| January 2022 Newsletter |

International Students & Scholars Newsletter

Upcoming Event

The African Student Association (ASA) invites the campus community to its annual African Banquet. The event showcases the beautiful African culture and will feature African food, music, performances and more. You can purchase your ticket in advance from the MUC Hometown Ticketing Website. Date: Sunday, 27 February 2022 Time: 5 PM -7 PM Location: SIUE Meridian Ballroom

Reminders

Spring 2022 Graduation Registration Deadline is March 1  Students who will be completing their academic program in May 2022 and who are planning to attend Spring 2022 commencement need to submit an application by March 1st, 2022.  Questions? More details are available at the Office of the Registrar website. You can also call the Graduation staff by phone at 618-650-2263 or 618-650-2282, or by email at graduation@siue.edu.

Visit our website to learn more and register for a free Sprintax Webinar.

Buy a Sprintax code and file your taxes!   Purchase your Sprintax code from the Morris University Center home ticketing website. Look for Sprintax and Click Purchase and then choose the student Code $3 option. You will receive an email with a flier in 1-2 business days from the Office of International Affairs after you purchase your code online with instructions on how to use the code to file your taxes. Due to the complexities of U.S. tax law and legal restrictions, university staff are neither qualified nor permitted to advise on taxes.

Are you receiving Scam calls and/ or emails about job offers? Follow these steps to avoid scams: Forward any suspicious job offer emails to phishing@siue.edu Never share your personal information such as Social Security Number (SSN), address and Date of Birth (DoB) with anyone on the phone or through email. Contact ITS if you believe your personal information has been compromised Here is some additional information on how to avoid scammers Always remember the U.S. government entities will not call you to ask for any form of payment of any kind. Have you updated your information in CougarNet?  Don’t forget to log into CougarNet to report your cell phone number and any changes to your contact information. Log in here to update your information.

Course Enrollment Requirements As a reminder, you are required to enroll in a full course load to maintain your immigration status. For immigration purposes, full-time enrollment (during fall and spring semesters) is defined as: Undergraduate students: 12 credit hours (4 courses) Graduate students: 9 credit hours (3 courses) Graduate students with a graduate assistantship: 6 credit hours (2 courses) Summer enrollment is optional unless it is your first or last semester. Full-time summer enrollment is 3 credit hours. During the pandemic, all courses may be online after your first semester, even during your final semester. This rule is subject to change in the 2022-2023 academic year. There are limited circumstances in which a reduced course load is okay. Visit Reducing Your Course Load for information.  Travel Signature Request International students on F-1 or J-1 visas must get a travel signature on their I-20 or DS-2019 if returning to complete their studies after traveling outside the U.S. Signatures are valid for six months. If your signature has expired and you are planning to travel, you must get a new signature. Please see Traveling outside the U.S. If you have been issued a Form I-515A contact your DSO immediately. Please submit a Travel Signature Request a couple of weeks before you travel.

Free Resources Available at SIUE!

Career Development Center The Career Development Center (CDC) helps students acquire the information and skills necessary to transition from university life to the world of work. Whether you have a clear idea of where your career is headed or no idea whatsoever, the CDC has something to offer you. Feel free to contact their office at (618) 650‑3708 with questions or to schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor.

Learning Support Services Learning Support Services (LSS) is an instructional support unit for all SIUE students. Learning Support Services is home to the Tutoring Resource Center, Writing Center, and Supplemental Instruction. These centers are dedicated to helping SIUE students prepare and excel in the classroom. You can make an appointment with the Learning Support service by calling (618) 650‑3717 or email learningsupportservices@siue.edu to make an appointment if you are having academic challenges.

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 siue.edu/isss isss@siue.edu Visit our website ‌ ‌