We encourage all international students, foreign nationals, and non-U.S. passport holders to go abroad while at UConn, but want to make sure that you verify if participating on a program abroad will affect your U.S. student visa Status, U.S. immigration status, or your eligibility to re-enter the U.S. upon return.
How to Apply for a Program
- Set up an appointment with Education Abroad (http://abroad.uconn.edu/our-team)
- Notify your Education Abroad Advisor about the following:
- Current citizenship status and country of origin
- Desired program destination
- Duration of program
- Visit the International Students and Scholar Services Office (ISSS) (http://isss.uconn.edu/)
- Review the ISSS Off-Campus Study page to learn more about how your program may affect your visa and SEVIS record
- Confirm all requirements, restrictions, or deadlines
- Ensure you know about all required documentation you will need to bring with you while abroad
- Be sure to maintain any minimum unit requirements while abroad (undergraduate students must take the equivalent of twelve U.S. credits to be considered a full-time student)
- Research student visa requirements and deadlines for the country you plan on visiting
- Some countries require you to renew your U.S. visa before you can obtain their visa
- Renewing your U.S. visa may require returning to your home country either before or after your program
Things to Consider
- Will you be abroad for more than six months?
- Do you have the minimum unit requirements for your U.S. student visa?
- Will you finish your UConn degree requirements while abroad?
- Are there military service requirements in the country where you will travel?
- Should you apply for your host country’s visa in the U.S. or in your home country?
- PLAN EARLY! At least nine months to one year prior to your expected program start date!
- Always check with the UConn SEVIS officer to determine how the program you are going on will affect any SEVIS requirements. (https://isss.uconn.edu/staff/)
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) students who are considering going abroad should consult with an immigration attorney to discuss the process and evaluate the potential issues in applying for a program abroad. Visit NAFSA’s resource page on DACA for more information.