Arrival Information for International Students
Case Western Reserve University will welcome our students to campus in Cleveland for in-person classroom instruction in Fall 2022, and a rich residential experience for undergraduates. We understand, however, that not all of our students will be able to reach Cleveland as a result of circumstances beyond CWRU’s or students’ control, including difficulties with visa appointments.
Plans related to your arrival on campus are still being developed. In the meantime, we encourage you to view the information available on the university's COVID-19 website, particularly what is related to vaccine and travel. If visa challenges prevent you from arriving in Cleveland by the first day of classes, please get in touch with ISS at international@case.edu so that we can help get you connected to the appropriate campus resources.
In a typical year, students’ arrival on campus marks the beginning of a time of significant social interaction—whether through first-year student orientation or returning students’ reunions with friends, staff and faculty. We realize that beginning your semester on campus during a worldwide pandemic is an experience directly opposite of what you would want. At the same time, we hope that you can appreciate that such measures are critical in our efforts to reduce COVID-19 transmission risks across the campus community.
Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Updates
On April 18, 2022, it was announced that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will extend the guidance originally issued in March 2020 for the 2022-2023 academic year.
The March 2020 federal COVID-19 guidance is on the ICE website.
We want to provide the information below to help provide context as you make plans to enroll at Case Western Reserve for the Fall 2022 semester.
Please take your time to read through it carefully. We welcome any questions you may have. Please email international@case.edu and we will do our best to answer your questions for you.
Please keep in mind that new developments may arise that require changes to this information; we will provide follow-up information as events warrant.
International students who started their programs at CWRU in or after Fall 2020 will maintain their visa status by enrolling full-time. Their coursework cannot be fully online.
If CWRU’s operational plans shift to an entirely online model after new students are activated in the system (a process that occurs in the first month of classes), they should be eligible to maintain their visa status.
Continuing CWRU international students who had a SEVIS record in Active status as of Spring 2020 (when the March 2020 guidance was issued) can maintain their visa status by enrolling full-time at CWRU. Their coursework can be a combination of in-person, hybrid, or online learning or it can be exclusively through online learning. Continuing students will also be able to maintain their visa status through full-time enrollment from on-campus or abroad. Continuing students who have properly maintained status through full-time enrollment are not affected by the 5-month rule.
When SEVP's COVID-19 guidance is no longer in effect, all students must comply with all relevant regulations to remain Active in SEVIS and maintain their visa status. Students must also comply with all CWRU policies, which may have implications for students' visa status. Any questions or concerns about this should be directed to ISS staff.
New students who are not able to obtain a visa and enter the United States by the start date printed on their I-20 or DS-2019 should remain abroad.
If ISS has already issued an I-20 or DS-2019 to you, we will issue a new one to reflect plans for pursuing student status and arriving at CWRU for the start of a future semester.
New students who obtain a visa and enter the United States to start in Fall 2022 or Spring 2023 must enroll full-time. New students may not enroll in all online coursework.
If CWRU’s operational plans shift to an entirely online model after new students are activated in the system (a process that occurs in the first month of classes), they should be eligible to maintain their visa status.
When SEVP's COVID-19 guidance is no longer in effect, all students must comply with all relevant regulations to remain Active in SEVIS and maintain their visa status. Students must also comply with all CWRU policies, which may have implications for students' visa status. Any questions or concerns about this should be directed to ISS staff.
Transfer, undergraduate readmitted, and CEL students, who will begin a program at Case Western Reserve in Fall 2022 or Spring 2023, will have SEVIS records’ that indicate Initial status, not Active status. Their records transition from Active to Initial status due to systematic processes within SEVIS. These students must enroll full-time and may not enroll in all online courses.
If CWRU’s operational plans shift to an entirely online model after transfer and CEL students are activated in the system (a process that occurs in the first month of classes), they should be eligible to maintain their visa status.
When SEVP's COVID-19 guidance is no longer in effect, all students must comply with all relevant regulations to remain Active in SEVIS and maintain their visa status. Students must also comply with all CWRU policies, which may have implications for students' visa status. Any questions or concerns about this should be directed to ISS staff.
Visa Issuance
We are aware that visa services remain limited or are unavailable in some countries. Each site determines how to resume services and students can get information about specific sites’ plans by visiting https://www.usembassy.gov/.
If new, transfer, readmitted undergraduate, and CEL students cannot enter the United States by the scheduled start of the semester, they should defer their enrollment. Arriving after the start of the semester, based on the date printed on the I-20 or DS-20, is not an option.
I-20 and DS-2019 Issuance
ISS is hearing from students that consular officials are asking students to present proof that their coursework will not be entirely online. Students should ask their school or department to provide a letter describing the specifics of their curricula.
Vaccination Requirement for Entry to the United States
President Joe Biden issued a proclamation, effective November 8, 2021, that requires travelers to the United States to be fully vaccinated. You can read more about the proclamation here. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) ultimately has discretion about who is permitted to enter the United States; please be sure that you are fully compliant with the requirements of the proclamation. ISS recommends that all students continue to monitor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website for the most current guidance related to travel during COVID-19.
CWRU's Vaccination and Quarantine Policies
CWRU’s most current policies can be found on the university's COVID-19 website. Information is updated as needed to ensure that the CWRU community has the most current information.
Communications to International Students
You can view a complete log of communications in the Communication Corner.