News Archive

May 21, 2021

The increased bias crimes perpetrated against the Asian/AAPI community are deeply distressing. ISSO joins the University in its commitment to anti-racism and stands in solidarity with our community. We will update this page as more resources and announcements are made.

May 10, 2021

IRS Requires Form 8843 Even if You Had No Income

IRS Requires Form 8843 from all Fs and Js (including their F-2 and J-2 dependent spouses and children) who are nonresident aliens for federal tax purposes and were physically in the U.S. at any time in 2020, even if you had no U.S. income in 2020.

May 05, 2021

The Association of American Universities (AAU) reports that, according to the South China Morning Post, the U.S. embassy and consulates in China have resumed visa appointments for students. Students and scholars are advised to check the Visa Appointment Wait Time website for information for their consulate.

May 03, 2021

On April 30, 2021, the State Department announced the Presidential Proclamation to bar entry of travelers from India due to the danger of COVID-19 transmission, effective May 4, 2021.

In March 2020, ICE/SEVP issued government guidance for the COVID-19 emergency for international students who were currently enrolled in the US and those who were admitted for programs of study.

April 27, 2021

On April 26, 2021, the US Department of State (DOS) updated its National Interest Exception (NIE) page to expand certain NIE eligibilities to all countries subject to a geographic COVID-19 entry ban.

April 07, 2021

President Bollinger joined sixteen other Presidents and Chancellors of New York State colleges and universities in a letter sent to the U.S. Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

April 01, 2021

Acknowledging that events beyond our control may get in the way of realizing this goal, President Bollinger hopes that in-person classes, students living on campus, and academic and research activities can fully resume this fall, while recognizing the “need to have an adequate and sympathetic accommodation process in place… especially [for] our international students who may not be able to return to campus."

February 26, 2021

USCIS today announced flexibilities for certain foreign students affected by delayed receipt notices for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. These flexibilities apply only to applications received on or after Oct. 1, 2020, through May 1, 2021, inclusive.

February 18, 2021

NAFSA published a copy of the February 18, 2021 email message from the Public Engagement Division of USCIS, in which they acknowledge the impact that the delay in receipting and processing OPT applications has had on F-1 student applicants, and provide clarifications and an update on what they are doing to address the problem.

February 09, 2021

Fraudulent emails and phone calls are a huge problem, and we all need to be vigilant in recognizing them and avoid giving up personal information--and our money! Please refer to the following information to help identify scams and phishing and how to report them to the proper authorities.

February 04, 2021

President Biden’s proclamation on January 25, 2021 added South Africa to the list of countries with COVID-19 related travel restrictions. These restrictions will remain in effect “until terminated by the President”.

February 02, 2021

The American Council on Education (ACE) sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on behalf of 46 higher education associations to advocate for actions that will welcome and support prospective and current international students and ...

January 26, 2021

President Biden issued a proclamation on January 20, 2021 that revoked several Presidential Proclamations and Executive Orders from the Trump administration. The Department of State updated their U.S. Visa News section on January 22, 2021 with the following information that pertains to nonimmigrants.

January 26, 2021

President Biden issued a memorandum on January 20, 2021 “... to ensure that the President’s appointees or designees have the opportunity to review any new or pending rules.” Paragraph 2 of the memorandum requires that all rules from the previous administration that were pending publication in the Federal Register but were not yet published ...