• March 13, 2020

    Dear International Students,

    The COVID-19 outbreak has presented many challenges globally. These challenges affect international students, and for the colleges they attend. We want to ensure you have the most accurate information and guidance that we can provide given the circumstances.

    As you may know, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has declared that a public health emergency exists nationwide due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Entry into the United States is currently suspended for visa holders who were physically present in mainland China during a 14-day period prior to seeking entry into the United States. Currently, the U.S. Department of State has active heightened travel advisories issued for travel to China (Level 4: Do not travel), Japan and South Korea (Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution). Effective immediately, all College related out-of-state and international travel is suspended until further notice and all BCCC study abroad programs have been cancelled.

    Travel Advisory Levels:

    Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
    Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
    Level 3: Reconsider Travel
    Level 4: Do Not Travel

    While BCCC are aware that many students may have already made travel plans for spring break, we strongly discourage students from traveling out of the country during this time for the following reasons:

    1. You may still encounter delays or other difficulties at the U.S. Port of Entry, even if you travel to countries that are not subject to a “Do Not Travel” warning from the State Department.
    2. You may encounter delays or other difficulties at the ports of entry of other countries.
    3. Delays in returning to BCCC will have a direct impact on one’s ability to maintain F-1 status and an active SEVIS record.

    For the above reasons, any proposed/planned travel outside the United States during Spring Break should first be discussed with Mr. Will Hug (wnhug@bccc.edu) or Dr. Sung Kim (skim@bccc.edu) in International Student Services. This is a rapidly developing situation and entry to other countries and the United States is not guaranteed. For anyone planning to travel, we strongly advise that you closely monitor COVID-19 based travel alerts and precautions at any destination countries, and any layover countries through which you must travel. We encourage any travelers to add the following resources in case of emergency while away from campus:

    1. International Student Services (410-462-8360), international@bccc.edu
    2. The BCCC webpage for COVID: https://www.bccc.edu/coronavirus
    3. The Department of State webpage for updated travel restrictions per country: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/COVID-19-Country-Specific-Information.html
    4. CDC COVID-19 Information for Travel: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

    Be advised that if public health measures emerge that cause difficulties with your return to the U.S., BCCC may not be able to overturn those protocols to help you return in a timely manner. We enjoy having you as part of the BCCC community and are here to support you in your educational attainment. Please contact International Student Services with questions regarding your visa status or current travel constraints.

    Sincerely,

    Debra L. McCurdy, PhD
    President