ISSSNews is a weekly e-newsletter sponsored by International Student & Scholar Services with the purpose of communicating news and updates on immigration regulations, opportunities and events of interest to the international UMD community. | |
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USCIS Announces Inflation Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees
Considering filing for premium processing for an OPT application? U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced a final rule that will increase the filing fee for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, to adjust for inflation. The fee change will go into effect on Feb. 26, 2024. If USCIS receives a Form I-907 postmarked on or after Feb. 26, 2024 with the incorrect filing fee, USCIS will reject the Form I-907 and return the filing fee. The new filing fee to request premium processing for Form I-765 will be $1,685.
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Attention F-1 Students: Full-Time Enrollment
All students must enroll in at least 12 credits as an undergraduate and 48 units if you are a graduate student to maintain status.
IMPORTANT: F1/J1 students must enroll in face to face or hybrid delivery. Only one online course can be counted toward full time enrollment. For more information, please review our Maintaining Status webpage.
If this is your final semester, and you require less than full-time enrollment to complete your program, you may pursue part-time authorization. This can be completed in iTerp. Note that if you want to pursue CPT and are enrolled less than full time, the part-time authorization request in iTerp must be completed by you and your advisor before we can authorize. Please complete your request as soon as possible.
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Are You a New Student?
If you are newly arrived to UMD, please ensure that you:
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Register for your classes
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Complete Immigration Videos & Documents Check in iTerp. Please ensure you complete Documents Check! This is required to activate your SEVIS Record. This must be completed so that we can activate your SEVIS record, so don't delay!
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Who Can Apply for a Social Security Number (SSN)?
Social Security numbers are issued for tax purposes only. They are used to identify you within the government’s tax and pension system. Only those with authorized employment are eligible for Social Security numbers.
Visit our ISSS website for detailed information on how to get a Social Security number.
Use the Social Security Office Locator to locate offices in your area to see what offices may have available appointments or walk-ins.
Applying for Social Security requires a government agency to verify your arrival in the U.S. and your immigration status-- you must wait at least 14 days after entering the U.S. to apply for a SSN. In addition, you must wait 3 business days after you receive confirmation that your SEVIS record has been activated. Part of the SEVIS activation process includes completing the mandatory online immigration videos and documents check. Do not apply too early or it will require secondary verification, resulting in longer delays.
You must apply for the SSN in any of these cases:
- You have an offer to be a Graduate Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant
- You get an on-campus job or off-campus paid internship in the future (once you have the offer)
- If you will apply for a Maryland Driver's license and do not have a job, you are required to obtain a letter of ineligibility from the Social Security office
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Road Trip USA: Explore Beyond UMD!
Fri, Feb 9th 1:30-2:30pm
Register
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Join Gagan Singh, a 2009 alumni of UMD who will share tips and stories on exploring the United States. Gagan, his wife and child have visited all 50 states in the past 6 years covering more than 73,000 miles!
Gagan feels being a first generation immigration from India, road tripping around the US has helped him absorb the core of the American way of life. Come listen to his travel stories and get inspired to make your road trip.
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Maryland Global Student Panel
Wed, Feb 14th 2 - 3pm
Register
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Join us for a panel that brings together International Students from across campus so we can elevate their stories to help us create a more inclusive and global campus environment. ISSS will share key information regarding our international student community, followed by a student panel inviting you to interact with international students to learn about their pathways through education, community building, and intercultural engagement at the University of Maryland. | |
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International Coffee Hour
Thur, Feb 1st 2:30 - 3:30pm
H.J. Patterson Global Crossroads Lobby
Register
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International Coffee Hour is a great way to connect with other students/scholars (both domestic and international) and meet UMD staff and faculty while enjoying coffee, tea, and snacks! International Coffee Hour takes place Thursdays from 2:30pm - 3:30pm at various locations around our beautiful campus.
The first coffee hour of the term will be Thursday, February 1st at the HJ Patterson Global Crossroads Lobby. Click here to register for this and future coffee hours.
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International Student Career Series | |
The international student career series is a group of workshops/programs facilitated and curated by professional staff that focus on specific career needs of international students. Mark your calendars! More information on registering to come soon!
Our first installment of the series, Handshake for International Students, is Thursday, February 1st.
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Universitas 21 Global Learning - Student Panel
Thur, Feb 8th 6 - 7pm
More information
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Join us on February 8 at the Universitas 21 Global Learning Student Panel! During this student panel, UMD students will share their experiences participating in three Universitas 21 programs: U21 Sustainable Micro-internships, Global Citizens, and RISE Showcase and Awards.
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Global Learning Initiatives Open House for Faculty & Staff
Thur, Feb 8th 12 - 2pm
More information
| Global Learning Initiatives (GLI) is excited to invite UMD faculty and staff to our Spring Open House on February 8th, from noon - 2PM! An excellent opportunity to gain insight into the many global engagement opportunities GLI offers and connect with instructors and staff while enjoying refreshments and a light lunch. | |
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Registration Open for Talk2Me Spanish Program
More Information
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Interested in practicing Spanish with a native Spanish speaker? Register for the Spring 2024 Talk2Me program, hosted by our international partners at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile), to get paired up with a Chilean student for weekly conversations.
- Program dates: April 2- May 28.
- Register by March 3.
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Applications open for U21 Global Citizens Program
More Information
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A three-week experiential online course designed to help you develop the leadership skills needed to advance your understanding of the most pressing global challenges of our time. Earn a Global Citizens micro-credential upon successful completion.
- Program runs March 10-29.
- Applications open Jan. 29 - Feb. 18.
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Whatever your thing is—sports, theater, community service, beekeeping, or just about anything else you can imagine—you have a SECOND chance to find your thing at the Second Look Fair! | |
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French Cluster Mentor position at the Language House
Are you a native speaker of French? Do you want to work with students and share about your language and culture? The Language House (LH) is looking for a mentor to work with their group of students from the French cluster. This is a position for about 7 hours per week, paid per hour. Language Mentors are native speakers that lead one of our ten language clusters. Mentors foster linguistic and cultural learning and immersion and engage cluster students in their community through various culturally relevant activities.
If interested, contact the LH director, Dr. Matar: mmatar@umd.edu
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Language House Language Chats | |
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Everyone is welcome to come and practice, improve, or maintain language skills in a casual setting with drinks and snacks. Every Monday, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM, we open the doors of St. Mary's Hall, home to the Language House Living-Learning program, to invite members of our campus community who wish to share or practice any language they are learning or have learned.
Regularly available language tables include Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. This spring, we are also introducing ASL!
The Language Chats take place in the Multipurpose room and Lounge on the ground floor of St. Mary's Hall.
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