Tips and Items to Remember!

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has been made aware of a spoofing scam involving individuals using an SEVP Response Center (SRC) phone number (703-603-3400) or a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office phone number (757-441-6533) to target nonimmigrant students. Fraudulent callers are claiming to be SEVP representatives and asking students to provide their immigration information, such as their Alien Registration Number or Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” information, or face deportation.

Tips and items to remember:

• NEVER divulge personal or financial information to unknown callers.
• SEVP officials will NEVER ask stakeholders to provide credit/debit card/gift card numbers, wire transfers, or bank routing numbers, or to make bitcoin deposits for any purpose.
• Report all suspicious calls to the HSI tip line and if you are unsure about the validity of a call from SEVP officials reach out to your designated SEVP field representative.

ISS Resources for New and Current Students

Check out our new "Resources" tab on the ISS Portal log-in page! You can find resources about community connections, emergency services and safety preparations, finances and budgeting, health, housing, shopping, transportation and utilities. These resources are here to help both current students and new students in their transition to Madison, WI.

Check out the resources here!

Call for International Student Spotlights!

We want to spotlight YOU as an international student here at Madison College! Over the next terms, we will be highlighting our amazing international students on our social media accounts and our CIE newsletter. On the form, you can share information such as your program of study, your academic or career goals, what you like about studying at Madison College and more!

If you would like to be spotlighted, please fill out the form that can be found on our ISS Portal log-in page here!

Travel Recommendations

CIE discourages non-essential travel this summer due to COVID-19.

If you must travel, use caution and carefully consider the following:

• Visa expired? Anticipate delays and possible difficulty renewing. U.S. Embassies and Consulates, in general, are open for some services. However, the resumption of routine visa services is occurring on a post-by-post basis. Many are not at full capacity and some have not resumed routine visa services. Anticipate delays or the possibility of cancelled visa interview appointments. If your F-1 visa has expired and you leave the U.S., there is risk of not getting a visa interview appointment to return for Fall 2021.
• Travel Signature expired? Allow at least 2 weeks to receive a new I-20 via the I-20 Reprint Request process due to campus closure. CIE’s Travel Requirements
• Review US Entrance Requirements! All air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens and F-1 international students, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recent recovery from COVID-19 before they board a flight to the United States. Please visit CDC’s website for additional information.
• US State Department International Travel Advisories- the US State Department has issued Travel Advisories for much of the world. 80% of the world is currently listed as Level 4-Do Not Travel, due to COVID-19 and other risk factors. Although this is not binding, please consider the recommendations when considering travel. See the Travel Advisories website for more information.
• Risk of Quarantine and Delays- the COVID-19 situation is still fluid both in the US and abroad. Any travel may result in unexpected delays, quarantines, and expenses (related to unexpected hotel stays, quarantines, etc) either on departure or arrival.

SEVP Continues COVID Enrollment Accommodations Through Spring 2022

The U.S. SEVP has announced that existing COVID-19 Enrollment Accommodations will continue for the upcoming academic year including both Fall 2021 and Spring 2022. This means that if you:

• Were studying in the U.S. as of March 9, 2020 and have maintained valid F-1 visa status, you may continue to enroll in all online classes in the upcoming academic year.
• Arrived to the U.S. in F-1 visa status after March 9, 2020, then you may not pursue a 100% online course of study, but you may engage in a hybrid course of study that exceeds the standard 3 credit online limit. The New International Student Seminar satisfies this hybrid requirement for your first semester. We recommend students who were new to the F-1 visa status after March 9, 2020 to enroll in at least one hybrid or in-person course for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 to ensure compliance with the most narrow interpretation of the policy guidance.

Farewell Tina!

Dear International Students,

I wanted to let you know that July 15^th is my last day working at Center for International Education as the International Student Advisor. It has been an honor and pleasure working with you all. I have an incredible amount of respect for each of you and have enjoyed getting to know you over the 2 ½ years I have been at Madison College. After 15 years working in international education with the International Rescue Committee, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Madison College, I am taking a career break to focus on my family, to tackle a long list of projects, and to explore additional passions and interests.

I will genuinely miss you all and your vibrant energy. Advising and helping you on your path brings me a lot of joy. Please keep in touch. You can reach me at tinahatch2000@gmail.com or Facebook friend me. I’d love to see where your educational and life journeys take you.

Best,

Tina Hatch

Student Worker Spotlight

Get to know our CIE Assistants!

My name is Francisco Ondo and I am a 24 year old international student here at Madison Area Technical College. I was born in Madrid, Spain, but I’m originally from Equatorial Guinea, which is a small country located in East Africa.

I joined the Madison College community back in Spring 2019. I’m currently finishing my finance major and hope to be graduating at the end of next fall.

Check us out on Facebook and Instagram!

Madison College International Student Services is on Facebook and Instagram. We are excited to connect with students, staff and our community. See you there!

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