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    • ISSO Newsletter: Summer 2008

    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:

    1. ISSO Summer Hours
    2. Immigration News and Reminders
      3. Students currently on F-1 OPT are required to report employment information!
      Planning on working OFF-campus this summer?
      Check your Documents: Is your I-20 or DS-2019 expiring?
      Travel Reminders: Leaving the U.S. over the Summer?
    3. ISSO Summer Program Schedule
    4. ISSO Job Opportunity (August 18th only)
    5. August Orientation Coming Soon: We Need Your Help!
      Undergrads: PREPARE Volunteer Signup Info
      Int'l Grad Orientation Volunteers
      Int'l Grad Orientation Student Organization Fair
    6. From Gannett: Going Home…Reverse Culture Shock
    7. Let's Talk: CAPS off-site counseling at ISSO (NEW Summer Hours!)
    8. Have Immigration Questions?: Come to ISSO Office Hours


    ISSO Summer Hours

    While the ISSO will remain open all summer, our office hours will change slightly. Beginning Friday, June 6th, the ISSO will close one hour early on Fridays--at 3:30 rather than 4:30 PM. Regular office hours will resume on Monday, August 11th. Please plan your visits to our office accordingly.

    All of us at the ISSO hope you have a terrific summer!



    Immigration News and Reminders


    Students currently on F-1 OPT are required to report employment information!
    As you have probably heard, there a new regulation on F-1 OPT went into effect on April 8, 2008, the day it was published. Follow the link below to read all about the rule.

    In addition to providing some relief from the "H1B Cap Gap" for F-1 students on OPT, the new regulation also adds some new reporting requirements. All students on OPT now have to update us with your employment information. Since we have never collected any of this from you all, we need every student currently on F-1 OPT to complete our on line OPT report form linked below by June 1, 2008. After you fill it out the first time, you will need to fill it again if you change your address or your employment status.

    Please fill out this report from by June 9, 2008: OPT Report Form

    Read more about the new regulation here


    Planning to work OFF-campus this summer?
    F-1 Students: If you are planning to work OFF-campus this summer you MUST APPLY for work authorization through the ISSO. Read about F-1 work authorization here or come to one of our workshops on off-campus work authorization.

    J-1 students: If you are planning to work OFF-campus this summer you MUST APPLY for work authorization through the ISSO. If your DS-2019 form was issued by Cornell, you may read about J-1 student off-campus work authorization, known as "Academic Training," and download an application from our J-1 Academic Training web pages. If your DS-2019 is not issued by Cornell University, you must contact your sponsor (whoever issued your DS-2019) to discuss whether or not Academic Training is allowed.


    Check your Documents: Is anything expiring?
    Please take a moment to check your documents. If your I-20 or DS-2019 is about to expire and you know you will need more time to complete your academic, please come to the ISSO to complete an F-1 Program Extension or a J-1 Student Program Extension. It is very important that you do so before your current documents expire!! If your I-20 or DS-2019 is due to expire in August 2008 and you intend to remain at Cornell next semester, you should do an extension NOW. If you fail to complete an extension, you will be out of legal immigration status.

    If it also very important that you keep your passport current. If it will expire in the near future, make plans to extend or renew it. If you aren’t making a trip home soon, contact your country’s consulate here in the United States for instructions on extending your passport.


    Travel Reminders: Leaving the U.S. during the Summer?
    Make sure you have the correct Re-Entry Documents!!! If you will be leaving and re-entering the U.S., PLEASE be sure that you have all the documents for re-entry as described on these web pages:



    ISSO Summer Program Schedule

    A note about trips: Dates and times are subject to change. Prices and other details will be announced via e-mail on the iPrograms-L and International-L e-lists. Unless otherwise indicated, trip sign ups will take place on the date specified at 9:00 AM at the ISSO (B-50 Caldwell).

    July
    4th-6th (Friday-Sunday)
    ISSO trip to Boston, Massachusetts
    Sign up starting at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, June 17th.

    20th (Sunday)
    Picnic, Swim, & Gorge Tour at Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg, NY
    Sign up starting at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, July 8th.

    26th (Saturday)
    Trip to Niagara Falls, New York
    Sign up starting at 9:00 AM on Monday, July 15th.


    August
    18th-21st (Monday-Thursday)
    PREPARE International Undergraduate Pre-Orientation Program

    23rd (Saturday)
    International Graduate and Professional Student Orientation


    Note: There will be no weekly International Coffee Hour during the summer. International Coffee Hour will resume when classes do, on Thursday, August 28, 2008.



    ISSO Job Opportunity (August 18th only)


    The ISSO is looking for several graduate students who have a good driving record, to work on August 18 th to pick up and assist incoming international students participating in PREPARE pre-orientation program.

    General Goals: The central responsibility of the Van Drivers for the PREPARE international pre-orientation program is to pick up, drop off, and move new international students to ensure that the new student arrival and room check-in program runs smoothly and effectively. The Van Drivers work closely with PREPARE Student Coordinators to plan the first day of PREPARE.

      Qualifications:
    • Safe driver holding a valid New York State drivers license
    • Status as a student with significant overseas or cross-cultural experience.
    • Strong communication skills and good command of the English language.
    • Openness, motivation, and a desire to help others.
    • Experience as a PREPARE driver or driver of large groups preferred.

    Application Procedure: Please request complete job description and submit an email indicating your interests and qualifications related to the Van Driver position by Friday, July 18, 2008 to Mariah Sawyer at mjs51@cornell.edu





    August Orientation Coming Soon: We Need Your Help!


    Undergrads: PREPARE Volunteer Signup Info

    Attention undergraduate students...Are you an international student who would like to welcome new international undergraduates to Cornell? Or are you an American student who has had experience living in another culture and knows how it feels to dive into something so different? Then use your experience to help welcome new international students to Cornell!

    The ISSO is looking for motivated and enthusiastic undergraduate volunteers for PREPARE 2008 in August!

    PREPARE is a four-day, intensive pre-orientation program for new international undergraduates, where participants and volunteers have the opportunity to meet one another and help each other acclimate to life at Cornell. Over 180 new students, plus 50+ volunteers will participate in PREPARE.

    Volunteers are crucially important, and are expected to attend all events throughout the program. They may not be OCs for the university orientation, as conflicts of time and commitment often arise.

    PREPARE will run from August 18-21, with a mandatory training session for volunteers on August 16-17. Volunteers who have on-campus assignments for the fall will be allowed to move into their rooms beginning on Friday, August 15.

    Students who want to volunteer for PREPARE will be required to sign up online starting Wednesday, April 16. The deadline has been extended through June 13th. Please only sign up if you are able to make a firm commitment to volunteering.

    Get involved! Help new international students! Have fun! Sign on to the PREPARE Team!

    Questions? Please contact Mariah Sawyer at mjs51@cornell.edu


    Int'l Grad Orientation Volunteers

    International Graduate and Professional Student Orientation will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2008 from 3-7:00 PM in Statler Hall. Graduate student volunteers are needed to help set up for the event, welcome new students, and generally be on hand to answer questions and share your experiences as a continuing student. If you are interested in helping out with this event or with the Graduate School’s ongoing orientation activities, please send your name and e-mail address to Mariah Sawyer at mjs51@cornell.edu. There will be a volunteer information meeting in mid-August. More details will be provided during the summer.


    Int'l Grad Orientation Student Organization Fair

    Held in conjunction with the International Graduate and Professional Student Orientation, this event will showcase the variety of International Student Organizations available on campus. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 23rd from 5:30-7:00 PM in the Park Atrium of Statler Hall’s Beck Center. Welcome new graduate students and recruit new members! If your organization is interested in participating, send summer contact information (name and e-mail) to Mariah Sawyer at mjs51@cornell.edu.



    From Gannett: Going Home…Reverse Culture Shock


    Airplane pilots will tell you that the most difficult parts of flying are usually the take-offs and the landings! Similarly, for many International students, the cultural adjustment process experienced when arriving in a new culture and then returning home can be just as challenging.

    As an International student, you may have expected to experience some homesickness and adjustment issues when you arrived at Cornell, but you may not be prepared to experience a similar adjustment process when going home to friends, family and a culture with which you are very familiar. This adjustment process is important whether your time away was short or more extended residence in another country.

    You may not be aware of the full impact your experience at Cornell has had on your behavior, opinions, perspectives or your values. Likewise, the vision you held in your head of life at home may not match up to the reality you now see when you return. Just as it may have taken time to acclimate to a new culture, it may take time for you to feel like you are fitting in again at home.

    Some International Students have reported the following after returning “home":

    1. Boredom: The return to home and old routines may seem dull compared to the stimulation and challenges you experienced while away. Think positively. Remember the things you like about both cultures and continue to work toward integrating these into your life. Try to see the old routines in a new way…how they were started, what they mean. Are there things you can add to the old routines to make them more meaningful now?
    2. Disinterest from others: You probably have a lot you want to share with family and friends: experiences, thoughts and feelings. However you may find that they quickly stop listening or may even seem disinterested. Remember, those who have not traveled or shared similar experiences will not have a frame of reference to help them understand your stories. This is a time when you can be reflective. Identify the things you have learned and the changes you underwent during your time at Cornell. Keep a journal of your post-abroad experiences and thoughts. Look for people in your community who may have had similar exposure to another culture and might be more receptive to sharing perspectives.
    3. Others Don’t Understand: Even what may have been a significant experience for you, may be difficult to convey when you try to share it with others. Be patient. Your family, friends and colleagues will need time to understand your experiences and new perspectives, and you will need time to fully appreciate how their lives may have changed too.
    4. Relationships have changed: Just as you have gone through changes while away from home, friends may have moved away, changed social circles, or jobs; and family relationships may have changed in your absence. Try not to take these changes personally, and give yourself time to re-establish your connections. Be open to the possibility of new supports and friendships.
    5. Uncertainty on how to apply new knowledge and skills: You may be feeling very enthusiastic and excited about sharing your new knowledge with others or be eager to start making changes when you get home. But upon return you become frustrated if opportunities to do this are not present or if others are hesitant to accept your “new ideas.” For some, your perspective and suggestions may feel like a threat to existing traditions or practice. Focus on using your new skills and knowledge for yourself. As others observe, they may become more curious, start asking questions and be interested in hearing more about what you have learned.
    6. “Home” Sickness: It often comes as a total surprise, to feel homesick for Ithaca and Cornell, when you return to home. Before you leave Cornell, talk with your colleagues and friends and make plans to stay connected. You will find it can be very helpful to continue to share your experiences and to keep your intellectual pursuits alive. Use the cross-cultural coping skills you developed. All of the things you did to acclimate to life at Cornell will help you re-adjust to your home country. Stay busy; seek out others who may have traveled abroad to share experiences; join clubs and organizations to get back into the flow of life; and keep a sense of humor.

    Another place to talk about going home:
    Let’s Talk: Speak confidentially with a counselor on Thursdays, 2:30-4:30 PM at the ISSO. More information below.

    Submitted by:
    Janis Talbot (jit1@cornell.edu) 255-4782
    Health Educator, International Student Health Advocate http://www.gannett.cornell.edu



    Let's Talk: CAPS off-site counseling at ISSO (NEW Summer Hours!)


    Thursdays, June 26-July 31, from 2:30-4:30 PM, counselor Meera Murthi, Ph.D. from Gannett Health Services will be available at the ISSO for free and confidential counselling and consultation. No appointment is necessary! Graduate students, undergraduate students, and family members are welcome to come talk to about:

    • personal growth and challenges
    • depression, anxiety and stress
    • relationship issues
    • family issues
    • cultural, racial and ethnic issues
    • sexual health concerns
    • negotiating academic environment
    • any other issues of concern
    • referral and information

    For more information about Counselling and Psychological Services and a schedule of available times for off-site, walk-in consultations visit: http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/CAPS/offsiteSupport.html.



    Have Immigration Questions?
    Come to ISSO Office Hours


    ISSO Advising Hours:
    Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 9-12:00; 1:00-4:30
    Wednesday 1:00-4:30

    Remember! We will be closing at 3:30 PM on Fridays, from June 6th-August 8th! Regular hours will resume on Monday, August 11th.

    Advisors are available on a walk-in basis except from 12-1 P.M. 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.