From: VISA Office
Date: November 15, 2023
Subject: VISA News: International Education Week Events, Thanksgiving, Google Workspace Reminder for Alumni, and MORE


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VISA Office Information

 

The VISA Office is open 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday.  We are located in Crawford Hall, Suite 215.

On Monday, Thursday, and Friday, we have virtual chat advising available from 11am to 1pm.  Access virtual chat from our website here.

You are also welcome to contact us for an in-person, phone, or virtual appointment.  Please email visa@case.edu to request an appointment or schedule from our website here.

 

International Education Week Events

This week is International Education Week! International Education Week (IEW) celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

End International Education Week with Hot Chocolate, Coffee, and Giveways


Stop by Tomlinson Lobby this Friday between 1:30 and 2:30 pm for coffee, hot chocolate, and other treats and giveways to celebrate International Education Week.  This pop-up event is sponsored by the Center for International Affairs and the VISA Office.

Where: Tomlinson Lobby
When: Friday, November 17th, 1:30 - 2:30 pm

We hope to see you there!

Faculy-Led and Short-Term Study Abroad Programs: Information Session

Faculty-Led and Short-Term Study Abroad Programs: Information Session
Thursday, Nov. 16 | 4 to 5 p.m.
Tomlinson Hall, Room 135

Celebrate International Education Week by attending this session to learn about faculty-led and short-term study abroad programs!

Faculty-led/Short-Term study abroad programs are tied to fall, spring or summer semesters, and travel abroad during designated break times (winter break, spring break, or summer break). Courses are offered all over the world, from every school and college at CWRU. Hear what your options are for this year and next at our faculty-led/short-term study abroad information session and start your journey today!

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Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

The University will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th. VISA Office staff will be unavailable on those days.

Please plan accordingly for this break (and the upcoming winter break) if you need assistance from the VISA Office.

Normal business hours will resume on Monday, November 27th.

Also, during the week of Thanksgiving, we will not send out VISA News.

If you have an emergency, please follow this protocol:
For life-threatening emergencies:  On-campus: CWRU Division of Public Safety: 216-368-3333
Off-campus: 911
For immigration-related emergencies, call CWRU Division of Public Safety: 216-368-3300.

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keep calm the semester is about to end meme

End of Semester Reminders

Start preparing for the end of the semester and see if you have to take action on your I-20 or DS-2019.

If you need to extend your I-20 or DS-2019:  Please visit our website and scroll down to "request new I-20 extension" or "request new DS-2019 extension" and provide your advisor information in the request.
Undergraduates: list your Dean in Undergraduate Studies
Graduate students: list your academic advisor.

If you need to transfer your F-1 or J-1 SEVIS record: Visit our website for the transfer out request.

If you need to get a new travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019: To submit a request for travel signature, visit our website and scroll down to "request new I-20 reprint or travel signature request" or "request new DS-2019 reprint or travel signature request."  You can also read about travel and re-entry for F-1 and J-1 students here.

Check the validity of your visa stamp in your passport and make sure your passport is valid at all times.  Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future.

Do you have additional questions? Get in touch with VISA Office Staff by stopping by our office from 8:30am to 5pm, Monday-Friday, or emailing us at visa@case.edu.

For Alumni: Ensure Your Data in Google Drive will be Retained

As the university has previously announced, Google is drastically limiting its storage capacity for institutions such as CWRU beginning next summer. In response, University Technology has made significant changes to Google Workspace implementation, and another adjustment is forthcoming.

Starting Feb. 1, 2024, any data owned by users who have not been actively affiliated with the university for more than 180 days, including alumni, will be deleted. Data in Google Shared drives that have not had an active manager for more than a year will also be deleted. This change was first announced in The Daily in September.

What you need to do

Take action now to ensure any important Google Drive files that are owned by individuals no longer affiliated with the university (aka “suspended users”) are retained. Get full details on how to keep these files.

Going forward, please make sure all important institutional data stored within Google Workspace is in a Shared drive in Google Drive. Data in a Shared drive is owned by the institution as opposed to an individual CWRU account and is retained as long as the drive has at least one manager actively affiliated with the university—even if the files or drive were created by someone who has since left the university. You can set multiple managers on a Google Shared drive to facilitate the continuity of data. 

If you need assistance with this, or any technology product or service at Case Western Reserve University, contact the University Technology Service Desk at help@case.edu or 216.368.HELP (4357) or visit help.case.edu.

OPT Workshops

Please click on a session below to register and access the Zoom link:

November 29: https://cwru.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9wveoTJaQ7S70MMU69jZ4w
December 13:https://cwru.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XMCF6x0cRu2whF6Onf_JwA

Urgent Need for Volunteer Translators: Russian or Uzbek

From CWRU's Center for Civic Engagement and Learning


Immediate need for Russian or Uzbek speaker - they do not need to be a professional translator. A total of 2-3 meetings at 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. at the Kramer Law Clinic on campus is the most urgent time commitment needed in order to meet a deadline before the Thanksgiving holiday break. Virtual meetings are also possible. Interpretation consists of immigration questions from law students to a Russian/Uzbek speaker and responses needing translation back to the law students (in English). 

 

Interested volunteers can email Amy Weinfurtner for more information at amyweinfurtner@gmail.com.

Campus Happenings

 

Writing Resource Center All-Campus Workshop: Revision and Reflection

Develop skills for revision and reflective writing assignments at a workshop hosted by the Writing Resource Center on Friday, Nov. 17. 

The workshop, open to Case Western Reserve University undergraduate students, will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. in Bellflower Hall. 

Register to attend.

Queer Craft Circle and Garden@Case

Drop into the Tink’s 1st floor conference room between 2:00pm and 4:00pm on Friday, November 17 to make crafts, meet people, and de-stress after a week of classes.  Supplies such as embroidery floss, Perler beads, a button-maker, paper & coloring utensils, will be provided, but feel free to bring your own craft project to the space.

 

This week, Garden@Case will be bringing planters to decorate and seeds to plant in them. You do not have to identify under the LGBTQ+ umbrella to attend, as long as you are willing to craft.

Student Drag Show

Come to the annual Student-run Drag Show on Friday, November 17th at 6:00PM at The Spot! Several CWRU Drag Performers will be putting on a very special show for the community to enjoy. 

If you would like to promote your event or opportunity through VISA News, please make a complete submission (including flyers, images, details, etc.) for consideration by noon on Monday to visa@case.edu. The VISA Office cannot guarantee that all submissions will appear in the newsletter, as space is limited, but staff will review all timely submissions for consideration.