News and Events

News

Know Before You Go: Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Due to the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, students need to carefully consider travel plans. If travel is not necessary or urgent, it is best not to travel at this time. Effective January 26, 2021, all travelers arriving in the United States must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test (done no more than 3 days before you travel) to the airline before you board a flight to the U.S. (or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19). For international travelers coming to Hawai'i, only tests from Trusted Testing and Travel Partners will be accepted to bypass the State’s 10-day traveler quarantine. Before traveling, consult with the ISS Director and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's information for travel and Safe Travels Hawai'i websites.

COFA Residents in Hawaiʻi Can Now Apply for Medicaid

Hawaiʻi is now accepting Medicaid applications from residents who are citizens of Palau, the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia. Medicaid is a federal public health insurance program for low-income people. Contact Kuʻu Makuakane-Salavea at (808) 348-4410 (or jmakuakane-salavea@dhs.hawaii.gov) or Rachelle at (808) 896-5051 to apply. View more information.

"Real IDs"

Starting May 3, 2023, everyone will need to present a Real ID-compliant license/ID or another acceptable form of identification (like a passport) to board a domestic flight and to access U.S. federal facilities. How do you know if your driver's license or state ID card is Real ID-complaint? If it is Real-ID compliant, there will be a star in the top right corner like those pictured below:

You do not need a Real ID-complaint ID unless you want to board an airplane using a driver's license or state ID card. If you have a valid (unexpired) passport, you can use a passport to board a plane. But if you want or need to get a REAL ID-complaint ID such as a driver's license or state ID card, Compact of Free Association (COFA) citizens need to have a valid, unexpired passport and an I-94. An I-94 is a record of your arrival date into the United States. Access and print a copy of your I-94. Please be aware that I-94 records are only available online for 5 years. If you cannot access your I-94 form online because your most recent arrival date into the U.S. was longer than 5 years ago, you have to file Form I-102 with the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services to obtain a duplicate copy. The fee for the Form I-102 is currently $455 and may be subject to change.

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