From: VISA Office
Date: October 21, 2020
Subject: ISS News, October 21, 2020: Spring 2021 Information, Advisor-Led CPT Workshops Scheduled, Information about the US Presidential Election, Last Chance for Flu Shots in October, Virtual Study Abroad Fair, Good Vibes, & More!


IS

October 21, 2020

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in this issue:

  1. OPT & CPT Workshops
  2. Features
  3. Campus Happenings
  4. Good Vibes Only
  5. Information about the US Presidential Election
  6. Court Decision Stops Implementation of New USCIS Fees and Forms
  7. Daylight Saving Time Ends November 1
  8. Spring 2021 Information

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

11am to 3pm- through virtual advising available online

There are no advising hours on Wednesday.

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

opt and cpt workshop branding telling students to complete a workshop

OPT & CPT Workshops

Virtual, advisor-led OPT and CPT workshops have been scheduled and information about required registration, attendance, and the application process can be found on our website!

ISS is offering Optional Practical Training (OPT) and CPT Workshops to go over in detail the application process, student responsibilities, and other important considerations.

Being well informed before applying for either authorization is extremely important and applying early is critical!

USCIS is publishing that it takes 4-6 months to process submitted OPT applications. Plan to complete a required OPT workshop as early as possible to be best prepared. Remember, you do not need to have a job offer to apply for OPT!

You do need to have a job offer before applying for CPT authorization and you are not eligible to begin your experience until you have proper authorization in place. It can take several days to become authorized.

For more information about OPT and CPT workshops- online workshops are also still available for students' convenience- and other details about these authorizations, visit our website. Please be sure to very carefully read all of the information there.

cwru sign on corner of adelbert and euclid


Spring 2021 ÔÇïÔÇïÔÇïÔÇïÔÇïÔÇïInformation

Please be sure that you are reading all of the information that the university is sending to you by email as you start to make your plans for the end of the semester and Spring 2021.  In October alone, there have been a number of messages touching on everything from the academic calendar for 2021 and flu shots to fall move-out and winter break housing.  If you miss a message in your inbox, you can always find it here on the COVID-19 Campus Communications page.

As the university finalizes plans for Spring 2021, which will look very similar to Fall’s dual delivery of classes, expect to receive more messaging.  ISS is waiting for guidance from SEVP about how students will be required to maintain status for Spring 2021 and will share that information as soon as it is available.

Please be sure to stay in touch with ISS- remember, we communicate through email to your @case.edu address as well- so that we can best support you.

flyer about voting featuring joe and don clip art
clock with fall back message for daylight saving time

Daylight Saving Time
Ends November 1


In the United States, Daylight Saving Time will end on Sunday, November 1 at 2am.  That means that we will set out clocks back (or fall back) by 1 hour, making the time 1am.  

Please make sure that you are aware of how this change will impact your classes and appointments!

Enjoy the extra hour of sleep on November 1!
uscis logo

Court Decision Stops Implementation of New USCIS Fees and Forms

On September 29, the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction and stay that will stop this new form and new fee from being used until a final decision is made. These fees and forms were supposed to go into effect on October 2. You can read more about the court’s decision here.

Until a final decision is made, you should continue to submit the current Form I-765 with the August 25, 2020 edition date printed on it and a fee of $410 for your OPT and STEM OPT petitions.  This is true of any other USCIS petitions being submitted as well- use forms that are currently available and submit fees currently posted on the USCIS Fee Calculator.

ISS anticipates that there might be some confusion at  USCIS Service Centers during this transition. If you have questions or concerns about any correspondence you receive from USCIS regarding your application, please get in touch with ISS right away and we will assist you.

Features

October Study Abroad Friday Forums

Explore opportunities to take your education around the world with Study Abroad Friday Forums in October!

The forums begin on October 9 with how and where to study abroad as an engineering student. On October 16, the forum will focus on study abroad options for students needing accommodations. Then, take a trip “down under” on the 23 to explore programs in Australia and New Zealand, and end the month by discovering business programs available in Europe on October 30.

Each Study Abroad Friday Forum begins at 1 pm on Facebook Live - and most of October’s events are co-hosted by the departments and schools that will be featured!

Make sure to follow CWRU Study Abroad on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cwrustudyabroad so you don’t miss out!

flyer for Friday Forum

welcome here wednesday flyer

Submit a Video for the Expanded #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU Campaign

The Center for International Affairs is asking for video submissions from students, faculty and staff as part of its expanded #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU campaign.

The movement against racial injustice has highlighted the fact that CWRU’s international students are not the only students who need to know they are valued and welcomed at CWRU.

The Center invites all members of the CWRU community to submit a video clip voicing support for students who experience systemic racism and oppression in all of its forms as part of the expanded #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU campaign.

These clips will be shared as part of the Center’s #WelcomeHereWednesday series where a new #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU message is shared every week on its Facebook (facebook.com/CWRUInternational) and Twitter (twitter.com/CWRUintl) pages.

The goal is to help ensure all members of the CWRU community, particularly those from historically marginalized communities, feel valued, feel that they belong and know they are welcome at CWRU.

If you are interested in participating in this effort, please email your #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU video clip (recorded horizontally on a smartphone or via Zoom) to global@case.edu.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/CWRUInternational/1157404477992482/

EVENT

Virtual Study Abroad Fair!

Monday, November 9 at 1:00pm
to Friday, November 13 at 3:00pm
Meeting link
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Attend the Virtual Study Abroad Fair!

All CWRU students are invited to attend the week-long Virtual Study Abroad Fair as part of International Education Week, November 9-13!

Each day that week, you can log into one of the Office of Education Abroad’s themed daily Zoom calls from 1 - 3 pm ET.

On Monday, November 9 we will get down to basics and go over study abroad benefits, finances, identity considerations and more.

Tuesday, November 10, you'll meet the CWRU Study Abroad Ambassadors and hear how they made their experiences happen!

On Wednesday, November 11, we'll explore the world via the semester and year-long study abroad programs, and Thursday, November 12, will look at what else you can do on a study abroad: intern, research, even virtual and summer programming.

Our Friday finale on November 13 features CWRU faculty who lead their own programs with a Short Term Study Abroad Expo.

The Virtual Study Abroad Fair will be a great chance for students to hear from peers who have already studied abroad, international representatives from study abroad programs, and CWRU's faculty leaders to explore the many study abroad options CWRU has to offer!
 
RSVP

Campus Happenings

picture of physical resource store and staff

Physical Resource Center Opens Uptown


The Physical Resource Center, also known as the Free Store, is a student-run initiative created with the goal of providing COVID relief.  Undergraduate students can shop now and store organizers are working with GSC to expand services to graduate students in the future. Store hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1pm to 5pm and shoppers will find a variety of items for the dorm and kitchen as well as school supplies and clothing. 

Visiting the store requires registration via Campus Groups to practice social distancing. The Free Store always welcomes and appreciates donation items left in the bins.  Winter gear is in high demand right now if you have anything you'd like to donate!

EVENT

Exploring Careers for the Common Good (virtual panel discussion)

Thursday, October 22
7:00pm - 8:15pm
Video Conferencing Link
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Considering a career in nonprofits, public policy, or advocacy? Not sure what steps to take? Come to Exploring Careers for the Common Good virtual panel discussion on Thursday, October 22 from 7 to 8:15 p.m. (EST) where CWRU alumni will share about their public service career paths. Please check your CampusGroups reminder email that you’ll receive after registering for the Zoom connection details.

CWRU alumni panelists include:
-Alexis Crosby (B.A. Sociology & English, M.S. Developmental and Child Psychology) - Ohio Deputy Coordinator at Campus Vote Project
-Senator Clarence Lam (B.A. Political Science & Biology, M.P.H., M.D.) - Maryland State Senate
-Derek Schadel (B.A. Anthropology & Spanish) - Senior Project Coordinator at British Council / Colombian Ministry of Technology

This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Civic Engagement & Learning, Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities, and Post-Graduate Planning and Experiential Education.
RSVP
get your flu shot sign

Get your Flu Shot

The last October date for the Flu Shot Clinic is Friday, October 23, 8:30-11:30am at HEC SMSN 119!

EVENT

Understanding Local Politics (virtual panel discussion)

Friday, October 30
4:45pm - 6:00pm
Video Conferencing Link
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The Center for Civic Engagement & Learning (CCEL) student Executive Council will be hosting a virtual panel discussion open to the CWRU community about how policy change is shaped at the local level and the role of local politics in our day-to-day lives. Join us as CWRU faculty and staff, representing different disciplines, share how they’ve been involved in the community outside of campus, including in local politics. Please check your CampusGroups reminder email that you’ll receive after registering for the Zoom connection details.

Panelists include:
-Ayesha Bell Hardaway - Assistant Professor at the School of Law and Co-Director of the Social Justice Institute; current Shaker Heights Schools Board of Education Vice President
-David Miller - Associate Professor at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences; past City of South Euclid President of the City Council
-Lou Stark - Vice President for Student Affairs; past Marion City Council member in Iowa
RSVP

Good Vibes Only

During this very challenging time, ISS staff wants you to know that we are thinking about you- hoping you are safe, healthy, staying positive- and sending out good vibes!

In this section, we are including some things that we hope will make you laugh and smile, help you relax, be entertaining, give you something to do, etc.

This is a good vibes only section!

bubblegum being squeezed through an extruder

Learn how bubblegum is made
haribo gummy bears

Horrible and hilarious reviews about Haribo Gummy Bears on Amazon