From: VISA Office
Date: October 9, 2019
Subject: ISS News, Oct. 9, 2019: Fall Break Reminders, Check your Address in SIS, Bike Safety, OPT Reporting, Be and RA, & More!


IS

October 9, 2019

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in this issue:

  1. Fall Break- ISS is Open!
  2. Traveling During Fall Break?
  3. Campus Events
  4. OPT & STEM OPT Students- Follow These Simple Steps for Reporting Updates
  5. New Process to Request an I-20 / DS-2019 Extension
  6. Feeling the Effects of Culture Stress?
  7. Featured Events
  8. Keep Your Bike Safe
  9. Be an RA
  10. Orientation With ISS
  11. Students- Check & Update Your Address in SIS

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ISS Staff is available to students, without an appointment, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during advising hours:

11am to 1pm- through virtual advising available online

1pm to 3pm- through in-person advising in the office

There are no advising hours on Wednesday.

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If you need to speak or meet with an advisor outside of our advising hours, please send an email to international@case.edu to schedule an appointment. Please provide your full-name and a brief description of the nature of your appointment when you contact us.

purple change of address text and mailbox clipart

Students- Check & Update your Address in SIS

Federal regulations require that all international students report their current address to SEVIS and any changes within 10 days.  It is also important that the university has your current address on file at all times.

The best way to ensure that you are complying with federal regulations and university policy is to check your address for accuracy in SIS and report any changes through SIS.  Information in SIS is shared with ISS' system (Terra Dotta) and then ISS can report changes of information to SEVIS.

Ensuring that information is always reported to and updated in SIS ensures that you will always get the information that you need from CWRU and that you are properly maintaining your status as a student visa holder.  Failure to report your address properly is a violation of status that can have serious consequences.

image of campus in fall

Fall Break- ISS is Open!

While we hope you'll be resting and relaxing over Fall Break (October 22-23), please know that ISS will be open and available during regular Advising Hours if you need us.

fall leaves with Fall Break sign

Traveling During Fall Break?

Read up on how to be best prepared to take those Fall Break getaways and return to campus!
drawn characters holding up the letters to culture

Feeling the Effects of Culture Stress?

Remember, this is the time of year when culture stress may begin to settle in. Please pay attention to your stress levels and your emotions. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep, eating healthy foods, and taking at least the occasional break from your work to relax. If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, sad, or any other negative emotion that you'd like to talk about, you are welcome to visit ISS. Remember that University Counseling Services are free, and you can go there as well. We care about you and hope you learn a great deal and develop your grit and resiliency while you're here!
red sign that says Attention Read Me

New Process to Request an
I-20 / DS-2019 Extension


Effective October 1, ISS only accepts I-20 and DS-2019 extension requests through Terra Dotta.  This will be a paper-free process except for the new, extended I-20 or DS-2019 that is generated by the end!

Students will initiate the request and fill out some required information within Terra Dotta.  One required field will ask students to identify an advisor who will then be contacted to upload information to the system on behalf of the student. Undergraduates should list their Dean in Undergraduate Studies.  Graduate students should list their academic advisor.

Advisors will review all of the material and contact students by email when their I-20s or DS-2019s are ready.

The links to the new request forms are live on the ISS website.

opt wordle

OPT & STEM OPT Students- Follow These Simple Steps for Reporting Updates

Reporting related to your personal contact and employment information is a critical part of maintaining status while authorized for either OPT or STEM OPT. Here are instructions for you to follow to ensure that both ISS and the U.S. Government receive the information that they need. Follow these simple steps to ensure that your visa status is protected!
image from orientation prezi showing a map of the continents

Orientation With ISS

Did you miss Orientation with ISS?  The orientation session reviews the most fundamental rules and regulations as well as resources that ISS provides in order to help you maintain your status and enhance your time at Case Western Reserve University

Get all of the information you missed during an in-person session on Friday, October 11 at 1pm.

Can't make this session?  Log into Terra Dotta and view the presentation materials here!

bike U-Lock

Keep Your Bike Safe!

There has been an increase in bike thefts on campus recently.  

Read and follow these steps from the Division of Public Safety to help prevent your bike from being stolen.

be an RA flyer showing two students

Featured Events

student dressed in lab coat on research abroad flyer
 

EVENT

Research Abroad Info Session

Thursday, October 10
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Tomlinson 135, Center for Intl Affairs, Tomlinson 143 (7031) Case Western Reserve Univ 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
Link
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Join SOURCE and the Office of Education Abroad to explore all the different ways CWRU students can complete research abroad. Hear from fellow CWRU students who have completed research abroad about their experiences and ask them questions.
RSVP

Campus Events

Exploring Careers for the Common good flyer
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