From: VISA Office
Date: May 4, 2022
Subject: ISS News, May 4, 2022: End of Semester Reminders, SEVP Guidance for 2022-2023 Academic Year, Information for Graduating Students, Good Vibes, and More



IS

May 4, 2022

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in this issue:

  1. Just...Keep...Studying...
  2. End of Semester Reminders
  3. Graduating Students- Important Tax Info to Ensure You Get Your 2022 W-2
  4. ISSNews Summer Schedule
  5. OPT & CPT Workshops
  6. Features
  7. Campus Happenings
  8. Other Opportunities
  9. Good Vibes Only
  10. OPT & STEM OPT Students- Follow These Simple Steps for Reporting Updates
  11. SEVP Guidance for Academic Year 2022-2023
  12. Bike Safety Tips
  13. The Safe Eight- Safety Tips

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ISS Staff is available to students, without an appointment, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during advising hours:

11am to 1pm- through virtual advising available online

1pm to 3pm- through in-person advising in the office

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.

just keep studying meme
keep calm the semester is about to end meme

End of Semester Reminders

If you have thoughts about traveling abroad during the break, be sure to ask yourself these questions:

Do I need to extend my I-20 or DS-2019? If you do, read more under the Frequently Asked Questions Section. Undergraduates, be sure to list your Dean in Undergraduate Studies on your request and graduate students, you should list your academic advisor.

Do I need to transfer my F-1 or J-1 SEVIS record? If you do, read more under the Frequently Asked Questions Section.

Do I need to get a new travel signature on my I-20 or DS-2019? If you do, you can read about that process and other factors related to travel and reentry for F-1 and J-1 students.

Also,

  • be aware of all travel-related policies. Travel requirements are changing as the situation with COVID-19 evolves, including a Presidential Proclamation requiring travelers to be fully vaccinated in order to enter the US.  Be sure that you are monitoring all requirements for entry to the United States and complying with university policies related to vaccination and travel to minimize the risk of disrupting your education at CWRU. **If you have any doubts or concerns about your ability to return to the United States by the start of the next semester, ISS recommends that you consider remaining in the United States and not traveling abroad.**
  • check the validity of the visa in your passport. US Embassies and Consulates have limited services available and there could be significant delays in visa issuances. This delay could significantly affect your ability to return to the United States.
  • make sure your passport is valid at all times. Many government agencies are reducing and suspending services. Passport issuance could be an issue in your home country. Please prepare as early as possible if you need to apply for a new passport.  There are certain benefits for which F-1 students apply when they are in the United States and the agencies that oversee those benefits often require applicants to have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months into the future.

Do you have more questions that you need help answering? Get in touch with ISS staff during advising hours or by email before you leave campus.

US ICE logo and SEVP

SEVP Guidance for Academic Year 2022- 2023

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) would continue to apply its flexible guidance through the 2022-2023 academic year. As a result, international students will be able to engage in distance learning that exceeds existing regulatory limits in light of the pandemic’s ongoing public health risks and safety concerns. 

ISS' website with COVID-19 Updates now includes access to this SEVP guidance for Academic Year 2022-2023 and we will continue utilizing all of the tools and processes that we have in place to make sure that students are properly registered to maintain their status. 

If we learn or any new information, we will continue to make updates to the website and send communications to you.

Please contact ISS staff at international@case.edu with any questions or concerns and we will do our best to support you. ersation sleepy.

w-2 image

Graduating Students- Important Tax Info to Ensure You Get Your 2022 W-2

When CWRU generates your W-2 for the 2022 tax filing year, it will be sent to your Permanent Address as listed in SIS. Please take a moment to verify that your correct Permanent Address is listed in SIS (make any updates as needed by December 15) to ensure that you'll receive your W-2.

If your Permanent Address is current, but you would prefer to have your W-2 sent to another 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.

Remember it is your responsibility to file taxes each year and that W-2 is a critical document for that process.

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

summer schedule change with sun clipart

ISSNews Summer Schedule

After Commencement, ISS will continue to publish and send ISSNews to all international students, but not every Wednesday since activity slows significantly during the summer.  Please continue to check your CWRU email regularly and read through any ISSNews publications that we do send out. They will include information that is important to be aware of as student visa holders!

ISS will resume its weekly ISSNews publication in August as we all prepare for the Fall semester.

OPT and CPT workshop branding telling students that workshops are available online

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. 

The final advisor-led workshops is happening today and more will resume in the Fall.  You can always access and complete an online workshop at your convenience. 

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!

bike on a path

Check Out 10 Bike Safety Tips to Keep in Mind as the Weather Warms

Safe 8 flyer

Features

Cleveland Bucket List Flyer

Campus Happenings

EVENT

Senior Week 2022

Friday, May 6 at 3:00pm
to Friday, May 13 at 10:00pm
Various Locations Off and On Campus
Link
Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

Welcome to Class of 2022 to your Senior Week. Please review the options and sign up for up to 4 different events. Should all the events not fill they will be opened up to those who would like to participate in more than 4. Please note, you can only sign up for ONE Goodtimes Cruise and ONE Top Golf Event.

RSVP

EVENT

Just Walk

Saturday, May 7
10:00am - 11:00am
Zelma Watson George Recreation Center, 3155 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Cleveland, OH 44104, United States
Link
Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

Join Just Walk, a Walk with a Doc Program hosted by CWRU's Primary Care Progress (PCP) Chapter. Just Walk is a free monthly walk with community members, healthcare providers, and health professional students to encourage healthy living through movement and improve accessibility to health. Our first walk is Saturday, October 2nd from 10-11AM at Zelma Watson George Recreation Center (3155 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Cleveland, OH 44104) either inside or outside depending on weather. More information can be found here: https://walkwithadoc.org/join-a-walk/locations/cleveland-ohio/.

RSVP

Other Opportunities

summer picnic flyer

International Friendships Inc. Cleveland Invites you to a Picnic

Congratulations! You made it! Take a deep breath, welcome Summer and celebrate! Relax with your classmates and American volunteers as you play outdoor games, eat delicious picnic foods, and enjoy sitting by the campfire!

IFI will supply drinks (non-alcoholic), snacks, traditional cookout foods and yummy desserts!  Vegetarian and Halal options will be available! You just bring your smiling faces! :)

Friends and families and children are most welcome! Please register soon so we have plenty of food and drivers if transportation help is needed.

When: Saturday May 7, 2022
Time: 2pm - 9:30pm
Where:  Cleveland Metroparks pavilion (Directions will be available)
Attire:  Comfortable clothes and shoes as we will be outside.  Bring a jacket, sweater or hoodie as it may be cool in the evening.

asian festival flyer

Save the Date & Volunteer at the Cleveland Asian Festival

Engl 146 flyer
Engl 147 flyer
Trail Challenge Logo

Cleveland Metroparks Trail Challenge 2022

Welcome to the 2021 Trail Challenge, a guest led program where you discover new trails throughout Cleveland Metroparks on your own, move to better health, discover the wonders of nature, and earn awards along the way! 

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!

patagonia images

Enjoy a Brief Journey to Patagonia

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