ISSO Byte Podcast

Gwyneth: 

We wanted to share some tips if you are preparing to travel. Remember, unexpected things may happen - including changes in immigration rules and regulations. Always check our ISSO news and ISSO website for updates.

If you decide to travel outside the U.S.:

You must make sure to check the Visa Requirements for your destination, easily done by looking at the embassy or consulate’s website of the country you plan to visit.

You also need to make sure you have the necessary documents to travel back into the U.S. You can find out what you specifically need on the ISSO’s Documents Needed for Travel page.

What about if you decide not to travel abroad and you’re thinking about traveling inside the U.S.?

You can always check out the gorgeous state of N.Y. – N.Y. state has spectacular natural beauty!!  You can take a day trip to Beacon, Woodstock, Cold Spring. And actually, in Cold Spring, there is some great hiking there!! There’s a great little town. Also if you are up for a longer journey the Finger Lakes give you a different flavor of N.Y. as it scenic and rural areas – if you can believe it I even cuddled a cow which was a great stress reliever and a fun thing to do upstate! Yes - cow cuddling. It is a thing Upstate! Traveling inside the U.S. is generally much simpler, but it’s always a good idea to keep your documents on you in case you ever need to prove your immigration status.

We hope this information is helpful as you plan/prepare for travel. Remember, the ISSO website has all the information you need. Definitely, definitely review our website and read any emails ISSO sends your way.

Gwyneth: We know many of you have questions about Optional Practical Training - otherwise known as OPT - and believe me, we get it! It can seem a bit overwhelming and stressful, but I promise you, it’s nothing to fear. Lucky for you, today we have special guest Michelle Desikan, Senior International Student Adviser at the International Students and Scholars Office on the Morningside campus. In her role, she provides documentation and advising services to Columbia’s robust F-1 and J-1 student community, tending to their immigration-related needs through assistance and information. Her expertise covers a host of issues such as visas, enrollment, employment and travel. She has been with the ISSO since 2003. Welcome to ISSO Byte, Michelle!

Michelle: Hi Gwyneth! Glad to be here!

Gwyneth: I’m going to jump right in and ask you a few questions that are on the minds of our international students right now.  What is OPT and how does a student find out if they are eligible for it?

Michelle: Sure, let me explain!

OPT (Optional Practical Training) is a benefit of F-1 student status that allows students to work off-campus in their field of study to gain practical experience. This work authorization can be used before and/or after the completion of the program. Most students tend to use OPT after graduation. We refer to this as post-completion OPT. Post-Completion OPT extends the F-1 status and the status of any dependents under F-2 beyond graduation. 

There are several criteria for post-completion OPT on our website which I urge students to take a look at before applying. If students do not know where to start, I highly recommend attending an OPT webinar or they can always watch a recording on the ISSO webpage. Next students will need to take the online OPT canvas course which will give them the tools needed to successfully complete the  OPT application.  Students should not be afraid of taking this course as it is not very long and they can take it at their own pace.  When they finish the course, they will get a certificate of completion. They will need to submit a copy of it as part of their application to ISSO.

Gwyneth: I see, so as long as students submit a request to ISSO, are they good to go?

Michelle: No! It is a 2 step process. The first step is submitting a request to ISSO for a new I-20 with ISSO’s recommendation for OPT, sometimes we call this an OPT I-20. The second step is submitting the request to the United States Immigration and Citizenship Services agency. We refer to them as USCIS. USCIS will make the final decision on  whether or not to grant the work authorization. Once approved, they will send the student an Employment Authorization Document, also known as the EAD card.   

Gwyneth: Thank you, Michelle, super helpful!  Does the student have to have a job in order to apply?

Michelle: The great news is no! A job offer is not required in advance of submitting an application which  allows students more time to job hunt.  Since a job offer is not required, students should apply as early as possible, which is 90 days before the program end date. We strongly recommend applying early as it can take USCIS a few months to process the requests and students have to have the EAD in hand before they begin any work. 

Gwyneth: Oh I see!  Yes, apply early!  But how does a student choose their start date for OPT?

Michelle: Great question.  Students should watch our video on how to choose an OPT start date as this will be different for each student.  There are several factors to consider and each person needs to think through their particular situation. We have a great video that goes through real life scenarios on how students choose their start dates, so students should definitely check it out! It’s linked on our Post-Completion OPT webpage.

Gwyneth: Ok!  What is the maximum amount of time a student has on Post-Completion OPT?

Michelle: F-1 students get 12 months of OPT per degree level. If a student had OPT previously authorized at the same degree level, the time used will be deducted from the 12 month total.  This includes any OPT authorized during the current program (Pre-Completion OPT) and/or any OPT authorized for another program at the same degree level.  I strongly  recommend checking out our OPT calculator to help figure out OPT dates. It’s also linked on our Post-completion OPT webpage.

Gwyneth: Ok, great.  Sounds like this OPT calculator is a great tool!  

Michelle: Yeah! It  helps the process move along smoother.

Gwyneth: Thank you very much for helping guide our international students on the Post-completion OPT process. For my final question – what are the most important take-aways regarding this process?

Michelle: It is really important to apply early, attend an  OPT webinar, take the Canvas course and follow the step by step instructions on our website. So, I recommend making a checklist as students go through each step to avoid any confusion. We want to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible.  And of course, after reading through the OPT process, if students still have any concerns or questions, they should feel free to make an appointment with the ISSO and an adviser will be happy to help them through the process! Don’t forget – the ISSO website is a student’s best friend. Everything one needs is there.

Gwyneth: Amazing!  Thank you so much, Michelle, for all your helpful advice today on Post-completion OPT and I hope to talk to you again on a future ISSO Byte episode!  

Michelle: Thank you so much as well! Happy to chat again soon!

Gwyneth: 

Welcome back to campus! As you settle in, we want to make your transition back from break is as smooth as possible so here are some reminders for you as you begin the spring semester.

First off, let’s talk about ISSO Programs and Events.

The most important information we can give you is to always check our Programs and Events Page on the upper right corner of the ISSO Website. On that page, you’ll find the EVENTS CALENDAR where you’ll see the most up-to-date events slate and use our links to sign up

Events include: cultural festivities, social gatherings, NYC outings, etc.

While you’re there, check out ISSO Engage, our official ISSO rewards program. That’s right - if you attend enough ISSO events, you’ll be in the running for free swag, top secret prizes and more!

Check the Events Calendar regularly for first dibs on our various ISSO Lotteries, where you’ll have the chance to sign up and potentially win tickets to events like Broadway Shows! 

Another important tip is to follow our Instagram @columbiaisso to stay up to date on events, lotteries, giveaways, and all ISSO-related news

Now, let’s get into ISSO GLASS which stands for Global Leadership Advancing Student Success. ISSO GLASS is a program designed to advance international student professional development in preparation for U.S. and global work cultures, leadership, and success.

If you listened to episode 2 where we interviewed ISSO’s James Lee, then you’ll already know about ISSO GLASS. In case you didn’t, this program allows you to earn leadership certificates and give yourself a head start after graduation through fun outings and collaborative workshops.

Make sure you’re on the lookout for our ISSO GLASS events this upcoming Spring Semester!

Gwyneth:

Hello and welcome to “ISSO Byte” - Columbia University’s International Students and Scholars Office’s podcast giving helpful hints, tips, and reminders for our international students. Are you ready? Let's take a BYTE.

As we prepare for the end of the semester, we thought it would be a good chance to remind you of just some of the resources available to you. Especially as the weather gets colder, we want you to know how to take care of your mental and physical health during finals and the start of the winter months ahead. You’ve got this and we are here for you!

Don’t forget: Columbia offers a free Intercampus Shuttle Bus and a free Evening Shuttle Car-Service, akin to something like Uber.

Both Morningside Campus and CUIMC Campus have their own Medical Services for students with Columbia’s Health Insurance Plan to attend. For everything from flu shots and allergies, to nutritionists and massage therapy. The Morningside Campus also has the Dodge Fitness Center, which is accessible to all full time Morningside/Manhattanville Students for free and for CUIMC students, you have access to 50 Haven Athletic Center.nStudents on Columbia’s Health Insurance also have access to the school’s Counseling and Psychological Services. CPS frequently offers workshops for international students at the start of each term.

At CUIMC, there is Student Health on Haven and that is the primary resource for all health care related needs for our CUIMC students. All students who have paid the Health and Related Services Fee are eligible to receive Health on Haven’s services, regardless of insurance coverage and they offer numerous confidential services. These include: Medical Services -- Acute and Chronic Illness, Nutrition Services, Preventive Services, Counseling Services, Well-Being and Health Promotion Programming and Well-Being Strategy Appointments, Addiction Information and Management Strategies (AIMS), and Insurance and Enrollment Assistance as well.

For example -- Did you know that Health on Haven has pet therapy sessions with Zoe the dog? Pet Therapy offers CUIMC community members a relaxing and accessible opportunity for one-on-one and group interaction with trained pet therapy animals and volunteers from the Good Dog Foundation! Take time out of your busy and sometimes stressful schedules to pet, play, and spend time with these loving animals. Also, if you are looking for a chill and welcoming environment to work on your knitting projects, Health on Haven has a group called CUIMC Knits! CUIMC students of all experience levels are welcome and the materials are provided.

And remember, there are so many resources on our website. Don’t forget – ISSO website is your best friend. Everything you need is there.

Thanks again for listening to “ISSO Byte.” Remember that everything we talked about today can be found on our website at isso.columbia.edu. Stay well!

Gwyneth: Hello and welcome to “ISSO Byte” - Columbia University’s International Students and Scholars Office’s podcast giving helpful hints, tips, and reminders for our international students. Are you ready? Lets take a byte!

In the midst of starting at a new university and building a new life abroad, it’s easy to overlook something absolutely vital: building a community. Whether it’s others on your career path, students from your home country, or hobbyists wanting to learn the same new skills as you, Columbia and ISSO have created ample opportunities to find your community. With the right people, you can elevate New York from merely a place you live into a home away from home.

James, would you introduce yourself to our listeners?

James: Oh of course. Thanks, Gwyneth, for having me here today. I'm really excited. My name is James and I am the Assistant Director of International Student Professional Development Programming. I know that’s long, But I lead our Global Leadership Advancing Student Success, short for GLASS program, which is a leadership professional development. I joined Columbia in 2024. I'm a former teacher. And yeah, I've, I've had, the pleasure of living in Korea, Japan, Hong Kong. And, you know, I just love to travel.

Gwyneth: Great. So if a student just arrived on campus, where should they start on their community building journey?

James: That's a great question. And I might be a little biased here, but I would definitely say the ISSO programming. Of course. So we have so many different events for students, scholars; we have both off campus and on campus events and also workshops that we lead, for leadership and professional development.

Gwyneth: What does the programming team do? What kind of events do you offer?

James: I think our programming team is so unique because it's open to students, scholars, and families across different schools as well as our GLASS program where we have their professional development, so we have fun events. Stacy does a really cool tour of the Brooklyn Bridge. 

Gwyneth: Cool.

James: And then professional development workshops such as developing your professional brand as an international student or even like a trip to the Federal Reserve, which has been really fun. Also we take a group of students to the United Nations.

Gwyneth: Oh, that's so nice. That's so cool. 

James: And one of the things that I wanna highlight about this programming team is, we actually touch on all the students and scholars across schools and disciplines at Columbia. And I think that's something that's so valuable. And it's really an opportunity for you to meet other students that may not be in the same major as you.

We have multiple campuses at Columbia, like Morningside, Manhattanville, and the medical campus. And, and we want to really bring everyone together to meet each other, connect with them, and just really just learn about them.

Gwyneth: Tell us a little bit more about ISSO GLASS. Why should students attend and what will they learn?

James: GLASS is a professional development, leadership program that's open to international students that are studying at Columbia. And what we realized, we have students coming from all over the world. There wasn't really a space where they could really connect with each other and learn from each other. So that's how GLASS formed where we wanted to really allow students to interact with students from all over the world, in different disciplines, be able to connect, learn from each other, and we developed these core workshops, and we want to make it as interactive as possible.

They get to network with others and really just learn hands on, like real world projects. It really helps them, like, build their confidence. With peers. So we want to, like, ultimately create a community where, you know, students can connect, learn, and succeed together.

Gwyneth: Do you have any other advice for international students seeking community on Columbia's campus?

James: Really great question. When I was an international  student, what really helped me was to step out of your comfort zone, right? I think there's so many different experiences, events that you can really partake in. And so I’d say to say yes to things that you might, you know, and say no to take that risk and try new things. So, for example, we have rock climbing, as part of our class program. And, you know, at first, you know, you'd be like rock climbing? I don't know anything about rock climbing, but, you know, it's open to begin. There's like, no experience needed. Come, you know, rock climb with other students, dive right in. Right. 

Gwyneth: I love that.

James: My recommendation is like, you know, join clubs. Student organizations, meet new people and different events and just get out there.

Gwyneth: Yeah, that's awesome. Great advice. James. Thank you so much for coming and talking to us today. We learned so much from you and about the programming team at ISSO. So it's really awesome what you do and what you provide for our international students.

James: Oh, thank you for having me today. And you know, to those listeners – come out and join us at all of our ISSO programming and we hope to see you there.

Gwyneth: And where can we find more information about events and programs?

James: The best place is definitely to go on the ISSO website. You'll see on the top right it says “Programs and Events. All the events are listed there. Also, definitely follow us on Instagram because a lot of our events are posted there. You can also see previous events to see what they look like. Yeah, follow us.

Gwyneth: Amazing!

Gwyneth: Thanks again for listening to ISSO Byte. Remember that everything we talked about today can be found on our website at isso.columbia.edu. Stay well!

Gwyneth:

Hello and welcome to “ISSO Byte” - Columbia University’s International Students and Scholars Office’s podcast giving helpful hints, tips, and reminders for our international students. Are you ready? Let's take a BYTE.

Who are we? We are the ISSO! We handle all your immigration matters related to F-1 and J-1 student status. We have different offices that serve multiple campuses: Morningside/Manhattanville and CUIMC. Your ISSO office is whichever campus your classes take place, except for GSAS (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences). All GSAS students 'belong' to ISSO Morningside, even if you are physically studying on the medical campus, for example.

What are your First Steps when you arrive to New York? Report your arrival to the ISSO.  It's mandatory to report your arrival within a week of your first-time arrival. This is a government requirement and will activate your SEVIS record. The online form meets the requirement—you do not need to report your arrival in person. To report your arrival, you will need your I-94 Record, your I-20 or DS-2019, your passport, and your local address, even if your address is temporary.

Register Full Time for classes which is a requirement for F-1 and J-1 students. Register and check your registration status at Columbia’s SSOL (Student Services Online) website.

Let’s talk a little bit about orientation. Did you miss your orientation? Guess what – you can watch a recording of it on our website.

Many of the resources you may need in your first few weeks are also listed on our website. All of the following can be found on our Resources for Students webpage:

• supplies students will need to settle into their new lives in the US
• Making an account at a bank as an international student
• And how to set up a phone and a SIM card.
   

Don’t forget – ISSO website is your best friend. Everything you need is there.

Thanks again for listening to “ISSO Byte.” Remember that everything we talked about today can be found on our website at isso.columbia.edu. Stay well!