Table of Contents 1. Greeting 2. Important Announcements - Travel During Spring Break Reminders for International Students 3. Other ISSS Updates and Events - Be an International Friendship Partner Next Semester!
- Open Elections for the Cultural Connections Eboard! -ISSS Boston Trip- Limited Spots Available -OPT/CPT Workshops - East Campus Advising 4. University at Albany Events - Holi Festival March 12th - Do You Need Career Development Help? Try these Resources! -Academic Assistance 5. Capital District Events - St Patrick's Day Parade Family Festival - Ice Skating Empire State Plaza-- last weekend of the year! 1. Greeting This is our Weekly ISSS Newsletter that we send out every Friday morning. It includes very important updates that you must be aware of, as well as information about events happening on campus and in the area. 2. Important Announcements Travel During Spring Break Reminders for International Students Students Travelling within the United States: Students who are travelling within the United States are recommended to have their immigration documents with them. These documents may include: -passport -visa -I-20 or DS-2019 - I-94 (https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov)
-transcript (recommended) -student ID (recommended) You should only present these documents upon request by an official. Make sure that you keep these documents in a safe, secure, and easily accessible place while travelling. Be aware of potential theft of bags left unattended which may include your identification documents inside. It is also recommended to have copies of your documents in case these documents are lost or not on your person. You may also want to keep pictures of your documents on your phone while travelling. Students Travelling Outside the United States: Students travelling outside the United States are required to present the Border Officer with the following documents upon re-entry: - Valid passport - Valid F-1 or J-1 visa - Valid I-20 or DS-2019 signed within the past year for travel, or past 6 months for students on OPT - Students on OPT must have a valid EAD and proof on ongoing employment (contract of offer letter) - I-94 (https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov) Additionally, we recommend having the following items on hand in case the officer asks for additional evidence: - Transcript - Student ID - Proof of finances - Proof of payment of the SEVIS I-901 fee Additional documents may be useful depending on the student s individual circumstance.
If you were planning to renew your visa during the break, please check with your local consulate on the requirements for renewing the visa, and whether these requirements have recently been updated. ISSS recommends applying for a visa renewal in your home country. If you are placed in secondary inspection (i.e. additional inspection at the port of entry), provide officers with clear, brief, and factual answers to questions. It has been increasingly reported that officers have asked to check travelers phones, including photos and social media accounts. Students concerned about this may wish to review their social media profiles and phone content before re-entry. In Case of Emergency: ISSS s contact number is 518-591-8172, and UAlbany Campus Police s number is 518-442-3130 3. Other Updates Be an International Friendship Partner next semester! Do you want to be part of the UAlbany multicultural community? Do you want to earn credits while having fun? The International Friendship Partners is a series of programs designed to help both American and international students make friends with each other. Participants will also learn different cultures and languages through cultural activities. You can choose to participate in one or more programs listed below:
Open Elections for Cultural Connections Eboard! Cultural Connections is a new and growing student group on campus and you can be a part of developing it! Cultural Connections has three main goals:
1. To promote cultural cooperation between students on the UAlbany campus and surrounding communities through cultural programming, exchange, and trainings 2. To build a community which advocates for the importance of a global perspective and the needs of a diverse campus, including our population of over 1,900 international students 3. To help members develop leadership skills which will enable them to be better members of the campus and local communities, and also more marketable to future employers Why should you join cultural connections? 1. A great way to make new friends on campus! 2. Boost your resume and develop your leadership skills to make you a better student, employee, and global citizen 3. Learn from other students, such as new languages, cultures, and ideas Email culturalconnections@gmail.com for more information and make sure you submit your application by April 1st!
ISSS Boston Trip- Limited Spots Available! Join ISSS for our last trip of the semester! Boston is a city rich with history and
American culture. Spend the day exploring this New England city with ISSS guides or on your own! Sign up quick because spots are limited! When: Saturday, April 15th, 8am-10pm **Please note this newly announced date** Cost: Only $43-- cheaper than gas! Includes: Transportation to Boston, Massachusetts Interested? Sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/gd07sduukzp7tlp23 or in the ISSS office (Science Library G-40)
Questions? Please contact ISSS@albany.edu OPT/CPT Workshop Graduating in May? You should attend an OPT workshop. OPT takes on average 90 days to process, so apply early! No appointment or reservation is needed, all workshops are walk-in welcome!
East Campus Advising
4. University at Albany Events Holi Festival March 12th Holi is the Festival of colors, signifying the victory of good over evil, arrival of spring, and a thanksgiving for a good harvest. Hosted by Indian Student Organisation When: Sunday, March 12th at 11:00am Where: SUNY Collins Circle Do You Need Career Development Help? Try these Resources! 1) CAREER DROP-IN HOURS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: The International Education Office will have a representative available from UAlbany s career services office every Monday afternoon from 1:00 5:00 PM for careerrelated Drop-In hours. So, if you have questions about how to find a job or internship or if you just want someone to critique your resume stop by the International Education Office on Monday afternoons between 1:00 and 5:00 PM and ask if you can see Ryan for Career Drop-In Hours 2) MY WORLD ABROAD QUICK-GUIDES: International students looking for information on the American job-search process can find lots of information through the My World Abroad website
here: http://myworldabroad.com/albany. After you register with your UAlbany email, you can access a list of Quick-Guides in the Tools for Students section at the bottom of the webpage. Look for The North American Identity in the International Workplace as well as Career-boosting Strategies for International Students Studying in North America. Here s a direct link to the Quick Guides: http://myworldabroad.com/quick-guides/en. Academic Assistance Midterms are right around the corner! Get the best grade possible by using AdvisingPLUS services. Online tutoring is offered multiple nights a week to help you get that A! Find out more here: http://www.albany.edu/advisingplus/50962.php The Student Success Center in State Quad also has free, weekly drop-in tutoring
and group study sessions. See the schedule below:
5. Capital Region Events St. Patrick's Day Parade Family Festival When: Saturday, Mar 11, 2017 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Where: Academy Park, Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207 About: In conjunction with Albany's 67h Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade The Irish American Heritage Museum and The City of Albany, with the support of the United Irish Societies of the Capital District, is pleased to announce its first annual Irish American Heritage Family Festival to be held Saturday March 11th from 11AM-4PM in Academy Park, on the parade route, directly across the street from Albany's City Hall. The Museum and City will be hosting a family-friendly, alcohol-free event that will showcase the culture and heritage of Ireland. At the same time, the Museum is hoping this will draw families to Downtown Albany to enjoy the parade festivities and all that is Irish in a fun and safe environment. The event will include music by the Brother's Flynn, Padraig Timoney, and the Piper's Dojo, as well as storytelling by Bill Combes, Irish step dancing by Bethlehem Traditional Irish Dance, face painting, food, arts and crafts, Irish vendors, and much more! Ice Skating on the Empire State Plaza When: Everyday, 11:00-8:00 Where: Empire State Plaza, Downtown Albany About: The Empire State Plaza Ice Rink is open daily December 2 through March 12, from 11 a.m. 8 p.m. (closed for maintenance from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.) and skating is free! Located in the shadow of Albany's majestic State Capitol, amenities include a full-service snack bar on Friday nights and weekends and a skate lounge with lockers. Rentals are available whenever the rink is open and cost $3 for children under 12 and $4 for adults. Every Friday is Hannaford Free Skate Rental Day.
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