IMPORTANT TRAVEL UPDATES
On October 25, 2021, President Biden issued Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic, which lifts the geographic travel ban restrictions and replaces them with a global requirement that “noncitizens who are nonimmigrants” traveling to the United States by air from any part of the world establish that they are fully vaccinated, with some limited exceptions.
Before You Travel to the United States – New rules effective Monday, November 8, 2021
PROOF OF VACCINATION REQUIRED
All non-U.S. citizen, nonimmigrants traveling to the United States by air are required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Only limited exceptions apply. Learn more about this requirement.
COVID TESTING REQUIRED
Before boarding a flight to the United States, you are required to show one of the following:
- If you are fully vaccinated: Proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test result (i.e., a nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or a viral antigen test) taken no more than 3 days before travel.
- If you are NOT fully vaccinated: A negative COVID-19 test result (i.e., a nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or a viral antigen test) taken no more than 1 day before travel.
IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED WITH AN FDA-APPROVED VACCINE OR WHO APPROVED EMERGENCY USE LISTING VACCINE
IF YOU ARE NOT FULLY VACCINATED WITH AN FDA-APPROVED OR WHO APPROVED VACCINE AND ALLOWED TO TRAVEL TO THE U.S.
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after arrival, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
- Stay at home or in your hotel room and self-quarantine for a full 7 days, even if you test negative, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
- Isolate if your test result is positive or if you develop COVID-19 symptoms.
- If you intend to stay in the United States for 60 days or longer, you must become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within 60 days of arriving in the United States or as soon as medically appropriate, unless you have a medical contraindication or are too young to be vaccinated.
- Always follow state and local recommendations or requirements related to travel.
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IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT CHECKLIST FOR TRAVEL
Students, please make sure you have the following before leaving Tuscaloosa:
- a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019,
- a valid passport,
- a valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp.
- a printout of the UA ISSS confirmation letter regarding UA Operation Plans,
- a copy of your schedule (from MyBama) or Enrollment Verification.
Scholars, faculty, and staff please make sure you have the following before leaving Tuscaloosa:
- your I-797 Approval Notice and copy of your related petition (if on H-1B, TN, O-1 or similar status)
- a valid travel signature on your DS-2019 (if on J-1 status),
- a valid passport,
- a valid visa stamp.
If you are on an F or J visa and need a travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019, or if your travel signature will be more than 1 year old at the time you plan to return, please submit a Travel Signature Request with the subject line “TRAVEL SIGNATURE REQUEST” via email to international@ua.edu.
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REGISTRATION for SPRING 2022
Registration for Spring 2022 began on October 25th.
Registration time assignments and advising locations for the Spring 2022 semester have been posted on the University Registrar's website.
To view your assigned registration time slot, go to the Student page in MyBama and select "registration status" located under the "registration Tools" menu.
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F-1 & J-1 STUDENTS: GRADUATING IN December 2021?
Apply for OPT/Academic Training NOW!!!
If you are an F-1 or J-1 students graduating in December 2021, and plan to work in the U.S, you may file for Optional Practical Training ( for F-1 students) or Academic Training (for J-1 students) work authorization now.
Processing time at USCIS for OPT ranges from 3-5 months. You can give your application a head start by putting your documents together now.
USCIS can accept your OPT application as early as 90 days prior to your completion date and as late as 60 days after your completion date (J-1 students must apply before the program completion date).
Please note:
F-1 students do not need to have a job offer in hand before applying for OPT. You may apply as long as you are eligible for OPT and INTEND to work in the U.S.
J-1 students, however, need to obtain job offer prior to apply for academic training.
To apply for OPT or AT, please scan all of the documents in one (1) single PDF file to international@ua.edu or trang.t.nguyen@ua.edu . Due to the limitation of our database, please limit your file size to 4MB or less if possible. To ensure quick processing, only scan your application when all forms are completed and properly signed.
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If you have questions while filling out the forms, please contact one of our international advisers during virtual advising hours via Zoom.
Special appointments outside those hours can be made through Book an appointment.
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OPT/CPT Training Courses
Increase your knowledge of work opportunities for Undergraduate and Graduate F-1 students by completing online training available through Blackboard. Knowledge gained through these seminars will give you the information you need to make informed decisions should you choose to work while studying or after your graduation within the U.S.
If you are a newly admitted student and you began your study in either Summer 2021 or Fall 2021, you are now registered in Blackboard for two online courses. These seminars contain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) information. Please be sure to complete both training by the deadline of December 31, 2021.
Note: Students must complete the online training and have an 80% passing rate on the quiz for each training by the deadline before they can apply for OPT or CPT.
The two courses you have been enrolled in are:
(1) CPT 202140
(2) OPT 202140
These courses are available when you log on to Blackboard under "My Courses."
If you have questions, you may contact the International Services office by emailing your questions to international@ua.edu or visit our office located at 105 BB Comer, during walk-in advising hours Monday-Friday, 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM.
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SCAM WARNING
Please be aware that there is a high volume of tax and immigration scams this time of year. Most of these types of scams will spoof a government agency phone number or email address in order to look official.
Please note, the IRS, DHS, and other government agencies will never contact you by phone or email.
Signs of a Scam Phone Call:
- Caller requests you to pay a fine using Western Union, PayPal, Green Dot, MoneyGram or some other wire transfer service
- Caller threatens your arrest or deportation for failure to act within a very short period of time.
- Caller will try to prevent you from hanging up, asking you to visit a retail store to transfer funds while remaining on the phone.
Scam Resources:
• For more information on immigration scams: http://www.uscis.gov/avoidscams.
• For more information on tax/IRS scams: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Report-Phishing and http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts.
• For more information on money transfer and check scams: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0090-using-money-transfer-services.
• In addition to the USCIS, IRS, and Consumer FTC Sites, scams can be reported here: https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
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Multi-Cultural Coffee Hour
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7 Ways to Spend Thanksgiving Week on Campus
Classes are dismissed Nov. 24-26,
and UA offices are closed Nov. 25-26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
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Thanksgiving Meal
Thursday, Nov. 25 11a-2pm
Lakeside Dining
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Bama Dining is hosting its Thanksgiving at Lakeside Dining once again. Students and families on campus for Thanksgiving are welcome to enjoy a delicious traditional meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 25. All are welcome and no meal plan is required. The menu includes ham, oven-roasted turkey, glazed sweet potatoes, baked mac and cheese, grilled green beans, dressing, deviled eggs and more.
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Help Decorate Trees at the Museum
From Nov. 23 through Dec. 3, drop by the Alabama Museum of Natural History for holiday ornament decorating and free hot beverages in the Grand Gallery. All are welcome to celebrate the holidays with this free event while helping to decorate the museum’s trees with natural-history themed ornaments. And if you like your ornament, you’re welcome to take it home and put it on your tree.
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Ice Skate in Downtown T-Town
The city of Tuscaloosa’s annual Holidays on the Plaza kicks off Nov. 22 with the opening of the ice skating rink on Government Plaza in downtown. Ice skating and holiday festivities take place nightly on weekdays and all day on weekends. The rink is closed on Thanksgiving Day. See the event website for the full schedule of events and hours as well as skating ticket prices.
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Celebrate Native American Culture and Contributions
Native American Heritage Month continues through the end of November. Sign up for the field trip to the Birmingham Museum of Art on Nov. 23 to see the “Lost Realms of the Moundbuilders: Ancient Native Americans of the South and Midwest” exhibition. Or visit Moundville Archaeological Park, which is open every day next week except Thanksgiving Day.
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Watch the Million Dollar Band perform in the Macy's Parade
For the first time ever, the Million Dollar Band has been invited to participate in an American tradition, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
In November 2021, the Million Dollar Band will be marching down Central Park West in New York City playing Yea Alabama! for everyone to hear.
2021 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be televised live at 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM on Thursday, November 25 on NBC.
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Cheer on the Tide
Women’s basketball is hosting several teams in town. The Tide takes on Mercer Nov. 24 at 6 p.m., Western Carolina Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. and Bethune-Cookman Nov. 28 at 1 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum.
Women’s volleyball plays Ole Miss in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 26 and 27.
And who could forget the most epic football match-up of the year? The Iron Bowl takes place Nov. 27 at 2:30 p.m. at Auburn and will be aired on CBS.
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Volunteer Your Time
There’s no better way to practice gratitude than paying it forward by helping others and the community. Check out current volunteer opportunities on Serving Bama.
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The University of Alabama Flu Shot Campaign
The College of Community Health Sciences leads The University of Alabama’s annual campus-wide effort to vaccinate students, faculty and staff against the flu. The quadrivalent flu shots are free to students, faculty, staff and spouses; insurance is not required. Employees and students must have their CWID.
Click here for dates and locations.
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COVID-19 VACCINES
Available to All UA Students, Faculty and Staff
SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT:
Students: The Student Health Center offers the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine for all UA students. Call the Student Health Center at (205) 348-2778 or schedule an appointment through the patient portal.
Faculty and Staff: The University Medical Center offers the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine for UA faculty and staff, as well as UMC patients aged 12 and older. Call (205) 348-1471 to schedule an appointment, and leave your name, date of birth and a way for UMC to contact you. Your phone call will be returned promptly.
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Drop-in Advising – Monday – Friday, 11 am – 3 pm – NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED
General advising hours are Monday through Friday, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm CST via Zoom or In-Person. No Appointment is needed, but masks are required for in-person meetings.
When seeking advising via Zoom, students and scholars will be connected with one of the UA ISSS Staff. If there are multiple students and scholars in the queue, you will be placed directly into a waiting room.
Please note, drop-in advising is meant for shorter inquiries of 5 – 10 minutes, and in order to serve all students and scholars, we ask that this be reserved for quick questions.
Need a longer appointment? Book an appointment with ISSS online.
For all other questions or inquiries, please email international@ua.edu or call 205-348-5402.
Whether contacting us by phone or email, please be sure to include your name and CWID (if known) with your inquiry.
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November 24th, 2021
November 25th-26th, 2021
December 3rd, 2021
December 3rd, 2021
December 6th-10th, 2021
December 11th,2021
December 13th, 2021
December 23rd, 2021- January 3rd, 2022
January 4th, 2022
January 4th, 2022
January 12th, 2022
January 17th, 2022
January 19th, 2022
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These dates are valid as of 10/11/2021 but could be modified as needed.
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