Tools Search Main Menu

ISO Student News: 11/01/2021

Table of Contents

  1. International Student Entrepreneurship Workshop - TODAY (more)
  2. Reminder: Immigration Record Must Match Your Current Situation (more)
  3. New US Travel Criteria for Nonimmigrants, Effective 11/8 (more)
  4. US Daylight Savings Time Ends 11/7 & Preparing for Winter Weather (more)
  5. Diwali Celebration on 11/14 (more)
  6. International Education Week 2021: November 15-19 (more)
  7. Submit Your GLACIER Tax Forms by Mail (more)
  8. Resources on Mental Health and Student Wellbeing (more)

 

International Student Entrepreneurship Workshop - TODAY

As a reminder, the Ain Center for Entrepreneurship and ISO are holding a workshop specifically for international students who are interested in entrepreneurship. Please join us, along with immigration attorneys from Harter, Secrest & Emery LLP to discuss immigration topics related entrepreneurial activities. The workshop is TODAY, November 1st at 1:00pm via Zoom. Please review the workshop details here and register to attend.

(top)

Reminder: Immigration Record Must Match Your Current Situation

As an F-1 student, your immigration record must match what’s actually happening in your life (academically, professionally, and even personally in many cases). Here are some things you should monitor to make sure your SEVIS record is aligned with your academic records and personal plans:

  • Program Completion: If you will be finishing your degree requirements earlier or later than the program completion date on your I-20/DS-2019, you must request an update to the end date by completing the ISO’S Program Extension/Shorten Form. The focus here is on your degree requirements. You should find out what is required to complete your degree, and the program completion date on your I-20 should reflect the date when those requirements will be satisfied. If you are not sure when your remaining degree requirements will be met, please speak with your academic advisor.

  • Off-Campus Work Authorization: You must obtain appropriate and documented authorization BEFORE you begin any type of employment activity. If the details of your authorized employment have changed, you must report those changes to ISO. For CPT, please reach out to the ISO advisor who issued your CPT I-20 to report any changes. For those pursuing post-completion work authorizations, please review your OPT reporting requirements and STEM reporting requirements, as applicable.
  • Other information to keep up-to-date: Make sure that you maintain a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 for the current year. You may use ISO’s URcompass form to request a new document with an updated signature. If you have renewed or extended your passport, please submit a copy to ISO; if your passport will be expiring in the next year, make plans to renew it. Also, remember to update your GLACIER record with required address information, travel dates, and UR employment details. If any other changes are happening in your life that may affect your immigration record, please contact ISO to discuss this with an advisor.

(top)

New US Travel Criteria for Nonimmigrants, Effective 11/8

On October 25, 2021, President Biden issued a Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic (#10294). The new proclamation is intended to expand US entry eligibility for most nonimmigrant travelers, by lifting previous restrictions and setting broad health and safety protocols. As of Monday, November 8, 2021, the suspensions on travel from certain geographic regions of the world will be revoked. Instead, most nonimmigrant travelers globally will be subject to vaccination requirements and health and safety protocols, with some detailed exceptions. This does not impact visa issuance. Please review ISO’s updated Executive Action Summary on COVID-19 travel restrictions and continue to visit our page on COVID-19 Immigration Information.

(top)

US Daylight Savings Time Ends 11/7 & Preparing for Winter Weather

Sunday, November 7th will mark the end of Daylight Savings Time in the US. On this day, our clocks in Rochester will roll back 1 hour – what is currently 9:00am will become 8:00am. Please make note of the change and adjust your schedule accordingly. The adjustment may affect your lecture times, exams, deadlines, etc.

As we move into November and December, please also make sure you have appropriate clothes for winter weather. Especially if this is your first winter in Rochester, please ensure that you are prepared to handle the winter weather once it arrives. 

(top

Diwali Celebration on 11/14

The Rochester Indian Association (RIA) presents URJA 2021 - Annual Diwali Celebration on Sunday, November 14th, 2021. This year, the celebration will be held completely in-person with a variety of activities and events! Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the oldest festivals in India which symbolizes victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Email ria.our@gmail.com with any questions.

(top)

International Education Week 2021: November 15-19

International Education Week (IEW) is an annual joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to promote international engagement at U.S. colleges and universities and will be held across the U.S. November 15-19, 2021. The University will be hosting multiple events across all campuses throughout the month of November. Events aim to celebrate the benefits of international education, highlight intercultural awareness, support the integration of our domestic and international student body, and promote the internationalization of the University community. Open to faculty, students, and staff, join in the celebration of international education!

For further information, contact the IEW committee lead, Megan Bennett-Spears at megan.bennett-spears@rochester.edu.

 (top)

Submit Your GLACIER Tax Forms by Mail

Effective today (11/1/2021), upon completion of your GLACIER Tax Compliance record and any subsequent updates throughout your program of study, you will need to submit your signed Tax Summary, relevant tax forms, and required document copies by mail to UR’s GLACIER Administrators in the Payroll Office. The complete mailing address is printed on the Tax Summary Report, but you may also send the documents via intercampus mail through any campus office. The payroll office will be in touch with you by email if anything else needs to be done regarding the taxation of your University payments.

Reminder: Keeping your GLACIER record up-to-date helps the University to make accurate withholdings from your paychecks. This allows you to receive the maximum amount of money throughout the year, while also limiting the chance that you may owe additional taxes year’s end. Be sure to update your GLACIER record as needed.

 (top)

Resources for Mental Health and Student Wellbeing

UCC International Student Drop-In Support Group in November
The University Counseling Center (UCC) continues to offer a virtual drop-in support group for international students bimonthly during the month of November. These drop-in sessions are open to all active UR students. The next sessions will be on Mondays: 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, and 11/22 from 4-5 via Zoom. This group will be a safe space for international students to share their experiences and connect with others.

Mindfulness University: Koru Basic Class
An introduction to mindfulness and meditation. This class meets weekly over four weeks and includes 75-minutes of instruction from a certified Koru Mindfulness teacher. Students will learn 2-3 new meditation techniques each week and engage in a short daily practice consisting of meditation, mindful moments, and gratitude.
Date / Time: November 8, 15, 29, December 6 / 12-1:15 p.m. EST / Online via Zoom.
Registration Link: https://student.korumindfulness.org/course-detail.html?course_id=5685

Mental Health and Wellness Survey
Take this short survey to tell us about your mental health and wellness. The University Coalition on Student Mental Health and Wellness is requesting student input to learn about the issues students are struggling with most. The survey is anonymous and will take approximately five minutes to complete. Data will be used to help make recommendations to improve student well-being. Open to all undergraduate and graduate students in all schools until November 15th

 (top)

_________________________________________________________________________
Prepared by: ISO Student Services