Announcements

Dear Students,

Welcome to the University of Michigan!

If you plan to leave and re-enter the United States, be sure to review Re-entry to the U.S. and COVID-19 Policies and Recommendations: Pre- and Post- Arrival Information.

Do U-M health insurance plans cover testing and treatment for COVID-19?

Yes, all U-M health insurance plans cover COVID-19 testing and treatment.

The International Center Global Engagement and Education Abroad (GEEA) team is hiring a Social Media & Marketing Assistant (student job) for Fall 2023, with the possibility of beginning work at the end of summer (July 2023). The Social Media & Marketing Assistant will design, edit, and schedule digital content for our social media platforms, as well as create graphics for International Center events, announcements, and other programs.

Dear U-M community,

Our hearts are broken with the Michigan State University family following last night’s horrific shooting. We wish for a speedy recovery of the wounded, and we pray for comfort and grace for the loved ones of those so suddenly lost.

I know many in our community are reeling from this event as you have friends or family who belong to the MSU community.

I encourage us all to take a moment to show our appreciation and support for one another. Support resources are available on campus for students, faculty and staff.

• A revised version of the existing policy authorizing interview waivers for certain F and J visa applicants will be extended to December 31, 2023.
• Through that same date, U.S. consulates will have the authority to continue to waive the in-person interview requirement for foreign nationals applying for any type of nonimmigrant visa in the same classification, where the prior visa has expired within 48 months.

Congratulations from the International Center on your admission to the University of Michigan! We are looking forward to welcoming you to campus for the Winter 2023 Term.

If you do not plan to come to campus for the Winter 2023 term, and are considering remote study from your home country, be sure to check with your academic program for details on online course availability and to ensure that your proposed schedule meets program requirements.

Before you travel abroad: Confirm that you meet the entry requirements for your travel destination(s), and for all flight transfer locations, which may include showing proof of a specific type of negative COVID-19 test, showing proof of being fully vaccinated, etc.

President Santa J. Ono has issued a statement on the Iranian situation which emphasizes the University’s commitment to human dignity, freedom of speech and freedom of intellectual inquiry. The statement also includes information on resources for U-M students, faculty and staff who may have been directly affected.

While international students, like other non-U.S. citizens, cannot vote in the upcoming midterm elections on November 8th, you can participate in other ways!

International Center hours

•  Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m.- 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Since these hours are subject to change, please refer to Today’s Hours on the International Center website for updates.

Contacting the IC: This webpage details how you may get into contact with the ISSS team for virtual appointments. IC teams can be reached at the following email addresses:

If you plan to leave and re-enter the United States, be sure to review U.S. and U-M COVID-19 Policies: Pre- and Post- Arrival Information, as well as Re-entry to the U.S.

As was the case for Winter Term 2022, Fall 2022 courses will be offered in formats that include in-person, remote and mixed (hybrid) instruction, depending on curricular needs.

Before you travel abroad: Confirm that you meet the entry requirements for your travel destination(s), and for all flight transfer locations, which may include showing proof of a specific type of negative COVID-19 test, showing proof of being fully vaccinated, etc. Check embassy or consulate websites of your destination(s) for updated information, and be aware that entry requirements can change with little notice.

The Social Security Administration has announced that Social Security offices will restore in-person services, including for people without appointments, on April 7, 2022. Masks are required. Getting a Social Security Number and Card has information about eligibility for social security numbers/cards and about how to apply.

International students are targets, and sometimes victims, of phone and email scams. Criminals have been calling and/or emailing students pretending to be from their home country consulate (or embassy), from U.S. law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, or from U.S. government agencies such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), or the Michigan Department of Treasury.

President Mary Sue Coleman recently sent this message to the U-M community. President Coleman previously served as U-M’s president and has been recognized for her commitment to international education and endeavors.

Congratulations from the International Center on your admission to the University of Michigan! We are looking forward to welcoming you to campus for the Winter 2022 Term.

If you do not plan to come to campus for the Winter 2022 term, and are considering remote study from your home country, be sure to check with your academic program for details on online course availability and to ensure that your proposed schedule meets program requirements.

U-M President Mark Schlissel recently posted the following announcement about the recent tragic shooting at Oxford High School

President Biden recently issued a Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel during the COVID-⁠19 Pandemic. The proclamation, which became effective on November 8, 2021, includes these key points:

On July 26 the International Center, Beyond the Diag, and Student Legal Services hosted a Q&A session for international students. The program gave helpful information about finding off-campus housing, the leasing process, and tips for avoiding scams. The event slides and recording are available below. 

Dear U-M International Student,

On July 12, 2021, Student Life Leadership sent out a message regarding the new COVID-19 Student Community Health Policy. This included the request for students to use Wolverine Access to indicate their COVID-19 vaccination status OR indicate that they do not want to share their vaccination information.

This information is based on our current understanding of the information recently posted by the U.S. Department of State.  If the State Departments issues any clarifications, this announcement will be updated.

MPals is a peer-to-peer pen-pal initiative. Incoming international undergraduate students will be matched with current students at the University of Michigan. M-Pals will answer questions via email about all aspects of student life, such as: dorm-living, classes, extra-curricular clubs, banking, transportation, and more! Interested in joining M-Pals? Sign up today!

The University of Michigan understands that access to COVID-19 vaccines is variable worldwide and is committed to offering any student arriving on campus who is in need of vaccination the opportunity to get vaccinated when they arrive in Ann Arbor. This includes students arriving from domestic locations as well as students arriving on campus from abroad.

All students are strongly encouraged to self-report their vaccination information via Wolverine Access.

Whether you plan to come to campus for the Fall Term or are considering remote study, please be sure to read the Campus Maize and Blueprint web page for detailed information about U-M’s plans for Fall Term 2021, and check it often for updates. If you plan to return to campus for the Fall Term, be sure to review the information about the COVID-19 prevention measures students arriving from international or domestic locations via plane, bus or train are expected to follow. During the Fall Term, courses will be offered in formats that include in-person, remote and mixed (hybrid) instruction, depending on curricular needs.

U-M President Mark Schlissel recently posted the following announcement, which expresses U-M’s concern for all affected by the health care catastrophe in India and highlights ways the university community is stepping up to help.

Addressing the U-M community following Derek Chauvin’s conviction in George Floyd’s murder, the Board of Regents and top university administrators wrote, “No single verdict represents the end of the journey that must continue.

The U.S. government is sending out a third round of Economic Impact Payments (EIP). However, since many international students and scholars are nonresidents for U.S. tax purposes, they are not eligible for the payment. As was the case with the first and second rounds of payments, if you were not a U.S. tax resident for 2020, you probably are not eligible for the payment. You must also have a social security number.

If you believe you are eligible for the economic impact payments

On February 5, 2021, U-M announced that all students – including graduate and professional students – who live on or come to campus will be required to be tested weekly through the U-M Community Sampling and Tracking Program starting February 16.  Please read 

Election Day (Tuesday, November 3) is almost here, although we may not know the results of the election until one or more days later due to the very active early/mail-in voting this year. Please also remember that there are polling locations across U-M’s campus, so the campus will be much more crowded than usual on Election Day.

Last week, two new U.S. government regulations were released that may affect students on OPT or AT whose employers plan to sponsor them for H-1B status.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 marks the 60th anniversary of when then Senator John F. Kennedy gave a speech on the steps of the Michigan Union that first introduced the concept of the Peace Corps. Learn more about the University of Michigan’s rich history with the Peace Corps here.

Michigan Governor Whitmer has officially designated September 6-12, 2020 as Suicide Prevention Week. Check out the resources and ideas for actions.

Beginning on Monday, August 17, the International Center will be open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 pm and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. These office hours are primarily for document drop-off and pick-up and for pre-scheduled visits. We also have a drop box for contactless document drop off at any time the Student Activities Building is open (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). For the rest of the day, our doors will be locked but our staff will work remotely to assist you and to process your requests.

The Department of State announced on July 22, 2020 that F-1 and J-1 students from the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and Ireland can now travel to the U.S.

On Thursday, August 6, the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control made some changes to their advice and recommendations for U.S. travelers planning travel from the U.S. to other countries.

On July 14, 2020, DHS rescinded the guidance and FAQs they shared on July 6th and July 7th. This is partly in response to the Harvard - MIT case that U-M joined, among other cases that were being filed to prevent new restrictive measures. It means that we will return to the March 2020 guidance that facilitated remote learning for students whether they remained in the US or left the country, due to the COVID conditions at the time.

On Monday, July 6, the U.S. government issued new guidance for F-1 students for the Fall 2020 Term. We know the announcement has caused stress and frustration for many in our campus community, and are working to limit the disruption of this new guidance for new and current students. U-M President Schlissel and senior leaders have issued a statement expressing U-M’s strong disagreement with the new policies. The International Center is disappointed that DHS will not extend the same flexible online guidance issued last March to the Fall semester, in light of the ongoing COVID crisis. 

To All Continuing Students: U-M wants to understand your current plans and thoughts about the upcoming school year as a way to help campus offices, schools, and colleges plan for needed resources, programming, and information. All participants will be entered into a drawing to attend a Men's Basketball team practice (1 grand prize winner), a $20 Amazon gift card (50 winners), or a "swag" bag (35 winners)! The survey closes July 17th - Take the survey now!

International Center staff are still available to help you, while the office and building remains closed to the public. IC Staff are working remotely from home and continue to provide advising and process requests.

As a reminder:

June 5, 2020: On June 5, 2020, U-M leaders published a statement in support of Chinese students, scholars and faculty, emphasizing that the university will strongly oppose any arbitrary restrictions targeting that segment of the U-M community.

June 1, 2020: Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced that staying at home is no longer required in Michigan. However, people in Michigan still must wear face coverings when in enclosed public spaces, and must continue to take precautions to protect themselves and their communities against COVID-19. Any work that is capable of being performed remotely still must be performed remotely.

All Michigan Secretary of State offices will reopen on June 1. The offices will only provide services by appointment, and will only offer services that cannot be completed online or by mail.

May 22, 2020: Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Order to June 12, 2020. However, the executive order allowing gatherings of 10 people or fewer, as long as participants practice social distancing, remains in effect.

University Health Service (UHS) now offers both in-person and virtual clinical services, and the UHS Pharmacy is offering curbside pick-up through Thursday, May 28, 2020. UHS has also posted information about COVID-19.

April 24, 2020: Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order through May 15. The new order also requires people to wear homemade face coverings when they enter enclosed public spaces.

Dear International Students,

We hope that you and your families are doing well.

The IC has released three new resources that we would like to call your attention to:

Dear International Students and Scholars,

Please read this email carefully for updated information regarding International Center services while the Student Activities Building is closed.

Effective Tuesday, March 24, the Student Activities Building (SAB) will be closed to the public based on the governor's "stay at home" order.

Dear International Student, Many developments have occurred in the past week regarding the COVID-19 situation. The University of Michigan International Center and Public Affairs websites detail this week's developments. However, I wanted to make sure that you understand these important highlights.

03/11/2020: In light of the University’s announcement regarding moving toward alternative forms of course delivery (including online formats), the International Center will follow Immigration’s established procedures that will ensure that F-1 and J-1 students maintain legal status. Please plan to participate in your classes in the format in which they are offered when they resume on Monday, March 16th. We will be posting additional information in the upcoming days.

On March 5, 2020 U-M President Schlissel sent an email to the U-M campus community to share the latest guidelines and information for students, scholars, faculty, and staff related to the COVID-19 virus, including some important COVID-19 updates, guidance for travelers coming to or returning to campus, recommendations for those planning future travel, and campus preparations.

On Saturday, February 29th, the U.S. government announced new travel restrictions for foreign nationals who have been in Iran the past 14 days due to COVID-19 related risks.  These restrictions will be implemented at 5:00 PM EST on March 2, 2020.

Dear International Students, I am writing to bring your awareness to the many medical, health, safety, and campus resources that have been developed in response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). As new information is shared, the International Center will continue to post announcements on our website. I also encourage you to reach out to the International Center with your questions about how restrictions related to COVID-19 may affect your immigration status or your ability to re-enter the United States after travelling abroad.

The International Center would like to remind all international students, scholars, employees, and dependents that they are responsible for following federal immigration regulations and federal laws, in addition to the laws of the State of Michigan.

(Jan 31, 2020) Today the White House Administration announced a suspension of the overseas issuance of immigrant visas for certain nationals of Burma (Myanmar), Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, and Nigeria; and will disallow Diversity Visa Lottery participation for Sudan and Tanzania. 

Happy 2020! May the new semester, year, and decade bring you good health, learning opportunities, and great success.

Many troubling things are happening around the world these days -- from wildfires to protests to tensions between nations.  Should you be personally impacted by any of these issues, or find yourself concerned and unable to concentrate on your academic goals, please know that the University of Michigan offers numerous resources for you.

The International Center would like to remind all international students, scholars, employees, and dependents that they are responsible for following federal immigration regulations and federal laws, in addition to the laws of the State of Michigan.

The LSA Opportunity Hub is a transformational initiative that helps students connect their liberal arts education to their aspirations and professional paths. LSA international undergraduate students are strongly preferred, but international students from other U-M schools and colleges are welcome to apply.

Dear Faculty, Postdoctoral Researchers and Graduate Students: During the Q&A that followed the President’s leadership breakfast last week, a community member asked about the challenges we face in the context of recent federal concerns of “foreign influence” on research at U.S. universities. This issue is very front of mind for many of us in leadership positions at U-M, and we want to share our views on this important issue with all of you.

Protect yourself and others from the flu this year.  Flu shots are available on campus and are covered by many insurance plans, including the International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan and GradCare. The University Health Service also suggests some ways to help reduce the spread of flu and other illnesses.

Dear Students,

Welcome to the University of Michigan!

The International Center is currently looking to hire a Graduate Student ICSC Co-Leader for the 2019-2020 school year. ICSC Leaders facilitate ICSC meetings, manage ICSC communication (emails, social media, flyers, etc.), ensure deadlines by volunteer members are met, organize ICSC events, and serve as a liaison between ICSC members and the U-M International Center. ICSC Co-Leaders will be supported by the Global Engagement and Education Abroad (GEEA) team. For a full job description, click here. Those interested in applying must do so by August 19. Click here to access the application. 

The International Center and the Office of New Student Programs welcome new U-M international undergraduate students and their parents to LSA International Transfer Orientation and International Undergraduate Orientation. The International Center has posted information for new international undergraduate students and their parents on the Orientation Overview page.

The University of Michigan Conference & Event Services is looking for ambitious, customer service oriented student staff for a two-week conference from Friday, July 19th through Friday, August 2nd. Both U.S. and international students are encouraged to apply; this is on-campus employment and a work-study award is not required. The University will be hosting the National Training Institute (NTI), a 10 day educational training conference of electricians who will be our guests on the University campus.

The Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application  (Form DS-160) now requires applicants to provide information on all social media platforms they have used within the last five years. You will be required to provide your username, screen name, handle, or other identifier for each platform you have used, but you will not be required to provide your passwords. You will also be asked for your current email address and phone number and for any additional email addresses and phone numbers you have used in the previous five years, but you will not be required to provide your passwords.

4/11/2019 – USCIS announced that it has received enough cases to meet the FY 2020 H-1B quota and has completed the computerized selection process.

As members of the University of Michigan community embark on international and domestic travel this summer, the campus International Centers, Office of the General Counsel, and Office of the Provost have prepared this informational guide to promote safe and efficient travel. More detailed and expansive information, including emergency contact information while traveling, is available on the Global Michigan website. We encourage you to explore all the travel resources available on that site while planning your travel.

Recent events around the world and here on campus have been upsetting to many students, faculty, and staff. Although reports of an active shooter on the University of Michigan campus on Saturday proved to be unfounded (the noises were actually the sounds of balloons popping), this was a very frightening day for many. As such, the International Center would like to remind you about some resources that are available to the campus community. Students

The Institute of International Education (IIE) has released its 2018 Open Doors report, which is a comprehensive source of data on international students studying at higher education institutions in the United States, and on U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit at their home colleges or universities.

On 8/31/18, USCIS announced that, effective 10/1/18, the fee for Premium Processing would increase from $1,225 to $1,410. All petitions postmarked on or after 10/1/18 will need to include the new fee.

The International Center would like to warn you about phone calls and emails from criminals pretending to be from U.S. law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, or from U.S. government agencies such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), or the Michigan Department of Treasury. The calls may also be "robo-calls" making "urgent" callback requests.

USCIS processing times for H-1B petitions has slowed down significantly since the beginning of this year. USCIS indicates that the "normal" processing time for an H-1B petition is currently 3.5 - 5.5 months. Please take these increased processing times into account as you are preparing your H-1B requests and submit your petition requests as early as possible. Note that Premium Processing remains available for H-1B petitions submitted on behalf of cap-exempt employers, including the University of Michigan.

The Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) and the Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) are seeking diligent, well-connected, and committed graduate and undergraduate students to serve on the University of Michigan’s first API (Asian/Pacific Islander) Celebratory’s Student Advisory Board. Members will work to make the inaugural event characterized by the values of inclusivity, solidarity, and recognition as it applies to the API diaspora on campus.

On October 8, 2017, the United States temporarily suspended nonimmigrant visa issuance at its consulates within Turkey.  The United States Embassy in Turkey has now announced that the processing of nonimmigrant visas has resumed on a limited basis.  For a detailed announcement and answers to common questions, please visit the U.S. Embassy website.

Dear Parents,

It was wonderful to see so many families of our new students participate in Monday’s orientation.  As a follow-up to our Panel of University Representatives, we would like to provide you with some additional information and webpages, and with responses to some of the questions raised yesterday, in order to clarify these important issues for you.

On August 21, the U.S. Department of State announced changes to nonimmigrant visa processing at the US embassy and consulates in Russia.  Beginning on August 23, 2017, all processing will be suspended. On September 1, 2017, non-immigrant visa processing will resume at the US Embassy in Moscow only. 

Nonresidents for tax purposes have two deadlines, April 18 and June 15, depending on their circumstances.  Review the deadlines section of Non-Residents for Tax Purposes to see which deadline applies to you.  Tax residents have only one deadline, April 18, 2017.  If you will not be able to mail (or, for tax residents, e-file) your tax form by your deadline, you can extend your deadline to file your form, but you must still pay any taxes you owe by the deadline. 

The Peace Corps announced that the University of Michigan ranked No. 4 among large schools on the agency’s 2017 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list. There are 60 Wolverines currently volunteering worldwide. The University of Michigan is also a top graduate school, ranking No. 4 with 15 alumni currently volunteering.