Upcoming Webinar with Immigration Attorney
June 15th at 5:30 PM (CT)
Explore post-graduation opportunities, extend your stay, or ignite your entrepreneurial dreams
Presented by: OISS and McEntee Law Group
Award-winning immigration attorney Fiona McEntee will guide you through various pathways, from work permits to permanent residency. Gain essential knowledge and resources to make informed decisions on your immigration journey. Registration required.
Register in advance
Web-in-Wednesdays continue through the summer months!
Every Wednesday from 12 - 4 PM students can connect with an OISS Advisor for quick questions via zoom. See the Web-in-Wednesdays webpage for additional details and zoom link.
Fraudulent Scam Warning
OISS has learned of a new phishing attempt. This fraudulent scam email appears to be sent by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and asks the recipient to call USCIS to update their AR-11 Change of Address Card. Another recent email scam indicates a USCIS "warrant issued for background check" for failure to report a change of address by filing Form AR-11.
The email may appear on USCIS letterhead, reference a case number, threaten punishment of a fine, imprisonment, or removal from the United States, and indicate that forwarding the email is a crime and asks the recipient to call a 1-877 number. This is a scam. Do not respond to the email, do not click on any links or attachments and do not call the number.
If you believe that you received a scam email from USCIS, report it to the Federal Trade Commission. If you are not sure if it is a scam, forward the suspicious email to the USCIS webmaster. USCIS will review the emails received and share with law enforcement agencies as appropriate. Additionally, you can contact your OISS Advisor if you have any uncertainties about possible scams.
Unfortunately, every year a number of scams target international students and scholars in the US. These encounters can be troubling and you will want to resolve them as quickly as possible
Learn more about common immigration scams from USCIS.
Are you traveling abroad over the summer?
Don't forget to check your I-20 or DS-2019 for a valid travel signature!
Check your Form I-20 or DS-2019 to ensure you have a valid travel endorsement (also referred to as a "travel signature") for re-entry to the United States.
A travel signature (endorsement) is relevant only to F-1 students or J-1 students and scholars (and their dependents) who are planning to travel abroad and return to the U.S. in F or J status. This includes alumni who remain in F or J status for post-graduation F-1 OPT or J-1 AT. You must have an unexpired travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 on the date you re-enter the U.S. See the OISS F-1/J-1 Travel webpage for more details.
Request a travel signature by submitting a request on the OISS Portal or drop by the OISS Office during open hours with your I-20 or DS-2019 in hand to request a travel signature.
Do I need to renew my visa?
This time of year we receive many inquiries from students asking if it is necessary to renew their student visa. It is important to recognize that a visa is only used for entry to the U.S. and the validity period of a visa does not determine how long an individual can stay in the U.S. An individual can stay in the U.S. past the expiration date of their visa as long as the immigration document (Form I-20 or DS-2019) has not expired and the electronic I-94 record reflects the proper status.
Read more and learn about the visa renewal process.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Virtual Workshop
OISS offers online workshops for F-1 international students interested in pursuing work authorization in the U.S. through Optional Practical Training (OPT). The Zoom workshop will cover OPT eligibility requirements, application timelines and application requirements, and more. All F-1 international students interested in applying for OPT are encouraged to attend. Upcoming OPT Workshop dates:
Job Opportunities
Global Wildcat Coordinators - Details and application
Application due date: TODAY - June 12th
FIKA Program Coordinator - Details and application instructions
Application due date: June 15th
OISS will be closed in observance of the Juneteenth holiday: June 19th
The OISS and all Northwestern academic and administrative offices will be closed on Monday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth. Read more about the Juneteenth holiday. | 
