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Editor’s Note: The ISSS Newsletter is distributed monthly. Between monthly newsletters, please follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram to learn more about programs, events, and updates.

Contents:

1. 1. 1. Reminder of ISSS Availability

      2. Next International Coffee Hour: Wednesday, December 4 at 3:00pm

      3. Winter Break and Travel Information Reminders

      4. Extension of Stay

      5. International Health Insurance Team is Now Accepting Insurance Fee Waiver Requests

      6. Winter Break Housing

      7. Leadership Volunteers needed for Spring 2025 International Student Orientation

      8. Become a Digital Ambassador

1. Reminder of ISSS Availability

Advising Hours:

The office of International Student and Scholar Services holds advising hours on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00am to 11:45am and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.  Please visit the ISSS website for updates.

Special Notices:

The ISSS will be unavailable on Friday, December 6 from 11:00am to 4:30pm. Please visit the ISSS website for updates.

2. Next International Coffee Hour: Wednesday, December 4 at 3:00pm

Good company! Complimentary refreshments! Come relax at our , 3:00 - 4:30pm on Wednesday, December 4 in the Old Champlain Atrium (Old Champlain, Room 133). December’s Coffee Hour sponsor is the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the sponsor while mingling with both international and domestic students. There will be games, interactive activities, winter crafts, and complimentary coffee and snacks! 

We will also be celebrating our fall 2024 graduating students!

If you have any questions about International Coffee Hour, contact isss@binghamton.edu. All are welcome!

3. Winter Break and Travel Information Reminders

The ISSS Office recommends that you continue to use caution when planning travel outside the United States. Travel restrictions have the potential to affect your ability to return to the United States. If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside of the U.S. for an indefinite amount of time.

If you choose to travel outside the United States:

• • • Ensure that you have all of the required documents to return to the U.S. Review the detailed instructions on our travel page for more information.
    • If the signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 will be more than 12 months old (6 months for students on OPT or STEM OPT) when you return to the U.S., you should visit the ISSS office for an updated signature before you leave. If you are not able to visit the office in person, or if you do not have your most recent I-20 or DS-2019, you can with an updated signature online.
    • Plan to return to ������������ BEFORE the start of the spring semester on January 21, 2025.

If you have any questions regarding travel, please email isss@binghamton.edu.

4. Extension of Stay

If your I-20 or DS-2019 is ending this semester but you will need additional time to complete your degree, you must apply for an extension at least 30 days before your I-20 or DS-2019 will expire. You can review the requirements for an I-20 or DS-2019 extension on the ISSS website. If you have questions about the extension process, you should speak with an ISSS advisor during advising hours or email intlext@binghamton.edu.

5. International Health Insurance Team is Now Accepting Insurance Fee Waiver Requests

The International Health Insurance Team is now accepting requests from those who believe they meet the requirements for an international health insurance fee waiver for the Spring 2025 semester. In order to qualify for a waiver of the fee you must:

• • • Meet ALL of the requirements found here.
    • Upload documents as instructed here.
    • Your policy submission must indicate the services that are NOT paid for under the policy, found in the “Exclusions and Limitations” section of the policy, plus the deductible charged to you.

RAs/TAs/GAs with health insurance (NYSHIP or Empire Blue) will no longer be automatically waived from the standard SUNY International student insurance policy, as was the case in previous semesters. Any student who wishes to file an application for a spring 2025 semester waiver from the standard international student health insurance plan will need to complete an international health insurance waiver e-form. You will be notified if your waiver is approved and your charges will be adjusted accordingly.

Please note that a submission does not guarantee approval. A full review of your policy must be conducted to ensure compliance. Approved waivers are valid for one semester only. Students must submit a health insurance waiver request every semester. The deadline for submission of a waiver request for the spring 2025 semester is February 15, 2025. No exceptions are granted.

6. Winter Break Housing

The ������������ residence halls will close for winter semester break at 10:00am Saturday, December 14 and reopen at 9:00am on Sunday, January 19, 2025.

Students (including those in the Apartments) who need to remain on campus for any portion of the winter break must apply to do so by submitting the Winter Break Housing application, which is available on the . Students must submit this form by noon on December 13, or they will not have access to their residence hall during break.

More information can be found on the Residential Life website. If you have any questions about break housing, please email reslife@binghamton.edu. 

7. Leadership Volunteers needed for Spring 2025 International Student Orientation

Are you interested in helping new international students during Orientation and adding leadership and cross-culture training experience to your resume? Then register to be a Leadership Volunteer! The ISSS is currently recruiting Leadership Volunteers for the Spring 2025 International Student Orientation! All international and domestic students are welcome! Leadership Volunteers are a select group of current ������������ University students who join ISSS staff to welcome new international students during orientation.

Spring 2025 Leadership Volunteers commit to assisting the ISSS during our one-day, in-person orientation on Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 8:00am to 6:00pm. 

A brief LV Training will take place on Wednesday, January 15 from approximately 12:00-4:00pm.

If you would like to volunteer, please complete by Friday, December 13 at 11:59pm. If you have any questions please email isss@binghamton.edu. 

8. Become a Digital Ambassador

Undergraduate Admissions is currently recruiting more undergraduate students to become Digital Ambassadors. Unibuddy is a platform where prospective students can message current undergraduate students for insight into what it is like to attend ������������ University. This volunteer opportunity gives students the flexibility to work from their phones and around their class schedules. Digital Ambassadors answer questions for prospective students and volunteer at campus events, such as open houses. Any undergraduate student who has completed at least one semester at ������������ and is passionate about their positive experience as a ������������ student is encouraged to apply!

As a Digital Ambassador, students develop: 

• • • Self-management skills through flexible volunteer hours
    • Emotional intelligence as they message with students of various backgrounds during a formative time in their lives
    • Strong communication skills
    • An awesome network of staff and students
    • Build your resume with an amazing volunteer opportunity!

Please complete if you are a current undergraduate student that is interested in becoming a Digital Ambassador.

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