Visit ISSS on the Web! http://isss.binghamton.edu
Editor’s Note: Summer hours are now in effect through August 19, 2011. Most offices on campus will be open for most or all of the day from 8:00am to 4:00pm weekdays. The ISSS will be open weekdays from 9:30am to 3:45pm, except Thursdays when we will be open from 11:30am to 3:45pm. We look forward to seeing you during the summer months.
CONTENTS:
1. Message from Ellen Badger, Director of ISSS
2. ISSS Staff Not Available Tuesday Afternoon, May 24. Employment Walk-Ins Rescheduled for May 26
3. Does The ISSS Have a Certificate For You?
4. Sixty Second Annual BU Commencement Held This Weekend
5. Monday, May 30, 2011 is Memorial Day. University Offices Will Be Closed
6. B Mail Access for Students in China
7. Graduating? Now You Can Keep Your B Mail Account!
8. Are You Graduating in Summer 2011 and Plan to Apply for Practical Training?
9. Important Information for Those Who Will Graduate in Summer 2011
10. Have You Received Your Income Tax Refund for 2010?
11. Latest Information on H-1B Cap Filings
1. Message from Ellen Badger, Director of ISSS
It was wonderful to see students, family members and friends at Friday night's International Student Graduation Reception! The room was full and we hope that everyone enjoyed the evening. On behalf of the ISSS staff, I want to thank our co-sponsors: The Office of Alumni Relations and The Office of International Programs for helping to make this event possible.
My thanks to Jane Kalikanda, Melinda Hollicky and Vice President for Student Affairs Brian Rose for their timely and warm remarks.
2. ISSS Staff Not Available Tuesday Afternoon, May 24. Employment Walk-Ins Rescheduled for May 26
ISSS staff will not be available on Tuesday afternoon, May 24. This means that employment walk-in hours are cancelled for that day and will be held instead on Thursday, May 26, from 1:30pm to 3:15pm. Staff will be participating in a division-wide event off campus.
3. Does The ISSS Have a Certificate For You?
A number of students who had indicated their intention to attend Friday's International Student Graduation Reception but then did not attend, have certificates of achievement ready for pick up in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services. The ISSS will be sending e-mail messages early this week to students who did not pick up their certificates at the Graduation Reception.
Students who were at the reception and were informed that a certificate would be ready in the ISSS this week are asked to stop by beginning Wednesday. Thanks.
4. Sixty Second Annual BU Commencement Held This Weekend
Congratulations to the approximately 3200 Binghamton University students who received their degrees at Saturday and Sunday's commencement exercises at the Events Center. There were more than 650 doctoral and master’s degrees awarded, and more than 2500 bachelor degrees. The ISSS will be posting photos from both the International Student Graduation Reception and the Graduate School’s Commencement Exercises soon.
5. Monday, May 30, 2011 is Memorial Day. University Offices Will Be Closed
Next Monday, May 30, 2011 is Memorial Day, a U.S. Federal holiday. All University offices and facilities will be closed. Locally, district schools are not in session, and banks and post offices are also closed. Binghamton University will also be observing the holiday. Summer Session classes are cancelled that day and offices, including the ISSS, are closed
6. B Mail Access for Students in China
Students traveling to the People’s Republic of China may find that they have difficulty accessing the Binghamton University e-mail account (BMail) at http://bmail.binghamton.edu This is because B mail is powered by GoogleMail, and access to various Google application services may be affected in China.
7. Graduating? Now You Can Keep Your B Mail Account!
The May 09, 2011 edition of ISSS-BU News had an article on keeping B mail accounts after graduation. In that article, it stated that such accounts remain active for only a six-month period following graduation. But we have learned that this information is outdated. Now that the University has switched to B Mail as a Google application, all students keep their B mail account when they graduate. However, once you have graduated, the University is obligated to enable advertisements, as for any personal Gmail account you may already have.
For more information, visit: http://its.binghamton.edu/google-apps/faq
8. Are You Graduating In Summer 2011 and Plan to Apply for Practical Training?
Students in F-1 status who will be graduating in Summer 2011 and plan to apply for Optional Practical Training after graduation are reminded to file their practical training applications well in advance of the date they would like practical training to begin. Currently, the USCIS Vermont Processing Center is taking approximately twelve weeks to process EAD cards for practical training.
In general, the ISSS recommends that practical training applications be filed at least 100 days (three months plus ten days) in advance of the requested starting date. So, if you would like your practical training to begin in late August to mid-October, now is the time to start the application process!
Your application must be received by the USCIS Vermont Processing Center no later than 60 days following your degree completion date, which is August 19, 2011 for Summer 2011 graduates.
Applications for OPT are available in the ISSS, and on-line at:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/employment/OPTAdvForm.pdf
Please allow 7 to 10 days for ISSS processing. Still have questions? Then send an email message to intl.work@binghamton.edu make an appointment with Karen Keefe-Guzikowski or Shawna Szabo, or attend the Tuesday afternoon employment walk-in appointment time, 1:30pm to 3:15pm.
9. Important Information for Those Who Will Graduate in Summer 2011
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services reminds students that if you will graduate in Summer 2011, you must do two things:
Failure to take care of both steps may have negative consequences for your immigration status if you are an F-1 or J-1 student and have a SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 with a summer completion date.
10. Have You Received Your Income Tax Refund for 2010?
Students and scholars who filed their 2010 income tax forms by the April 18, 2011 deadline and were eligible to receive an income tax refund should have received their payments by now.
But, for those of you who expected a refund but have not received a response as yet, both the U.S. Federal government and the New York State government provide easy ways for you to check on the status of your refund.
The phone number for inquiries about federal income tax refunds is: 1-800-829-1954. Assistance is available Monday-Friday 7am to 10pm
You can also inquire on the web at:
http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96596,00.html
The phone number for inquiries about NYS income tax refunds is:
1-800-443-3200. Assistance is available Monday-Friday 8am to 5pm
You can also inquire on the web at:
http://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/file/refund.html
This information is also available on the ISSS tax web page. The direct link is:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/taxrefunds.html
You should have a copy of your income tax forms in front of you when you call or go on the web, as you will likely be asked to indicate the numbers of the forms you filed. You will also be asked for your social security number.
11. Latest Information on H-1B Cap Filings
The most recent H-1B visa update was on Friday, May 13.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reports that applications continue to be processed, but the numbers continue to be much lower than a year ago. Approximately 11,200 H-1B cap-subject petitions (out of 65,000 visas available) and approximately 7,900 petitions (out of 20,000 visas available) qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption have been filed. Last year at this time, 19,000 H-1B cap-subject petitions and 8,100 advance degree cap exemption petitions had been filed. So, cap-subject petitions have declined by 41% and advance degree cap exemption petitions have declined by 2.5%. 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 Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 H-1B petitions. The updates can be found on the USCIS’ Web site at www.uscis.gov/h-1b_count
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ISSS-BU is a listserv owned and managed by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Division of Student Affairs, at the State University of New York at Binghamton. It is the publisher of ISSS-BU News. Permission is granted to freely distribute the information posted to this list as long as its contents remain unchanged.
To sign on to ISSS-BU from an e-mail account on the Binghamton.edu server, send an e-mail
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Leave the subject line blank. In the message text, type:
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If your e-mail account is on a server other than Binghamton.edu,
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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.
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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ISSS-BU is a listserv owned and managed by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Division of Student Affairs, at the State University of New York at Binghamton. It is the publisher of ISSS-BU News. Permission is granted to freely distribute the information posted to this list as long as its contents remain unchanged.
To sign on to ISSS-BU from an e-mail account on the Binghamton.edu server, send an e-mail message to listserv@listserv.binghamton.edu
Leave the subject line blank. In the message text, type:
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,
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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.
