International student travel update

This message was originally sent to employees by the associate provost, students Chris Read.

• The University of Waterloo is now on the government of Canada’s list of designated learning institutes (DLIs) with approved COVID-19 readiness plans.
• Although students should not travel unless necessary, this approval means that our international students may be able to enter Canada to study or work.
• Please encourage all international students to submit or update their International Travel Plans and Quarantine Form.

This email is a follow-up to my email on Friday, October 23, 2020 regarding international student travel.

I’m happy to share that The University of Waterloo is now on the government of Canada’s list of designated learning institutions (DLIs) with approved COVID-19 readiness plans.

This is an important update as it means that our international students may be able to enter Canada to study or work. In order to enter Canada, students must meet the travel restrictions exemptions for international students as outlined by the Government of Canada - Immigration and Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Although we continue to advise students not to travel unless necessary, we have sent an email to international students (both graduate and undergraduate) to inform them that Waterloo is on the list.

To comply with our readiness plan, we require that all international students complete or update the International Travel Plans and Quarantine Form. Please encourage international students to submit or update their form whether or not they plan to travel.

For those students who must travel to Canada to study or work, the following resources are available to support them:

• COVID-19 travel and quarantine checklist for step-by-step information about traveling to Canada and making a quarantine plan.
• Waterloo student quarantine package to help enrolled students who must travel to Canada with their mandatory 14-day quarantine.
• Virtual drop-in sessions, hangouts and International Peer Community for students connect with their peers before and during quarantine.
• Free online appointments with licensed immigrations consultants to answer questions about study permits and travel exemptions and restrictions.
• The opportunity to apply to live on campus for winter 2021 through Campus Housing (note that students will not be able to move in until after completing their 14-day quarantine elsewhere).

I know that you and your teams may receive questions from students about our COVID-19 readiness plan or have questions about whether they can travel. Please continue to direct inquiries about immigration and travel to our immigration consultants (https://uwaterloo.ca/student-success/international-student-resources/immigration-consulting). If students have questions about the programs or supports, please direct them to our International Student Experience team at ise@uwaterloo.ca.