From: VISA Office
Date: December 13, 2023
Subject: VISA News: Late Night Breakfast, ISF Christmas Party, Airport Shuttle, 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.

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Happy Holidays

To Our International Students,

Winter break is almost here!  You just have to push through finals week!  You can do it!  Soon you can fully enjoy some rest, relaxation, and the holiday season!

The VISA Office would like to wish all students and their loved ones, whether near or far, a happy and healthy holiday season. If you're traveling, be safe; and if you're staying locally, enjoy your time in Cleveland!

This will be our last VISA News for 2023! We'll get back to our regular weekly Wednesday editions shortly after the New Year.

We look forward to working with you all and seeing you on campus in January!

Best Wishes and Happy New Year,
The VISA Office Team (Marin, Adolfo, Adriana, Elise, Emily A., and Emily S.)

Features

Late Night Breakfast - Tomorrow Night

Case Western Reserve University students are invited to Late Night Breakfast Thursday, Dec. 14, from 8 to 10 p.m. at both Fribley Commons and Leutner Commons. 

The event will feature music, candy, raffles and breakfast favorites such as biscuits and gravy, pancakes, sausage, eggs, fresh fruit and smoothies.

Late Night Breakfast is open to all students, even those without a meal plan. A CWRU ID is required to attend.

International Student Fellowship Christmas Party 


Attention all International graduate students, post-docs, researchers, and scholars!  The International Student Fellowship invites you to their Christmas Party. They will have Christmas cookie decorating, games, Carol singing, and dinner. For more details, and a reservation link, please email them at: isfcleveland@gmail.com.

Mather Center's Winter Warm Up

 

Tired of the cold? Warm up with the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women's annual end of the semester celebration in the Mather Center. They will have a hot chocolate bar with plenty of mix-ins for a personalized cocoa experience, cookies, a (digital) fire going, and board games available.

 

The event will take place on Friday, December 15th from 12:30-2:00PM in TVUC 248.

Register Here

Airport Shuttle Service Available Ahead of Winter Break

Case Western Reserve University students can take advantage of shuttle service between campus and the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport ahead of winter break. The shuttles will operate Dec. 15–16 and 19–21 at the following times:

  • Dec. 15, 16, 19 and 20: 5 a.m., 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
  • Dec. 21: 5 a.m., 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The pick-up locations will be the Juniper Residential Community and the nursing stop across from Fribley Commons. Pick up at Juniper will be on the hour, with pick up at the nursing stop at 15 minutes past the hour.

Shuttles will be available December 15-16 and 19-21 with service to Cleveland Hopkins Airport. Students must schedule the shuttle 48 hours in advance. To schedule your pickup, call or text shuttle dispatch at 216.368.6604. Dispatch is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Students must provide the following information:

  • Name and cell phone number 
  • Location of pick-up: Juniper or Nursing stop
  • Day of flight 
  • Time student would like to be picked up (allow an hour and 15 minutes for pickup and travel)
  • Any additional information that might be pertinent, such as need for wheelchair access, amount of luggage if over two bags.

Confirmation will be sent via text with pick-up date and scheduled pick-up time (based on availability).

 

Students should be prompt during pickup; the shuttle will follow a strict schedule.

Apply Now to Study Abroad over Spring Break or in May

Want to get ahead on course requirements and study abroad during spring break or after finals in May? Case Western Reserve University students can enroll in a three-credit, faculty-led study abroad course this spring break or May. These study abroad courses are part of the spring semester course load. 

More than 10 course offerings will be available this spring, giving students the chance to learn alongside CWRU faculty and classmates while exploring a new country.

Explore the options.

Applications are due Jan. 26.
 

Make an appointment with a study abroad advisor on MyJourney to learn more.

Reminders

The University Will Be Closed for Winter Recess

Friday, December 22 - Monday, January 1

The University will be closed for Winter Recess starting Friday, December 22nd through Monday, January 1st.  On all other days, the VISA Office will operate and offer services as usual.  Please plan your visit to the office accordingly so that staff members are available to help you!

Note: The Visa Office closes when the university closes for scheduled breaks and inclement weather. If you're ever in doubt about VISA Office staff availability, we strongly recommend that you call in advance of visiting the office (216.368.6964); we don't want you to be out in the cold, snowy weather if we're not available to help you!

If you have an immigration-related emergency when we are not in the office, contact CWRU Police at 216.368.3300 and dispatch will know how to reach a VISA Office staff member.

For Winter Break programming information, see the information here.

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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.

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Support Resources

The staff in the VISA Office, University Health & Counseling Services (UH&CS), and hundreds of student service professionals across our campus are ready to help students. We all know that you are busy and that there may be things happening in the United States and throughout the world that are affecting you. 
 
We want you to take care of yourself and have the support you need to be successful.  Please don't forget that you can access mental health care through CWRU Care! TimelyCare is a 24/7 mental telehealth care service that undergraduate, graduate and professional students can access from wherever they are. For more information about the program or to make an appointment, please visit TimelyCare.

Not feeling well? Connect with our University Health Service staff.

If you wonder how your academics might affect your immigration status, reach out to the VISA Office as soon as possible!

The Dean of Students Office and the Case Western Reserve University  community are committed to helping students overcome challenges during their academic careers.   This website lists a variety of resources and services that are available if you need them!

The university community is ready to help!
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For Graduate Students: Waiver of Registration Information

If you are a graduate student planning to submit a Waiver of Registration , it is essential that you understand the impact of this decision on your visa status. The Waiver of Registration is an administrative process of the university, but does not count as registration for F-1 and J-1 students. Proper registration is required to maintain your visa status.  If you are not properly registered, you need to take other steps to maintain your visa status.

F-1 students:

  • If you submit a Waiver of Registration, The VISA Office will shorten the length of your I-20 to reflect the Drop/Add deadline. Your legal status in the US actually becomes shorter because it is now based on this Drop/Add deadline rather than your future intended graduation date.
  • In order to maintain your visa status after submitting a Waiver of Registration, you must apply for OPT or maker other arrangements in a timely manner.

Please note:

OPT applications must be submitted within 90 days before or 60 days after  the new I-20 end date (based on the drop/add deadline). Don't forget, it takes an average of 90 days for an OPT application to be processed.

If you do not intend to maintain your status either through OPT or other action on your I-20, you are required to leave the United States within 60 days of the Drop/Add deadline (which is your 60 day grace period).

If you are a J-1 student, please contact The VISA Office with questions related to the Waiver of Registration.

Tax Information for 2023 Filing Year

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Important Tax Info: Make Sure You Get Your W-2

The W-2 is a critical document for properly filing taxes. Every year between January and February, the university generates W-2 documents for individuals who have earned income from CWRU.

When your W-2 is generated, it's sent to your Permanent Address as listed in SIS.  For international students, this is often a foreign address.  

If your Permanent Address is correct, but you would prefer to have your W-2 sent to another address, for example a US address, it is necessary for you to include that address under the W-2 Override option in SIS no later than December 15. Using the W-2 Override function will maintain the integrity of your Permanent Address information and ensure that you receive your W-2 at the different, preferred address.

See more W-2 information here: https://case.edu/controller/payroll

Please contact Payroll if you have questions about receiving your W-2.

CWRU Physical Resource Center Hours

The Physical Resource Center is a free store open to all graduate and undergraduate students. Here students have free access to non-perishables, canned food, fresh and frozen food, as well as hygiene products, clothing and textbooks.

The Physical Resource Center is located at Carlton Commons (11892 Carlton Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106) and will be open on Saturday, December 16th from 10:00am to 6:00pm.

Learn more here.

Other Opportunities

Undergraduate Students: Apply to Be a Resident Assistant!

Would you like to make an impact and serve others around you within your residential community? Are you interested in gaining skills and experiences that will assist you beyond your time at CWRU? If so, apply today to be a resident assistant. Resident assistants are undergraduate student employees who are immersed in the student residential community and create environments primed for learning that allow students to embrace challenges and shape communities.

The Office of Residence Life is accepting applications for summer 2024 and academic year 2024–25 resident assistant positions.

If you are interested in connecting with residence life staff and learning more about the resident assistant position, attend an upcoming information session:

  • Thursday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m. at Wade Commons in the Pioneer Room
  • Friday, Jan. 26, at noon via Zoom

Applications close and recommendations are due Friday, Jan. 26.

 

Learn more about being a resident assistant and how to apply.

Seeking Graduate Staff for Residence Life

Interested in gaining professional experience and skills that will assist you beyond your time as a graduate student? Would you like to be able to work and earn money while you're earning your graduate degree? Would you like to make an impact on students and the residential community at CWRU? If so, please apply to become a member of the Graduate Staff within Residence Life!

The Office of Residence Life has two graduate staff positions: the Assistant Residential Community Director role and the Graduate Resident Director role. Both positions are 10-month live-in roles that support the creation and facilitation of an integrated residential learning environment, working through the mission and goals of the Office of Residence Life and the Division of Student Affairs at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). Immersed in the student community, both the ARCD and GRD positions actively manage the learning experience at both the community and individual level, monitoring and supporting students' holistic academic, social, and personal development. To learn more about the ARCD and GRD roles, please click here.

Candidates must be enrolled in a graduate-level degree-seeking program at CWRU or a neighboring institution to be eligible for either of the Graduate Staff positions. There is no specific graduate program requirement.
If you are interested in connecting with Residence Life staff and learning more about our Graduate Staff positions, join us for an information session!
  • Thursday, January 25th | 7pm via Zoom

Applications and recommendations close on February 2nd, 2024. Questions can be directed to Billie Vichosky, Assistant Director of Residence Life, at bxv76@case.edu.

Doctoral Candidate at Texas Tech University Looking for Research Participants

Individuals who meet all the following criteria may participate: 

  • Identify as a Chinese international undergraduate student  
  • Currently enrolled in a program at a higher education institution in the United States  
  • Studying abroad from China  
  • Have completed a minimum of one semester of study in the United States
Please email Tran.N.Le@ttu.edu or call (432) 363-5891 for more information. 

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.