This message was originally sent by email on 2/24/2025

Dear Students and Scholars,

Given the many recent executive orders, ISSS has received questions from international students and scholars about whether they will be asked to verify their immigration status to government officials. We have prepared this guide to help you determine when it may be beneficial to carry your original immigration documents and how to access copies of your documents. Additionally, President, Radenka Maric, and our Provost, Anne D’Alleva sent out a message to the university last month. Please read this message to better understand our commitment to all our international students and scholars: “UConn will continue to support and value every member of our community.”

There are times an international student or scholar may be required to verify their immigration status in the U.S. This is most common when applying for a government benefit like a driver’s license or a Social Security Card. There may also be times a student or scholar is stopped within the U.S. by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official and asked for their immigration status. There is a rule that CBP officials are allowed to conduct stops anywhere within 100 miles of any U.S. land or sea border. ACLU: Know Your Rights – This article explains the 100-mile border zone and CBP’s warrantless stop capabilities. This guide below is a reminder of topics covered in the CISS Welcome Program and can help students and scholars in the event they need to verify their immigration status in the event you are not traveling with your original immigration documents.

Original Immigration Documents

When you are traveling internationally, traveling within the U.S. by air, rail or bus, or traveling within the U.S. and will be away from campus for several days, it is important to carry your original immigration documents. Otherwise, we don’t recommend you carry the original documents on a day-to-day basis at UConn. If your documents are ever lost or stolen it could create a more serious hardship for you, so unless you find yourself in one of the situations above, keep these documents safe.

• Unexpired Passport
• F-1 or J-1 Visa Stamp (can be expired or unexpired)
  • Canadian and Bermudian citizens will most likely not have a visa stamp in their passports. Students and scholars who changed status within the U.S. will also not have a visa stamp (see below).
• Form I-20 or DS-2019
  • These forms verify your student or scholar status at UConn and clue the officer in to your F-1 or J-1 status. For F-1 students working an internship or job using OPT or CPT the I-20 also confirms the worksite on page two. Students and scholars traveling internationally need a travel signature on their I-20 or DS-2019.
• I-94 Admission record
  • The I-94 is similar to a “receipt” for entering the U.S. and verifies the date a student or scholar arrived in the U.S., their visa status and their “admit until” date (the date they must depart the U.S.). The “admit until” date for all students and scholars should be “D/S” or Duration of Status. This means that so long as a student remains in good status and is enrolled full-time and making normal academic progress they may remain in the U.S. For scholars D/S means you are participating in your J-1 program objectives and engaged in your postdoc or other research/observation experience. Students and scholars will receive a new I-94 every time they enter the U.S. Find your I-94 Admission number here (click on “Get Most Recent I-94”).
• Change of status approval documentation
  • Students or scholars who change their U.S. visa status to F-1 or J-1 from another visa status without leaving the U.S. should keep a copy of the approval notice and the updated I-94 attached verifying their change of immigration status.

Paper Copies of Immigration Documents
Keep a paper copy of your immigration documents in the event your original documents are ever lost or stolen. Keeping a secure, paper copy of the documents below in your backpack or handbag that you use daily, or in the glove box of your car is a good idea in the event you are ever stopped and asked to confirm your immigration status.

Electronic Copies of Immigration Documents

In the event you are asked to confirm your immigration status, and you do not have your original or paper copies of your documents, you can access electronic copies on your smartphone or tablet.

Option 1 – Keep an album in the photo gallery on your phone or tablet with copies of your immigration documents.

Option 2 – Log in to the ISSS Portal to retrieve your documents.

All students can log in to https://isssportal.uconn.edu/ with their NetID and password. From your user profile, under “Records”, scroll down and click on “Submit Arrival Documents”. In the “Attached Documents” section of your Submit Arrival Documents section you can open and download a copy of all the documents below.

All J-1 visiting scholars can log in to the ISSS Scholar Portal. Visit: https://s.uconn.edu/scholarportal and login using your personal email and password, not your NetID. Click on the “Documents” tab, scroll down to “Submit Arrival Documents” you can access all the arrival documents that you uploaded to the ISSS Portal.

It is important to remember that unless you have a history of arrests, criminal conviction or a terminated SEVIS record, it is unlikely you will encounter federal immigration officials within the U.S. The most common occasions are consular officials abroad and CBP officers you may encounter when returning to the U.S. from international travel. As a reminder we ask all students and scholars to report their international travel to ISSS before they depart the U.S. One of the questions we screen for is prior arrests and convictions so that we can guide you to resources and advise you appropriately.

In the event you are ever asked to provide the school contact information to a federal immigration official, you should share the CISS office number 860-486-3855 or if it is outside of business hours you should share the contact information for the UConn Police 860-486-4800.

I know this is a lot of information, but I hope that you find it helpful. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Arthur Galinat

___________

Arthur Galinat (pronounce my name)

(he/him/his)
Director, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
UConn Global Affairs
Center for International Student & Scholars (CISS)
2019 Hillside Rd., U-1083
STORRS, CT 06269-1083
PHONE: 860.486.3855  |  FAX: 860.486.5800

EMAIL: arthur.galinat@uconn.edu | http://international.global.uconn.edu

This message was originally sent to international students and visiting scholars by email on 2/17/2025.

Subject: Message to Students and Scholars Regarding International Travel

Dear International Huskies,

I know that many of you are making your travel plans now for spring recess and summer break international travel, so I’m writing with some reminders.

1. Submit a Travel Information Record every time you travel internationally.  Do this before you depart the U.S.
2. Travel with the following documents in your carry-on bag, every time you travel internationally:
3. Unexpired Passport
4. Unexpired F or J visa
5. Form I-20/Form DS-DS-2019 with travel signature

Check page two of your current form I-20 (or page one of your form DS-2019) to determine if you already have a valid signature.  As a reminder, travel signatures are valid for one year from date of issue (for current students and scholars).  You must still report your travel even if you do not require a travel signature.

If you plan to travel during a break period and need a travel signature, you must submit a travel information record through the ISSS website. Once processed, you will be notified with instructions for retrieving your I-20 with travel signature through the ISSS portal.

If your visa has expired and you need to apply for a new visa, it may be best to postpone your travel until a later date when there is more time to complete this process. Spring recess is only one week and does not leave any time for administrative processing or visa issuance delays.

Recent Immigration Updates:  

Over the past few weeks, the ISSS has been fielding inquiries from international students and scholars questioning if recent executive orders will affect international travel plans. ISSS and the university are closely monitoring recent executive orders and their potential impact. In the event a new order is issued that impacts international travel, the ISSS will communicate this with international students and scholars as soon as possible.  While it is possible a new order impacting international travel could be issued, there is no way of knowing what the exact scope will be or what potential exceptions might be included.  Therefore, it is important that you assess the potential risk for you personally and make your travel decisions accordingly.

Please note that section 2 of the Executive Order 14161 directs the Secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State to issue a joint report within 60 days (by March 20, 2025 at the latest) “identifying countries throughout the world for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA.”  This report could lead to travel bans and reduced access to visas for international students and scholars from the countries identified, though as mentioned earlier there may be exceptions or special protocols to any potential ban put in place.

Know that ISSS continues to monitor the situation and send you any updated information on travel.

Best regards,

Arthur

This message was originally shared by email on 2/6/2025. This information is being sent to all GAs on an F-1 or J-1 visa.  If you are not graduating this spring, this information will not apply to you but it is still important to understand for the future.  

Dear International Huskies, 

Federal government regulations allow graduate students on F-1 and J-1 visas to hold on-campus employment while they are pursuing their degree. If you will be a Spring 2025 graduate, you will no longer be pursuing your degree after May 11, 2025 and can no longer work on campus beyond that date. 

If you hold an Academic Year 2024/2025 or Spring 2025 GA appointment at Storrs or a regional campus (excepting UConn Health), the final date of your appointment is May 22, 2025. If your degree is conferred in May and you hold an F-1 or J-1 visa and your assistantship appointment is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Graduate Employee Union (GEU), the time from May 11, 2025, through May 22, 2025, should be treated as time off. Please work with your supervisor to ensure you finish the duties associated with your assistantship before May 11, 2025. You will still receive your full Spring 2025 GA stipend. 

In addition, ISSS will be updating your I-20 or DS-2019 program end date to May 11, 2025, if you are graduating in May and hold a GAship this term. This means your grace period to depart the U.S., or your first eligible date to begin post-completion practical training will begin May 12, 2025. Please plan for this accordingly. ISSS will adjust your I-20 or DS-2019 end date automatically based on notification that you have applied for graduation, or at the time you apply for post-completion OPT (F-1 students) or Academic Training (J-1 students), whichever comes first. ISSS will notify you when your adjusted I-20 or DS-2019 is ready to download from your ISSS portal account later in May.  

If you will be offered a summer GA appointment and will complete your degree during Summer 2025, please be aware that the summer term will be considered your final semester, and you may be employed for no more than 20 hours per week. The date you submit all final degree requirements to Degree Audit will be your degree completion date and the last date you may be employed under a graduate payroll title. Your form I-20 will be shortened to this date. 

Please reach out to ISSS at international@uconn.edu if you have any questions about this change as it relates to your visa status, I-20, grace period, or practical training timeline.  

 

Leslie M. Shor
Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School 

Arthur Galinat 
Director, International Student and Scholar Services 

This message was originally sent by email on January 16, 2025

Dear International Huskies,

The 2024 tax filing season will begin soon and if you earned income in the U.S. in 2024 you will start to receive income statements (form W-2, form 1042-S, form 1099) from UConn and from your financial institutions.  As a reminder if you earned income, you are responsible to file a tax return by April 15, 2025.  Pay special attention to the information below.  The VITA program at UConn and Sprintax software are available to students and scholars to help you fill out required tax forms.  If you did not earn any income, but you were present in the U.S. skip down to the bottom for instructions on submitting the 8843 form.

• The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is an in-person tax preparation clinic run by trained UConn student volunteers, and they will help you fill out your tax return documents. Register with the VITA program at the link below.  The VITA program will begin scheduling appointments in mid-February.  Please register with the UConn VITA website if you wish to be notified when the appointment calendar is open.  https://accounting.business.uconn.edu/vita-program/
• Sprintax is a software that specializes in nonresident alien tax returns.  UConn can provide you with a code to use to file your federal tax return for free but there is an additional fee to file your CT state return. To learn more visit: https://isss.uconn.edu/taxes/ email international@uconn.edu with your name and student ID number.
• UConn Income Statements (W-2 form) will be available online at https://ess.uconn.edu/ navigate to Payroll > View W-2/W-C Information
• If you are no longer employed at UConn and cannot log in to https://ess.uconn.edu/ please open a ticket at the Payroll Help Desk and select “W-2 Reissue” from the drop down menu.
• If you had on campus employment and claimed the benefits of a tax treaty you will receive a 1042-S from the State of Connecticut by mail in March 2025.  The 1042-S will be mailed to the home address listed in Core-CT.  You will need to wait to file your income taxes until after you receive this form. If you do not receive this form by March 20, 2025 please open a ticket at the Payroll Help Desk and select “International Taxation” from the drop down menu and explain your situation.
• If you will be receiving a 2024 Form 1042-S for a scholarship or fellowship, UConn’s Tax and Compliance Office will notify you of this by email at the end of January.  Your Form 1042-S for a scholarship or fellowship will be mailed to the mailing address that is listed in Student Admin.  If that is not the correct address, please contact taxcompliance@uconn.edu  as soon as possible with your correct mailing address.

If you did not earn income in the U.S. but are a nonresident for tax purposes there is still one tax form you must file, the form 8843 – see below for information on how you can learn to file the form 8843.  https://accounting.business.uconn.edu/undergraduate/vita-program/form-8843-filing-instructions/

Watch a video with instructions on how to submit the form 8843: https://isss.uconn.edu/taxes/

Best regards,

___________

Arthur Galinat
Director, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
UConn Global Affairs
Center for International Student & Scholars (CISS)
2019 Hillside Rd., U-1083
STORRS, CT 06269-1083
PHONE: 860.486.3855  |  FAX: 860.486.5800

EMAIL: arthur.galinat@uconn.edu | http://international.global.uconn.edu
Facebook: @UConnGlobal  | Instagram: @uconn.global

This message was originally sent by email on January 15, 2025

Dear International Students and Scholars!

Happy New Year!  I can’t believe that the winter break ends this week and the first day of classes for the spring 2025 term is next Tuesday, January 21.  CISS staff is busy this week participating in a variety of CISS Welcome Programs as well as other university and department orientation programs to help support new international students on our UConn campuses.  Please see some important reminders for new and continuing international students at UConn.

Reminders for All Students

Full-Time Enrollment – As a reminder all international students must be enrolled full-time and in predominantly in-person classes.  Only 3 credits of online coursework can count towards your full-time enrollment requirement.  Please review the full-time enrollment requirements here and contact your academic advisor if you have questions about your enrollment.  Follow these instructions to review your class schedule.

Connect with Your ISSS Advisor – As a reminder view the CISS Advising Services to meet your ISSS Advisor and to schedule an appointment.

Reminders for New Students

If this is your first semester at UConn or you received an updated form I-20 or DS-2019 with a January 2025 start date you must complete the “Immigration Check-in” with ISSS by submitting your arrival documents and completing all steps in the Arrival Checklist after you arrive in the U.S.  THANK YOU to all the new students who already completed their immigration check in, you do not need to do this again.

If you are working on campus in an on-campus job or as a graduate assistant, don’t forget to submit the Foreign National Information Form to the payroll office and to work with ISSS to apply for a social security number (SSN).  Apply for your Social Security Number with ISSS on January 30, 2025 from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Advanced sign up is required.

Please log in to MyHealth.uconn.edu and check your compliance with university immunization requirements.  If you are not 100% compliant please follow up with Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) ensure you are compliant. Storrs campus students can contact SHAW in person by visiting the SHAW at the Infirmary in the Hilda May Williams Bldg or by calling 860-486-4700 to schedule an appointment.  Regional campus students can contact the Nurse Navigators at their campus and they can help you find a local provider and submit documentation to SHAW online.  Students at the School of Law should follow guidance and procedures as instructed by the registrar at the School of Law.

Reminders for Continuing Students

Are you graduating in Spring 2025?  If you will be graduating in spring 2025 and you do not require a full course load to complete your degree, you can request to take a reduced course load for last semester from ISSS.   If spring 2025 will be your last semester and you only need to enroll in one course, it must be an in-person course and must be offered at UConn.   If you will graduate in Spring 2025 and you are interested to stay in the U.S. and work in your major field or complete an internship or training after graduation you should attend an OPT workshop and plan to apply for OPT with ISSS in February or March.  Review the Optional Practical Training (OPT) information and application procedures on our website.

Upcoming Events That We Recommend

Storrs Campus
“Winter Clothing Pickup” Monday-Friday @ CISS 2019 Hillside Rd. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Make sure you are prepared for the cold weather!  CISS received a small donation of used winter clothing specifically for international students who may need additional winter clothing. Come to CISS in person and ask the front desk to see the winter clothing.

U.S. Internships: The Process, Search and Authorization Tuesday, January 30 1:00-2:00 PM online.

Internship & Co-Op Fair Tuesday, February 4 11:00-3:00 PM Student Union, 3rd Floor
The UConn Internship & Co-op fair allows you to connect with employers from dozens of industries who are specifically interested in hiring UConn students for internship and co-op opportunities. This event takes place in February each year.

Involvement Fair Wednesday, January 29 – 1:00-6:00 PM at Gampel Pavilion
Find new ways to connect, make friends and get involved at UConn – see over 400 different student clubs and organizations.

Enjoy these last few days before spring term starts and stay warm!

Best regards,

Arthur

___________

Arthur Galinat
Director, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
UConn Global Affairs
Center for International Student & Scholars (CISS)
2019 Hillside Rd., U-1083
STORRS, CT 06269-1083
PHONE: 860.486.3855  |  FAX: 860.486.5800

EMAIL: arthur.galinat@uconn.edu | http://isss.uconn.edu
Facebook: @UConnGlobal  | Instagram: @uconn.global