You do not need to carry all your original immigration documents while in New Haven, but we recommend you carry printed copies of all your immigration documents. Please have printed copies of: You should carry all your original documents: In addition to the guidance above about carrying your immigration documents at all times, we also recommend that you make copies of all of your immigration documents and keep them in a separate safe place where someone else you trust can access them. Make sure to share the location of the copies of your documents with this trusted person so they know where to find them in case of an emergency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an official Health Advisory on June 21, 2023 and provided guidance for people planning international travel. Measles (rubeola) is extremely contagious; one person infected by measles can infect 9 out of 10 of their unvaccinated close contacts. To prevent measles infection and spread from importation, CDC recommends for all international travelers to be up to date on their MMR vaccinations, especially prior to international travel regardless of the destination. Other recommendations include: As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. The above is related to federal travel requirements. Yale also strongly encourages all students, faculty, and staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Please refer to Yale Health's COVID-19 Vaccination FAQ for International Students and Scholars for more information. Unless you are a Canadian citizen, you must have a valid visa to enter the U.S. You should apply for a visa well in advance of your start date at Yale, as the visa interview wait times or even the drop-off processing of visas at certain U.S. Embassies and Consulates can be substantial. April 25, 2025 The DoS Global Visa Wait Times page has been updated on April 25 to reflect wait time estimates in months. Some estimates for certain visa types remain unavailable. February 18, 2025 In a news item published on February 18, 2025, titled Interview Waiver Update, the DoS announced changes to its policies on eligibility for the in-person visa interview requirement waivers. The update rescinds prior expansions of interview waiver authority, for example, reinstating the statutory 12-month post-expiration period for applicants who previously held a visa in the same category. This marks a shift from the previous policy, which allowed interview waivers for applicants whose prior visa had expired within the past 48 months. Presidential Proclamation 10043 (May 29, 2020) may affect visa issuance and/or entry to the United States for an individual from the People's Republic of China (PRC) seeking to enter the United Stateson a F or J visa . Proc 10043 may be applicable to an individual who “…receives funding from or who currently is employed by, studies at, or conducts research at or on behalf of… an entity in the PRC that implements or supports the PRC’s 'military-civil fusion strategy” or in the past “has been employed by, studied at, or conducted research at or on behalf of… an entity in the PRC that implements or supports the PRC’s 'military-civil fusion strategy.'” Please contact your OISS adviser if you have questions. You can read more about Presidential Proclamation 10043 here. Details about non-immigrant visa issuances for citizens of Ukraine, as well as other resources. Details about F and J Visa Processing for Residents in RussiaCurrent Travel Guidance
Traveling Locally (In and Around New Haven)
Traveling Outside of New Haven
Make Copies & Securely Share
Guidance on Measles
Proof of Vaccination
Visa Appointment Availability & Visa Interview Waivers
Visa Interview Wait Time Info Changed
Visa Interview Waiver Policy Revised
Chinese Institutions and Funding
Visa and Travel Considerations for Ukrainian Students and Scholars
U.S. Consular Operations in Russia and Belarus
Current Travel Guidance
Protocols for Travel Emergencies
Yale's Vaccine Requirement