Dear International Students and Scholars,

OISSS would like to invite you to an event next week:

Employment and Visa Options for International Students and Scholars
     Immigration Attorney Elizabeth (Liz) Goss hosted by OISSS
     Tuesday, November 17th, 11:00am – 12:30pm EST
     Registration required - Please submit questions with your registration before noon on Monday, November
     16th (Zoom link for registered participants to follow on Tuesday prior to the event)

We would also like to share other important reminders:

Travel over Winter Break
In alignment with University guidance, OISSS cautions against travel for non-essential reasons. Students and scholars assume risk departing the U.S. with the evolving pandemic; there may be flight postponements or cancellations, consular closures and delays in visa processing and additional travel restrictions imposed by airlines and/or governments.

If you still decide to travel, please ensure that your immigration documents are current. Should you need a more updated travel signature on your I-20/DS-2019, please make your request here: www.brown.edu/go/reprint. As OISSS continues to operate remotely, an adviser will mail your document out by standard post or paid shipping label. You can also request to receive your document by email.

Proposed Rule Regarding Duration of Status (D/S)
Information about the proposed rule regarding the changes to Duration of Status is still pending. We will keep you posted once new information becomes available.

Hybrid course requirement for new and initial F-1 students
The Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has not released guidance for Spring 2021 operations. Pending any further updates, the requirement for new and initial F-1 students to be enrolled in a minimum of one hybrid course and to participate in the in-person component of that course will continue to apply for Spring 2021. This requirement also extends to students who entered the U.S. after March 9, 2020 in new or “initial” F-1 status.

Students who are currently outside the U.S. may download a support letter from the OISSS website with applicable information about Brown’s hybrid model for Spring 2021.

Should you have any questions or wish to connect individually with an advisor, please schedule a meeting or email us at oisss@brown.edu.

Best wishes and stay healthy.

Your OISS team