International Student and Scholar Services

Immigration Tip: Keep Your Documents on Your Smart Phone

April 25th, 2013 · No Comments · Uncategorized

Did you know that under immigration regulations, all visa holders must be prepared to present proof of their legal status at any time within 100 miles of a United States port of entry? For those of us in New England, that means almost everywhere!

Most students don’t like to carry their passports, I-20s and I-94 cards everywhere they go because things can get lost so how can you be prepared if you are ever stopped and asked to show your immigration documents? Keep them on your smart phone!

Most people have smart phones with great cameras now. What you should do is take a clear photo of each document and store it on your phone. If you travel or get a new I-20, make sure you take a picture right away. This way you will have proof of your entire immigration history right at your finger tips.

Documents to photograph:

Passport

F-1 Visa

I-94 card FRONT and BACK

I-20s pages 1 and 3

Any EAD work cards

 

Bonus Tip:

If you have photos of your I-20 on your phone, you will always be able to find your SEVIS number if you are asked by ISSS!

 

 

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H1-B Visas and the Economy

April 8th, 2013 · No Comments · Uncategorized

The fiscal year 2014 quota has been reached already for H1-B visa applications. The cap was reached in 5 days, faster then the past few years where the United States has had a struggling economic situation. So what does the H1-B quota say about the US economy? Check out this story on NPR to learn more about it!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/04/03/176086111/h1-b-visas-applications-as-an-economic-indicator

NPR

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Happy H1-B Season!

April 2nd, 2013 · No Comments · Visas

April 1 marked the beginning of the 2013-2014 H1-B Application Period. Beginning April 1 each year, USCIS begins accepting applications for H1-B employment visas. Each year there are 65,000 H1-B visas available, plus and addition 20,000 open to applicants with higher degrees (Masters or higher).

In the past few years, it has been interesting to see how quickly the H1-B cap has been reached. During the peak of the US economic recession, it took 6 months or longer for the cap to be filled. In fiscal year 2012, the cap was reached in November 2011 and last year for fiscal year 2013 it was reached in June 2012.

This year, USCIS predicts that the cap will be reached by April 5! This is good news for the US economy, showing that employers are more interested and willing to higher foreign workers with confidence in the lasting power of their positions. It is bad news however, for many applications that will not be able to get an H1-B visa this year.

There are many changes on the table for the H1-B program now that comprehensive immigration reform has been tasked to Congress. Maybe next year, there will be more H1-B visas available to all the qualified applicants. Stay tuned and good luck to all the applicants!

 

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Scam Alert- A Warning to all International Students!

March 7th, 2013 · No Comments · ALERT

 

How would you feel if you received a call from someone claiming to be from the US government and they threatened to deport you? You would be scared and that is completely understandable!

But beware, it could just be a scam.

There have been reports of international students receiving phone calls on their personal cell phones from someone claiming to be from Department of Homeland Security. This caller somehow has the student’s I-94 number and passport information and engages the student in a long course of questions and intimidation, and threatens that the student will be immediately deported if they hang up the phone. Finally, the caller offers to leave the student alone for a fee and convinces the student to wire $800 via Western Union.

Sounds scary right? It is a scam. The scammer uses the threat of deportation to scare the student and scam money out of them. The student doesn’t want to get into trouble and doesn’t think they have the right to ask questions. But, international students DO have the right to ask people claiming to be authority figures to provide proof of their identity!

What should you do if you receive a call like this? You should:

1. Stay calm! Remember that would be strange for you to be contacted directly by phone by any government agency.

2. Ask what the call is about.

3. Politely request for the agent’s information. You should write down the agency, agent’s first and last name and any ID number they can provide. Also request their direct phone number so that you may call them back once you have consulted with an Advisor. If they do not want to give you information, it is probably a scam. Don’t believe their threats.

4. Hang up and contact an International Student Services Advisor immediately with any information you have. ISSS will help you investigate the reason for the call and put you in contact with assistance and the police  if it turns out to be a fraudulent call.

Remember- you have RIGHTS! Don’t let a scammer threaten you or take your money. Contact ISSS if you receive any strange phone calls.

You can find more information about your rights when encountering law enforcement officials at the ACLU’s informative website: http://www.aclu.org/national-security/know-your-rights-when-encountering-law-enforcement

 

 

 

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STEM INTERNSHIP EXPO- FEBRUARY 21!

February 14th, 2013 · No Comments · Uncategorized

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Life After OPT

February 5th, 2013 · No Comments · ISSS news

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It’s Tax Time Again!

January 29th, 2013 · 2 Comments · ISSS news

 

Did you know that as an international student, you are still responsible for filing a yearly tax return? It’s true! Even students who did not work or receive any taxable income must still file paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

For students who didn’t work in the year 2012, the form you are responsible for is called the 8843 and it is very simple to complete. This one page form collects basic information such as your name, address, visa type, amount of time spent in the United States in the last five years and the school that is responsible for your visa (that’s UMass Boston!). ISSS has made it even easier by posting an easy guide on our website for download. You can access it here:

http://cdn.umb.edu/images/oita/Taxes8843.pdf

Many students ask, “What will happen if I don’t file an 8843?”. If you apply for a green card in your future, you will be asked to show that you have followed all IRS regulations during your time in the US, including filing 8843 forms each year you were present. If you have plans or even just a thought about staying in the US later in your life, it is an easy step to take.

If you have any questions about the 8843, please email isss@umb.edu. 

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The INT hold- explained!

January 28th, 2013 · No Comments · ISSS news, ISSS policy

Today is the first day of class here at UMass Boston. If you are a new International Student, you might be dismayed to find a “hold” on your account that is preventing you from signing up for courses. This hold is called the “INT” hold, standing for “International”, and it is in place for students who have not yet completed the immigration clearance requirement. As a visa student at UMass Boston, you are required to check-in with the International Student and Scholar Services office upon arrival and provide us with photo copies of all of your immigration documents. Once we have received your documents, we will remove the INT hold on your account.

There is another hold that many students find confusing. The “VIS” hold is not a negative hold but simply means that the student cannot make changes to their international permanent address. The VIS hold will not prevent you from signing up for or making changes to your course schedule.

 

If you find that you have an INT hold on your account- please make copies of the following documents and bring them to the front desk of International Students and Scholar Services for immigration clearance. You are responsible for making your own photo copies.

  • Your passport
  • Your SIGNED I-20
  • Your I-94 card (front AND back)
  • Your visa stamp

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Welcome Back!

January 18th, 2013 · No Comments · ISSS news

As the new, Spring 2013 semester quickly approaches, here are a few reminders about being a visa student at UMass Boston and in the United States.

1. ALWAYS be a full time student. Do not drop below 12 credits if you are an undergrad student or under 9 credits if you are a graduate student. Even taking a W later in the semester that drops you below the full course load will cause a problem for your visa. Keep this in mind and if you are ever unsure about your credit load, ask ISSS and we will be happy to help you.

2. Always report a change in your personal or program information. If you change your name, address, major or expected graduation date, please tell us!

3. If you are traveling abroad, make sure you ask for a travel signature well in advance of your travel. It takes 5 days to process any request, including request for travel signatures.

 

ISSS wishes you a happy and successful spring semester!

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Saudi Student Population on the Rise in ESL Programs- USA TODAY

January 16th, 2013 · No Comments · Admissions, International News

According to USA Today, US colleges and universities are experiencing an influx of students from Saudi Arabia to study English as a Second Language in the US. In 2006 there were 11,116 Saudi students enrolled in school in the US. Last year that number rose to 71,026. That is an increase of nearly 60,000 students in only 7 years!

There are many benefits for universities, including recruitment through conditional admission as a degree seeking student when a student completes the ESL program as well as increasing diversity and internationalization of their campuses. At the same time, the Saudi students benefit not only from a comprehensive scholarship and a five year visa to the US but also by gaining intercultural experience and learning about American culture and life.

 Until he arrived on campus, “I thought all (Americans) had guns,” says Abdullah Khalid Maghrabi, 19. He stayed indoors for a week before he thought it was safe to go outside. Now, he says, weather is a more pressing concern. “I don’t know what to wear every morning. In my country, all the seasons are the same — it’s hot.”

UMass Boston hosts over 100 Saudi students in our programs.

 

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