Must-read for inbound travelers! The entry guide for international students has been released!

Date：2021-08-18   Author：admin

The back-to-school season is approaching, and international students are about to embark on a brand-new overseas experience. I believe many of you can't wait to start preparing all kinds of luggage for going abroad.

Unlike previous years, the entry policies during the epidemic have been highly variable. As the vaccination rates in various countries increase, their entry policies are also gradually easing. Today, I have sorted out some new entry policies for August for everyone, as well as the requirements for vaccination and nucleic acid testing.

I. The United Kingdom
Entry policy
Recently, the British government announced that starting from August 2nd, travelers from the United States and most European countries who have received two doses of government-approved vaccines will no longer be required to undergo a 10-day mandatory quarantine upon entering England. They only need to take a virus test before or after entry. People entering the UK from Amber countries who have already received two full doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the UK's NHS can be exempted from quarantine and only need to take a COVID-19 test in two days. However, this policy only applies to those who have completed their vaccination in the UK.
Note: entry specific policy can be viewed in other parts of the UK government official web https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

2. Entry procedures
According to the current new policy, those entering England from "amber" countries must abide by:
All entrants must present a negative Covi-19 test result within 72 hours
Fill out and carry the "Passenger Locator Form", indicating the location for the COVID-19 test upon arrival in the UK and the reference number for booking the test kit
Book a COVID-19 test kit in advance for the quarantine period after arrival

After arrival, you need to self-isolate for 10 days and take a COVID-19 test on the 2nd and 8th days

3. Approve the types of vaccines
Currently, the vaccines recognized in the UK include Astrazeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. In addition to the above-mentioned vaccines, students who have completed the Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccination in China can also directly enter the UK.

4. Isolation and testing requirements
Prepare an English version of a nucleic acid test report within 72 hours in China. Either a paper or electronic version is acceptable.
Note: The test report must be in English, French or Spanish. Please note that translations will not be accepted. The test result certificate in the original language must be provided.

The information must include:
(1) The name should be consistent with that on the travel document
(2) Passport number
(3) Date of birth/age
(4) Testing date
(5) Negative test result
(6) The date on which the test provider collects or receives the test samples
(7) Name of the testing institution and its contact information
(8) Detection methods (most domestic ones are PCR) In terms of detection standards, the report needs to meet the following important indicators:

The viral load must be higher than 100,000 copies per milliliter

● Detection sensitivity ≥80%
● Specificity ≥97%

Ii. The United States
Entry policy
The US State Department has informed that as of August 1st, students holding F/M visas will no longer be affected by the "ban on traveling to the United States" and can fly directly from there.
You can only go to the United States within 30 days before the start of the school term
Only students who start school after August 1st
Those holding a valid visa and an I-20 do not need to reapply
If you don't have an F1 visa, apply for one first
To enter the United States on a B1/2 visa, one needs to transit through three countries and undergo quarantine and transfer.

2. Entry procedures
Inbound travelers are required to provide a nucleic acid test report within 3 days before boarding. Those who have been infected need to provide a recovery certificate within 3 months. Nucleic acid test report: Both Chinese and English versions, with passport number and English name.
Inbound travelers who have received the COVID-19 vaccine are also required to provide a COVID-19 test report.
For a safe return to school and the start of the new term, please further inquire about the policy requirements of your school.
④ F1 visa for international students
⑤ Form I-20: Students can only enter the United States within 30 days of the start of the school term
Some airlines also require checking students' opening emails and class schedules. It is recommended to download and save them in advance, or log in to the school system to take screenshots and print them out for inspection
It is recommended to arrive at the airport four hours in advance. Currently, it is expected that the check-in time at the airport will be long starting from August. Try to go to the airport as early as possible
If the tuition fee has already been paid, you can also print out the relevant payment receipt or screenshot in advance.

3. Approve the types of vaccines
As of now, the US FDA has only approved the emergency use of three vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. For students already in the United States, priority should be given to getting vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. For students preparing to go to the United States, it is acceptable to get vaccinated with either Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines. Both of these vaccines have been included in the "Emergency Use List" by the WHO.
➤ Vaccines accepted by various American universities: Many American universities, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia University, New York University, the University of Washington, Johns Hopkins University, and California State universities, have officially stated their recognition of the Chinese vaccines approved by the WHO. Meanwhile, 240 American universities have made it mandatory for students to get vaccinated in the fall semester.

4. Isolation and testing requirements
At present, a negative nucleic acid test report issued within 72 hours before departure is required for entry into the United States, and another nucleic acid test should be conducted as soon as possible within 5 days of entry. After entry, unvaccinated individuals need to quarantine for 7 days, while those who have been vaccinated need to self-isolate for 3 days. (U.S. states may have different policies. For details, please visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/)


Iii. Canada
Entry policy
Canada will open its doors to American workers and green card holders starting from August 9th. Starting from September 7th, borders will be open to all other countries. At the same time, for passengers who were already allowed to enter the country before the new policy, if they have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine officially recognized by Canada, they will not be denied boarding starting from August 9th.

2. Entry procedures
① Confirm whether you can enter the country

First of all, you need to use the "Findout if you can enter Canada" on the official website of the immigration department to find out whether you are allowed to enter Canada

② 14-day quarantine plan
Those who have been fully vaccinated do not need a 14-day mandatory quarantine or a mandatory nucleic acid test on the eighth day.
In the quarantine plan, you need to confirm that you have a suitable residence, which must meet the following requirements:
1) One can stay for at least 14 days
2) While not leaving the isolation area, one can obtain supplies of water, food and medicine.
3) It can prevent contact with other non-companions
4) During the quarantine period, no family members or guests will visit.
③ A nucleic acid test report within 72 hours before boarding
Passengers aged five and above (including fully vaccinated passengers) are required to provide a negative nucleic acid test report in both Chinese and English within 72 hours (before the flight takes off). If you have been infected with COVID and have now recovered, but your nucleic acid test report is still positive, you need to prepare a positive nucleic acid test report within 14 to 90 days before departure.
④ Register a Canadian nucleic acid testing account in advance
This account must be consistent with the email address used when registering ArriveCAN. Different cities have different channels for nucleic acid testing. The website used in Toronto is SwitchHealth. The nucleic acid test result at the airport will be displayed in the account in two or three days. On the eighth day, you need to log in, video chat with medical staff online and conduct a self-nucleic acid test. SwitchHealth will arrange for door-to-door pickup service.
Fill in "ArriveCan" 72 hours before entry
ArriveCAN is an APP that everyone entering Canada must download. For the specific filling of ArriveCan, you can refer to the previous notes. After submitting all the information, you will receive a receipt in ArriveCan. Please keep the screenshot and show it directly to the customs when passing through. Two days after entry, you need to report to ArriveCAN every day and submit a self-test form for COVID symptoms every day during the quarantine period (fully vaccinated individuals are not required).
⑥ Identity document
1) Original passport (with valid visa and fingerprint registration confirmation card attached)
2) Original entry paper (the document affixed and returned with the passport for exchanging the Study Permit)
3) A printed copy of the approval letter (5813, with a QR code. Download for the student's online application account after Posting
4) Original copies of the student's transcript and graduation certificate (new complete version, in both Chinese and English)
5) Printed copies of the offer letter from the admitted school and the tuition payment receipt (the offer letter is consistent with the one submitted for visa)

3. Approve the types of vaccines
Last week, Canada lifted the 14-day mandatory quarantine requirement for inbound travelers who had been fully vaccinated. However, Canada currently only grants isolation exemptions to those who have received four vaccines approved by the health department, namely Pfizer, Moderna, Astrazeneca and Johnson & Johnson. Those who have received Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines are still not within the scope of exemption.
In response, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau said on Tuesday that he recognized that many Canadians had received vaccines overseas that had not yet been approved by the Canadian health department. He disclosed that the government has conducted research on those vaccines that have been recognized by the WHO but have not yet been recognized by Canada to determine the expansion of the current list of recognized vaccines. The WHO has currently approved a total of six vaccines. Besides the above-mentioned four vaccines, the remaining ones are Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines from China. That is to say, the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines are very likely to become the fifth and sixth approved vaccines in Canada.

4. Isolation and testing requirements
Starting from 12:01 a.m. on August 9th, all overseas travelers entering Canada will no longer be required to undergo a three-day hotel quarantine. It should be noted that although the hotel quarantine upon arrival has been lifted, as the vaccines officially recognized by Canada are not yet available for vaccination in China, students still need to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine at home after entering the country.