Janice Lozano
International students in California face several challenges in getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Firstly, there is a question of which vaccines California colleges will accept, as only vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) are typically recognized. While the University of California has stated it will accept all vaccines approved for emergency use by the WHO, students from countries like China, which has not yet had a vaccine approved by the WHO, may struggle to access an accepted vaccine. Additionally, international students face a backlog of visa applications at U.S. consulates and embassies, further complicating their ability to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in California.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hurdles for international students | COVID-19-induced backlog of visa applications at U.S. consulates and embassies |
| No approved vaccines produced in China, from which 44% of international students in California come | |
| India, another top sender of international students, has a scarcity of WHO-approved vaccines | |
| Colleges requiring COVID-19 vaccination | Pomona College, California State University, Stanford University, University of California, California Institute of Technology, University of Southern California, University of California Berkeley |
| Colleges accepting vaccines offered abroad | Pomona College, University of California |
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What You'll Learn
- International students from China face challenges as no approved vaccines are produced there
- Colleges like Pomona accept vaccines from abroad
- International students from India face a vaccine shortage
- California colleges will require COVID-19 vaccinations for students
- International students face a COVID-19-induced visa application backlog
International students from China face challenges as no approved vaccines are produced there
International students from China face challenges in getting vaccinated and enrolling in California colleges due to the lack of approved vaccines produced in their home country. As of March 2021, none of the five vaccines approved by the organization were produced in China, which is the country of origin for 44% of international students in California. This situation creates uncertainty and anxiety for Chinese students planning to study in the state.
The COVID-19 pandemic has already led to a significant drop in international student enrollment in California colleges, with a 14% decline between 2019 and 2020. The lack of approved Chinese vaccines will likely further deter Chinese students from enrolling in California colleges, exacerbating the enrollment decline. Additionally, the Trump administration's policies targeting Chinese students, such as visa revocations and interview pauses, have created additional hurdles for Chinese international students.
California colleges are planning to require COVID-19 vaccinations for students engaging in in-person activities. While colleges like Pomona College have stated they will accept any vaccines offered abroad, the mandate raises concerns among Chinese students about whether the vaccines available in China will be accepted in California. This uncertainty adds to the existing challenges faced by Chinese international students due to the backlog of visa applications at U.S. consulates and embassies caused by the pandemic.
The situation is particularly challenging for first-time students admitted for the 2021-22 academic year, who must race to secure their visas before the start of the fall semester. The reduced operations at U.S. embassies and consulates in China have resulted in a significant decrease in processed student visas, with only 160 visas issued last summer compared to over 70,000 in previous years. These factors collectively create a complex and stressful environment for Chinese international students intending to pursue their education in California.
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Colleges like Pomona accept vaccines from abroad
As COVID-19 vaccines are increasingly required for in-person activities at colleges in California, international students face the hurdle of ensuring their vaccines are accepted in the state. Pomona College has stated that it will accept any vaccines offered abroad. Similarly, the University of California has said in its draft policy that it will accept international vaccines.
However, it is important to note that the specific policies regarding vaccine acceptance may vary across different colleges in California. For instance, the California State University, Stanford University, the University of Southern California, and other colleges are still developing their policies. In general, colleges in California will accept vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). As of May 2021, WHO has approved China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, which may ease the concerns of the 44% of international students in California from China.
Nevertheless, students from countries offering vaccines without final WHO approval should not be discouraged, as colleges are encouraged to accept other vaccines approved by the WHO. This flexibility is important, especially considering the vaccine scarcity in some countries, such as India, another top sender of international students to California. The acceptance of vaccines from abroad by colleges like Pomona is a positive step towards easing the enrollment shedding due to COVID-19, which has resulted in a 14% drop in international college student enrollment in the US between 2019 and 2020.
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International students from India face a vaccine shortage
International students from India face several challenges when trying to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in California. Firstly, there is a shortage of vaccines in India, which may last for months according to a chief executive of a main vaccine manufacturer. This scarcity has caused anxiety for students like Yutika Khemka, an incoming student at UC Irvine from Kolkata, India, who worries about travelling unvaccinated. Khemka stated that she would take "whatever vaccine is available to her", as she is more anxious about flying halfway across the world without being vaccinated.
Compounding the issue is the backlog of visa applications at U.S. consulates and embassies worldwide due to COVID-19. This backlog has resulted in a race against time for first-time students to secure visas before the academic year begins. Furthermore, the U.S. administration's travel ban on India, although not applying to students with visas, has caused additional uncertainty. Khemka, for instance, had to alter her plans and will now be travelling to the U.S. alone as her parents were supposed to help her settle in.
Adding to the complexity is the question of whether the vaccines offered in students' home countries will be accepted in California. While some colleges, such as Pomona College, have stated that they will accept any vaccines offered abroad, other colleges plan to require COVID-19 vaccinations for students, and it is unclear if vaccines from India will be recognised. This uncertainty has led to a decline in international student enrolment in the U.S., with a 14% drop between 2019 and 2020, and an even sharper decrease among new international students.
The situation is further exacerbated by the Trump administration's policies, which have resulted in heightened scrutiny and delays in visa processing. Students have expressed deep anxieties about their futures, with some regretting their decision to apply to U.S. universities. The combination of vaccine shortages, visa backlogs, travel restrictions, and uncertainty around vaccine acceptance has created significant challenges for Indian students intending to pursue their studies in California.
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California colleges will require COVID-19 vaccinations for students
In 2021, more California colleges were planning to require students to get COVID-19 vaccinations as classes resumed in-person. This mandate introduced a new layer of complexity for international students, as they had to ensure that the vaccines offered in their home countries would be accepted in California. For instance, 44% of international students in California come from China, but none of the five vaccines approved at the time were produced there. Similarly, India, another top sender of international students, had a vaccine accepted by the World Health Organization (WHO), but it was experiencing a scarcity that may have lasted months.
Pomona College stated that it would accept any vaccines offered abroad. However, the CSU, UC, and USC said they would begin requiring a vaccine for in-person activities once one was formally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Stanford University did not mention waiting for the emergency-use authorization to lift. Guidance to American colleges stated that they could accept other vaccines approved by the WHO.
International students also faced challenges due to the COVID-19-induced backlog of visa applications at U.S. consulates and embassies worldwide. This issue was particularly significant in China, where only 160 student visas were processed the previous summer, compared to over 70,000 in the previous three summers. The U.S. administration's travel ban on India, while exempting students with visas, further complicated matters for students from that country.
As of 2025, President Donald Trump has issued an executive order prohibiting federal funds from going to schools and colleges that require students to get a COVID-19 vaccine. This order is in line with his campaign promise to "not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate." However, it is important to note that currently, no states require vaccines for students, and only a few colleges or universities continue to have such mandates.
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International students face a COVID-19-induced visa application backlog
International students intending to study in California face a COVID-19-induced visa application backlog. The pandemic has resulted in reduced operations at US consulates and embassies worldwide, causing a significant backlog of visa applications. This issue is particularly evident in China, where only 160 student visas were processed last summer, compared to over 70,000 in the previous three summers. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to a 14% drop in international college student enrollment in the US between 2019 and 2020, with an even sharper decline among new international students.
The standard student visa, the F-1, is typically valid for five years. Hence, the backlog primarily affects new students who have not yet obtained their visas. These students are now racing to secure their visas before the 2021-22 academic year commences in late summer. The situation is further complicated by the uncertainty surrounding vaccine requirements for international students. While more California colleges are mandating COVID-19 vaccinations, there is a concern among students from countries like China and India about whether the vaccines offered in their home countries will be accepted in the US.
The US State Department has resumed scheduling appointments for international student visas, but with additional screening requirements. Applicants must make their social media accounts public, and officials will conduct enhanced vetting to identify any potential hostility towards the US. This enhanced screening process may further delay visa processing times, adding to the existing backlog.
International students are anxious about the uncertainty surrounding vaccines, visas, and travel. Yutika Khemka, an incoming student at UC Irvine from Kolkata, India, expressed her concerns about the vaccine shortage in her country and the prospect of travelling unvaccinated. The closure of US embassies and consulates in India until mid-May has further contributed to the visa application challenges for students like Khemka, who may not secure a visa appointment until shortly before the start of the academic year.
The COVID-19-induced visa application backlog has created significant challenges for international students intending to study in California. The reduced operations at US embassies and consulates, coupled with enhanced screening measures, have resulted in processing delays. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding vaccine requirements and acceptance has added another layer of complexity for these students. As a result, many international students face a race against time to secure their visas before the upcoming academic year begins.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, international students can get the COVID-19 vaccine in California. However, there are some hurdles.
The main hurdle is that colleges in California will only accept certain vaccines. For example, Pomona College will accept any vaccines offered abroad, but other colleges will only accept vaccines approved by the World Health Organization.
The University of California, which enrolls nearly 40,000 international students, has said it will accept international vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization. This includes the Sinopharm vaccine from China.
Yes, there is also a COVID-19-induced backlog of visa applications at U.S. consulates and embassies, particularly in China. This means that first-time students admitted for the 2021-22 academic year will be in a race against time to secure visas before the year begins in late summer.
