April 2022
NAFSA is pleased to see the recent changes announced by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The changes decouple the CDC and DOS advisories except for the cases of a Level 4 CDC Travel Health Notice for COVID-19 which will result in a corresponding Level 4 DOS Travel Advisory. These changes mean signigicantly fewer countries will be marked with a Level 4 advisory from CDC or DOS in the current state of the pandemic.
Read the press release from the U.S. Department of State
Read the press release from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2021 Updates
NAFSA Joins Other Associations To Respond to Department of State Travel Advisories
On May 5, 2021, NAFSA sent a letter cosigned by eleven associations expressing collective concerns regarding the April 19, 2021, travel advisory update that increases the number of countries at “Level 4: Do Not Travel” to approximately 80 percent worldwide.
NAFSA Responds to U.S. Department of State's Travel Advisory Updates
On April 23, 2021, NAFSA contacted Acting Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Ian G. Brownlee to express disappointment in the U.S. Department of State's announcement that 80 percent of countries would soon be placed at a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory. This change will have a chilling effect on education abroad in what has already been an unprecedented and devastating 16 months for the field.
Read the Response to NAFSA from Acting Assistant Secretary of State, Ian G. Brownlee to NAFSA CEO Esther D. Brimmer, DPhil.
