Diversity Visa Program (Green Card Lottery) Opens October 3rd

Deadline to apply: Tuesday, November 6

The U.S. Department of State will be accepting applications for the 2020 Diversity Visa Program as of Wednesday, Oct 3. Students NOT born in the following countries are eligible to apply: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.

Students in F-1 or J-1 status and their eligible dependents can apply each year and, if selected in the lottery, may be issued a green card (permanent residency). There is no application fee. More information can be found here

Fall 2018 Curricular/Optional Practical Training (CPT/OPT) Workshop for F-1 Students (last one this semester!)

Tuesday, October 9, CPT covered at 12:00pm, OPT covered 12:30-1:30pm

Petteruti Lounge (Campus Center Room 201)

The curricular practical training (CPT) part of this presentation is designed for undergraduate and graduate students who have been in F-1 status for a minimum of one academic year and who are interested in an internship off campus. The second part of the presentation addresses questions related to optional practical training (OPT) for F-1 students who are interested in utilizing this employment authorization during the summer, or who plan to graduate this academic year.

Please note: Students who are graduating are advised to apply for post-completion OPT as early as 90 days before their anticipated completion date.

Travel Signature Reminder: Drop off your I-20 or DS-2019 at OISSS

If you will be traveling outside the U.S. this fall or over winter break, please take a moment to check that you have a current (less than a year old at time of re-entry to the U.S.) travel signature on page 2 of your I-20 for F-1 students, or in the lower right hand corner of your DS-2019 for J-1 students/scholars. Travel signatures are valid for 1 year to the date signed (6 months on post-completion F-1 OPT) and can be used multiple times before they expire.

If you need a new travel signature, please drop off your I-20 or DS-2019 to the OISSS to be signed. Don’t wait until the last minute! Please keep in mind that due to the volume of requests, the travel signature process can take 7-10
business days.

At this time we also remind you to take a moment to review the travel information here.