As a result of the Pandemic, international travel for anyone who is returning to the UAMS campus comes with a series of steps that have to be followed to ensure your safety and the safety of others. Please bookmark this page for any updates regarding returning from international travel and as a point of reference to use for future travel.
Pre-Departure Pointers for F-1 Students Traveling Abroad
- Speak with the International Student Advisor and let her know your travel plans before you leave the U.S.
- If you need a travel signature on your I-20, schedule a time with the International Student Advisor to get her to sign this. This should be done when travel is booked.
Please note: a travel signature is valid for one year.
- Check the COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination webpage at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html to see which category your country is in, and what the most up to date requirements are for entering your home country and re-entering the U.S. at the time you are traveling.
- Bookmark this page in your browser for the most up to date information regarding any changes in UAMS protocol for arriving back on campus after you have traveled.
CDC Updates Regarding Returning to the U.S. from International Travel
As of November 26, 2021, the following countries were considered to be suspended for travel to and from the U.S. for citizens and non-immigrants due to the newest COVID-19 variant, Omicron. They are: Republic of Botswana, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of Malawi, the Republic of Mozambique, the Republic of Namibia, the Republic of South Africa, and the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Beginning November 8, 2021, anyone entering the U.S. must have proof of vaccination for COVID. You must also be able to show proof of a negative COVID PCR test taken within three days before entering the U.S. If you cannot show proof of both of these you will not be able to enter the U.S. Below are the approved manufacturers of the COVID vaccine that can be shown when entering the U.S.
| Vaccines Approved or Authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration | Vaccines Listed for Emergency Use (EUL) by the World Health Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| Single dose | Janssen/J&J | Janssen/J&J |
| 2-dose series | Pfizer-BioNTechModerna | Pfizer-BioNTechModernaAstraZenecaCovaxinCovishieldBIBP/SinopharmSinovac |
Post-Travel Procedures to Return to UAMS Campus
The student should notify Student and Employee Health via email at studentandemployeehealth@uams.edu that they are returning to the United States from international travel, what country they are traveling from, and when/where they will be testing. This must be done before you return. Anyone who travels internationally is required to have a COVID PCR test after they return to the UAMS Campus
- If the test is NEGATIVE, you are cleared to come on campus conditional with a monitoring survey that has to be completed for 14 days from your last day of travel.
- If the test is POSITIVE or IF YOU BECOME SYMPTOMATIC DURING THE 14 DAYS AFTER TRAVEL THEN YOU MUST BE QUARANTINED.
- It is strongly recommended that you test at the UAMS Drive Thru Clinic. Test results will be sent to SEHS raster and the SEHS staff will have access to the results. Waiting on test results is the biggest delay in returning individuals to work and school.
Testing is not offered on the weekends, so if you return on a Saturday or Sunday you will need to go to a local pharmacy, such as:
- Natural State Laboratories on Rodney Parham (if open)
- Walgreens
- Pharmacy at Wellington (West Little Rock)
- NOTE THAT IF YOU DECIDE TO GO AND TEST AT ONE OF THESE PLACES YOU SHOULD CONTACT THEM BEFORE GOING AND SEE WHAT ADDITIONAL COSTS ARE INVOLVED IF ANY TO RECEIVE THE RESULTS IN LESS THAN TWO DAYS.
If you will be testing at UAMS then when you get in line at the drive-thru (you can walk thru this line as well) you will need to call 501-296-1531 to register yourself. SEHS will watch for your results and will clear you to return to campus once the results are available and are negative.