International Students

Upcoming OISA Virtual Programs for International Students

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CPT, OPT and Employment Related Q&A with OISA

Thursday, April 9, 12:15-1:15 p.m. Eastern Time
Zoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/429235923

Many things have changed since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, including the employment opportunities in the United States for F-1 visa holders. Come to this virtual session and ask all your questions about Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during Summer 2020, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation. Learn the latest USCIS updates about employment policies and the recommended best practices.

Due to the open and online nature of this space, the session is not private nor confidential. If you have private legal questions about your immigration status/employment situation, please email oisa@wesleyan.edu for a one-on-one session.

Friday Lunch Chat for International Students

Friday, April 10, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Zoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/172596759

This is a drop-in online community space for Wesleyan international students who are on campus. International students who are located elsewhere are welcome to join (although it may not be lunch time for you).

Come eat with one another, just like the old days at Usdan, except that this is a virtual session! Enjoy an informal and social lunch with the international community at Wes. Don’t eat alone, come sit with us, chat, laugh and connect!

Alone Together: Coping with Boredom, Isolation, and Stress for International Students

Wednesday, April 15, 12:15-1:15 p.m. Eastern Time
Zoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/405814599

 Join the Office of International Student Affairs staff and members of the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) for a space to share and connect! We will talk about what matters most to you at the moment — whether it is homesickness, immigration/visa concerns, isolation, stress or others. This is a space to honor your feelings, enjoy one another’s company and share helpful tips for maintaining physical and emotional health if you are up for it. The first half of the session will be facilitated by a professional staff. Members of ISAB will host the second half of the session for authentic student-to-student connections.

Due to the open and online nature of this space, the session is not private nor confidential, though participants are encouraged to be respectful and mindful of each other and to practice discretion. For a one-on-one session with an OISA staff, email oisa@wesleyan.edu.

Upcoming Workshops for F-1 Visa Holders

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Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Workshop 

Thursday, January 30, 5:00-6:00 p.m. @ Gorden Career Center
Monday, February 17, 12:15-1:15 p.m. @ Gorden Career Center
Wednesday, February 26, 12:15-1:15 p.m. @ Gorden Career Center
Wednesday, March 25, 5:00-6:00 p.m. @ Gorden Career Center
The four sessions are exactly the same. You only need to attend one. Each session is limited to 20 students. First come, first served. Registration not required.
Intended Audience: Classes of 2022 and 2021 F-1 visa holders who intend to work off-campus in the United States during Summer 2020

Session Description: In this workshop, you will learn: 1) CPT eligibility, 2) a step-by-step guide to registering for CSLP 493, and 3) information about maintain your F-1 status while working in the summer.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Workshop 

Thursday, February 6, 5:00-6:00 p.m. @ Gorden Career Center
Monday, March 2, 12:15-1:15 p.m. @ Gorden Career Center
The two sessions are exactly the same. You only need to attend one. Each session is limited to 15 students. First come, first served. Registration not required.

Intended Audience: Classes of 2020 and 2021 F-1 visa holders who wish to work in the United States after graduation

Session Description: This workshop will cover: 1) OPT eligibility, 2) a step-by-step guide to complete the I-765 form, and 3) information about maintaining your F-1 visa status while on OPT.  Please bring: 1) your current and all previous I-20s, 2) your passport, 3) your F-1 visa page (if on a different passport), 4) your most recent I-94, 5) your Social Security Card (if you have one), and a pen with black ink (required by U.S. government).

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Q&A 

Wednesday, February 12, 5:00-6:00 p.m. @ Gorden Career Center
Monday, February 24, 5:00-6:00 p.m. @ Gorden Career Center
Wednesday, April 1, 12:15-1:15 p.m. @ Gorden Career Center
The three sessions are exactly the same. You only need to attend one. Each session is limited to 20 students. First come, first served. Registration not required.

Intended Audience: Classes of 2020 and 2021 F-1 visa holders wish to work in the United States after graduation

Session Description: This is a workshop for students who already attended the OPT workshop and still have questions about the application process. In this session, OISA staff members will answer frequently asked questions such as planning your OPT start date, traveling internationally while waiting for OPT approval and more! Bring your questions to the session.

Life After Wes: Managing your Immigration Status after Graduation

Tuesday, March 3, 5:00-6:00 p.m. @ Gorden Career Center
Monday, April, 6, 12:15-1:15 p.m. @ Gorden Career Center
The two sessions are exactly the same. You only need to attend one. Each session is limited to 30 students.Registration on Handshake is required.
Intended Audience: Class of 2020 F-1 visa holders who have plans to attend graduate school in the United States in the future (including after OPT) or depart the U.S. after graduation.

Session Description: This workshop will cover all different scenarios for F-1 visa holders to understand how to manage their immigration status after they graduate from Wesleyan. We will cover: 1) grace period for staying in the United States after graduation without applying for OPT, 2) deadlines for OPT applications, 3) transferring your SEVIS record to a graduate school and 4) answer additional questions you may have.

OPT STEM Extension Info Session 

Thursday, April 9, 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 14, 12:15-1:15 p.m.

The two sessions are exactly the same. You only need to attend one. Each session is limited to 20 students. First come, first served. Registration not required.

Intended Audience: Classes of 2020 and 2021 F-1 visa holders whose major is one of the following: archaeology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, college of integrative science, computer science, earth and environmental sciences, economics, environmental studies, mathematics, molecular biology & biochemistry, neuroscience & behavior, physics and wish to continue working in the United States after their one-year OPT.

Session Description: This session is for students who would like to learn more about OPT STEM extension (an additional 24 months of OPT). We will cover OPT-STEM extension eligibility, the application timeline and other essential information about OPT-STEM extension.

What Does It Mean to be Chinese in U.S. Colleges Today? Story, Conversation, Reflection

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4:30 PM, Tuesday Nov 12
Fries Center for Global Studies Commons, FISK 201 

A forum featuring the diverse, complex, and evolving stories of Chinese-identifying students and faculty, be they be born in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, or New York City, and a safe and intimate space where everyone, regardless of identity, can feel comfortable to share their own and engage with others’ perspectives. Stories will be read anonymously by student volunteers, followed by a discussion moderated by Professor Yu-ting Huang (Assistant Professor of East Asian Studies)

Whether it is the U.S.- China trade war, the Huawei controversy, the Anti-Extradition protests in Hong Kong, or the growing Sino-phobic sentiments in academia and the public sphere, 2019 has not been an easy year to be Chinese in America. Chinese students, faculty, and staff at Wesleyan encounter these challenges in various ways. However, caught between the nationalist propaganda of the CCP and the overly simplistic narrative of Western media, voices from the Chinese community have been largely left out. Often seen as a homogenous, organic whole, the “Chinese identity” entails much complexity on political, cultural, and personal levels that are worthy to be explored, discussed, and understood.

This is why we from the Chinese community at Wesleyan want to make ourselves heard. We want to speak up in order to offer authentic, diverse and nuanced views about our connection and struggle with our Chinese identity, to foster a better mutual understanding with the rest of campus, and to explore common ground on which constructive and respectful conversations can be possible in the future.

There will be no photos, videos, or recording at the event.

Sponsored by the College of East Asian Studies and Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life.

Fore more information, please contact:
Mary Alice Haddad

Chair, College of East Asian Studies
Professor of Government, East Asian Studies, and Environmental Studies

End-of-Semester Checklist for International Students

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Here is an end-of-semester checklist for international students:

  • Check your I-20 to see if you need a new travel signature: Check the bottom of page 2 of your I-20, if you don’t have a signature there, you need to get one. If you do have a signature, the date on it must be less than 12 months old from the date on which you will return to the U.S..
  • Check your I-20 for your program end date: Check page 1 of your I-20 where it says “program of study” and make sure that your program end date corresponds with your projected degree completion date at Wesleyan.
  • Check your passport expiration date: Your passport must be valid for at least six months past the date you plan to return to the U.S.. Make plans to renew your passport if you need a new one.
  • Check your F-1 visa expiration date: Your F-1 visa (attached in your passport) must be valid for at least 2 days past the date you plan to return to the U.S.. If you need a new F-1 visa, contact the U.S. consulate in your passport country. Check the visa appointment wait time and plan ahead.
  • Make summer storage arrangements: Wesleyan does not provide on campus storage to students. However, you can find a list of commercial storage facilities to support your summer storage needs.
  • Find a travel buddy to share the cost to the airport: Use the May 2019 Airport Rideshare Spreadsheet to find someone if you need a travel buddy.

Please note that all summer off-campus employment in the U.S. requires a prior work authorization.

If you need to adjust your program end date, get a new travel signature or have questions about off-campus employment during the summer, please email oisa@wesleyan.edu to schedule an appointment.

Two Upcoming Events for International Students

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Wesleyan Word of Wisdom Party
March 6, 6-7 pm @ Fries Center for Global Studies

Is there information you wish you had known when you were a first-year international student? Do you have any advice for incoming international students or your peers? The Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) is launching Wesleyan Words of Wisdom for current international students to give a 1-2 pieces of advice to new international students. Come share your advice, enjoy free food, and have your profile photo taken. Your photo, country flag(s), and advice will be featured on the digital signage at Fries Center for Global Studies and the OISA Facebook page.

Tax Workshop for International Students
March 27 and 28 from 4-6 pm @ Exley Science Center Room 150

Please bring your laptops, immigration documents (Visa, Passport, I-20, DS-2019) and any tax forms (W-2, W2-c and 1042-s) to the session. The same content will be covered twice on the 27th and the 28th of March. Choose one day that works the best for your schedule.