THURSDAY, 01 OCTOBER 2026

Editor鈥檚 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. ISSS Unavailable October 12

        2. Next International Coffee Hour: Wednesday, October 7

        3. Graduating Students: Last OPT Workshop on Zoom: Wednesday, October 7 at 11:00AM

        4. Upcoming ISSS Programs

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

        6. Leadership Volunteers needed for Spring 2027 International Student Orientation

        7. Are Your US Address and Emergency Contacts Current?

        8. Travel Information Reminders

        9. Be Aware of Scams

        10. Save the Date: International Education Week 2026! 

1. ISSS Unavailable October 12

On Monday, October 12 the ISSS office will be unavailable for Columbus Day. Please visit the ISSS website for additional updates regarding availability.

2. Next International Coffee Hour: Wednesday, October 7

Good company! Complimentary refreshments! Come relax at our , 3:00-4:30pm on Wednesday, October 7, in the Old Champlain Atrium (Old Champlain, Room 133). October鈥檚 Coffee Hour sponsors will be Harpur Academic Advising, Harpur Edge, and Harpur Graduate Affairs. 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, and refreshments! 

If you have any questions about International Coffee Hour, contact Annie Kennedy at akennedy66@binghamton.edu. All are welcome!

3. Graduating Students: Last OPT Workshop on Zoom: Wednesday, October 7 at 11:00AM

If you plan to graduate in December 2026, you can apply for OPT authorization now. The ISSS Office strongly encourages all students graduating in December 2026 to apply for their OPT authorization early because USCIS is currently taking 3-4 months to process OPT applications. The earliest that ISSS can issue OPT I-20s for fall graduates was Monday, September 21.

Graduating Students: How to prepare your Optional Practical Training (OPT) Application

The workshop, How to Prepare Your Optional Practical Training (OPT) Application, is recommended for international students who are graduating in December 2026. 

During this workshop participants will learn how to:

  • Prepare and complete all documents needed to apply to USCIS for OPT authorization
  • Understand the two-step application process
  • Learn how to pick an appropriate OPT start date
  • Learn how potential changes in F-1 regulations could impact your OPT application process

To better prepare for this workshop, review the ISSS OPT page prior to participation. As a courtesy to other participants, please arrive on time. Event dates, times, and location can be found below.

Workshop: How to Prepare Your Optional Practical Training (OPT) Application
Date Time Location
11:00 AM Virtual Workshop on

If you have any questions about this workshop or registration, please email intlwork@binghamton.edu. 

4. Upcoming ISSS Programs

 

Monday, October 19  |   2:30-4:30PM  |  Old Champlain Atrium

Join ISSS for an afternoon of relaxing activities to help you recharge! We will have coloring materials, affirmation cards, healthy snacks, and more! 

Wednesday, October 28  |  1:30-3:30PM  |  Old Champlain Atrium

Join ISSS and IEGI for an afternoon of pumpkin decorating in celebration of the autumn season! We will provide the decorating supplies and small pumpkins. This event is first come, first serve which means that the first 25 people at the event are guaranteed a pumpkin to decorate. Everyone else is also welcome to attend and enjoy other pumpkin-related crafts! We hope you and your friends will join us!

If you have any questions about upcoming ISSS programs , contact Annie Kennedy at akennedy66@binghamton.edu. All are welcome!

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. 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 鈥淓xclusions and Limitations鈥 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 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 is October 15, 2026. No exceptions are granted.

6. Leadership Volunteers needed for Spring 2027 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 2027 International Student Orientation! All international and domestic students are welcome! Leadership Volunteers are a select group of current 91社区 University students who join ISSS staff to welcome new international students during orientation.

Spring 2027 Leadership Volunteers commit to assisting the ISSS during our one-day, in-person orientation on Thursday, January 14, 2027 from 8:00AM to 5:00PM. 

A mandatory brief LV Training will take place on Wednesday, January 13 from approximately 12:00-4:00PM.

If you would like to volunteer, please complete by Friday, December 4. If you have any questions please email Annie Kennedy at akennedy66@binghamton.edu. 

7. Are Your US Address and Emergency Contacts Current?

All international students and scholars are required to report changes of address within 10 days of moving. Please visit the to check the address that ISSS has on file for you and to provide an update if needed. Note: if you live on campus, your address should be automatically updated in the university database. Students who live on campus should email isss@binghamton.edu if the form displays an incorrect address.

If your emergency contact information has changed since your arrival at 91社区 University, please provide an update to ISSS. You can view and update your emergency contact information at any time using the and the .

8. Travel Information Reminders

As you鈥檙e planning for travel for upcoming breaks, here are a few reminders from the ISSS office:

    • F-1 and J-1 students and scholars (and their dependents) should carry a printed copy of their I-94 AND a printed copy of their I-20 or DS-2019 at all times, as documentation of your current status in the U.S.
    • If you have been approved for work authorization by USCIS and were issued an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), you should carry your original EAD card with you at all times. This includes students who are approved for OPT or STEM OPT, as well as individuals with other EAD cards issued by USCIS.
    • All international students and scholars should provide electronic copies of their immigration documents to a trusted family member or emergency contact in case the original documents are lost or stolen. 

Before finalizing any travel plans, be sure to review these additional reminders about travel:

    • Review the ISSS Government Actions page for any recent government updates impacting travel. If your country of citizenship is included on either of the presidential proclamation lists, you should consult with an ISSS advisor before planning any travel.
    • Make sure that you have all of the required documents to return to the US, including a valid passport, a valid F-1 or J-1 visa, and an I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature. 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 US, you should visit the ISSS office for an updated signature before you leave or online. Review the detailed instructions on our Travel page for more information. Students who are on OPT or STEM OPT should review our OPT Travel page.
    • Be aware of anything you have posted on social media or any public statements you have shared. The U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security have indicated that they are using AI to review information that international students and scholars have posted online, and this information may be used in decisions for visa issuance, entry to the U.S., and immigration enforcement.
    • If your passport will be expiring soon, make sure that you start the renewal process as soon as possible. Your passport must always be valid at least 6 months into the future.
    • If your F-1 or J-1 visa has expired, you should use extra caution when traveling. Be sure to schedule your visa appointment and as far in advance as possible. Visa processing times can vary greatly between consulates, and you may be subject to administrative processing or other delays. You should be prepared for the possibility that you may be delayed outside the U.S. for an extended period of time or even indefinitely. Individuals who are applying for visas will likely be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 鈥減ublic.鈥 The Department of State has indicated that they will be conducting a comprehensive and thorough vetting of each applicant鈥檚 online presence, which could include additional online information beyond social media accounts.
    • If you have experienced any interaction with law enforcement, you should consult with an ISSS advisor about the potential risks of travel.
    • Monitor emails from ISSS for any updates related to travel restrictions. It is possible that new travel restrictions or changes to F-1 and J-1 regulations could be enacted while you are outside the U.S. that would prevent you from returning. 

The ISSS Office recommends that you 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, you should ensure that you have back-up plans in place in case you are delayed or are unable to return to the U.S. Please note that entry to the U.S. is always subject to the discretion of Customs and Border Protection, and ISSS cannot guarantee re-entry. If you face difficulty when entering the U.S., you or a CBP officer can contact ISSS during business hours at 607.777.2510. If you are re-entering the U.S. and face difficulty outside of business hours, you or a CBP officer can contact the University Police Department at 607.777.2393.

9. Be Aware of Scams

We have received recent reports of international students who have been targeted by scams:

  • Multiple students have reported receiving an email and/or phone call from someone claiming to work for a US government agency and requiring the student to complete an AR-11 Form to avoid imprisonment or removal from the US. These callers are often aggressive and threatening, and they may demand personal information and payment (gift cards, wire transfers, etc.) to resolve the 鈥渋mmigration鈥 matter. Form AR-11 is not required for F-1 and J-1 international students or scholars.
  • Many scams claim to be representatives from the students' home country or from individuals claiming to be US government agency officials. These callers often tell a student that they have violated the law in their home country or a US immigration law and must now pay a large amount of money to avoid being arrested or deported.
  • Students have received phone calls from what appears to be a 91社区 phone number but the caller then threatens their immigration status.
  • Students have received an email that appears to be from a 91社区 email account indicating an overdue fee and directing students to a self service payment portal. 91社区 will never send out emails with a self service payment portal. For more information about this and other email scams targeting 91社区 students, see the ITS Phish Tank.
  • International students have been targeted by third parties or agents promising to pay tuition on behalf of a student or their family, but the third party then takes the money and does not pay the bill or pays the bill with stolen credit cards. You should only pay tuition and fees using the options on the Student Accounts website, which includes information on international payment options.
  • Students have received emails appearing to be from a 91社区 professor or staff member, asking them to buy gift cards for books or lab equipment.

The US Department of Homeland Security and other US government agencies will NEVER ask you to transfer money to an individual, pay a fee using security vouchers or gift cards, or provide payment over the phone or online. If you receive an email appearing to be from a university faculty or staff member, check with them by phone, in person, or using their 91社区 email to confirm the validity of the message.

Email and phone scams can be very sophisticated. Callers might:

  • Appear to be calling from a US government or 91社区 phone number as scammers can 鈥渃lone鈥 a phone number.
  • Provide fake badge numbers or give a 鈥渃laim number.鈥
  • Tell students not to come to ISSS because they claim that ISSS will terminate their immigration record.

Please know that ISSS and the University Police Department are here to help you. If you receive a call like this, you should hang up immediately and call the ISSS during our . Do not provide any financial or identifying information to the caller. We will review your record to assure you that there are no issues, and we can help you in reporting the scam call if you wish to do so. If you receive a call like this outside of business hours, you should contact the University Police Department. The caller may threaten you or tell you that ISSS or UPD will terminate your immigration record if you call. This is not true. ISSS and UPD are here to help you.

If you receive threatening calls or messages from someone claiming to be a government official or law enforcement official:

  • DO NOT give the caller any personal or financial information. Even if they have some of your information, do not confirm anything or give additional information.
  • DO NOT meet the caller in person.
  • Collect the caller鈥檚 contact information. If the caller will not give you that information or will not let you call them back, hang up.
  • End the conversation immediately if threats and intimidation persist.
  • Contact the ISSS Office and/or the University Police Department.

Please see the ISSS website for additional information about scams impacting international students.

You can find additional resources online at , , .

10. Save the Date: International Education Week 2026!

International Education Week (IEW) is November 16-November 20, 2026. IEW is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

The Offices of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) and International Education and Global Initiatives (IEGI) will be sending out a Google Form in the coming weeks for any student clubs and organizations that would like their events that week to be highlighted on our IEW schedule! More information to come!

 

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