New Travel Restrictions: What You Need to Know Before June 9
Dear Students and Scholars,
We are writing to you as passport holders from countries named under a newly announced travel ban that will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday June 9th. This ban restricts entry to the United States for nationals of the following twelve countries:
Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Additionally, heightened restrictions have been announced for individuals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
This policy may significantly disrupt your ability to travel or create uncertainty around your immigration status.
If you are from one of the listed countries and currently outside the U.S., we strongly advise you to book your return flight before Monday, June 9, when the travel ban takes effect. Please ensure you have a valid visa, passport, and all necessary immigration documents in hand before traveling.
If you are inside the U.S., we advise you to remain in the United States to avoid any potential immigration challenges.
We also encourage you to:
- Monitor updates from the U.S. Department of State and your local U.S. embassy or consulate for the latest developments.
- Stay in contact with your academic department and International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) so that we can advocate for you and help explore any options or alternatives available.
- Reach out to ISSS for confidential, personalized support. Whether you are currently in the U.S. or abroad, we are committed to working closely with you.
Please know that the University of Pennsylvania values you as an essential part of our community and will endeavor to support you in navigating these challenges.
If you have any questions or would like to speak with someone directly, please contact Dr. Rudie Altamirano, Executive Director of ISSS, at rudiea@upenn.edu.
Sincerely,
Zeke Emanuel
Vice Provost for Global Initiatives
Amy Gadsden
Associate Vice Provost for Global Initiatives