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Editor’s Note: in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services will be unavailable on Tuesday, August 8 from 11:45am to 1:00pm while they attend a University event. 

CONTENTS:

1. National Holidays for the Month of August
2. Availability of Some ISSS Staff During the Next Three Weeks in August
3. Something New for This Fall’s International Student Festival: Join the International Team!
4. Arrival of New International Students
5. Social Security Administration to Visit BU Next Week to Assist New International Students
6. Correction to Last Week’s Article on the Diversity Visa Lottery

1. National Holidays for the Month of August

The following countries are celebrating national holidays during the month of August:

2. Availability of Some ISSS Staff During the Next Three Weeks in August

During the next three weeks (August 7 - August 25), Ellen Badger, Karen Keefe-Guzikowski and Amelia Shafer will be devoting most of their time to international student orientation, both preparation and presenting at the actual program, which starts August 21. Thus, their availability for consultation will be very limited. Please keep this in mind when sending e-mails or requesting appointments with them.

3. Something New for This Fall’s International Student Festival: Join the International Team!

The sixth annual International Student Festival will be held September 8-16, 2006.  An important part of the Festival is the sports competitions in Volleyball, Table Tennis, Basketball and Soccer.  BU Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni are eligible to compete.

This year, the Festival is offering something new for those who would like to compete in sports but aren’t affiliated with any of the ten participating international cultural associations (Binghamton University Japanese Association * BU Turkish Students Association * Chinese Students and Scholars Association * *European Student Association *Graduate African Student Organization * Indian Graduate Student Organization * Korean Graduate Student Association * Korean Undergraduate Student Association *Taiwan Students Association * Turkish Cultural Association).  

It’s the International Team!  This team is open to any BU student, faculty, staff or alumni, including U.S. citizens, who would like to match their skills in competitive play against the other student cultural associations.  Both men and women may compete in all sports.  Evening and weekend play will be required.

If you would like to be a member of the International Team, send an e-mail message to isss@binghamton.edu  Include your name, e-mail address, phone number (with area code) and the sport(s) in which you would like to compete.  If you are interested in serving as Team Captain, please indicate that as well.  Teams will be forming soon, so express your interest by August 15, 2006.

4. Arrival of New International Students

Although it is still two weeks until the Monday, August 21 start of international student orientation, new international students have begun to arrive. If you happen to meet a new student, please be sure to direct them to the office of International Student and Scholar Services. Although ISSS will not be photocopying visa documents until International Student Orientation August 21-23, 2006, the ISSS is recording new student arrivals and distributing their very helpful early arrival information sheet. ISSS looks forward to welcoming the newest entering class of international students this Fall!

The Fall 2006 International Student Orientation Program is on the ISSS website at: http://isss.binghamton.edu/admission/orientation/index.html
Select the appropriate student category and then select “program events.” There are separate programs for undergraduate students, graduate students, exchange students, and Dual Diploma students from Turkey.  ISSS staff will be updating the programs this week.

ISSS also thanks the many current international students who have been in contact with new students and are helping them in the first days of their arrival at Binghamton. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

5. Social Security Administration to Visit BU Next Week to Assist New International Students

The Binghamton Office of the Social Security Administration, in partnership with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, has scheduled visits to the BU campus in August to assist new students who wish to apply for Social Security cards.  F-1 and J-1students must show written proof of on-campus employment in order to apply for a Social Security Card. Such students are urged to make use of these special on-campus visit dates; as the Binghamton Office of the Social Security administration would prefer to do their paperwork here rather than downtown.

The upcoming visits will take place on:

*during International Student Orientation

Applicants must bring the following documents with them: application for social security card (available in the ISSS and at the time of the application sessions) valid foreign passport, I-94 departure record, SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 form (if in F or J status) and written proof of on-campus employment.

Please note that the Social Security Administration procedures for processing Social Security Card applications for non-U.S. citizens includes verification with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be sure that the immigration records match. If the verification is not available through the DHS online system, the Social Security Administration will contact DHS.

6. Correction to Last Week’s Article on the Diversity Visa Lottery

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