From: VISA Office
Date: October 2
Subject: VISA News: OPT & CPT Workshops, Fall Bike Tour, Global Career Fair, Apple Picking, and MORE


VISA News

VISA Office Information

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

We have virtual chat advising available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 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.

fall break clip art

Fall Break Is October 21 - 22

During Fall Break, the VISA Office will be open regular business hours!

If you are travelling outside the US, remember to check your I-20 or DS-2019 for a valid travel signature.  If you need a new travel signature, go to our website https://case.edu/visa/forms-and-resources/student-forms-and-resources and scroll down to "reprint or travel signature request."

OPT & CPT Workshops

The VISA Office offers Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Workshops to discuss the application process, student responsibilities, and other important considerations.

It is important to be well informed before you apply. It is also important to apply early!

You must complete an OPT workshop before beginning the OPT application process.  We strongly recommend that you attend a workshop as early as possible if you plan to apply for OPT this semester, as it takes several months to process. You do not need a job offer to apply for OPT.

CPT is for currently enrolled students.  You must have a job offer before applying for CPT, and you may not begin work until you have CPT authorization in place, which can take 2-3 weeks to process. You must attend a CPT workshop or view the recording of the CPT workshop  before beginning the CPT authorization process.


Please sign up for a workshop-- You can sign up below!

CPT Workshops

You can watch a recording of the CPT Workshop online here or you can register to attend a live Zoom session hosted by an advisor with the VISA Office.

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

Tuesday, October 15, 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Wednesday, November 13, 9:00 am - 10:30 am: Webinar Registration - Zoom

 

OPT Workshops

A recorded OPT workshop is available for viewing here.  Please click on a session below to register and access the Zoom link for a live session:

Friday, October 4, 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Thursday, October 24, 9:00 am - 11:30 am: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Tuesday, November 5, 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Thursday, November 21, 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Wednesday, December 4, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Friday, December 13, 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm: Webinar Registration - Zoom

OISRE Updates

OISRE Office Information

The Office of International Student Resources & Engagement (OISRE) helps international students adapt to life in the US. They offer support services and plan events for international students and the campus community.

OISRE is open Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. They also have drop-in hours on Thursdays from 11 am to 1 pm in Tomlinson Hall, Room 143.

You can reach them at international@case.edu or call 216-368-2517.

Check their website for events. If you see an activity of interest, click on the link and pre-register in CampusGroups so they can get an accurate headcount for shuttles, etc.

Lunch and Learn: Getting an Ohio Driver's License

Join OISRE for a comprehensive workshop on navigating the process of obtaining an Ohio driver’s license. They’ll cover essential steps, required documents, and helpful tips to ensure you’re well-prepared for the application process. Whether you're new to Ohio or just need a refresher, this session will provide all the information you need to get your driver’s license smoothly. For more details and to register for this event, click on this link

Wednesday, October 9
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Nord Hall, Room 356

Rosh Hashanah 

Begins at sunset today, Wednesday, October 2 and ends at sunset on Friday, October 4.

Rosh Hashanah is one of the Jewish High Holidays and marks the beginning of the Hebrew calendar year.  It is commonly called the Jewish New Year. It is a time of celebration and season of reflection and solemnity. For information about Hillel at CWRU, visit their website.

(Man blowing the ancient ram's horn, or shofar)

Indigenous People's Day - October 14

The campus cafeterias will recognize this special day so check here to learn more about the offerings (The university will be open as normal).

Check Out the Cleveland Public Library

Did you know that the Cleveland Public Library has books and media resources in 45 different languages?

Get your free library card and check out materials in Thai, Turkish, Serbian, Bengali, Estonian, and Swahili to name a few!! There is a branch near you!

University Circle Fall Bike Tour

Join University Circle Inc. and University Circle Police Department for a FREE guided tour by bike to learn more about University Circle! Riders can expect to use both trails and roads during this casual-paced 7.5 mile ride.

Sunday, October 13
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Meet at Wade Oval (10820 East Blvd.)

Requests for a free bike rental can be made through Friday, October 4. 

Register here.

Free Tickets to the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Music Center

Free tickets to Cleveland Orchestra concerts are available to students through a weekly drawing sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs. The drawing is held each Wednesday before the concert date.

Cleveland Orchestra Ticket Drawing Entry Form

Winners will be notified by email and must claim their tickets at the Office of Student Affairs, located at 110 Adelbert Hall, by Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. After that, unclaimed tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, contact the Office of Student Affairs at 216.368.2020.

Financial Wellness Workshops and Info

Join us in shedding light on this important topic which may help improve the resources available to international students like you!

PNC offers several excellent resources to help you reach your financial goals for the 2024-2025 school year. ​​​​​​​PNC offers a wide range of financial ed webinars throughout the school year; view free financial webinars at 2024 Full Webinar Calendar.

Let's Celebrate Halloween

The Office of International Student Resources & Engagement (OISRE) is hosting a Halloween party for all CWRU students! Register here!

Come carve pumpkins with your friends, enjoy some delicious food, and show off your best costume. We’ll be having a costume contest with awesome prizes!

Campus Happenings

Spoken English Language Programs (SELP) Offerings

SELP offers several different programs to assist international non-native speakers of English increase English language skills and comprehension of US academic and social culture.  See their website here.

Open Conversation Hour
Each Friday (thru November 22) there is an Open Conversation Hour from 2:15 - 3:05 pm. Register in CampusGroups

Workshop
Every Friday (thru November 22) a SELP Workshop is offered from 3:20 - 4:10 pm; there will be a different topic each week. You can register in CampusGroups. Attendance is limited to 12 to ensure ample speaking time for each enrollee.

Seminar
Over four consecutive Fridays (September 27 - October 18 and November 1 - 22), a seminar is offered from 4:25 - 5:25 pm. The topic of the first seminar (9/27 - 10/18) is Advanced Fluency. The second seminar (11/1 - 11/22) will be Idioms and Expressions. Registration is through CampusGroups and attendance is limited to 10.

English Language Tutoring Consultations
SELP also offers English language tutoring consultations, available in 30 minute or one-hour increments. You can use tutoring time to practice English speaking, listening, grammar, and vocabulary; practice presentations, speeches, interviews, and talks; or have a chance to chat with someone who knows CWRU and the Cleveland area well. Tutortrac is used to register for tutoring. Contact selp@case.edu if you need any assistance with this.

UNIV 402C Course - Spring 2025
Every semester, SELP has a 2.5 hours per week non-credit UNIV 402C course. The course meets twice a week (late Tuesday and Thursday afternoons) and focuses on increasing skill in English language speaking and listening, USA social and academic culture, and presentations skills. Enrollees will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the semester upon successful completion of the course. Attendance will be limited to 12 to ensure ample speaking time for each enrollee. If you are interested in joining it for the 2025 Spring semester in January or would like more information, please email selp@case.edu.

Other Opportunities

Call for Research Participants - International Students and Pets

Do you have a pet or have you thought about having a pet while you are studying in the US?  Or maybe you are not interested in having a pet while in the US or at all?

Tufts University's Center for Animal and Public Policy is conducting a study to explore the experience and challenges international students face when acquiring and maintaining pets in the U.S. The survey is anonymous and will take around 15 minutes to complete. (You do NOT need to currently have a pet to participate.)

You will have the chance to enter a drawing for one of five 50 dollar Amazon gift cards.

For more information, please contact the student PI, Jiaqi Tian, at caresearch@tufts.edu.

Here is the link to participate: https://tufts.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eyYQW5ii7AMT5Ea

Call for Participants: Study on International Students’ Experiences with American Pop Culture

If you are an international student who frequently follows or interacts with American pop culture (movies, television, books of fiction, music, American food, fashion, video games, theater, and sports), you might be interested in participating in this research study.  

Krittika Grau, a PhD student at Kent State University and also a staff member at CWRU, is interested in interviewing undergraduate international students in the U.S., who are in their first or second year of studies (freshmen or sophomores), to learn about their experience with American pop culture both before they arrived and since they have been in the U.S.

If you are interested in participating, please respond to the “Participant Interest Form” to determine your eligibility.  For your full participation, you will receive a $50 gift card.  If you have any questions about the study, please email the researcher at kxg407@case.edu.

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.