A March 14, 2020 Presidential Proclamation imposes an entry ban on nonimmigrants and immigrants who have recently traveled to to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Effective "at 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on March 16, 2020. This proclamation does not apply to persons aboard a flight scheduled to arrive in the United States that departed prior to 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on March 16, 2020."

On March 13, 2020, SEVP published a follow-up to its March 9, 2020 guidance, identifying three common scenarios related to emergency procedures implemented by SEVP-certified schools: 1) A school completely closes and does not have online courses or other alternate learning procedures; 2) A school temporarily stops in-person classes but implements online or other alternate learning procedures and the nonimmigrant student remains in the United States; and 3) A school temporarily stops in-person classes but implements online or other alternate learning procedures and the nonimmigrant student departs the United States.

On March 12, 2020, NAFSA contacted the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to advocate that SEVP allow schools to maintain SEVIS records in Active status for students who choose to or must take the online portion of classes abroad under the school's COVID-19 policy pursuant to SEVP's March 9, 2020 Broadcast Message 2003-01. SEVP responded with the following statement: “SEVP is committed to remaining flexible in allowing schools to make temporary procedural adaptations so nonimmigrant students can continue to make normal forward progress in their program of study. They can temporarily engage in distance-learning, either from within the U.S. or outside the country, in light of COVID-19. SEVP will provide updated guidance as the scope and length of this situation becomes more clear.”

A March 11, 2020 Presidential Proclamation restricts entry to the United States for recent travelers to the European Schengen area, effective at midnight on Friday March 13, 2020.

In a March 11, 2020 email to J-1 exchange visitor program sponsors the Department of State Exchange Visitor Program advised: "We anticipate a range of changes to program circumstances that will affect exchange visitors. ECA asks sponsors and exchange visitors to consult with host organizations to seek alternative ways to maintain program objectives and/or employment, such as telework, online classes, or other arrangements, while preventing unnecessary exposure to the disease and its spread. A temporary modification along these lines for exigent circumstances beyond a sponsor’s or host entity’s control does not undermine a program’s consistency with the regulations."

On March 9, 2020, CDC updated its March 1, 2020 guidance, now titled "Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education with Students Participating in International Travel or Study Abroad Programs," to clarify that it is meant to apply to education abroad programs, not to international students studying in the United States.

On March 9, 2020, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) sent Broadcast Message 2003-01 (Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Potential Procedural Adaptations for F and M nonimmigrant students) to SEVIS users, providing guidance on adaptations including online coursework and telework policies.

On March 5, 2020, NAFSA CEO Esther Brimmer contacted SEVP leadership and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) leadership about the COVID-19 contingency planning that institutions have been doing. She asked SEVP and ECA to recognize the recent guidance from the Department of Education (Guidance for interruptions of study related to Coronavirus (COVID-19)) and take a similar proactive approach by issuing guidance to the field on temporary closures and by modifying and adapting some current restrictions. She specifically requested that they enable schools facing temporary closure to use online and distance education delivery strategies to continue providing instruction without compromising school certification or students' and exchange visitors' SEVIS status or immigration status. She made several more detailed suggestions about this and also asked the agencies to consider every other possible measure within their authority to ameliorate potential problems for students and exchange visitors and their institutions. Both agencies responded the following day. SEVP stated that they anticipate SEVP guidance to be released shortly, which will be largely based off of the Department of Education guidance. ECA stated that they are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide guidance informed by common sense to mitigate potential adverse consequences.

Using on-line or distance education modalities as part of a strategy to mitigate interruptions to coursework in response to COVID-19 has both academic implications, which apply to domestic and international students alike, and immigration questions, which apply to F-1, M-1, and J-1 students who are currently in the United States or who are outside the United States because they are subject to a bar on their entry or re-entry.

Revised versions of applications and petitions affected by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) final public charge rule must be used for all such forms postmarked on or after February 24, 2020. The revised versions of the affected forms and form instructions are now on each form's launch page. This includes frequently used forms like Form I-539, Form I-129, Form I-485, and Form I-912. See NAFSA’s Final Public Charge Rule page for links and more information.