ISSO Newsletter: October 2005
The ISSO sends out a monthly web-based newsletter. As it contains the latest information about immigration and ISSO services, it is very important that you read it! We promise to try and keep it as short as possible. View the ISSO newsletter archive here.
Newsletter Contents:
- Immigration News and Reminders
- Maintaining your Immigration Status: Must Be REGISTERED!
- Visas After Graduation Talk
- OPT Reminder for January graduates!
- Diversity Lottery for Green Cards!
- Upcoming ISSO Programs (Newly Updated!)
- Counseling hours at the ISSO every Thursday, 3-6pm
- Have Immigration Questions?: Come to ISSO Office Hours
Immigration News
Maintaining your Immigration
Status: Must Be REGISTERED!
All F1 and J1 students must be enrolled full time in the fall and spring
semesters in order maintain valid immigration status. For undergraduate students,
that
means enrolling for a MINIMUM of 12 credit hours. For graduate students,
there is no
minimum credit hour requirement, but you MUST BE REGISTERED in the fall and
spring
semesters. Please come in to the ISSO to speak with an advisor if you are
unable to
maintain the registration requirements. Read more about maintaining your
immigration status
on our
student immigration web pages.
Come find out everything you will need to know about staying in the U.S. after graduation. Stephen Yale-Loehr and ISSO staff will explain the procedures for working immediately after graduating, working long-term in the U.S. and eventually becoming a permanent resident (green card holder) if you so desire. This information is particularly crucial at the present time, given the H-1B cap and new backlogs with employment-based green cards.
OPT Reminder for January graduates! If you are graduating in January you MUST APPLY for your Optional Practical Training (OPT) NO LATER THAN January 17, 2006 or (if you are an advanced graduate student), the day before your last day as a registered student. Read about OPT and download an application from our OPT web pages.
The 2007 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2007)
Complete information can be found on
the DV 2007 web page.
The annual Diversity Visa program makes 50,000 permanent residence visas available to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States who meet the simple, but strict, eligibility requirements. Applicants for Diversity Visas are chosen by a computer-generated random lottery drawing. Go to the DV 2007 web page for all the details and how to apply.
Please Note: A few internationals have received spam emails from a group pretending to be the Diversity Lottery Office, supposedly notifying recipients that they have won the diversity lottery. These emails are definitely fake! If you are selected for a green card by the diversity lottery, the diversity lottery office will notify you by regular mail NOT by email.
Upcoming ISSO Programs
upcoming ISSO Trips, Workshops, and Special Events
to be held during the Fall semester
October
22nd (Saturday) POSTPONED UNTIL NOVEMBER!
Men's Football Game, Cornell Big Red vs. Brown
and pre-game Pizza Party!
27th (Thursday), 3:30-5:30 pm, Big Red Barn
Special Halloween International Coffee Hour
Enjoy spooky treats, pumpkin-carving, and much more. Fun prizes will be given to those daring enough to come in costume, and for the scariest, funniest and most creatively carved jack o'lanterns!
November
5th (Saturday), 6:00 pm, Bartels Hall
"Learn to Climb!"
tackle the Lindseth Climbing Wall with instruction provided by Cornell Outdoor Education
12th (Saturday)
Lunch: 11:45-12:45 pm, BRB
Game: 1:00 pm, Schoellkopf Field
Men's Football Game, Cornell vs. Columbia and pre-game pizza party!
Experience the excitement of CORNELL FOOTBALL! Join us for a pizza "tailgate" lunch before the game at the Big Red Barn, learn the rules of the game that captivates millions of Americans, then walk over to cheer on Cornell Big Red Football against Columbia University.
24th (Thursday)
Traditional U.S. Thanksgiving Feast
time and location to be announced
30th (Wednesday)
"Driving in Winter and Applying for a New York State Driver's License"
With Officer George Sutfin of the Cornell Police.
time and location to be announced
December
1st December (Thursday), 3:30-5:30 pm, Big Red Barn
"A Taste of Culture" at International Coffee Hour
Sample desserts from around the world and flex your language skills as you learn to ask for each dessert in the language of its native country!
Co-sponsored by the Public Service Center's Translator Interpreter Program
Plus, every Thursday while classes are in session: International Coffee Hour at the Big Red Barn 3:30-5:30pm. Complimentary coffee, tea and light refreshments! All are welcome!
Counseling Hours at the ISSO
Every Thursday, 3-6pm
Counseling hours with Mahnaz Mousavi every Thursday, 3-6pm, at the ISSO (B-50 Caldwell Hall). International students, staff, faculty, or family members are welcome.
Feeling stressed out? Need to talk to someone? You don't have to struggle alone.
Free and confidential consultations with a counselor are available to all students at sites around campus. No appointment is necessary. Just drop in. Visit their website for more information.
Come talk about:
Hours and locations:
You also might benefit from talking to other students with similar concerns in a confidential setting. Feel free to check out their discussion groups.
Have Immigration Questions?
Come to ISSO Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 9-12:00; 1:00-4:30
Wednesday 1:00-4:30
Advisors are available on a walk-in basis except from 12-1pm daily, or by appointment. You may stop by to see us during office hours, check out our website, email us at isso@cornell.edu, or call us at 255-5243.