Beginning Tuesday, the U.S. will restrict travel from India due to its recent spike in COVID-19 cases. India reported 401,993 new cases and 3,525 deaths Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University’s COVID-19 dashboard.
Travellers will not be allowed entry into the U.S. if they have been to India within the past 14 days. Exceptions include U.S. citizens and permanent residents, although they must test negative before returning.
While the ban does not impact permanent residents, it may make things difficult for University of Idaho exchange students as the semester nears an end.
According to Director of International Services Dana Brolley, the university is currently hosting over 50 students from India. Brolley sent an email out to affected students following the ban.
“I know some of you have plans to return home for summer and that many of you have not been able to visit family for a very long time,” Brolley stated in the email. “While we encourage you not to travel if it is not essential, please know we will do all we can to support you.”
With the ban recently announced, there’s no way of knowing how long it may last. The new restrictions pose potential barriers for students traveling home for summer break, who may not be able to return in the fall if the ban isn’t lifted.
“It’s particularly difficult for those graduating soon,” Brolley later said.
To apply for work authorization in the U.S. after graduation, international students must be enrolled full time at a university for two consecutive semesters in-person. Not returning in the fall could jeopardize the futures of Indian students close to graduation.
In this case, it may be better for students to not return home for the summer.
“The hard part is some of these students weren’t able to go home last year,” Brolley said. “They could be away from home for another year. That’s particularly hard when family gets sick.”
With these abrupt changes and summer break just weeks away, students have shown concern over their remaining options.
“I’ve been getting a lot of questions about on campus jobs,” Brolley said.
Some international students face work restrictions due to their immigration status.
Brolley cited the Pitman Emergency Fund as a source of potential financial assistance for students in need. The fund stands as the only pandemic-specific source of funding available to international and undocumented students.
Students impacted by the travel ban can contact the International Programs Office at 208-885-8984 for support.
Haadiya Tariq can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @haadiyatariq