SRAS Travel Updates

Update as of March 07, 2022

SRAS does not currently recommend travel to Russia or Ukraine. Our other locations continue to operate as usual.

SRAS has successfully implemented an evacuation plan for its students in Russia. SRAS programs in Kyiv began remotely this semester due to geopolitical tensions. Thus, we had no students on the ground in Ukraine this semester.

We began building the plan in advance, working with each student and the student’s university to decide on a best plan of action for academic continuity should we need to evacuate.

The decision to evacuate was made on Sunday, February 27th, shortly after several Russian banks were pulled from SWIFT and as news came of flight disruptions due to airspace being closed in some European countries. While there was no physical danger to students, increasing inconveniences and instability led us to decide that students should be moved to more supportive learning environments.

Most students elected to transfer to our program in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Language classes will transfer to in-person learning based at London School, our local partners in Bishkek. For some, subject classes will continue online. These students were transferred as a group by SRAS on coordinated transport on the second and third of March.

Other students elected to return to the US and will continue their studies fully online.

SRAS continues to support all our students.

 

Update as of February 08, 2022

There have been a few updates to the policies reported below on December 21.

1. Federally Mandated QR Codes: have apparently been shelved for now after the Chairman of the State Duma argued that such a system would likely be ineffective in containing the new omicron variant.
   
2. Locally Mandated QR Codes: are still required by some institutions in some areas. Their use has been left entirely to local authorities, meaning that restrictions can vary across Russian cities and even across institutions. Travelers are advised to research any city and institution they will need to visit before arriving to Russia, particularly archives if those will be a focus of your travel.
3. QR Codes for Foreigners: a new system whereby QR codes would be given out based on antibody tests is rumored to be close to being rolled out. Such a test would allow anyone with antibodies (which are generated by the body after being vaccinated by any of the world’s vaccines or while recovering from COVID) to obtain a QR code. We are waiting to see if a permanent system will also be instituted to allow foreigners without a Russian tax number and Russian e-government account to obtain the QR codes. Currently, foreigners can only obtain these at certain (but not all) vaccination points that specialize in vaccinating foreigners with Sputnik Lite.
   
4. Medical Tests for Foreigners: these new medical tests will be implemented, at least as pertains to student visas, as part of the visa extension process. This typically happens 1.5-2 months into the semester. SRAS and SRAS partner institutions will assist SRAS students in completing this requirement. We will report more on how the tests are affecting other visa types after information becomes clearer on that.
5. Geopolitical Concerns: Those interested in how the current crisis on the Ukrainian border might impact travel can see this article by SRAS Assistant Director Josh Wilson.

 

Update as of December 21, 2021

Russia is currently revising several policies that will or may affect foreign visitors. As is often the case, how exactly some of these policy changes might be enacted is currently unclear. Legislation is often unclear on the details, leaving such things to be worked out at the institutional level, by formal explanatory letters and instructions issued as the legislation is put into practice. Below is an outline of what we know so far.

1. PCR Testing – Requirement changed to 48 hours before arrival to Russia. This one is already clear and implemented. In response to the omicron variant, many countries, including the US and Russia, have shortened the validity periods for the PCR tests that allow you to enter the country. Students will need to take another PCR test upon arrival in Russia to check into the dorms.
2. Federally Mandated QR Codes: The Russian Duma continues to discuss enacting federally mandated QR codes to access many public services. This legislation is currently, however, only being discussed – it has not been passed nor signed into law. The law envisions the QR codes to be in place by February but things remain in flux. Recently, part of the measure that would have required a QR code for domestic air or train travel was removed from consideration and sent back to the Transport Ministry for reworking. A separate bill, which would likely require QR codes for most public spaces, is still under consideration. However, analysists are unsure how much control local authorities will have in implementing and enforcing the legislation and there are some questions about how the QR codes would be formulated and used federally, which may lead to technical delays if the authorities decide to implement such a system.
3. QR Codes for Foreigners: Currently, Russia recognizes only vaccinations recieved via Russia-approved vaccines administered inside Russia. There is currently hope that this could change. For instance, policies are currently being considered that would allow Russians to obtain QR codes on the basis of vaccinations received abroad. If this is allowed, it becomes more likely that Russia will allow foreigners to do the same on the basis of their foreign certificates. We also expect a broader change of policy if Russia’s Sputnik vaccine finally wins WHO approval. Russia’s tourism board continues to lobby for QR codes for foreigners.
4. Medical Tests for Foreigners: The latest announcement is that foreigners staying in Russia for longer than 90 days will need to take a battery of medical tests including for COVID, blood and urine sample testing, chest x-rays, and a psychological exam. There are multiple business organizations lobbying to change this law, the full ramifications of which are still unknown.

SRAS is currently tracking these issues, updating students and researchers as information that may impact their travel plans becomes clear.

 

Update as of October 19, 2021

COVID precautions can vary from country to country, city to city, and even between individual theaters, businesses, museums, etc. Measures are also changing every few months. Travelers are advised to plan any trips carefully and come prepared to be flexible about itineraries.

We are still seeing fairly frequent confusion from airlines about what regulations regulate individual passengers to individual destinations, particularly for those traveling to Russia. Taking a direct flight from your home to your destination is still recommended or at least via a connection through another currently “open” country. For Russia, these are listed in Decree 635.

Currently students from the US are accepted to all SRAS destinations. Students arriving to any location should be ready to take at least some of their courses online. This fall semester students had a mix of  offline and online, with students generally reporting little to no loss in course quality and, in fact, generally allowing them increased mobility to see more of their host city.

In Russia, the student’s flight information must be uploaded to a government website in advance of arrival, so providing accurate flight information and informing us of en-route changes is critical.  Students will need a negative PCR test to enter the country (even if vaccinated) and another PCR test taken at the airport upon arrival in order to check into the dorms. We are also assisting students in locating and completing these tests.

Update as of August 23, 2021

Entry to Ukraine is possible with any of the following:

• a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to entering the country; OR
• a negative antigen rapid Antigen Test for SARS-CoV-2 test; OR
• a document confirming the receipt of a full course of vaccination against COVID-19 with vaccines on WHO’s list of approved vaccines (children under 12 are exempt from the testing and vaccination requirements).

AND

• proof of medical insurance covering all expenses related to COVID-19 treatment while on the territory of Ukraine. Ukrainian health insurance coverage can be purchased online – https://visitukraine.today/.

Entry to Kyrgyzstan is possible with either of the following:

• Negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival into Kyrgyzstan. If your PCR test expires en route due to flight delays or cancellations, you will be required to test again upon arrival at your own expense.
• Original vaccine card showing proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

Update as of July 25, 2021

Take a Direct Flight: All travelers are strongly advised to route their flights to Russia either directly from the US or from another currently “open” country – as listed in Decree 635. This includes, for instance, Turkey, Germany, and Finland. It does NOT include common layover countries like England or the Netherlands. Travelers attempting to connect in “closed” countries may be denied boarding as airlines and airports have been slow to update policies.

Quarantine NOT Needed in Russia for Americans: You must present a PCR test (negative) dated no more than 3 days prior to arrival. This is regardless of vaccination status. There is also a health questionnaire to complete, print, and present upon arrival. However, Russia is not requiring incoming Americans to quarantine upon arrival. The airlines have generally supplied these questionnaires as well, passing them out like they used to do with migration cards. Make sure you have your own pen.

Registration Delays: Travelers planning to say with Airbnb or similar should confirm strongly with their host that they can and will be registered upon arrival. Registration procedures now vary by city and region in Russia and have experienced some disruption due to COVID-related staffing and service issues. Americans must still be registered within seven business days of arrival and within seven business days of each change of location. Note that your registration is cancelled after you check out from a hotel. Anyone using hotels as an Airbnb supplement for registration must check in at least once every six days to ensure that their registration does not expire. For more, see our page on Russian Visas 101.

All Visa Types Open: Americans can now apply for all visa types: single, double, multi, 3-year (for Americans), student, humanitarian, business, etc. Conditions and fees at the Russian consulate do not seem to have changed either.

 

Update as of July 7, 2021

International students studying in the US on the basis of a US student visa are not currently eligible to receive visas in the US and travel from the US to Russia. If the international student is from a country that is listed in Decree 635, that student may return to their country of citizenship, receive the visa there and travel to Russia from their country of citizenship. Only US citizens and US Green Card holders are eligible for visas in the US and travel to Russia from the US.

All travelers are encouraged to take direct flights from the US to Russia. As the amendment to Decree 635 is still new, not all airlines and airports have updated their own information. This can cause delays or rejection when trying to board in third countries for connecting flights. Direct flights are likely to be the safest in terms of avoiding problems when traveling.

 

Update as of July 1, 2021

Russia has officially “reopened” its borders to US citizens. The US and several other countries have been recently added to Decree 635, which has regulated Russia’s Covid-related border policy.

This means that if you have a valid visa, you may now enter Russia – with a negative PCR test taken within 3 days prior to arrival.

Based on how the process has worked when previous countries have been added to Decree 635, we expect that visa support for Americans for related visa types (student, humanitarian, etc.) will resume in 7-10 days. Americans can already apply for tourist visas.

Researchers should bear in mind that archives have been subjected to covid-related shutdowns, and often have limited hours or limits on delo or copies/scans that can be requested. Those interested in SRAS research support can find out more on our site.

Students may still be able to apply for fall studies in some locations in Russia, but should note that Russian universities may be partially or fully online for fall semester. This might mean taking classes from your dorm room while still enjoying the city and cultural programing. Contact SRAS for details.

We currently expect spring semester to be “normal.”

Note, however, that the situation remains fluid and regulations can change. We will continue to monitor all aspects of travel to Russia for Americans closely.

 

Update as of May 4, 2021

As of today there is no further update as to the reopening of Russian borders or visa processes for US citizens.  Further, US Embassy staffing in Moscow has been dramatically reduced per Russian instructions to release all Russian staff (about 75% of all staffing). The result of this is a reduction in services being provided by the Embassy, in particular in issuing non-immigrant visas. While there is some potential of a tit-for-tat response that could impact processing of visas for Americans hoping to travel to Russia, our hope is that is not the case.

We remain hopeful for fall 2021 study abroad in Russia, but we are waiting for updates and more clarity in the latter part of May, after the May holidays. All deadlines for fall study abroad have shifted to June 1 and we will post another update by that time. If you are a current or potential fall applicant, please refer to our Study Abroad 2021 Updates.

Our Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine locations remain open, with COVID rates declining after a spring surge, and a gradual, if slow, uptick in vaccination rates. Note that Ukraine now requires a PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival. Testing upon arrival is no longer a standard option.

Update as of April 4, 2021

Russia has opened its borders with several more countries but the US is still not on that list. Due to the time necessary to secure student visas, SRAS has cancelled in-country study abroad in Russia this summer. See our updated Summer Study Abroad 2021 list of SRAS opportunities this summer – in-country, online, and hybrid.

We continue to actively monitor the COVID situation in our destination countries, which this summer include Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine. While both destinations remain open to US citizens (with presentation of a negative COVID PCR test) the vaccine rollout is notably slower. COVID surges can also impact the overall capacity of the local healthcare system. We very strongly recommend that all students be vaccinated prior to study abroad, for their own health and that of the community they will enter.

SRAS will continue to be as flexible as possible regarding program deposits for summer and fall 2021 programs. This will vary somewhat by program, especially where visas are involved. Contact us if you have questions about this and your specific program.

Update as of January 28, 2021

Attention students planning study abroad this summer! If you do not have a current passport, be aware of the processing times. At present, standard processing is 10-12 weeks. Expedited is 4-6 weeks.  Apply now and if you are traveling to a country that requires a visa, do the expedited option.

As a reminder, in order to obtain a student visa for Russia your passport must be valid 18 months after program end. Many other destinations, regardless of visa requirement, can require validity of 3 to 6 months from entry date.

 

Update as of January 17, 2021

The US State Department has released a new directive on travelers arriving to the US. It is quite similar to regulations currently being put in place by many other countries, including Russia, for travelers allowed to arrive there (which does not include Americans currently). While there are significant differences, we are hopeful that this is a sign that there is growing consensus on how the world will manage a widespread reopening of international borders. A basic consensus, along with widespread vaccination, will be needed to make this happen.

Testing for travelers to the US must be performed using a viral test (NAAT or antigen) – any traveler that does not have the lab results (paper or electronic form) AND the attestation, available on the CDC site MUST be denied boarding under the new regulation. The test in Russian is known as “Коронавирус SARS-CoV-2, определение РНК, кач., в мазке со слизистой носоглотки и/или ротоглотки.”

The new regulation, as announced from the US State Department is as follows: Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide either a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel or provide a positive test result and documentation from a licensed health care provider or public health official of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel.  Passengers must also attest, under penalty of law, to having received a negative qualifying test result or to recovery from COVID-19 and medical clearance to travel. Full details can be seen on the CDC website.

 

Update as of January 14, 2021

The situation with borders in our destination countries remains unchanged. The world is in a bit of holding pattern as it watches the vaccine rollout unfold. We are hopeful that in 3-4 weeks there will be greater clarity at home and abroad.

 

Update as of December 19, 2020

The Kyrgyz border is open to Americans according to this update of December 7. A negative PCR COVID test, taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Kyrgyzstan, must be presented.

Cuba is also now open to American visitors. Upon arrival, you will need to fill out a health declaration and provide proof of insurance covering COVID-19. Advance PCR tests are not required; you will take a PCR test upon arrival at the airport (fee is built into your flight ticket) and must isolate in your pre-booked accommodations until your test results are in – approximately 24 hours.

**Health and Emergency Insurance**

SRAS partners with CISI for health and emergency insurance for our students. CISI has compiled addressed here some of the commons questions about COVID-19 and medical coverage under their policy.

 

Update as of November 25, 2020

SRAS is committed to providing timely and accurate information so that students, faculty, and administrators can make informed decisions about study abroad. Our partners, also eager to host students again, provide us with weekly updates on the local situation. At this time, we intend to run our summer and fall 2021 programs in Russia and other locations. We do anticipate the need to be flexible with deadlines and even program dates depending on when borders open and visa processing resumes.

Russia, like many other countries, is currently opening its borders to countries on a case-by-case basis. At this time, that list is limited to Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Maldives, Serbia, Seychelles, South Korea, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, the UAE, Britain and Japan. While America is not on that short list currently, the list is growing and we hope that still more normalcy will return as more vaccines, treatments, and prevention techniques appear.

Further, students from the above countries have been able to reenter Russia on student visas after the border was reopened. We have NOT received any information that any visa type, including student visas, might be unavailable as visa processing begins for other countries. The pattern has been that as Russia opens its borders to certain countries, visa processing for those countries resumes. We cannot predict when borders will open, but we can assure you that we will provide updates once we receive any verifiable information.

While we will continue to post travel-related updates here, see Summer 2021 Study Abroad for specifics about SRAS summer programs for next year.

 

Update as of October 28, 2020

Spring 2021 Study Abroad: As the border/visa situation with Kyrgyzstan and Russia is still unclear, we will not offer study abroad in these locations for the spring term. We do plan to proceed with the Kyiv: Russian as a Second Language option for spring. This will be a 12-week program, with the option to extend with 4 weeks of online instruction, for a total of 16 US semester credits.

 

Update as of October 1, 2020

US Resumes Passport Issuance: Standard processing is listed as 10-12 weeks, although SRAS advises applicants to plan for delays as there will likely be an initial large backlog of applications. Anybody hoping to travel in the spring should check the expiration date of their passport and keep in mind that a Russian student visa will require that the passport be valid for 18 months past the visa issuance date. If you are need a new passport for spring, you should apply for the expedited processing just to be on the safe side. As usual, applications for new passports can be submitted via the postal service as well as through many courthouses and libraries.

SRAS Locations:
Ukraine has reopened its borders. Foreigners must take a COVID test upon entry and remain in quarantine for 48-hours while the results are processed. Purchase of a local (inexpensive) insurance policy required.
Poland is open to foreign students, with no mandatory quarantine. In-person interview for the visa not required at present.
Kyrgyzstan has announced a similar policy.
Russia has reopened to select countries, but remain closed to Americans.

Spring 2021 Study Abroad: We continue to monitor the situation in our destination countries, noting in particular mobility as determined by border openings and visas, and any excessive burdens on the local healthcare system.

COVID-19 Protocols: SRAS Partner Institutions have implemented health protocols very similar to those we have here at home. Some variances exist, due in part to city and region regulations, and while they can change (more or less strict) between now and spring, we anticipate the following core measures to remain the norm during the spring semester:

• Classes over 50 will be online
• Face masks required in public spaces
• Frequent and thorough cleaning of common areas (classrooms, lounges, sport facilities)
• COVID testing upon arrival
• Some self-isolation period upon arrival
• Self-reporting processes

 

Update as of August 04, 2020

Russian universities are, as of now, largely conducting in-person classes. However, study abroad is still on hold as visas are not yet being issued and foreigners are, in general, still barred from entering Russia. Certain exceptions remain, such as for diplomats, pilots, and foreigners who need to visit immediate family members in Russia.

Russia is currently negotiating bilateral agreements to reopen its borders. While agreements have been reached with Turkey, the UK, Zambia, and Tanzania, visa issuance even for these countries is has not yet begun. Russia has set a number of requirements for beginning these bilateral negotiations which would require that the COVID situation in the US would have to be brought fully under control before anything could be discussed.

Much of the world, in fact, remains closed or with restricted travel, especially for Americans. For these reasons and for safety concerns, most US universities have cancelled Fall 2020 abroad.

SRAS is looking forward to 2021 and as of now, we are planning on Spring 2021 abroad. To allow for maximum flexibility, deadlines have been moved to November 1 and deposits will be fully refundable up until it is necessary to process visas – approximately 3-4 weeks prior to arrival.

In the meantime, SRAS Online is launched! Join us for a range of courses on regional studies, art history, Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish languages – and more!

 

Update as of June 04, 2020

Many economies are beginning to reopen as the global health crisis begins to stabilize.

SRAS has cancelled all regular summer programs abroad and is offering some online experiences instead. However, we continue to actively monitor travel-related developments in our locations for our colleagues and clients who may be interested in traveling to or researching abroad.

Poland, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine are all expected to resume international flights as of June 15. Most have made statements that this reopening is currently only planned and may be subject to review before that date. All three countries have not lifted a mandatory two-week post-entry self-quarantine period. All three have introduced smartphone apps used to enforce self-quarantines and may require those entering the country to utilize these apps for the first two weeks of their stay.

Thus, while travel will reopen for these three countries, tourism and other short-term travel is not likely to be viable. Longer stays may still be worthwhile.

Russia has not made any announcements on the subject of reopening its borders. Aeroflot has indicated that it assumes it will resume regular ticket sales in mid-July. However, Russia’s Association of Tour Operators has indicated that they do not expect the borders to open before October. Russian government officials have made many recent statements encouraging citizens to consider domestic tourism, leading some to assume that borders may be held closed in an attempt to jumpstart that section of the Russian economy. Most Russians seem to have gotten the message. According to a recent poll, only 4% are still planning a vacation outside the country this summer. Meanwhile, 11% are planning a domestic trip while 61% are planning stay-cations at home.

Federal regulators have opened tourism selectively. Currently, only resort areas with medical licenses are open and clients must present a negative COVID test, issued within the past three days, at registration. Other hotels and housing options remain closed.

No solid indication has been given as to when Russia’s visa services, shut down since March, will resume. From current policies, it is possible that, when it is reopened, additional requirements could be added: a negative COVID virus test or positive COVID antibody test. Depending on when borders open, a two-week self-quarantine may also be required upon entry.

It is additionally likely that quarantine restrictions will also remain controlled at the regional level. Thus, individual rules will need to be monitored for each location a traveler intends to visit. Some Russian cities are currently almost fully reopened for domestic business while others, such as Moscow, are remaining much more cautious with generously spaced phased reopenings.

Most of our locations, we believe, will likely be open by the start of the fall semester for 2020, judging by current policy trajectories and messaging. A larger question remains what form education will be delivered in within those locations – online or in-person. Other questions still to be answered is if self-quarantine measures will remain in place by that time and, in the case of Russia, if additional requirements for a visa will be instituted. We will continue to monitor the situation, plan for the conditions carefully, and keep our students and clients informed.

 

Update as of March 29, 2020

The situation for travelers to Russia remains highly fluid. As the virus and protective measures against it are still in their initial growth stages, we should expect continued elevations of travel restrictions for now. If you have general or academic travel interests to Russia, please keep in mind the following five points:

1. Russian Visas – No new Russian visas should be expected until at least May.

The government has ordered the visa service closed. No applications for Russian visas are being accepted. Processing for visa applications is also suspended. Thus, no new Russian visas should be expected to be issued before May 1. On that day, the order will lose force. However, May 1 is a holiday and most of the first week of May is celebrated as holidays in Russia. We also cannot exclude the possibility of an extension of the original order to close the visa service. We will update this page as new information becomes available.

2. The Russian border will close indefinitely on March 30.

Russia has applied increasing restrictions to border crossings for several days including blocking the entry of foreigners as of March 16 and announcing an end to international flights as of March 27. Some flights have been allowed to continue to allow foreigners to leave and Russians to return home. Special measures were also put in place to allow foreigners with valid visas to enter Russia if they are a close relative of a Russian citizen. As of March 30, ALL border traffic including train, car, and even pedestrian crossings will be blocked. While we can probably expect the enforcement of the order to allow for foreigners to leave and Russians to return for a short time, if you are not prepared to extend your stay in Russia indefinitely, we recommend you plan to leave Russia as soon as possible.

3. Stays may be extended in-country under a special process.

Extensions of stays in Russia is now possible via a new emergency process. This process will have four steps. 1) One week before the expiry date of a visa, the holder should visit the police office serving the location at which that visa is registered. 2) The visa holder will need to submit a statement, in Russian, about the situation. The visa holder will be fingerprinted and photographed. 3) Then, an application may be submitted to the migration office (which are usually within a larger “multifunctional document center”), again, which serves the area in which the registration is held. Note that this does not actually prolong the visa. No new or revised visa will be issued. The result of this process is only permission to stay in Russia after the visa’s expiration. 4) Before leaving Russia, anyone who has taken advantage of this process will need to apply for a transit visa after booking tickets and not later than 10 days before the scheduled departure. In Moscow, this can be done at the Migration Head Office at Pokrovka, 42.

4. Russian archives and libraries are closed.

In accordance with the government’s announcement to close all non-essential work, Russian libraries and archives are closed. Some, however, are working on new online services in response to the current crisis. SRAS will update its Guide to Russian Archives (hosted on our site, GeoHistory.today) as news becomes available. We will also reopen our remote archive assistance services once it is safe to do so.

5. SRAS is currently planning for summer and fall study abroad.

Additional information on summer and fall can be found on separate entries on our site. The situation is fluid and information will be updated. All planning will be done with health and safety as the top priority.

 

Update as of March 16, 2020

Thank you for your patience as we have evaluated the very rapidly changing information in our study abroad locations. Following an SRAS team meeting and assessment of information from all available sources, we are currently recommending that all students consider returning home in the next several days. Despite our study locations having relatively low numbers of COVID-19 and taking precautionary steps, the rate of new travel restrictions each day is concerning and unpredictable. We believe that while you are on an SRAS program abroad, you should be able to, at any time, depart on a commercial passenger flight. We are no longer certain that this will be the case in the coming days and weeks.

Many of our partners have temporarily suspended programs and/or are making arrangements to continue online. As you know, we will work with our host institutions to continue your studies online to the extent possible. We are committed to being able to provide you with a minimum number of credits to ensure your academic continuity. We are not requiring you to depart but do strongly recommend it at this time given the unpredictable circumstances worldwide.

Should you decide to stay, you should understand that you will be subject to any host institution limitations and country mandates which may affect method of study and provision of housing. SRAS will continue to support you as long as you are in country within the limits allowed by the host country. We will also require that you sign a waiver releasing SRAS and your host institution of responsibility.

Following are the immediate steps you should take:

1. Speak with your parents and co-decision makers about this immediately.
2. Notify SRAS, your host institution and your home institution no later than Thursday, March 19th at 9am local time about your decision. If you have questions or want to discuss please reach out.
3. If you decide to depart, look into flights, book ASAP and send us your itinerary. Please try to book the most direct flight, avoiding European capitals if possible.

We continue to strongly believe in our local partners and understand this is a worldwide, unprecedented situation during which we all have to abide by and make very difficult decisions.

Thank you for your patience during this time – we are ready to support you in your next steps.

The SRAS Team

 

Update as of March 14, 2020

The situation continues to develop globally.

Russia has now instituted an air traffic restriction by which all international travel with EU countries, as well as Switzerland and Norway, must connect via capital cities. This means that all international flights connecting to Moscow in other cities will need to be rerouted. The measure is due to go into effect at the end of the day on March 16.

Moscow is also taking additional measures, having placed itself on “high alert.” The measures announced are unlikely to affect our students, but include measure like handing out face masks to people visiting hospitals, restricting patient visitation hours, and making public school attendance optionally available online.

Kyrgyzstan has recently announced that all educational institutions will be closed for three weeks. This will affect our students at London School in Bishkek. SRAS is clarifying the repercussions of this for our students as soon as possible.

Ukraine has also taken the very strong measure of announcing the cancellation of air traffic for two weeks. All land borders will also be closed. The period will begin March 17. In addition, the border into Ukraine will be closed to all foreigners starting March 16. The US Embassy in Kyiv has additional information on their site.

Poland has banned all passenger flights for two weeks starting March 15. The border will be closed for the same period, and returning Polish citizens will be subject to 14-day quarantine.

As always, our student’s health and safety remains the top priority for SRAS. We are working with our students and partner institutions to help them make and implement the best decisions for themselves.

We are currently mobilizing, with our partners, to provide online instruction, ensuring academic continuity for our students who have returned home.

 

Update as of March 12, 2020

SRAS has sent the following letter to students in response to the recent restrictions placed on foreign nationals entering the US from the Schengen Area of Europe:

Dear Students,

In light of the Wednesday announcement from President Trump we understand your concern.

The announcement is new and everyone is looking for clarification on it. We have as many questions as you do and our entire team is working diligently to get answers. Please note that the proclamation does indicate the following:

Section 1. Suspension and Limitation on Entry. The entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States is hereby suspended and limited subject to section 2 of this proclamation.
Sec. 2. Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry.
(a) Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply to:
(i) any lawful permanent resident of the United States;

Study abroad offices are also understandably overwhelmed and many have recalled students home overnight. At this point:

1. Please forward us all recent communications/directives from your university, along with specific questions you have. We will address each one on a case by case basis and help you with next steps.
2. Remain calm. This is very new information and additional guidance will likely be issued from the US government and universities on Thursday (U.S. time). Please reference the Department of Homeland Security site.
3. We are in contact with the US Embassies and will be working to verify information and get guidance from them.
4. If you feel you need to move forward in making flight arrangements, please be sure to clarify ALL information and scenarios. We recommend trying to contact the airline directly. An airline won’t run a flight if they believe the passengers won’t be allowed in. Please forward your flight information to april@sras.org and rstillings@sras.org.
5. The decision on whether or not to return home is yours, along with advice from your parents and home university. We will support whatever decision you make. At this time, we do maintain that our study abroad locations are safe and taking precautions. Once you are in transit and in countries where SRAS does not operate, our capacity to support you is limited.
6. You can expect ongoing communications from us as we receive information. We will use WhatsAp groups for each location for ease of communication. We do not have all the answers to all the questions, but will do what we can to provide the best information available and get answers.

Again, your safety, health and peace of mind are our top priority. Both our local and US teams are working on this and here to support you. We appreciate your patience during this time.

 

Update as of March 10, 2020

Russia, including the city Moscow where elevated precautions are being taken, has not yet applied any restrictions to US citizens traveling to Russia.

US citizens arriving to Moscow or any other location in Russia can expect to have their temperature taken at the airport, potentially multiple times, to be photographed, and to be asked for extensive contact information so that the city authorities can update them on any changes to the situation. Moscow, and Russia in general, has maintained very low virus rates by taking such precautions.

Although at least one news report has emerged saying that the travelers from the US have been placed on Moscow’s “self-quarantine” list, the Moscow mayor’s office itself has denied these reports to SRAS via its hotline set up specifically to disseminate information on Moscow’s coronavirus policies. The mayor’s office has also stated that all official changes to policy will be posted to Mos.ru and Sobyanin.ru, two official sites of the Moscow city administration. Neither of these sites currently list travelers from the US as affected by the coronavirus policies.

The mayor’s office also stated that, as of March 10, 2020, those travelers with connecting flights from affected countries are subject to “self quarentine” if they are staying in Moscow. Thus, a passenger traveling from New York to Moscow with a connection anywhere in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, China, Iran, or South Korea, will be expected to self-quarantine for 14 days within Moscow. This list of countries will be updated as the global situation evolves.

However, travelers connecting in Moscow for travel to other Russian cities are not currently affected by Moscow city policies of self-quarantine. So long as the passenger does not intend to exit customs control in Moscow and spend time in the city itself, the passenger will be allowed to continue his or her flight to another location. Currently, Moscow is the only Russian city with specific travel-related policies.

The situation remains fluid. SRAS will continue carefully monitoring this situation through the Moscow mayor’s office and continue to update this page as developments occur.

 

Update as of March 03, 2020

SRAS’s top level staff, located in America and abroad in our geographic regions, are in constant discussion about how to best serve student health and safety, which are our top priorities.

We take into careful account all available information. These include official guidance from the CDC, WHO, and OSAC. We also monitor information from host and home countries and institutions, feedback from partners, students, and local staff, as well as other trusted medical and security professionals.

As of this writing, SRAS has not cancelled any programs. Coronavirus instances in our region remain low and local governments are taking extensive measures in their efforts to maintain that status. No U.S. State Department elevated travel advisories related to COVID-19 (coronavirus) have been issued for our region. That said, we also understand very clearly that the situation remains fluid and must be monitored continually. We will help our partners to implement their decisions and will remain in constant contact with and offering 24-hour support to our students. This includes those on the ground and those currently applying to future programs.

SRAS has worked for more than 20 years to help students grow and learn abroad, including through some dramatic events. We will notify all affected parties swiftly of any changes to programs and update this page with additional information. We will continue our mission to encourage students to think, explore, and broaden their world views while placing as our absolute top priority student health and safety.

Update as of Feb 28, 2020

As providers, study abroad offices, faculty, and students alike scramble in the face of restrictions posed by the spread of COVID-10 (Coronavirus), we are also monitoring the situation in our region.

Resources for monitoring the virus:

• Online Map: Johns Hopkins University is offers a global online map for tracking the virus.
• WHO Travel Recommendations: The World Health Organization has a page of continually updated travel advice.
• CDC Guidance: The official CDC page for the disease.
• For Russia: the Moscow Times is providing an extensive summary in English of Russia’s continually developing measures to keep the virus out of Russia.

Summary of situation as of February 28

All Locations:

All locations below have taken precautions including developing quarantine facilities and imposing travel restrictions from heavily affected countries or conducting airport screenings.

Central and Eastern Europe:

• Russia – 2 confirmed cases; both recovered.
• Ukraine, Poland – no confirmed cases so far.

Caucasus:

• Georgia – two cases reported. Several people have been quarantined.
• Azerbaijan – reported first case, a national traveling from Iran.
• Armenia – no confirmed cases so far. Has closed passenger travel to Iran.

Central Asia:

• Kyrgyzstan – no confirmed cases so far. Entry restrictions imposed.
• Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan – no confirmed cases so far.

Other:

• Cuba – no confirmed cases so far. Entry restrictions imposed.

We will continue to post updates on this page as the situation changes.

Alternate destinations?

We are aware that many programs are displaced and where possible we have extended deadlines to accommodate students looking for alternate study abroad plans. While these programs cannot offer Chinese or Italian language, they can offer excellent instruction in other fields. The following summer programs are broadly applicable:

• The Art and Science of Museums (St. Petersburg, Russia – museum science and management)
• Cuba-Russia Connection: Studies in Cultural Diplomacy (Havana, Cuba and St. Petersburg, Russia – international relations, diplomacy, history and culture)
• Central Asian Studies (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – cultural and linguistic anthropology
• Security and Society Summer School (Warsaw, Poland – security, democracy, terrorism, genocide, science fiction, research internship)

For Faculty Led Groups that have been displaced, we can cover a wide range of topics within our geographic region. While, language-specific programs for displaced groups might not be possible in our locations, a wide range of subjects can be covered – from economics and diplomacy to culture and history. We are happy to discuss the possibility of developing an appropriate program for your group to meet your goals abroad.

We hope that the situation will improve and that disruptions to study abroad can be minimized. We will continue to provide updates on this page with any significant developments in our region.

Update as of Feb 03, 2020

SRAS Statement on Coronovirus and Study Abroad

SRAS has been following the news on the coronavirus carefully. Cases have now been reported in the Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. Governments across the globe are also taking extraordinary measures to contain the virus.

Russia, for instance, is closing border crossings with China and restricting travel from China. Greatly increased security and screenings are being taken at airports. News reports repeatedly discuss the measures to be taken to prevent the spread of the disease. A majority of Russians in a recent poll have reported taking precautions such as washing their hands more often or wearing facemasks.

There is frequent coverage of precautions and cases in individual countries online – in both English and the local languages. Sample English-language reports can be found here for Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan.

Given the global nature of the event and the level of local precautions being taken, SRAS still considers all SRAS locations to be safe.

All SRAS programs are currently running as scheduled.

Safety is SRAS’ top priority and we will continue to follow developments and advise our students accordingly.