International Students & Scholars Newsletter
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Greetings!
We hope that as you receive this newsletter, your online courses are going well and that you have what you need to succeed. By now, you have heard that the Governor's Stay-at-Home order has been extended though April 30. We want to make sure you know that we are here to support you as best as we can. In this April edition, you will find information about upcoming virtual events, reminders, resources to take care of your mental health during the pandemic, and ways to stay involved with the SIUE community.
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Upcoming Virtual Events & Activities
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Mindfulness and Mediation sessions via
Zoom
.
- Monday and Friday - Mediation to start your day, 7:30 am - 8 am
- Wednesdays, Guided meditation and discussion, 12 pm -1 pm
- Thurs., April 16 - Interviewing and Working in a Virtual Environment,12 pm -12:30 pm
- Mon., April 20 Interviewing, 4 pm - 4:30 pm
International Virtual Hangouts
(via Zoom). Every Friday in April,
3 pm - 4 pm.
Link will be provided the day before to join. Follow our
Facebook
and
Instagram
for updates.
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The Office of International Affairs is currently closed until further notice. If you are expecting documents in the mail, we will email you on how to collect your documents. For advising questions or to request a Zoom phone call email
isss@siue.edu.
For information about Traveling outside the U.S. please visit our
website
.
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Summer and Fall Registration
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Online courses.
In response to the COVID-19 impact on class instruction, international students are allowed to register for online courses over the summer even if this is their last term. However, you can only register in
ONE
online course for fall.
Taking more than ONE online class in a semester means the student’s immigration will be “out-of-status.” Our office will keep you updated about any changes regarding this rule.
Full-time enrollment.
S
tudents are expected to complete a
full-time course load
during regular semesters. There are limited circumstances in which a reduced course load is okay. Visit
Reducing Your Course Load
for information. Remember that dropping any courses without authorization from our office, is considered a violation of your F-1 status, even if you are taking courses from your home country at this time.
Holds
are placed on student accounts when paperwork required by the university needs to be completed or you have not paid a bill. You can see if you have a hold on your account through
CougarNet.
Please be sure to check your holds to avoid delays when registering for classes.
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Is your I-20 ending in May or in Summer?
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If you have not met your degree requirements:
Submit an
extension request
,
and your immigration advisor will follow up with you.
Extensions cannot be granted once an I-20 has expired.
If you are graduating this May or over the summer:
You may wish to apply for
OPT work permission
.
The absolute latest you can apply for OPT is 60 days after your program end date. It is recommended that students apply for OPT before their program end date/graduation.
For further information about OPT,
visit our website
or send an email to
isss@siue.edu.
As a reminder, F-1 students who are returning home have 60 days after the expiration date on the I-20 to leave the U.S.
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Update your mailing address
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If you moved within the U.S. after the university suspended in-person classes, you are required to update your mailing and billing address within 10 days of the change through
CougarNet
.
The SIUE Office of International Affairs will forward this address electronically to the Department of Homeland Security through SEVIS. This address must be your local U.S. residential address with room number (if you live in a residence hall) or apartment number (if you live in an apartment). Campus departmental addresses, P.O. boxes and foreign addresses
are not acceptable
for immigration purposes.
NOTE:
Students who are back home are not required to do this.
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Did you complete the ISSS Travel Form?
Let us know whether you are still in the U.S.
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In order to better assist you, we are looking to identify students who are still in the U.S. and students who have traveled to their home country to complete their courses. If you were not able to return home, please also indicate this in the
Travel Form
.
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Deadline to file taxes extended to July 15
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The deadline to file taxes has been extended to
July 15.
However, we encourage you to file before that date.
To obtain your code, send an email request to Gaby Renteria-Poepsel at
grenter@siue.edu
, she will provide codes via email Monday through Friday. You will receive a code and a flier with instructions. The Sprintax code allows you to file the Federal 1040NR and Form 8843. State tax return preparation is offered at an additional cost paid at your own cost.
Each code is unique and only valid for one use. Unique codes cannot be shared.
Sprintax will guide you through the tax preparation process, prepare the necessary documents, and even check if you are due a refund. Information about taxes is also found on
our
website.
If you did not receive any income, but resided in the U.S. last year, you are still required to file
Form 8843
.
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This Month's Tip for Success
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- Keep your morning routine. If you shave every morning, then keep shaving every morning. Brush your teeth, and comb your hair, too. Don’t let the little things slide, or the big ones will follow.
- Set up a dedicated learning environment for studying. By completing your work there repeatedly, you’ll begin to establish a routine. Whether your workspace is your kitchen table or your living room, it’s important to determine what type of environment will work best for you.
- Finally, ask for help when you need it. SIUE's Learning Support Services (Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring) are still available to students virtually via Zoom sessions. For more information, visit their website.
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COVID-19 Self-Care Resources
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SIUE Health Service
is
continuing to support students by offering pharmacy services, Zoom appointments with physicians, or set up phone consultations. Students should call 618-650-2842 for any health-related questions.
Counseling
shared a resource for students to help manage anxiety and worry during this pandemic. You can download it
here
.
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Join a Virtual Fitness Course!
Exercise is one strategy to stay occupied and relaxed when you feel anxious or isolated. SIUE Campus Recreation is offering
new virtual fitness courses available to students every day of the week!
The sessions are offered via Zoom or Facebook Live. For more information, follow SIUE's Campus Recreation
Facebook page
.
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Tandem is a language exchange program that pairs international students with SIUE students who are studying a foreign language. Participants engage in genuine language learning as well as cultural exchange.
The student group is continuing to meet virtually, and watching movies together via Netflix every Friday this month. For more information, contact Natalie Casey at
ncasey@siue.edu
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Be sure you are counted in the Census 2020
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Everyone living in the U.S. for a significant portion of the year should complete the Census 2020 form – including all international students. Your participation in the 2020 Census is important. The information the Census collects is confidential, but essential to planning how federal funds reach your community and help ensure its bright future.
If you live on campus, you do not need to complete the form, as SIUE does this for you.
However,
if you live off-campus
, you may have already received a card in the mail with a Census ID number. To complete your questionnaire online, visit
my2020census.gov
and enter the code. If you can't find the card, click on the link that says you do not have one.
For questions, call 1-844-330-2020 or text 987987.
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Did you miss any of our past editions? Click below to read our recent newsletters.
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Office of International Affairs
International Student and Scholar Services
Student Success Center 0300 (lower level)
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1616
(618) 650-3785
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