. The deadline to request a waiver is 01/15/2021 for Spring 2021.

If you are a Graduate Assistant or a sponsored student and have been charged insurance fees in error, email Wendy Ball at wendyball@boisestate.edu no later than Friday, 1/15/2021 to request a fee removal.