Winter Quarter 2023 is starting on January 9, 2023! As always, we are following local, regional, and national health guidelines carefully and will make every effort to communicate information to all students and partners quickly and accurately. Please refer to the below FAQs for updated information regarding Winter Quarter and vaccination requirements at the College and for travelers to the U.S.

*Please note that the below information is subject to change, particularly as public health guidelines in our area change. We are committed to providing you with updates as quickly as possible should any of the information change.

1. Do I need to be vaccinated or have a negative COVID test result in order to enter the U.S.?

You do need to be fully vaccinated. International students and most other non-U.S. citizens who are nonimmigrants will need to be fully vaccinated in order to enter the U.S. However, as of June 12, 2022, air travelers arriving in the U.S. from any foreign country no longer need to show a negative COVID test.

There is a limited set of exceptions to the vaccination rule, including travelers who are coming from countries with low vaccination rates (as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and travelers who are under 18 years of age.

2. Which vaccines are accepted?

Currently, here are the accepted vaccines:

• Johnson & Johnson/Janssen
• Moderna
• Pfizer-BioNTech (may also be known as Comirnaty)
• Oxford/AstraZeneca
• Serum Institute of India: Covishield
• Sinopharm (Beijing): BBIBP-CorV
• Sinovac: CoronaVac
• Bharat BioTech: Covaxin
• Novavax
• Covovax
• Medicago

Do not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated (2 weeks after completing all doses for the vaccine). Please refer to the CDC’s International Travel page for requirements considered to be fully vaccinated.

3. What if I received a vaccine that is not on the list above?

Unfortunately, you will not be permitted to enter the U.S. by either land or air unless you are fully vaccinated by the CDC definition linked above or qualify for an exemption.

4. If I am unable to get fully vaccinated before Orientation starts, can I fly as soon as I am fully vaccinated?

If you are in this situation, please contact us at international@shoreline.edu. In most situations, new students must arrive in the U.S. during a certain period of time depending on their starting quarter at Shoreline.

5. If I am not vaccinated when I enter the U.S. (because I meet one of the exemptions set by the CDC), do I need to be vaccinated to take classes on campus at Shoreline?

No. Shoreline Community College no longer has a vaccination requirement to study on campus.

6. Where can I get the vaccine? How much money does it cost?

Most local pharmacies are offering the COVID vaccine for free. You can use the Washington Vaccine Locator website to find a location near you. This applies to booster shots as well!

7. Do I need to submit proof of my vaccination to the College?

No. Because vaccination is not required, no proof is needed.

8. Can I take all online classes for Winter Quarter 2023?

Inside the United States: New students who travel to the U.S. must register for at least one hybrid/in-person class for Winter Quarter 2023. Students taking ESL courses must take all ESL courses in-person.

Outside the United States: New students can begin taking online courses from their home country. This option does not require a valid F-1 visa or I-20. New students who are taking only online classes during Winter Quarter 2023 and are not already in the U.S. will not be allowed to travel to the U.S. You will have to wait until Spring Quarter 2023 to be able to come to the U.S. for in-person studies.

9. Do I have to wear a mask on campus?

Masks are voluntary (optional) on campus in most places. They are still required in healthcare settings, including the Counseling Center and clinical sites. Currently, most businesses in the King County area (where Shoreline and Seattle are located) are also mask-optional, but some businesses may choose to require them.

10. Do I need a vaccine card in the U.S.?

Most businesses in King County (where Shoreline and Seattle are located), including restaurants, are not currently requiring guests to show proof of vaccination in order to enter. However, some businesses may choose to require proof of vaccination or masks. Please refer to the King County Health website for a list of acceptable forms of vaccination and additional information.

11. I have a question that wasn’t answered here!

Here are some resources!

• Shoreline’s main COVID Updates page for College-wide information and updates
• Email us at iehelp@shoreline.edu or international@shoreline.edu!