Updating Address Information 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.

Culture Shock

This is the time of year when culture shock begins 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. We have some resources on our website that you might find helpful too.

Remember that University Health and 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 resilience while you're here!

OPT & CPT Workshops

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 3-5 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.

Virtual OPT workshops led by an advisor have been scheduled and information about required registration, attendance, and the application process can be found on our website under the OPT section. ISS staff is still planning the virtual CPT workshops with an advisor and more information will be shared through ISSNews when it is available.

OPT & STEM OPT Students
Follow These Simple Steps to Report Required 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.

ISS has been notified that the "...Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is conducting a review of SEVIS records for OPT participants and is mailing notices directly to students who have not reported employer information and have exceeded 90 days of unemployment. The notice informs students of their lack of employer/employment information and provides an opportunity for them to update their records either through their DSO or directly through the SEVP Portal. If the student’s SEVIS record is not updated, SEVP will set the record to “terminated” to reflect the lack of employer information and the potential that the student may have violated their status either by failing to timely report OPT employment or by exceeding the permissible period of unemployment while on OPT."

By following the simple steps that ISS has provided, you will be taking the necessary steps to protect your visa status. 

Orientation With ISS

Did you miss orientation materials provided by ISS?

The orientation materials review the most fundamental rules and regulations in order to help you maintain your visa status as well as resources that ISS provides to enhance your time at Case Western Reserve University

If you have not viewed the information already, be sure to do so now by logging into Terra Dotta here.  Information about culture shock is also available to students who would like to learn more.

Explore Study Abroad’s North Star Experiences

The Office of Education Abroad is offering three North Star experiences for students to expand their global and intercultural learning virtually. The topics include digital storytelling, exploring global learning, and exploring intercultural knowledge and competence.

These experiences offer students opportunities to engage in virtual research and fieldwork, to cultivate a more understanding and empathetic community, and to think critically about one's own identity, perspectives, ethics, and community.

Each experience runs for three weeks and they all start this semester. Find out more on the Study Abroad CampusGroups page.

Networking for International Students

Thursday, October 8, 2020 6:30pm - 7:30pm EDT

You have landed a phone call or coffee chat with someone who works at your dream company. Now what? How do you prepare for the conversation? What do you say?

Join Annabel Khouri, International Student and Employer Engagement Specialist, and Kwan Segal, human-capital consultant with over 15 years of professional experience at global organizations like BMW, Accenture, and Deloitte. Coach Kwan is the Founder and CEO of ICAway /i-see-a-way/, an empowering community for international students to find jobs in the U.S.

This workshop will include a role-play of effective approaches to talking to professionals. Students will also have the opportunity to practice in small groups.

The Zoom meeting link will be shared upon registration.

featuring basketball great, Lebron James

and Olympic gold-medalist, Abby Wambach