ISSS-BU News . 15 May 2006. ISSS-BU News
An electronic news service for international students and scholars, owned by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services at Binghamton University, State University of New York
Visit ISSS on the Web! http://isss.binghamton.edu
CONTENTS:
1. Message from Ellen Badger, Director of ISSS
It was wonderful to see such a good crowd at Saturday night's International Student Graduation Reception! We hope that everyone enjoyed the evening. On behalf of the ISSS staff, I want to thank our co-sponsors; The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, The Office of International Programs, The BU Turkish Student Association, The Chinese Student and Scholars Association, The European Students Association, The Graduate African Student Organization, the Indian Graduate Student Organization, the Korean Graduate Student Association, and the Taiwan Student Association for helping to make the event possible. I especially want to thank President DeFleur, Dean of the School of Management Upinder Dhillon, Interim Dean of the School of Education and Human Development Robert Carpenter, Director of International Programs Katharine Krebs, and Study Abroad Advisor Margarita Poutouridou for not only attending, but also for participating in the presentation of certificates to our international students.
My thanks as well to student speaker Aclan Okur and President DeFleur for their timely and warm words for all of us.
2. Does the ISSS Have a Certificate For You?
A number of students who had indicated their intention to attend Saturday's International Student Graduation Reception, 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.
3. Attention Dual-Diploma Students! Have Your I-20 Signed and Pick Up Your Dual Diploma Travel Letter May 16 or May 17
Dual Diploma students need to have their current I-20 signed by a staff member in the ISSS and pick up the special Dual Diploma Travel Letter from the ISSS. This may be accomplished by coming to Nelson A. Rockefeller Center Room G-1 at one of the following days and times:
Tuesday, May 16, 2006 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Wednesday, May 17, 2006 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Since there are so many Dual Diploma students, the ISSS prefers that you would all come during these time periods. If you have already had your I-20 signed, please come during these times to pick up the Dual Diploma Travel Letter.
4. Not Returning to Binghamton For Fall 2006? Be Sure to Complete the SEVIS-Required Departure Form
If you will not be returning to Binghamton University for the Fall 2006 semester, because you have graduated, completed your program, withdrawn early, or are transferring to a new school, you must fulfill your federal SEVIS responsibilities by completing the ISSS Departure Form. This form can be completed on the web by going to the following link: http://isss.binghamton.edu/depForm.html
If you will be continuing at Binghamton University but have changed your U.S. address, fulfill your SEVIS responsibilities by completing the ISSS Change of Address Form. This form can be completed on the web by going to the following link: http://isss.binghamton.edu/addrChange.html
Dual-Diploma students for are going home for their third year of study in Turkey do not need to complete either a departure form or a change of address form.
5. ISSS Office Hours During the Summer Months
Many students ask if the ISSS ever closes once the Spring semester ends. The answer is; the ISSS is open twelve months throughout the year. Although staff will rotate vacations during the summer, the office remains open for its usual hours except for state and federal holidays. Holiday closings will be posted on e-mail when they occur. " ISSS-BU News " is likewise published throughout the year.
6. University Health Service and Student Health Care During the Summer Months
Students who are registered for credit during the summer months pay a summer health fee as part of their tuition and fee charges, as is done during the Fall and Spring. The University Health Service also provides care in the summer to those who may not be registered for summer courses but who are "continuing students," that is, were registered in the Spring and will be continuing studies in the Fall. Such continuing students should expect to pay the summer health fee when a visit is made to the University Health Service beginning Monday, May 22, 2006.
At the time of the first visit, a staff member will explain the summer fee policy and the student may either pay at the time of service or pay later. The summer fee covers all usual services that are provided during the academic year. There is a fee of $25.00 for each half of the summer time period. The first period is May 22 - July 7, 2006. The second is July 10 - August 18, 2006. Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the University Health Service, 777-2221.
7. State Department Instructs Consular Posts on Student Visa Processing
NAFSA: Association of International Educators, reports that on May 3, 2006, the State Department issued its annual cable regarding student visa processing, again reminding all consular posts that “Efficient processing of visas for students and exchange visitors is a high priority for the Department: every student should have the chance to make the initial start date of his/her academic or exchange program whenever possible.” The cable goes on to highlight for consular officers the importance of focusing more on a student's academic qualifications (although ultimately not to question the judgment of the academic institution for admitting the student) and financial resources, and less on the institution they will study at and what their long-term goals are, as “by nature foreign students stay in the United States for extended periods of time.” This helps reinforce the contents of a September 28, 2005 cable that clarified how consular officers should interpret the immigrant intent requirement when adjudicating student visa applications.
To read a summary of the May 3 cable, visit the following web link:
http://www.nafsa.org/regulatory_information.sec/regulatory_document_library.dlib/f_and_m_students/2006_dos_student_visa
To view the May 3 cable in its entirety, visit the following web link:
http://www.nafsa.org/_/Document/_/2006_dos_student_visa.pdf
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,
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 http://busi.binghamton.edu/welcome.html 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.