Author: Galinat, Arthur

Fall 2024 Welcome and Reminders from CISS

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This message was originally sent by email on 8/23/2024.

Dear International Huskies!

I’m thrilled to welcome all our international huskies back to campus this fall! CISS staff has been hard at work welcome students and families to campus for the past week, check out our photos here. This year we have new and continuing international students from 102 different countries who will call UConn their home this fall.  ISSS supports students at all of our UConn campuses and we are here for you during your time at UConn. We have full-time ISSS staff to help you in Storrs, Stamford and Hartford campuses and part-time staff to help you at the School of Law.  Students at the Waterbury and Avery Point campuses have dedicated ISSS advisors and should check their emails for updates from ISSS and to meet with staff when we come to your campus.  Students in Storrs can visit us at the Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS) located at 2019 Hillside Rd.  Please see some important reminders for new and continuing international students at UConn.

Reminders for All Students

As a reminder all international students must be enrolled full-time and in predominantly in-person classes. Please review the full-time enrollment requirements here and contact your academic advisor if you have questions about your enrollment.   

When school is in session, students are expected to be studying full-time and in-person at the UConn.  One of the fundamental requirements of the F-1 visa is that students are present on campus when school is in session. Students requesting to travel when school is in session will be limited to traveling during vacation periods.  Travel over two weeks when school is in session may result in losing your F-1 or J-1 status.

Starting Fall 2024 ISSS advisors in Storrs campus will offer more appointments every week, but they will no longer offer drop in advising hours.  To schedule an appointment with your advisor visit: https://international.global.uconn.edu/advising-services/

Reminders for New Students

If this is your first semester at UConn or you received an updated form I-20 or DS-2019 with an August 2024 start date you must complete the “Immigration Check-in” with ISSS by submitting your arrival documents and completing all steps in the Arrival Checklist.  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).

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 before enrollment begins for spring term.  Storrs campus students can contact SHAW in person or by calling 860-486-4700 to schedule an appointment.  Regional campus students will need to work with 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 Fall 2024?  If you will be graduating in fall 2024 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 fall 2024 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 Fall 2024 and you are interested to stay in the U.S. and work in your major field you should attend and OPT workshop and plan to apply for OPT with ISSS in October or November.  Review the Optional Practical Training (OPT) information and application procedures on our website.

Save The Date! Upcoming Events That We Recommend
Storrs Campus
Husky WOW Opening Weekend, Thursday, August 22 – Sunday, August 25

Sunset Yoga Friday, August 30 – 6:30 PM at Horsebarn Hill

This UConn tradition should not be missed. Join over 1000 other UConn students for yoga at the end of your first week.

Involvement Fair Wednesday, September 4  – 2:00-6:00 PM at Fairfield Way

Find new ways to connect, make friends and get involved at UConn – see over 400 different student clubs and organizations.

Hartford Campus

Involvement Fair Wednesday, September 6  – 12:00-3:00 PM UConn Hartford

Stamford Campus

Opening Week A la Carte Monday, August 26th -Thursday, August 29th from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.

Kickoff Carnival Monday, August 26 – 3:00-5:00 Rich Concourse

Fall Involvement Fair Thursday, September 5 – 12:00-1:30 Rich Concourse

Waterbury Campus

Week of Welcome: Involvement Fair Tuesday, August 27  – 11:30-2:30 PM Courtyard, MPR 113/116/119
Week of Welcome: Ice Cream & Inflatable  Wednesday, August 28 – 12:00-2:00pm Courtyard
View all Waterbury Events here: https://events.uconn.edu/uconn-waterbury/all

Avery Point Campus

Student Involvement @ Avery Point
View all Avery Point events here: https://events.uconn.edu/uconn-avery-point/all

Wishing you the best for a terrific fall term.

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

CISS Closed for July 4. Welcome New CISS Staff.

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CISS Services on Thursday, July 4, 2024

The Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS) will be closed for the Independence Day holiday on Thursday, July 4, 2024. The 4th of July is traditionally celebrated with backyard barbecues and fireworks displays.  Many cities all over Connecticut will have fireworks displays starting tonight.  Visit: https://ctvisit.com/articles/connecticut-fireworks-2024  for more information.  For Storrs campus students one local July 4th tradition is the WILI “Boom Box Parade” on Main Street in Willimantic.

Staffing Updates at the Center for International Students and Scholars

CISS is pleased to announce that the addition of two new staff to the office.  Fernando Rodriguez-Barberet recently joined UCAELI, UConn’s Intensive English Program, on June 14, 2024 in the role of Academic Program Administrator. Prior to joining UCAELI he worked as an English language and Intercultural Communication lecturer at Shanghai Normal University both online and in-person. He attained an MSc in Applied Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh and a bachelors in triple languages at the University of Delaware. As a multilingual educator with fluency in Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese and English, his passion for languages and language education is resolute. He has varied experience in curriculum design, language teaching and linguistic research in Asia and Europe, offering a global perspective on ESL related administration. He enjoys volleyball, ping pong, cooking, reading and is a big fan of the outdoors. You can regularly find him on a trail deep in the woods whether it be on a mountain bike or on foot!

We are also happy to welcome Hailey Winschel to CISS in the role of Administrative Assistant as of June 28, 2024.  Prior to joining the ISSS Hailey worked at the University of Hartford and with the town of Simsbury.  Hailey earned her BFA in photography from the University of Hartford, spending her junior year abroad in Seoul, South Korea.  Hailey speaks a little Korean and Spanish and she is an avid gardener. You can find Hailey at the front desk when you come to CISS. Please join me in welcoming both Fernando and Hailey to CISS and to UConn.

Best,

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

Important Information for GAs Graduating Spring 2024

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This information was originally sent to all GAs on an F-1 or J-1 visa on February 21, 2024 and will be sent out again before the end of the spring 2024 term. If you are not graduating this spring, this information will not apply to you, but 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 complete your degree requirements during Spring 2024 and if your degree is conferred in May, you will no longer be pursuing your degree after May 5, 2024.

If you hold an Academic Year 2023/2024 or Spring 2024 appointment at Storrs or a regional campus (excepting UConn Health), the final date of your appointment is May 21, 2024. 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 4, 2024 through May 21, 2024 should be treated as time off. Please work with your supervisor to ensure you finish the duties associated with your assistantship before May 4, 2023. You will still receive your full Spring 2023 GA stipend.

In addition, ISSS will be updating your I-20 or DS-2019 program end date to May 4, 2024 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 5, 2024. 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.

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.
Kent Holsinger
Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Biology
Vice Provost for Graduate Education
and Dean of The Graduate School

 

Arthur Galinat
Director, International Student and Scholar Services

Tax Filing Options for International Students

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This message was originally sent to the international-l listserv on February 8, 2024.

Dear International Students and Scholars,

The tax filing season has begun and if you earned income in the U.S. in 2023 you are responsible to file a tax return by April 15, 2024.  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 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://international.global.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 had on campus employment and claimed the benefits of a tax treaty you will receive a 1042-S from the State of Connecticut in CORE CT by late February 2024.  If you are no longer employed at UConn and cannot log in to https://ess.uconn.edu/ please visit the Payroll Help Desk and explain your problem https://payroll.uconn.edu/payroll-help-desk/. 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 February 29, 2024 visit the Payroll Help Desk and explain your problem https://payroll.uconn.edu/payroll-help-desk/. 
  • If you will be receiving a 2023 Form 1042-S for a scholarship or fellowship, UConn’s Tax & Compliance Office notified you by email on Thursday, January 25, 2024.  Check your email! 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://international.global.uconn.edu/taxes/

Best regards,

___________

Arthur Galinat
Director, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)

 

International Students Selecting Classes for Fall 2023

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Dear Students,

ISSS wants to share some resources and remind you of  the enrollment parameters required for international students for fall 2023 term.   Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Review the minimum full-time enrollment rules for international students and remember which courses count as in-person: In-Person (P), Hybrid (HB), and By Arrangement (AR) are all considered in person.

F-1 Visa Holders (undergraduate students) must be enrolled in at least 12 credits each term.  Only one course (3 credits) can be online.  The other 9 credits must be in-person.

F-1 Visa Holders (graduate students) must be enrolled in at least 9 credits each term (6 credits w/ a GA). Only one course (3 credits) can be online.  The other 6 credits (3 credits w/ a GA) must be in-person.

J-1 Visa Holders (graduate students/graduate exchange students) must be enrolled in at least 9 credits each term (6 credits w/ a GA). Undergraduate exchange students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits each term.  No online courses can count towards the full course of study.  

If fall 2023 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 have any questions about this information please reach out to your ISSS Advisor.

I wish everyone a strong finish to the semester and a happy summer break!

Best regards,

___________

Arthur Galinat
Director, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)

Important Information for Students Graduating in Spring 23

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This announcement was originally sent out on April 19. 

Dear Students,
Greetings from ISSS! This message is going out to all students, but only applies to those students graduating in Spring 23.

Congratulations!  If you are graduating in Spring 23, ISSS will need to shorten your I-20 or DS-2019 end date to the end of the semester.  Your new end date will be 05/06/2023. PLEASE NOTE: your last day of on-campus work permission will be 05/06/2023.  You must stop working on-campus after this date.  Your grace period begins the day after on 05/07/2023.  If your most recent form I-20/DS-2019 has a future program end date, it will no longer be valid. If there is any chance that you will not finish by 05/06/2023 you must contact your ISSS advisor before this date.

F-1 Students:

Be advised that you have a 60-day grace period to remain in the United States before your F-1 status ends.  Your 60-day grace period starts from the date you completed your program as indicated above.

J-1 Students:
Be advised that you have a 30-day grace period to remain in the United States before your J-1 status ends.  Your 30-day grace period starts from the date you completed your program as indicated above.

Graduate Assistants Completing in Spring 23:

You can read more about the policy for GA’s last day of work here. This was shared with all students at the beginning of the semester.  Please work with your supervisor to ensure

that you finish the duties associated with your assistantship before May 06, 2023. You will still receive your full GA stipend for spring 2023, but the time from May 6 through May 22, 2023 will be treated as time off.

 

To process your F-1 SEVIS record, ISSS needs you to take one of the following actions before the end of your grace period:

  1. Prepare to depart the U.S.- submit Program Update-Compete/Shorten Form
  2. Request another form I-20 or DS-2019 to begin a new degree program at UConn – submit Continuing Student I-20/DS-2019 Request;
  3. Transfer to another school to start a new program-submit SEVIS Transfer Out Request
  4. Report a change in your non-immigrant status from F-1 to another visa status – submit Program Update-Change Visa Status Notification
  5. Apply for work permission to stay in the U.S. and work in your major field.

F-1 Students: Apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) to work in the U.S. in your major field.  You must apply for OPT before you depart the U.S.

J-1 Students: Apply for Academic Training (AT) to work in the U.S. in your major field.  You must apply for Academic Training before your DS-2019 expires.

Please contact your international advisor if you require further assistance. You can reach us at (860) 486-3855 or by email at international@uconn.edu

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.  We hope that all of our spring graduates found their time at UConn academically satisfying and personally fulfilling. Good luck with your future endeavors!

Best wishes,
___________

Arthur Galinat
Director, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)

ISSS Summer Book Club Meets Fridays in July

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July 10, 3 pm – 4 pm: ISSS Summer Book Club

Join ISSS Advisor Sarah Manning for the first ISSS Summer Book Club. Have you ever gotten lost in a book? Now is the best time to do it! Join ISSS for a community book club. We will be reading We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. This is a summer mystery book that will be fun to discuss and share. Sign Up here to participate.