News

ISSO Holiday Office Hours, Travel Signature, and ISSO Photo Contest

Dec. 12, 2012


1 - Important Dates: ISSO Photo Contest

2 - Reminders: ISSO Holiday Office Hours & Travel Signature

 

3 - Announcements: Spring Internship Dates: 1/14/2013 - 5/10/2013

 

4 - Workshops: ISSO Employment Workshop Schedule


My Favorite Memories: 2013 Photo Contest

Calling all international photographers! We invite you to participate in our "My Favorite Memories" Photo Contest. This year we will be accepting two entries per person with photos representing "My Favorite Memories".

Share a photo of your favorite memory from your childhood, or a recent memory from Brandeis. The possibilities are endless!

Email entries to isso@brandeis.edu. Deadline for submission is Thursday, January 24, 2013 by 5pm.

ISSO Holiday Office Hours

The ISSO will be closed during the Winter holidays from Monday, December 24 to Tuesday, January 1st. If you need to contact the ISSO, you can leave a message at (781) 736-3480 or send an email at isso@brandeis.edu.The office will resume its normal open hours on Wednesday, January 2nd to the end of the Winter break.

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Travel Signature

To our international students, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and staff, please read the instructions below:

  • If you are traveling during the Winter Break, don't forget to travel with a valid travel signature on your most current I-20/DS-2019! Travel signature is valid for six months and you can travel multiple times during the six months.
  • If you need a new signature, you can leave your I-20 or DS-2019 with the ISSO and retrieve it the following business day. 
  • If you have a DS-2019 and the sponsor is not Brandeis, then contact your sponsor for a travel signature.
  • If you received an email from the ISSO letting you know that you have a new I-20 or DS-2019, make sure you pick it up before you travel and make sure it has a travel signature that will be less than 6 months old by the time you re-enter the U.S.

Please plan in advance!

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Any Paid and Unpaid Work Off-Campus Needs Work Authorization First Through the ISSO

We have been getting some questions lately regarding work authorization to pursue an internship or job off campus. Please be advised that all work experience (paid or not paid) needs authorization through the ISSO BEFORE you start working. For F-1 students, the two main types of employment authorization are Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). For J-1 students the employment authorization is called Academic Training. Here is a link to the employment information page on our web site: http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/isso/current/employment/index.html. We would also encourage you to attend an employment workshop for all the facts, and please do contact us (isso@brandeis.edu) if you have any questions.

Spring Internship Dates: 1/14/2013 - 5/10/2013

As stated in the CPT and AT information on our web site, the ISSO requires at least a TEN-DAY lead time to process authorizations.

In order for us to process the CPT or AT, if you can provide to the ISSO a complete offer letter and advisor's recommendation form by FRIDAY, JANUARY 4TH, complete the on-line ISSO Check-In, and registration for the internship course, we can issue you the CPT I-20 or DS-2019 (for Academic Training authorization) with a start date as early as JANUARY 14TH, which is the first day of classes of the Spring semester.

If you are traveling over the Winter Break and you will not be back at Brandeis University until just before classes begin, please advise your employer that you will need a later start date on your offer letter.  The internship authorization must end no later than MAY 10, 2013, the last day of exams for the spring semester, unless otherwise specified by your program.

Employment Workshop Schedule

The ISSO will hold its last Employment Workshop for December on Wednesday, December 12. Information on F-1 Curricular Practical Training will begin at 3:00pm; F-1 Optional Practical Training will be from 3:30pm-4:30pm; and information on J-1 Academic Training will be from 4:30pm-5:00pm.

All workshops will be held in the conference room of ISSO, Kutz Hall 215.