Internatioal Student & scholar services Office

January 2020 Newsletter

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT REQUIRED: Undergraduate - 12 credit hours. Only 1 online course (3 credit hours) per semester count toward full-time enrollment. No exceptions without approved RCL. See below. Deadline for enrollment changes is January 17^th, 5pm.

REDUCED COURSE LOAD (RCL): If this is your final semester, or you have a valid medical reason to be under-enrolled, the deadline to request an RCL via iStart is: January 17^th, 5pm.

FEE PAYMENT DEADLINE: The payment deadline for tuition and fees is January 21st, 5pm for registration completed by Jan 8th. After this date, your enrollment will be automatically dropped if not paid in full.

Students who register during Late Registration, Jan. 13 -17, will incur a $50 late registration fee.

IN CASE OF LATE PAYMENT OR COURSE DROP: You can go through the “Registration Adjustment” process to attempt to get back into classes once all tuition and fees are paid. Visit the Enrollment Services Center, or visit each faculty member individually and request this process. The process takes 3-4 days but does not stop the SEVIS reporting deadline. Failure to complete registration adjustment by the SEVIS deadline of February 7, 2020 will result in termination of status. (SEVIS reporting is done by ISSS.)

ISSS WALK-IN ADVISING HOURS: Need immigration advising? Meet with your ISSS advisor during Walk-In Advising (no appointment necessary):

Monday - Wednesday from 9 to 11:30 am and Monday – Friday from 1:30 to 4 pm.

Deadline: Spring 2020 Health Insurance Enrollment & Waiver

If you have adequate health and accident insurance from your country or another qualified provider, and you wish to waive the GSU insurance for Spring & Summer semester 2020, the waiver request period is open December 4, 2019 ‐ January 21, 2020. Spring/Summer coverage begins January 1, 2020 and ends July 31, 2020.

Note: Insurance Waivers are not granted automatically, and you must renew your waiver each semester.

For more information about waiving SHIP, please click HERE.
Perimeter College students may purchase PGH Global Health Insurance to waive SHIP
PGH Global meets minimum insurance coverage requirements.
If you will keep your GSU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), you must activate your SHIP coverage by the January 21, 2020 deadline.

CAMPUS CLOSED FOR NATIONAL HOLIDAY

Georgia State University will be closed: Monday, January 20th in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. There will be no access to campus facilities, offices, or services. Click HERE for more information on the legacy of MLK Jr.

You may notice streets and buildings in Atlanta named after him.
Atlanta hosts one of the biggest MLK Day Parades in the country
The MLK National Historic Park is just 1 mile from GSU. Just take the Streetcar to the MLK stop.

2019 Tax Information: Coming Up in Early 2020

ISSS will provide more info about filing your U.S. Federal and State of Georgia Tax Returns in February 2020. The tax‐filing deadline is April 15, 2020. What you need to know now is:

DO NOT BUY Tax Prep Software: like TurboTax, H&R Block or any others!

Those products were NOT designed for “Non‐Resident Alien” Tax forms

ISSS will provide free access to special software called “Sprintax” around early March to assist you with your Federal Return.

International Coffee Hour

Valentine Day Around the world

Join us to learn how love is celebrated in different countries and cultures around the world. Light refreshments will be served.

Clarkston Campus

Tuesday, February 11, 2020 | 12 - 1 p.m. | CN 2220

Dunwoody Campus

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 | 12 - 1 p.m. | NB 1601/1602

Hosted by the International Peer (IPA) Program. For more information, call 678-891-3235.

Optional Practical TraininG (OPT)

Post Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit that allows temporary employment directly related to an F-1 student's major area of study upon program completion. OPT at the Associate degree level is for a period of 12 months maximum. For more information about OPT and to access the on-line OPT Workshop, go to https://isss.gsu.edu/current-students/employment-authorization/f-1-practical-training/optional-practical-training-opt/.

Students graduating at the end of spring 2020 who are interested in applying for OPT should first complete the on-line OPT workshop. The next step is to visit the ISSS office during Walk–in Advising hours or to schedule an OPT appointment to review the application process. For an OPT appointment, please call:

Clarkston Campus 678-891-3235
Dunwoody Campus 770-274-5570

ISSS WALK-IN ADVISING HOURS: Monday - Wednesday from 9 to 11:30 am and Monday – Friday from 1:30 to 4 pm

The earliest date that spring 2020 graduates can apply for OPT is February 5, 2020.

Please follow us on Facebook to get updates regarding ISSS events, policies, and other important information. Like our page at https://www.facebook.com/PerimeterCollegeISSS

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