From: VISA Office
Date: July 28, 2021
Subject: ISS News, July 28, 2021: Start of Semester Reminders, Furniture Giveaway for All New Students, CWRU COVID-19 Website, CWRU Take Two, Fun Summer Activities, Good Vibes, & More



IS

July 28, 2021

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in this issue:

  1. We Hear Your Questions
  2. CWRU Take Two- ISS Closing Early on Fridays in June & July
  3. Need a Fresh Travel Signature?
  4. OPT & CPT Workshops
  5. Features
  6. Campus Happenings
  7. Other Opportunities
  8. Good Vibes Only
  9. Virtual Advising All Summer Long
  10. OPT & STEM OPT Students- Follow These Simple Steps for Reporting Updates
  11. Check In with ISS
  12. Registration & Your Visa Status

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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.

check in on a computer screen

Check In with ISS

Students New to CWRU or Beginning a New Program at CWRU:

If you are new to CWRU or beginning a new program at CWRU this semester, you need to check in online as part of the process to maintain your visa status. 

To Check In:

If you will be on campus this semester to begin your program, please access the Instructions on How to Check In with ISS and complete the process. Please note that you:

  • check in online AFTER you arrive in the US with your valid I-20 or DS-2019

  • can check in up to 30 days before the program start date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019

  • must check in by the start date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019If there is a delay, please notify us immediately

We cannot process any on-campus employment or Social Security Number paperwork until you have been checked in.

If you will not be coming to the United States this fall, are either attending courses entirely remotely and/or deferring your admission to a future semester, do not check in using the instructions above. It is critical that you complete the survey instead.  If you have not done so yet, please do so immediately. 
 



Returning Students

Please complete this very brief survey telling us where you will spend the semester and how your courses will be delivered.  We'll use this information to ensure that we are accurately completing our required reporting to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
 



Thank you for your attention and cooperation!

register spelled out with scrabble tiles

Registration & Your Visa Status

ISS just wants to remind you that, as international students, you are required to be properly registered for a full-time course load while you're studying in the United States as an F-1 or a J-1 student. This is mandatory by US Federal Regulations.

There are very few exceptions to full-time registration requirements and only ISS can determine whether you qualify for one of them.  Always register for full-time and never drop below a full-time courseload without first speaking with an advisor in ISS.   Improper registration could have serious consequences, including termination, for your visa status.

If you have already completed coursework abroad through online learning during previous semesters, you should still be registered full-time unless ISS determines that you qualify for an exception. 

We will be verifying each student's registration over the next several weeks. If we detect a problem with your registration or have questions, we will be contacting you by email. It's extremely important that you follow up with us promptly and work to quickly resolve the matter so that your visa status is not negatively impacted.

If you have questions, never hesitate to contact our office at international@case.edu or get in touch during advising hours!

virtual advising chat box

Chat with ISS Staff Online During Advising Hours
We Are Here All Summer

Virtual Advising is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., EST.

If you have a question or concern that you need to address during that time frame, reach out to an advisor through the chat box. The chat box (it looks just like the picture) will be available on our website.

covid 19 website image

We Hear Your Questions

ISS has been receiving many emails over the past few weeks and the most popular topics on your minds right now are:

  • vaccine policy
  • quarantining
  • testing

We hear you!  

The best resources we can share right now are:

Please continue to keep in touch with ISS throughout the summer.  We will continue to do our best to answer your questions and support you. 

As we learn more, ISS will continue to share information with you.  We will send messages directly to your @case.edu email accounts, we will include information in ISSNews, and we will update our website.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding!

stormtrooper meme about getting a travel signature

Need a Fresh Travel Signature?

If you need a travel signature, don't panic! ISS can help. Read about what to do on our Travel and Reentry pages for F-1 and J-1 students.

You can also request a travel signature using our electronic form here.

OPT and CPT online workshops available

OPT & CPT Workshops

If you're still planning to apply for OPT or CPT, don't forget to complete the required workshop, which goes over in detail the application process, student responsibilities, and other important considerations.  Workshops are available online to complete at your convenience.  Advisor-led workshops will resume in the Fall.

For more information about OPT and CPT, visit our website. Please be sure to very carefully read all of the information there and to contact ISS if you have any additional questions with which staff can assist.

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!

schedule change written on post-it notes with blue push pin

CWRU Take Two- ISS Closing Early on Fridays in June & July

CWRU Take Two is back on Fridays in June and July so staff will be unavailable as of 3 p.m.. and appointment times will be adjusted to end earlier in the day as well. Please plan any Friday visits accordingly.

Regular Friday business hours will resume in August.

Features

Welcome party flyer

Campus Happenings

qr code for event

Annual Furniture Giveaway for ALL, NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 

International student Fellowship is excited to invite ALL, NEW international students to attend its Annual Furniture and Household items Giveaway. This is a FREE event, but space is limited! This is ISF's way of saying WELCOME to you!

Date: Saturday - August 14, 2021

Location: 2537 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 (Gymnasium of Church of the Saviour)

Time: 9 a.m. sharp. (arrive between 8:30 - 8:45 a.m. to sign in in order to receive a number). Items are given away on a random lottery draw. NO NEED to arrive early. This is not a first come first serve basis.

For more information - visit their Facebook page: International Student Fellowship -CWRU or email at isfcleveland@gmail.com

Scan the QR code and register NOW! 

Other Opportunities

global rising

Learn about a nine-month leadership and professional program for international newcomers In Northeast Ohio.

county fair clip art

County Fairs in nearby Cleveland area

Nearby county fairs to Cleveland are highlighted.

feast of the assumption image

Feast of Assumption 8/12-8/15

The Feast of Assumption will be celebrated in Little Italy! Hosted by the Holy Rosary Church, there will be a series of masses, entertainment, and food. The schedule for the weekend can be found here.

one world day flyer

Interested in Volunteering?  Sign up!

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!

2020: the Musical image from the tonight show

40 Brilliantly Literal Norwegian Words that Say Exactly What They Mean