Visit ISSS on the Web! http://isss.binghamton.edu
Traveling soon? All BU international students are reminded to check their most recent SEVIS I-20 or SEVIS DS-2019 to be sure they have an updated travel signature from the ISSS. If the travel signature (on the bottom of Page 3 of the I-20, or in the lower right hand section of Page 1 of the DS-2019) will be more than 12 months old when you return to the United States to resume classes in the Fall, come to the ISSS for an updated signature BEFORE you travel. Students who will also be applying for a new US student visa abroad this summer should not request an updated travel signature. Instead you should request a letter of certification and a new I-20 from the ISSS, as this is needed as part of the visa application.
Departing Binghamton at the end of the semester and not returning? BU students who will not be returning to the University for the Fall 2011 semester are reminded to fulfill their federal SEVIS responsibilities by completing the ISSS departure form on line at the following web link:
http://saffairs.binghamton.edu/isss/webforms/DepartureForm/
Students in F-1 status who are graduating and are not going to pursue Optional Practical Training (OPT) or transfer to a new U.S. school or begin a new degree program in the United States are required to depart the United States within 60 days of their degree completion date. Students in J-1 status are required to depart the United States within 30 days of their degree completion date, or the end of their programs.
CONTENTS:
1. National Holidays For May
2. Last International Coffee Hour For the Spring Semester is Friday, May 6
3. International Student Graduation Reception is Friday, May 20
4. Leadership Volunteer Application is Now On-Line
5. Graduate Assistantships in The Graduate School
6. University Bookstore is Taking Job Applications
7. Important E-Survey Sent to Undergraduate Seniors: What are your plans after you graduate?
8. Planning to Work in the United States This Summer?
9. Exemplary Student Award Application Deadline May 6
10.Confirmation of Enrollment Mandatory for Students Taking Summer Session Classes
11. Accessing Health Services, Library Services and Off Campus Bus Services During the Summer
12. CINTAX Not Available To File Late Income Tax Returns After July 15
13. Did You Receive A Grade of "Incomplete" in Fall 2010?
14. Registering for Less Than a Full Time Course Load for Fall 2011?
15. Latest H-1B Visa Update
The following countries are celebrating national holidays during May
|
Marshall Islands |
1-May |
|
Poland |
3-May |
|
Israel |
12-May |
|
Paraguay |
15-May |
|
Norway |
17-May |
|
Turkey |
19-May |
|
Cameroon |
20-May |
|
Yemen, Republic of |
22-May |
|
Eritrea |
24-May |
|
Argentina |
25-May |
|
Jordan |
25-May |
|
Georgia |
26-May |
|
Azerbaijan |
28-May |
|
Ethiopia |
28-May |
|
Croatia |
30-May |
|
South Africa |
31-May |
2. Last International Coffee Hour For the Spring Semester With Special Recognition is Friday, May 6
Good company! Free food! Hot and cold beverages! Celebrate May and the approaching end of the Spring semester by coming to this month's International Coffee Hour on Friday, May 7 from 3:30-5pm in the University Union Old Union Hall. This month's sponsor is the Division of Student Affairs.
As a special feature of this month’s Coffee Hour, we will be honoring the leadership of the international student cultural associations. Please come out to support these associations:
Binghamton University Japanese Association
Binghamton University Korean Undergraduate Student Association
Binghamton University Turkish Student Association
Chinese Student and Scholar Association
European Student Association
Graduate African Student Organization
Indian Graduate Student Organization
Korean Graduate Student Association
Taiwanese Student Association
We look forward to seeing you on Friday, May 6.
3. International Student Graduation Reception is Friday May 20
We are delighted that so many international exchange students and graduating students have informed the ISSS that they will be attending the 25th Annual International Student Graduation Reception in the University Union Old Union Hall, Friday, May 20 at 7:00pm. Invitations were sent by email approximately last week.
If you are completing your program or are graduating, and have not yet responded to our invitation, please do so soon by using our on-line response form:http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/gradreception/invite.html
Please note that the response form requires you to use your Binghamton.edu email address.
Students who graduated in December 2010 or who will graduate in Summer 2011 and would like to participate in the International Student Graduation Reception should also use the invitation link, above.
Each student will receive a certificate from the ISSS, in recognition of your achievements. If you will be graduating, or completing your exchange program this month, come join the ISSS staff and your fellow students for good food, short speech making, and lots of photo opportunities!
Please note that the International Student Graduation Reception is separate from the University’s official Commencement ceremonies, which will be held on Saturday, May 21 for graduate students and Sunday, May 22 for undergraduate students. For more information on the Commencement ceremonies, visit:http://commencement.binghamton.edu/
4. Leadership Volunteer Application is Now On-Line
Current students interested in becoming Leadership Volunteers and assisting with International Student Orientation in August may obtain information and the required application form on-line at this link: http://isss.binghamton.edu/forms/lvforms/lvintro.html The training is from August 15 to August 19 and International Student Orientation is August 22 -24, 2011.
5. Graduate Assistantships in The Graduate School
The Graduate School at Binghamton University is immediately seeking several graduate assistants for new graduate school marketing, recruitment and admissions initiatives.
The hands-on opportunities are perfect for graduate students seeking to build their professional skills, resumes, e-portfolios, writing samples and other portfolios. Such positions are ideal for graduate students with personal and/or professional interests in creative writing, social media, customer service, technical/documentation writing, web content development/maintenance, data analysis, finance, strategic planning and marketing implementation. Computer savvy a plus, and in some cases a must. Stipend, no tuition.
Opportunities available starting Summer 2011; Fall 2011 – Spring 2012 opportunities available, too. Interested students should contact Cheryl Fabrizi at cfabrizi@binghamton.edu
6. University Bookstore is Taking Job Applications
Interesting in working for the Bookstore? The University Bookstore is now seeking temporary help for the summer and fall semesters. You can download an application by visiting the Announcements portion of http://binghamton.bncollege.com If you have any questions, contact the Bookstore at 607-777-2745.
7. Important E-Survey Sent to Undergraduate Seniors: What are your plans after you graduate?
The Office of Institutional Research & Planning, in conjunction with the Office of Student Affairs Assessment & Strategic Initiatives, is conducting the 2011 survey of graduating seniors (Bachelor’s degree only). Graduating seniors in all schools and colleges have received an email directing them to the online survey that is being conducted using StudentVoice. A reminder was sent last week. The subject line of the message is “What are your plans after you graduate?”
This information will help the University learn about the future plans of our graduating seniors and gain insight into how they feel BU has prepared them. The information will be used also for reporting to the federal government (IPEDS) regarding career plans of our graduating seniors. The University also uses the data when media outlets inquire about the plans of our graduates.
So if you are an undergraduate student who will receive your BU degree in May, please complete the on-line survey, if you have not already done so!
8. Planning to Work in the United States This Summer?
International students in F-1 or J-1 status are reminded that all off-campus employment must be authorized! This includes summer internships and other forms of off-campus employment. Do not jeopardize your non-immigrant status through unauthorized employment. If you have any questions, please come to the ISSS, send an email to the ISSS employment team at intl.work@binghamton.edu or visit the employment section of the ISSS website at:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/employment/index.html
9. Exemplary Student Award Application Deadline May 6
The Binghamton University Alumni Association reminds students that applications for the 2011 Exemplary Student Award are due in the Alumni Relations Office by 5 p.m., Friday, May 6. The award, presented during the University’s annual Homecoming Weekend in October, honors outstanding Binghamton University students. Five finalists will be chosen and will receive special financial awards to be used at the campus bookstore during the Spring 2011 semester, with the exception of the Grand Prize winner, who will receive a full tuition reimbursement for one semester. Applications are available in the Alumni Relations Office, AD-217, or online at http://www2.binghamton.edu/alumni/students/exemplary-student-award/index.html
10. Confirmation of Enrollment Mandatory for Students Taking Summer Session Classes
At the start of each semester all undergraduate and graduate students are required to confirm enrollment via BU BRAIN at http://bubrain.binghamton.edu For summer 2011, confirmation must be completed to avoid your courses being canceled. If you fail to confirm enrollment and your classes are dropped, you will have to re-enroll in the courses online via BU BRAIN. How do you confirm enrollment? After logging into BU BRAIN, click on the “Start of Term” tab. View a step-by-step guide on how to confirm enrollment at http://www2.binghamton.edu/registrar/students/course-registration/confirmation-enrollment.html Problem accessing? Go to http://its.binghamton.edu/helpdesk
11. Accessing Health Services, Library Services and Off Campus Bus Services During the Summer
BU students remaining in the Binghamton area for the summer (but who are not registered for Summer Session) frequently ask the ISSS about their ability to utilize services during the summer months, such as the Library, University Health Service, and Bus Services.
Any BU student can continue to use the library and bus services in the summer with their BU ID. A student wishing to visit University Health Service in the summer, but who is not registered for the Summer Session, will be asked to pay a one-time fee of $25 per Summer term at the Office of Student Accounts.
12. CINTAX Not Available To File Late Income Tax Forms After July 15
After July 15, 2011, CINTAX users will be able to access the “printed .pdf” only, but will no longer be able to complete an income tax return. The ISSS will continue to provide CINTAX access codes through July 15 for those students who are filing late, and will maintain its supply of income tax forms for several months, for those who need to file amended returns. Then the forms will be placed in storage.
13. Did You Receive A Grade of "Incomplete" in Fall 2010?
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services would like to remind international students of a potential problem for those in F-1 or J-1 status who do not complete in a timely manner the required work for a course for which they have been issued an "Incomplete" grade. For example, a student who receives a grade of "incomplete" in a graduate or undergraduate course for the Fall 2010 semester has until the end of the Spring 2011 semester to turn in the required work so that the professor can issue the appropriate final grade. However, if the Fall 2010 course work is not completed, or if the professor does not submit a grade change form, the Incomplete will change to "W" or withdrawn for graduate students, and to "F" or failure for undergraduate students following the Spring 2011 semester.
Now that the Spring 2011 semester is coming to an end, international students in F-1 and J-1 status who received one or more grades of Incomplete in Fall 2010 are urged to check their Fall 2010 grades in BU brain; http://bubrain.binghamton.edu
A grade change to "W" is very detrimental to any F-1 or J-1 graduate student, because if the course was being counted towards a full-time course load, the W grade means that the course was not completed successfully, dropping the student from full-time to part-time. Often, we find that the student has made arrangements with the faculty member to complete the work. In such cases, we strongly advise the student to check with the faculty member to see if the grade was submitted, or if necessary, extend the deadline for the incomplete and have the grade changed back to "I."
A grade that remains "W," if it drops the graduate student below a full time course load, may mean that the F-1 or J-1 student is in violation of U.S. immigration requirements. Thus, some international students could suddenly find themselves in violation of their F-1 status based on a course taken as long as two semesters ago. Students who find themselves in this situation should contact the ISSS to set up an appointment with Ellen Badger.
14. Registering for Less Than a Full Time Course Load for Fall 2011?
Some students have already completed pre-registration for Fall 2011, others may delay signing up for courses until the regular registration period that begins August 25, 2011. Since all continuing F-1 students must comply with federal SEVIS regulations, we are reminding students of the rules governing taking less than a full-time course load.
U.S. Federal regulations governing F-1 status require that students pursue "a full course of study" that leads to the attainment of a specific educational or professional objective. For undergraduate students, a full course of study is defined as at least 12 semester credits per semester. For graduate students, Federal regulations defer to the school's definition of a full course of study. See http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/immigration/ruleftload.html for a summary of what constitutes full-time study at Binghamton University.
SEVIS regulations require that F-1 students obtain permission from the Office of International Student and Scholar Services before dropping below a full-time course load. A F-1 student who drops below a full course of study without the prior approval of the Office of International Student and Scholar Services will be considered out of status.
One of the most common requests for a reduced course load is when a student is in their final semester of study, but needs less than a full time course load to graduate. The ISSS may authorize a reduced course load for this reason. If the reduction is authorized, the student must then be registered for those credits needed to complete the course of study.
The student must first obtain permission from the ISSS before dropping below a full-time course load. A special form, which can be obtained from the ISSS or downloaded at:http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/essential-forms/study_comp.pdf must be completed by both the student and department advisor, and then approved by the ISSS before any courses can be dropped. In addition, the student must also have filed a "declaration of candidacy form" (for graduate students) or an "application for undergraduate degree" (for undergraduate students), verifying the student's intention to graduate in that semester. These forms are available in BU Brain.
A note of warning: Students should be absolutely certain that they will be graduating in the current semester before choosing to register for less than a full-time course load. Failure to graduate after dropping below a full-time course load may result in the student being out-of-status, and the loss of F-1 benefits, unless it can be shown that the student is still making satisfactory progress towards their degree.
Graduate students who have completed their course requirements and register for thesis, pre-dissertation research, dissertation, project, or other course rubrics that are eligible to be certified as full-time even though the number of credits will be below the normal full-time course load are not required to seek advance permission from the ISSS, and need NOT be concerned that they will violate their F-1 status if they do not graduate. However, such students who will register for less than 9 credits must submit the Graduate School's "Full-Time Certification" form each semester to their department for filing with the Graduate School. There are two forms, one for funded students and one for non-funded students.
The most recent H-1B visa update was on Friday April 29.
USCIS reports that approximately 9,200 H-1B cap-subject petitions and approximately 6,600 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption had been filed. USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact that some of these petitions may be denied, revoked, or withdrawn.
USCIS will provide regular updates on the processing of FY2012 H-1B petitions. The updates can be found on the USCIS’ Web site at www.uscis.gov/h-1b_count
===============================================================================================================================
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CONTENTS:
1. National Holidays for April
2. Join a Conversation on Promoting and Cultivating 2nd Language Research Skills Across the Disciplines On Wednesday, March 30
3. Presentation by BU International Alumni on How to Reach Your Career Goals, Thursday, March 31
4. Next International Coffee Hour is Friday, April 1
5. Registrar’s Office Reminds Students of Important Deadlines THIS WEEK
6. April 1 is the Deadline for Spring 2011 Health Insurance Adjustments
7. Pre-Registration for Fall 2011 Begins March 31 for Graduate Students and April 7 for Undergraduate Students
8. Attention Undergraduates: Help With Selecting Courses During Pre-Registration
9. Important Notice From Student Accounts Regarding Fall 2011 Pre-Registration
10. Don’t Forget the April 18, 2011 Deadline for Filing Income Tax Forms
11. H-1B Visa Issues are at the Forefront This Week
12. Important Workshop on Post-Graduation Employment Issues Friday, April 8
13. Nominations for Student Speaker at the Graduate Commencement Ceremony
14. International Student Graduation Reception is Friday, May 20
1. National Holidays for April
The following countries are celebrating national holidays in April
|
Senegal |
4-Apr |
|
Tunisia |
9-Apr |
|
Denmark |
16-Apr |
|
Syria |
17-Apr |
|
Zimbabwe |
18-Apr |
|
Turkey |
23-Apr |
|
Tanzania |
26-Apr |
|
Sierra Leone |
27-Apr |
|
South Africa |
27-Apr |
|
Netherlands |
30-Apr |
2. Join a Conversation on Promoting and Cultivating 2nd Language Research Skills Across the Disciplines On Wednesday, March 30
This is a joint videoconference workshop open to faculty and graduate students interested in the use of world languages in disciplines across the curriculum. Led by Tanya Kinsella, Ph.D. and Director of Languages Across the Curriculum (LAC), UNC-Chapel Hill & Suronda Gonzalez, Ph.D. and Director of Languages Across the Curriculum (LxC) Binghamton University. It will take place Wednesday, March 30, 2011 from 2:00pm -3:30pm in Academic A –Room G05.
Space is limited. Email LxC@binghamton.edu to reserve a spot.
3. Presentation by BU International Alumni on How to Reach Your Career Goals, Thursday, March 31
Mark Your Calendar for Thursday, March 31st at 5:00pm for a very informative presentation by several BU international alumni titled: Developing Your Success Piece by Piece
Come meet successful international Binghamton alumni and hear about their journey to success. Learn about the resources they used and the resources you can use to help you achieve your career goals and succeed. This event will take place from 5:30-6:00pm on Thursday, March 31st, in University Union Room 202. Take the opportunity to not only connect with alumni who can relate to your experience but also learn how to connect with an employer!
Alumni Guest Speakers include:
· Laila Beavogui-Koma, BS’08, Distribution Planning Engineer at National Grid in Boston
· Chang Cho, BS ’08, Accountant at CVE Group, Inc in Riverdale New Jersey
· Guruprasad Madhavan, MBA’07 PhD’09, Program Officer at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington D.C.
· Sevay Ozdemir, BS’07, Telecommunications Analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York City
· Oktay Sekercisoy, MSS’00, MBA’02 Associate Director for Dual Diploma Programs at Binghamton University
Other featured speakers include:
· Wren Fritsky, Career Counselor, Career Development Center
· Karen Keefe-Guzikowski, Associate Director, International Student and Scholar Services
This event is hosted by Discovery, and is co-sponsored by Binghamton University Alumni Association, Career Development Center and International Student and Scholar Services.
4. Next International Coffee Hour is Friday, April 1
Good company! Free food! An opportunity to gather prior to the start of Spring break and visit with friends and classmates!
This month's International Coffee Hour will be held on Friday, April 1 from 3:30-5:00pm in the University Union Mandela Room. Please note the change in location for this month only! This month's sponsor is the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations.
The Coffee Hour strives to be a space where the entire Binghamton University community, including international students, U.S. students, faculty/staff, and community members are welcome. The coffee hours are informal and provide an opportunity to meet and learn more about each other in a relaxed atmosphere. Each coffee hour has free hot and cold beverages and cookies, sponsored by a different department on campus.
5. Registrar’s Office Reminds Students of Important Deadlines THIS WEEK
Students who wish to withdraw from a course, change their grade option or apply for Spring 2010 graduation are reminded to complete the following steps by Friday, April 1:
• Withdrawals: You may drop a class, but since the add/drop deadline has already passed, a “w” will appear on your transcript for the course grade when you withdraw. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 1. For step-by-step instructions, visit the Registrar’s website at http://www2.binghamton.edu/registrar/news.html
• Grade Option Changes: To have your grading option for a course changed (either from a letter grade to pass/fail or vice versa) you must print and complete the Grade Option Change form available at http://www.registrar.binghamton.edu
and drop it off at the Financial Aid and Registrar’s Student Services Office in SW-109, between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. by 4:45 p.m. Friday, April 1.
• Application for Undergraduate Degree for Spring 2011: Undergraduate candidates planning to graduate this semester must submit this online form available at
http://www2.binghamton.edu/commencement/spring/application-for-degree.html
by 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 1.
6. April 1 is the Deadline for Spring 2011 Health Insurance Adjustments
Please note that effective with the Spring 2011 semester, there is a deadline for requesting a Health Insurance Waiver or adjustment. – International students requesting a waiver or adjustment of their international health insurance fee must do so by April 1, 2011 for the Spring 2011 semester. To file a waiver or adjustment request go to: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/health-insurance/waiverinfo.html. Filing a request does not guarantee a wavier or adjustment. You must either be a graduate assistant (G.A.), Teaching Assistant (T.A) or Research Assistant (R.A.) funded through Binghamton University and enrolled in employee health insurance, OR meet the standards for comparable coverage outlined on the ISSS Health Insurance web page located through the above link.
If you have questions about the International Student Health Insurance, please contact the International Health Insurance Team at intl.insure@binghamton.edu
7. Don’t Forget the April 18, 2011 Deadline for Filing Income Tax Forms
If you were present in F-1, F-2, J-1 or J-2 status in the United States during any portion of calendar year 2010 (even for just a few days) you are required to file an income tax form with the US Internal Revenue Service, even if you had no US income!
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services offers CINTAX free of charge to BU international students, alumni, scholars and faculty. CINTAX is a web-based income tax preparation system designed exclusively for international students, scholars and faculty who file federal forms 1040NR EZ, 1040NR and form 8843 as Non-Residents for tax purposes. CINTAX computes and prints the required federal income tax forms. You can be anywhere in the world, and as long as you have an internet connection, you can complete your tax forms.
In order to use CINTAX, you must first be assigned a valid CINTAX access code. The ISSS has set up a web page for you to request the access code on-line. Please go to the following link to request your access code: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/cintax.html
The ISSS will then verify your identity and send the password and a pdf attachment with specific instructions to you. This process will take no more than two business days.
Please note that CINTAX is designed to prepare and produce only federal non-resident forms. CINTAX does not complete state income tax forms. Other options include ISSS-sponsored income tax webinars, walk-in assistance (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:00am to 1:00pm through April 15, 2011) or using a qualified volunteer or professional tax preparation preparer. Please go to the following web link for details. http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/taxsem.html
8. Pre-Registration for Fall 2011 Begins March 31 for Graduate Students and April 1 for Undergraduate Students
The Registrar’s Office has posted the Fall 2011 Schedule of Classes on BU Brain It can be viewed as a grid schedule of classes and as a detailed schedule of classes. The online schedule is the most up to date and accurate source of course information and is the only published version of the Schedule of Classes.
Fall 2011 Pre-Registration begins on March 31 for graduate students and on April 1 for undergraduate students. Pre-registration ends on Friday, May 13th. For general information on registration times visit: http://registrar.binghamton.edu/registration.htm For your specific registration time for Fall 2011 pre-registration, go to BU Brain
Students with outstanding financial obligations and students who haven't complied with health requirements to the Health Service office will be blocked from registering. Students can also view their account balances and pay any outstanding debts through BU Brain.
Accessing your schedule: You can view and print your schedule online by logging into the BU BRAIN. Room assignments shown online are the most accurate and up to date, but know that these assignments are subject to change.
Credit limit: The maximum number of credits you may register for are listed by student level and term at http://registrar.binghamton.edu/registration.htm These limits include HPEY or MUSP credits and are enforced regardless of GPA. If you seek to register for more than the stated limit, please follow your school's procedure for petitioning for an overload (see http://bulletin.binghamton.edu).
9. Attention Undergraduates: Help With Selecting Courses During Pre-Registration
Undergraduates are invited to attend a series of programs where you can receive assistance with selecting courses during the Fall 2011 pre-registration period.
Undergraduates from all schools are invited to an Academic Advising and Scheduling Fest on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm in University Union Old Union Hall. This event is sponsored by the Discovery Center.
The Harpur College Academic Advising Office is offering two “Spring into Advising” programs for Harpur College undergraduates. The first will be held on Wednesday, April 6 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm in Student Wing Room 331. The second will be held of Tuesday, April 26 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm in University Union West Room 324. Attend either one.
10. Important Notice From Student Accounts Regarding Fall 2011 Pre-Registration
Any outstanding balance on your Student Account the must be paid or cleared at least 24 hours prior to your Fall 2011 pre-registration time. Please do not wait until the last minute to resolve any outstanding debts in order to ensure that you will be able to register at your priority time. You can view and/or pay any balance due by visiting http://bubrain.binghamton.edu and select “Quick Pay Student Payment.”
11. H-1B Visa Issues are at the Forefront This Week
Our readers who are familiar with the H-1B “specialty occupations” visa know that Friday April 1, 2011 will be the first day that H-1B petitions subject to the visa “cap” or limit can be submitted by employers to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to hire foreign nationals with bachelor’s degrees or higher for the new federal fiscal year. The fiscal year starts October 1, 2011. So, it is on April 1 that all “cap-subject” H-1B petitions with start dates of October 1, 2011 will begin to be processed by USCIS.
The April 1 date is watched closely each year, because the available number of H-1B visas is always used before the year ends. For full details, please refer to the portal links below, which are from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
General Information on H1-B
http://www.uscis.gov/h-1b_count
USCIS Processing Announcement
12. Important Workshop on Post-Graduation Employment Issues Friday, April 8
What may be the most important immigration workshop offered this year will be held Friday, April 8 at 4:00pm in Academic A, Ground Floor, Room G08. Will you be seeking employment in the United States after graduation? Do you have questions regarding H-1B visas, labor certification, PERM and employment-based permanent residency? Are you confused about the H-1B “cap” and the “cap gap?” How long are H-1B visa numbers likely to last, and what is the earliest date for submitting an H-1B petition with an October 1, 2011 start date? What about those 20,000 extra H-1B visa slots for those with U.S. master’s degrees or higher? What is going on with H-1B placement agencies, the new deemed export attestation requirements, and are there any issues if you travel into the United States with a new H-1B visa? You do not want to miss this workshop!
Learn about your options under U.S. immigration law from special guest and featured speaker, nationally known immigration attorney Stephen Yale-Loehr from the law firm of Miller Mayer LLP in Ithaca, New York. This workshop is sponsored by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.
13. Nominations for Student Speaker at the Graduate Commencement Ceremony
The Graduate School is seeking names or (self nominations) of graduate students from the Spring 2011 graduating class for consideration as student speaker at the graduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 21st at 5.00pm. The nominee should be a candidate whose academic accomplishments and values are exemplary. This student must also be interesting, engaging, and be able to come up with a message that appeals broadly to fellow graduates with varied backgrounds, interests and concerns.
Send E-mail recommendations, including the name, department and contact details of the nominee to Catherine M. Smith at cmsmith@binghamton.edu no later than April 8th, 2011.
Selected students will be notified by April 15th, to schedule an interview. The interviews will be conductedand the students notified of their selection status by April 29th , 2011.
14. International Student Graduation Reception Friday, May 20
Students who are graduating, and exchange students completing their programs may wish to mark their calendars now for the 25th annual International Student Graduation Reception, taking place Friday, May 20 at 7:00pm in University Union Old Union Hall. This is the Friday of commencement weekend.
Invitations will be sent by e-mail in several weeks, but we wanted to alert our readers who are graduating. If you graduated in December 2010 and are returning to campus for the May 21 and 22 Commencement Exercises, and would like to receive an invitation to the International Student Graduation Reception on May 20, please let ISSS know by sending an e-mail message with your current e-mail address to: isss@binghamton.edu
The information provided to the ISSS by the Registrar's Office only lists Spring 2011 graduates, but they know some Fall 2010 graduates will return for the ceremonies, and they want to be sure they don't miss anyone! Also, if you will graduate in Summer 2011 and would like to attend the International Student Graduation Reception on May 20, please follow the instructions above.
=====================================================================
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subscribe ISSS-BU first name last name
Replace “first name last name” with your name.
If your e-mail account is on a server other than Binghamton.edu,
send an e-mail message to isss@binghamton.edu
In the message text, type: Please subscribe isss-bu, your e-mail address, your first and last name.
If you are a registered student and don't have an e-mail account, you may claim an e-mail address and password from https://buonline.binghamton.edu/banner Be sure to read and follow the instructions carefully. If you encounter difficulty, visit the Help Desk in the lobby of the Computer Services building.
