-
Is it safe to travel to San Diego?
-
The data show that community spread of infection is still a concern across the world. Please follow CDC prevention guidelines carefully, both to preserve your own health and the health of those around you. As of November, 2021, all noncitizens who are nonimmigrants—including E.S.T.A., F-1, and J-1 students—traveling to the United States by air from any part of the world must show that they are fully vaccinated (with an approved vaccine), with limited exceptions. Over 74% of San Diego County residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and boosters are now available to all adults (over 18 years old).
UC San Diego has a comprehensive plan, Return to Learn, for a safe return to studying on campus. The plan was developed in consultation with top public health experts in the United States, who are medical faculty at UC San Diego. Extension International Programs will continually assess the changing situation with COVID-19 and offer classes that meet the strict health guidelines in place. The University of California requires vaccines for all students, staff, and faculty, making UC campuses some of the safest places in California.
-
What kind of health and safety measures is the University of California San Diego taking?
-
UC San Diego has a comprehensive plan, Return to Learn, for a safe return to campus life. UC San Diego researchers have developed a substantial SARS-CoV-2 testing program for students, staff, and faculty, which has accelerated the resumption of in-person activities on campus. Campus clinicians, public health experts, molecular biologists, infectious disease specialists, epidemiologists, and bioinformaticians are using wastewater monitoring and statistical modeling to speed early detection and shorten the duration of outbreaks, which has resulted in fewer infected people in the campus population.
With extremely few exceptions, ALL UC San Diego faculty, staff, and students are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with an FDA or WHO-approved vaccine. This, combined with readily accessible testing, self-screening, and mask-wearing, has kept the COVID-19 infection rate on campus at a fraction of 1%.
UC San Diego Health and Student Health Services have developed triage screening (by phone and at front desks) and implemented additional protocols to help identify possible cases of coronavirus to provide optimal care for those with symptoms and to protect other patients and staff.
-
Once I arrive to the U.S., will I need to self-quarantine?
-
Fully vaccinated individuals do not need to self-quarantine upon arrival to the U.S.
As of November 2021, you must be fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine to travel to the United States by plane if you are a non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrant. Only limited exceptions apply. A person who has received only one dose of an accepted 2-dose series and has recovered from COVID-19 does not meet this definition, and therefore is NOT considered fully vaccinated. Before boarding a flight to the United States, you are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 1 day before travel.
For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers
If you are not fully vaccinated and allowed to travel to the United States by air through an exception, you are required to do the following:
- 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 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.
- Do not visit the UC San Diego campus until you have completed your 7-day quarantine.
- If you will not be able to attend in-person classes because you need to quarantine, inform us at ipinfo@ucsd.edu.
Additional Housing and Medical Insurance
See our housing page for details on quarantine housing options. Please contact our student health and welfare advisor to arrange for additional medical insurance.
-
If I purchase the mandatory UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies medical insurance, will this medical insurance cover testing and treatment for COVID-19?
-
Almost all students who are enrolled in Extension International Programs (IP) have the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies medical insurance policy for international students. For students who have purchased the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies IP medical insurance (Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield), testing and treatment for COVID-19 is covered:
-
Coronavirus testing: When ordered by a doctor at a hospital, emergency room, urgent care, or other medical visit, where the purpose of the visit is to be screened or tested for COVID-19 for medical reasons (not travel), members do not have any patient responsibility for COVID-19 testing.
-
Coronavirus treatment: If a member is diagnosed with COVID-19, the plan will pay based on the plan benefits outlined in the policy, i.e. members will pay any out-of-pocket expenses that the plan requires, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance, just like any other illness would be treated (at least until otherwise mandated).
Active students must report any possible symptoms of COVID-19 to campus using the Student Symptom Screener and wait for instructions from the campus health and COVID Teams before being cleared to return to campus. Email Iphealth@ucsd.edu if you need help with this process. Email ipinfo@ucsd.edu or your academic adviser if you are unable to attend or participate in classes.
-
Are there health facilities that can assist students who think they might have been exposed to COVID-19?
-
Our Health and Welfare adviser provides students with information regarding area hospitals and medical facilities, which are covered in the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies’s medical plan. If a person is infected with COVID-19, hospitals have protocols and procedures according to the seriousness of the person’s symptoms, and of course that will include quarantining and monitoring to assure full recovery from the illness and to protect others from becoming infected.
-
How are international programs at the University of California San Diego’s Extension being offered?
-
Please check the International Programs Dates and Prices page for updates on program offerings in 2022. Programs are currently being offered primarily in person, except for a few online programs. Depending on the public health context, it may become necessary to transition our classes back to exclusively remote learning, but this is not planned as of December 2021.
English Language Programs
Programs at the English Language Institute are being held in person on campus. In 2022, we will continue to offer Conversation and Conversation & Fluency live online for students who are unable to travel to the U.S. to study English.
University and Professional Studies
UC San Diego returned to primarily in-person courses as of Fall 2021. Most University and Professional Studies classes are currently held in person. In 2022, we are also offering an online version of our University and Professional Studies program, where students can choose classes from among the online class offerings of university academic departments and UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies. Studying in person in San Diego still offers the greatest variety of classes.
Certificate Programs
With the exception of the Paralegal Certificate, all of our Certificate Programs that are normally offered have adopted a hybrid model, with a combination of in-person and online courses.
Campus directives may change at any time, so please check with us if you have questions or concerns.
-
When will U.S. Consulates and Embassies resume student visa services?
-
Please see the individual website for the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your region for information regarding its operating status and the services it is currently offering. To find embassy or consulate websites, go to https://www.usembassy.gov/. The embassy links get you to the right embassy website, but you will have to do some clicking to find relevant COVID-19 information, as each embassy website is structured a bit differently.
-
Wil UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies International Programs issue original hardy copy I-20 or DS-2019 forms, or can I use an electronic form to apply for a visa and travel to the U.S.?
-
The Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is allowing issuance of the electronic I-20. Extension International Programs will continue to automatically issue an electronic I-20, unless the student specifically requests a paper copy. Issuing an electronic I-20 means the student receives the I-20 sooner and can make a visa appointment as soon as possible after being accepted to their program. SEVP has coordinated with both the U.S. Department of State and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding the policy to allow electronic I-20 issuance. Both agencies support the issuance of electronic I-20s (for F-1 visas).
J-1 students are required to have a physical, original DS-2019 document.
-
I am about to complete my program but would like to extend my stay. Can I enroll in additional classes?
-
There are multiple program options available to students who would like to continue their studies, including English language, University Professional Studies, and Certificate programs. Please contact ipinfo@ucsd.edu as soon as possible to discuss options.
-
I have been admitted to an international program, but I am concerned about traveling now. Can I delay my program start date? Will I need a new I-20?
-
In the event that your travel must be delayed, there is no cost to defer enrollment as long as you notify us in writing before the program’s published start date. At the time of deferral, we will need to know the new start date and the program being requested. See our dates and prices for published start dates.
You will need a new Form I-20, which reflects your new program start date. At the same time you notify us that you want to delay your studies, you will also need to let us know the new start date you would like.
-
I am concerned about traveling now. Can I cancel my program and still get a refund?
-
If you decide to cancel your studies, we will refund or defer all tuition and fees, except application and express mail fees, as long as you notify us in writing before the program’s published start date. See our brochure for published start dates.
-
I want to return home early. Can I receive a refund?
-
If you decide to withdraw from your current studies, our policy remains in place. We will refund or defer all tuition and fees, except the express mail fee, as long as you notify us before the program’s published start date. If you decide to cancel your studies after the program start date, you will not receive a refund. See our dates and prices page for published start dates.