Announcements

The  Campus Maize and Blueprint website is the University’s central source for all COVID-19 information, including information about COVID-19 vaccination. It is updated frequently and is an excellent source of current information.

Congratulations from the International Center on your admission to the University of Michigan! We are looking forward to welcoming you to campus for the Fall 2021 Term. However, we realize that some of you may not be able to arrive on campus in time for the Fall Term, and may be considering studying remotely from your home country. We hope the information below will be helpful as you plan for the Fall Term.

Obtaining a student visa is a critical first step in being able to come to the US to achieve your higher education goals at U-M. Many students wonder, and even worry, about the student visa interview process. The best advice we can give you is to prepare!

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 International Center (IC) hires Orientation Peer Advisors (graduate and undergraduate students) to assist with new international students who will begin their studies at University of Michigan (U-M) - Ann Arbor Fall 2021. In the process, you can expect to improve your communication skills, work with a team, help new international students ease the transition to a new environment, and make some friends -- all while getting paid!

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.

Congratulations to all of the international students in the Class of 2021! Graduating from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, a top institution for higher education, is a huge accomplishment. It represents the hard work you put in to achieve the ambitious goal you set for yourself by coming to the United States. Be it a bachelors, masters, professional, or doctoral degree, we know you worked hard to earn your place as a U of M alum and a Wolverine for life! We hope that you had a positive experience, made lifelong friends, networked, and prepared for your career or future studies.

4/1/2021 Update: Presidential Proclamation 10052 expired on March 31, 2021 and is no longer in effect.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced some temporary changes in response to recent delays which have affected many F-1 international students applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT). This will only apply to OPT applications received on or after Oct. 1, 2020, through May 1, 2021.

The stay-in-place order: On Tuesday, October 20, the Washtenaw County Health Department issued a “stay-in-place” order for U-M undergraduate students.  The order will expire at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3, but could be extended.

The International Center is aware of the proposed changes to the period of admission and extension of stay procedures for our F-1 and J-1 students and scholars, and we are very disappointed in these proposed changes. We feel very strongly that these proposed changes would significantly and detrimentally impact international students and scholars and do not align with the unique educational needs of students and scholars in academic institutions.

9/29/2020 Update: On September 29, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a nationwide preliminary injunction and stay on implementation of the 2020 final USCIS fee rule. New fees and form versions associated with that rule that were to be required on October 2, 2020 are now on hold.

A lease is a binding contract and once you sign it you are generally liable for all the lease terms, including the obligation to pay rent for the full term. Even though many of the classes at the University of Michigan will be held remotely for the 2020/2021 term, your responsibilities pursuant to your off-campus housing lease likely will not change. There is generally no right to terminate your lease due to COVID-19 or the University’s decision regarding classes.

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.

Updates to Important Information for Fall Term 2020 on the International Center COVID-19 Updates Page

Though this summer we will not be able to offer an in-person orientation for new international students due to COVID-19, the International Center remains committed to serving and supporting new students. Check out a list of comprehensive resources for new students, parents, families, and virtual offerings.

July 1, 2020: Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bills 876-878 which provide an additional extension of valid driver’s licenses and state identification cards that would otherwise expire during the COVID-19 emergency.

The International Center is committed to supporting you during this global health crisis. The global COVID-19 situation is dynamic and quickly changing, and so is the guidance on how to minimize its impact on international students. Since we are in an environment of evolving information, please make sure to regularly check the International Center's COVID-19 update page for important information and updates.

Racism in the United States runs deep, as it sadly does in many places across the globe. The recent, violent killing of George Floyd, among others, reminds us of the injustices faced by African Americans all too often. Individuals from Asian backgrounds experienced discrimination and bias recently as ignorant people reacted to the COVID-19 crisis. The pain and frustration experienced by anyone subjected to prejudice is, at its core, the same.

On January 31, 2020, the U.S. government announced new travel restrictions for foreign nationals who have been in China in the past 14 days due to COVID-19 related risks. These restrictions took effect at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on February 2, 2020.

Dean Solomon affirms Rackham's commitment to our international student community in light of reports of possible further visa and travel restrictions.

On Sunday, May 24, the U.S. government announced new travel restrictions for foreign nationals who have been in Brazil in the past 14 days due to COVID-19 related risks.

May 7, 2020: Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order through May 28, 2020. Under the new order, you still must not leave your home except to run critical errands, to engage in safe outdoor activities, or to go to a specified job.

International Center, Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI), Center for Educational Outreach (CEO), and Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) wish to recognize and congratulate all student organizations and individuals that received grants through those offices. Watch this celebratory video highlighting just a fraction of the many amazing initiatives that took place on campus and around the world!

President Trump has issued a proclamation suspending the entry of certain immigrants for 60 days. This proclamation, which takes effect on 11:59pm EDT on April 23, 2020, only affects those who need to apply for an immigrant visa at a consulate abroad in order to enter the U.S. as permanent residents (green card holders). The proclamation does not apply to current permanent residents. There are also some other exceptions.

The International Center is committed to supporting you during this global health crisis. The global COVID-19 situation is dynamic and quickly changing, and so is the guidance on how to minimize its impact on international scholars. Since we are in an environment of continuously evolving information, please make sure to regularly check the International Center's COVID-19 update page for important information and updates.

Dear International Students and Scholars,

The Student Activities Building (SAB) is closed to the public until further notice, based on the governor's "stay at home" order.

On Saturday, March 14th, the U.S. government announced new travel restrictions for foreign nationals who have been in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland in the past 14 days due to COVID-19 related risks. These restrictions will be implemented at midnight on Monday, March 16th, 2020 (excluding flights that are already in route by that time).

On Wednesday, March 11, the U.S. government announced new travel restrictions for foreign nationals who have been in the Schengen Area in the past 14 days. These restrictions will be implemented on Friday, March 13 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

03/11/2020: Tomorrow and Friday all classes are officially canceled. On Monday, March 16th, classes will resume remotely in alternative formats. Classes will not meet in person through the end of the semester, April 21. All U-M events that would convene 100 people or more are also canceled.

U-M ranked in top 10 for Peace Corps volunteers among large U.S. colleges and universities. U-M also ranked No. 6 among graduate schools, with 11 graduate alumni currently serving worldwide. Overall, U-M ranks No. 4 all-time among top producing schools on the Peace Corps list. It is the only university from Michigan on the list this year. Since the agency’s founding in 1961, around 2,775 alumni from U-M have served abroad as Peace Corps volunteers. There are 211 volunteers from Michigan currently serving worldwide.

Dear International Scholars, 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.

2/26/2020: University of Michigan-related travel to South Korea is now restricted and personal travel to South Korea is currently discouraged. If you do plan any international travel during the Spring Break, be sure to review the Spring Break Travel Guidance for International Students in Light of the Coronavirus. Have a safe Spring Break!

On February 20, 2020, U-M President Schlissel delivered a statement on COVID-19 Virus at the Board of Regents Meeting extending his support to the members of the U-M community who are affected by the COVID-19 virus epidemic in China and beyond

The U-M University Health Service (UHS) released a new webpage with resources regarding the Coronavirus, symptoms and preventative measures, and considerations for travel to impacted regions. Please visit https://uhs.umich.edu/2019-nCoV to review and to stay informed.

The International Center and the Office of New Student Programs welcome new U-M international undergraduate students to U-M and to Ann Arbor. The International Center has posted information for new international undergraduate students on the Winter 2020 International Undergraduate Orientation event page.

The University of Michigan Office of Public Affairs recently posted some updated information about the international student fee described below. If you have additional questions after reading the updated information, you can email internationalstudentfees@umich.edu

Residence Education is beginning the search for next year’s ResStaff (live-in student employees) who will work in all of the Undergraduate Residential Communities as Resident Advisors (RAs) and Diversity Peer Educators (DPEs). Applications are due by Oct. 27 by 11:59 PM. Read more on the University Housing Jobs.

Are you looking for an amazing job at the University of Michigan? Well, look no further! Come work for the Center for Campus Involvement! CCI is looking for some students who want to develop skills in facilitation, adaptability, and relationship building while supporting student organizations on campus.

The University of Michigan International Center (IC) is proud to announce its Welcoming Month schedule of events for new and returning international students, faculty/staff, scholars, and their families. Throughout the month of September, the IC will host several events to help members of the international community learn about U.S. culture, get to know each other, and explore Ann Arbor.

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.

APRIL 25, 2018 UPDATE: The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in the Trump v. Hawaii travel ban case on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. The Court is expected to announce its decision by the end of June. Links to a written transcript and an audio recording of the oral argument are posted on the Supreme Court's website.

The Peace Corps announced that the University of Michigan ranked No. 8 among large schools on the agency’s 2018 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list. There are 61 Wolverines currently volunteering worldwide. The University of Michigan is also a top graduate school, ranking No. 5 with 14 alumni currently volunteering.

On March 6, 2017, President Trump signed a new executive order entitled "Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Entry into the United States”, which revokes and replaces Executive Order 13769, issued on January 27, 2017.  The new order includes a revised 90-day entry ban on nationals of six countries - Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – and is effective on March 16, 2017. Please refer to this page for clarifications as additional information becomes available, for updates on important and relevant changes, for information on how this order affects U-M’s international students, scholars, faculty and staff, and for Executive Order resources.

Do you have great photos from your experiences at U-M, the state of Michigan, or another country?  The International Center invites U-M international and U.S. students, scholars, faculty, staff, and dependents to participate in our 2017 Photo Contest!  Submit your photos and see if the judges pick you as a winner to be displayed in the 2017 Global Photo Showcase!   Winning photos will be used for the International Center’s website, social media, digital signage, or future event promotion material.

The International Center and the Office of New Student Programs welcome new U-M international undergraduate students and their parents to international undergraduate orientation. The International Center has posted information for new international undergraduate students and their parents, including PDF versions of the International Parent Orientation agenda and presentation. on the Orientation Overview page.

On Monday 7/24/17, USCIS announced that Premium Processing will resume for H-1B petitions filed on behalf of institutions of higher education as well as several other cap-exempt employers, effective immediately.

On March 15, 2017, the U.S. District Court in Hawaii issued a nationwide temporary restraining order, preventing the Government from enforcing certain provisions of the executive order that was scheduled to go into effect on March 16, 2017, including those related to visa issuance and travel to the U.S.

On March 6, 2017, President Trump signed a new executive order entitled "Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Entry into the United States." The new order revokes and replaces Executive Order 13769 that was issued on January 27, 2017.  This new Executive Order includes a revised entry ban on nationals of six countries - Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – and is effective on March 16, 2017.