Dear Students,
Today, you should have received the updated message from campus regarding COVID-19 with travel advisories and information regarding suspension of in-person classes from March 23 through at least April 10.
Online courses from March 23 to April 10 will not negatively impact your student visa status.
ISS is here to help ensure you maintain your status amid this ongoing global health pandemic.
Currently, ISS is open for regular office services. We have walk-in advising from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesdays. All other meetings with an advisor should be scheduled by making an appointment through Terra Dotta or sending an email to iss@studentlife.wisc.edu.
Our staff is working hard to respond to emails and phone inquiries in a timely manner, but we ask that you send one email to ISS with enough information that we can respond adequately. In your email, please include your full legal name, UW ID number, and your full question and/or concern. This will allow us to better and more efficiently serve you.
The Chancellor’s message encouraged you not to leave Dane County.
If you chose to leave Dane County or return to your home country for spring break, we do not yet know if you will need to self-quarantine or if you will be able to return when classes are scheduled to resume on April 10.
There are risks to traveling to your home country:
- You may not be able to leave your home country.
- If you are unable to return to UW-Madison when classes are scheduled to resume, you may need to withdraw from the semester at your own cost.
- This could impact your student visa status. Your eligibility to return to the U.S. or apply for benefits, such as OPT eligibility, could be compromised.
If there are any upcoming changes to our office hours or our in-person availability, we will share this on our website and through Terra Dotta.
We know this is a difficult situation. Please know we have a core team anticipating questions and working on providing answers as the situation evolves.
In support,
ISS