Planning international travel over the holidays? Check your I-20 or DS-2019 to verify you have a valid travel signature to re-enter the U.S.

A travel signature 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 the date you re-enter the U.S. 

Learn more about travel signature validity on the OISS webpage F-1 & J-1 Travel.

How do I get a travel signature on my I-20/ DS-2019?

• Submit request in OISS Portal - F-1 students submit an “I-20 Reprint Request” and J-1 students submit a "DS-2019 Reprint Request" at the OISS Portal and indicate you need a travel signature.  Processing time is 5 business days, so please submit your request in a timely manner. You will receive an email notifying you when your updated I-20/DS-2019 with a travel signature has been processed and is ready for you to access via the OISS Portal.
• Visit OISS in person on Monday, Nov 20th from 12- 4 PM with your I-20  or DS-2019 in hand.

Upcoming OISS closure dates: 

November 22, 2023 - Remote services only; please send email to intoff@northwestern.edu if you need something this day.

November 23 & 24, 2023 - Thanksgiving Break; OISS and most university offices are closed.

December 22, 2023 - January 1, 2024 
Winter Recess & New Year's Day holiday; OISS and most university offices are closed.

For EMERGENCIES when OISS is closed, please see: When OISS is Closed

NCA Virtual Workshop: Lockin's Home Country Job Search Guidance for Chinese Students

• Monday, Nov 20th, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
• Language: Mandarin
• More details and zoom link

Coffee Talk "Fika Time" - Chicago Campus

Friday, Dec. 1st, 3:00 - 4:00 PM

Abbott Hall, Room 332, TGS Conference Room - Chicago Campus

Coffee Talk is a monthly gathering space for all international students. The gatherings will be hosted by CAPS staff to help facilitate meaningful conversations where one can share their experience as an international student and build community support. On the Chicago campus, Coffee Talk is also known as “Fika Time," which is a Swedish cultural practice where people take time from their busy day to socialize with others while enjoying coffee, tea and treats. There will be simple snacks to accompany our conversations in the spirit of fika!

To help CAPS plan for the event, to receive reminders and updates about Coffee Talk “Fika Time” for International Students, please RSVP via this online form.

What is Thanksgiving all about?

Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the U.S., celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It originates from a harvest festival that is generally attributed to a 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. The Plymouth colonists, known as Pilgrims, shared a feast with the Wampanoag Indians, who were native to the land. The feast was a celebration of a successful harvest and an act of gratitude for the help the Pilgrims had received in cultivating crops.

Today, Thanksgiving has evolved into a secular holiday that Americans of all backgrounds observe. The day is typically associated with gathering with family and friends to share a meal, which usually includes a roasted turkey as the centerpiece, stuffing, mashed and/or sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, among other dishes. The meal is a modern representation of the "giving thanks" for the year's blessings, including personal and collective achievements, with the meal symbolizing the fruitfulness of the land and the economy. 

If this is your first Thanksgiving in the U.S., you may notice several traditions associated with the holiday:

• Parades: Parades happen in cities across the U.S., and the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade is a local tradition that kicks off the holiday season in the heart of downtown. The parade, featuring giant helium balloons, floats, marching bands, and performances,  takes over Chicago's iconic State Street in the Loop from 8 - 11 AM on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23rd. Learn more about the Chicago Parade.
• Volunteering: Many Americans choose to give back to their community by volunteering to help the less fortunate, including serving meals at homeless shelters or other organizations.
• Football: Watching American football on TV on Thanksgiving is a longstanding tradition for many families in the U.S.
• Black Friday: The day after Thanksgiving, known as "Black Friday," marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season with significant sales at many stores and online. It is one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
• Thanksgiving Break: U.S. universities typically have a break around Thanksgiving, allowing students to travel home or spend time with friends.  Northwestern's Thanksgiving Break begins at 6:00 PM on Wed. Nov. 22nd and classes resume on Monday, Nov. 27th. Most univeristy offices and services are closed during this period. 

Happy Thanksgiving from the OISS!

As Thanksgiving approaches, OISS extends warmest wishes to all Northwestern international students. The holiday is a beautiful time to reflect on the blessings of the past year and to celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures that international students bring to our campus. Whether you're experiencing Thanksgiving for the first time or have come to look forward to this holiday each year, we hope it brings you joy, a sense of belonging, and an abundance of gratitude.