INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND SCHOLAR SERVICES
November 2021 Newsletter
Thanksgiving Break
GSU campuses, post offices, banks, and government offices will be closed on Thursday, November 25 for Thanksgiving Holiday in the U.S. The university will also be closed on Friday, November 26.
ISSS will not be processing any e-forms, answering phones, or checking emails until Monday, November 29 at 8:30am. In case of emergency, please call GSU Police at 404-413-3333.
Spring Registration Now Open
Next semester's registration is open from October 25 to January 9.
For spring 2022, the learning modes are still Face to Face, Blended, and Online. However, there will be more structured requirements with respect to the in-person, on-campus requirements in the blended courses. Faculty teaching blended courses will have regular in-person, on-campus meetings and will expect attendance in those sessions unless you are sick or have another legitimate excuse. Faculty will not permanently excuse a student from the in-person attendance requirement of a blended course unless the student has secured this accommodation formally through Georgia State’s Office of Access and Accommodation.
Be sure to check PAWS for your registration day and time.
For more information >> https://registrar.gsu.edu/registration/
Georgia State University celebrates the 22nd year anniversary of International Education Week (IEW) from November 8 to November 12, 2021
As a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education, the week celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange. Colleges, universities, high schools, and organizations are encouraged to host events that celebrate global education and foster cross-cultural understanding. International Education Week is now celebrated in more than 100 countries (and counting)!
Choose from a variety of virtual and in-person signature events to attend.
ALL EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE STAY TUNED HERE FOR THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION.
Follow #GSUIEW2021 and #IEW2021 to join the conversation. Post your favorite IEW moments, show off your culture and share why you support diversity.
Spring 2022 V.I.S.A. Leader Application Now Open!
VISA (Volunteer International Student Assistant) Leaders are needed for Spring term 2022! Do you need leadership experience for your resume? Are you looking to make new friends and help new international students at Georgia State? Then being a VISA Leader is the experience for you! VISA Leaders are paid and must be available approximately 7 to 8 partial days.
If you are interested in applying, please visit ISSS website or contact isss@gsu.edu. Online applications are due by Friday, November 12, 2021 at 5 p.m.
Vaccine Requirement
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a new Order for all air passengers traveling to the United States. Effective November 8, 2021, all non-immigrant, non-citizen air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the United States.
Exceptions to this policy will be extremely limited:
children under 18
people medically unable to receive the vaccine
emergency travelers who do not have timely access to a vaccine
Please visit and review the U.S. Department of State’s FAQs for answers to your questions regarding proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all air passengers arriving in the United States.
It is recommended that you do not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated. If you are not vaccinated and wish to receive a vaccination, you may schedule a vaccination appointment with the GSU Vaccine Clinic. https://covidinfo.gsu.edu/covid-19-resources/covid-19-vaccine/
If you are currently overseas and planning to return to the United States, you should contact your airline for specific information about requirements for travelers.
Spring Health Insurance
The waiver period for Spring Semester 2022 will open on December 2, 2021, and close on January 21, 2022.
The coverage will begin on
January 1, 2022, and end on July 31, 2022.
If your waiver request is denied and you wish to submit an appeal, you must submit your waiver appeal to United Healthcare Student Resources at: Waiververification@UHCSR.com.
All correspondence must include the University/School Name, Student’s Name, and Student’s Panther ID. Please provide your confirmation of coverage (COC) from your insurance provider that confirms your dates of coverage and specifies the benefits that meet the school’s requirements
For more info click here
Enrollment Requirements for F1/J1 students
Undergraduate Students = 12 hours in Fall and Spring
Graduate Students = 9 hours in Fall and Spring
All Students = limited to 1 online course per semester.
Travel Signature Reminder
Remember to have your form I-20 or DS-2019 signed before you depart the U.S over break if your current travel endorsement is more than 6 months old. Your I-20 will be digitally endorsed and emailed to your GSU student email. Note also that there are still international travel restrictions in place.
For details on this requirement and request process,
For J-1 students please click >> here.
For F-1 students please click >> here.
Tip: Don’t wait until the last minute!
All requests in iStart take 3-5 days to process.
Remember to Apply to Graduate
DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR GRADUATION SPRING 2022:
DECEMBER 5, 2021
All degree candidates will be invited to apply for graduation once the Office of Graduation Review, in conjunction with the candidates’ college, has deemed them eligible. Eligibility is based on program completion percentage, earned hours within the program, and institutional grade point average (GPA). For more information click here.
Note: GPA requirements for degree conferral are based on program requirements and University minimums of 2.0 for undergraduate students, 3.0 for graduate students, and 2.2 for Law students.
Students graduating in December could qualify for Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Post-Completion OPT is a benefit approved by the government which allows you to work within your field of study for up to 12 months after you have completed your program.
Students will need to apply for this benefit with USCIS, and the processing time for OPT applications has been extended to 3-7 months. If you are interested in working after graduation, we recommend you apply for OPT as soon as possible!
The earliest date that fall 2021 graduates can apply for OPT is September 15th.
The OPT application timeline is as follows. Credit: George Mason University International Programs and Services
For more information on OPT and the application process, visit our website here.
Curricular Practical Training (“CPT”) is a temporary off-campus employment authorization for F1 visa students. Curricular means the work must be required or related to a course in the student’s major program of study, and the student must receive academic credits for the work.
Eligibility
Full time enrollment for at least one academic year (Fall + Spring) prior to authorization at GSU or at another SEVIS approved institution unless your internship experience is required (and clearly stated in the Academic Catalog) to complete your program.
Active F-1 status
Good academic standing with the school
Completion of a CPT workshop in ISSS no later than the 1st week of the current semester
Availability of an existing course in the student’s major or program of study to support CPT authorization by the student’s academic department or supervising faculty member.
IEP students are not eligible
Spring 2022 Applications are open from Monday, October 25th until Friday, January 14th , 2022 by 5pm*
* New CPT applications must be complete and approved by the secondary approver, only pending ISSS review by the deadline each term to be processed. Regardless, applications submitted at the last minute are still subject to the normal 3-5 day processing time. You may not be able to begin work on Monday even if you submit a completed CPT application by the Friday deadline.
For more information click >>HERE<<
International
Coffee & Tea Hour
Wednesday, November 10, 1:00-2:15 pm
Dahlberg Hall, OII Conference Room 305
Sample unique teas and coffees from all over the world while enjoying conversation, music, and pastries.
You can sign up here
Culture Café at the Intersection
Monday, November 15
10:00 am- 12:00 pm
Student Center East, 210 (2nd floor lounge "The Intersection")
Join the Cultural Café for free coffee, cocoa or tea, coupled with conversations about cultures, communities, and inclusion. Connect with others around identity, intersectionality and intercultural engagement. Bring a friend for a chance to win giveaways and prizes!
Click here to RSVP
International Thanksgiving Feast
Join ISSS and ISAC for the 16th Annual International Thanksgiving Feast at the Rialto Center. This is an annual Thanksgiving event open to all GSU international students and scholars. Free Thanksgiving lunch will be provided. Make your reservation today because seating is limited!
Thursday, November 18
12:00 pm-1:15 pm
Rialto Center Lobby
80 Forsyth St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
RSVP via PIN
https://pin.gsu.edu/event/7306366
GSU vs. Arkansas State GSU vs. Troy
When: Saturday, November 20 When: Saturday, November 27
Where: Center Parc Stadium Where: Center Parc Stadium
Where: Center Parc Stadium Where: Center Parc Stadium
The link to redeem your free ticket is >> here <<
AMIS invites all international students and scholars in greater Atlanta to join our programs and events to introduce you to our city and connect you to local American friends!
During your time in Atlanta, wouldn't it be nice to have a local American friend who could welcome you and help you navigate life in America? Sign up for the Amigo Friendship Program and you will be matched with an Atlanta family or individual for friendship and sharing of cultures.
You can fill out the Friendship form here and check out AMIS for more opportunities here.
Thanksgiving Dinner
For Thanksgiving this year, AMIS will celebrate Thanksgiving outdoors at WCF on Georgia Tech's campus where international students and friends of AMIS can gather socially distanced to share a fresh, pre-plated traditional Thanksgiving meal by Chef Calvin from EDC Kitchen! Meals will include herb roasted/smoked turkey breast, roasted acorn squash, cornbread dressing, garlic roasted green beans, cranberry sauce, dinner roll, and a cookie for dessert. A vegetarian option is available. This year, Thanksgiving is on Saturday, November 20.
Time: Nov 20, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: WCF at Georgia Tech, 724 Techwood Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA
Please note: GSU is not affiliated with AMIS or this program. The information is provided only as a service.
BEAWARE OF SCAMMERS!
Some GSU international students have been called by individuals posing as ICE agents. Students have reported that the caller demands an immigration bond fee. If the student does not provide money, the caller threatens deportation, arrest, and/or an issue with his or her immigration record. A legitimate ICE agent would never request money over the phone.
Please note, even if the number appears to be from within the United States, it could be an international caller. Any money transferred outside the U.S. may not be recoverable.
If you are unsure if the request is legitimate, please call or email ISSS to verify. We encourage anyone who has received a spam call to report it to the GSU Police immediately.
Our Pantry locations distribute food, hygiene, and additional products to students to alleviate stress associated with short-term food insecurity in order to effectively reduce hunger and support educational success.
What We Offer: Due to Covid-19 safety precautions, all Panther’s Pantry locations have moved to a bag system. Goods will vary based on inventory. We offer standard food bags, vegetarian food bags, hygiene bags with female products, and hygiene bags with male products.
Who Can Shop: Students, faculty, and staff can pick up a food bag and a hygiene bag once per week.
We are looking forward to serving you at Panther’s Pantry!
Follow them on social media: @pantherspantry
Please visit the website HERE for campus locations and hours of operation.
Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get updates regarding ISSS events, policies, and other important information.
Instagram
@GSUISSS
Facebook
@gsu.edu.isss
ISSS is committed to serving you in the safest possible manner as we resume on-campus operations. To prioritize your health and safety, here is some important information about how we will serve you.
Advising Options
Phone Advising
In Person Walk-in Advising
Virtual Appointments
Advising Hours
Monday, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Noon)
Wednesday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Thursday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Call: 404-413-2070
Email: isss@gsu.edu
Visit Website: isss.gsu.edu