International Travel Considerations for Commencement 2020

We hope you are looking forward to celebrating your accomplishments this fall. Continue to check the official Boston University Commencement 2020 website, for updates.

Given the continuing COVID-related travel challenges, we expect most of you will livestream the event so that you and your family and friends can celebrate remotely.

However, if you are able to travel to the US to attend the event in person, please consider the following:

• You and your family members will need a valid visitor visa to the enter the US or, you will need ESTA clearance if you are a citizen of a country eligible for the Visitor Visa Waiver Program.
• You should follow US Department of State visa application procedures. Plan ahead as most US Consular Posts are experiencing severe visa processing backlogs due to COVID.
• The US Department of State should not require an individual letter of invitation to issue you a visitor visa. However, if you wish to document why you wish to visit the US, you could present a copy of your Boston University diploma or, your Boston University transcript demonstrating your 2019 or 2020 program completion and a copy of the letter you received from President Brown announcing Commencement 2020.
• COVID travel restrictions are currently prohibiting direct travel to the US from 33 countries. Visitor and ESTA travel from those countries will not be permitted so plan accordingly.