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Editor’s Note: The ISSS Newsletter is distributed monthly. Between monthly newsletters, please follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram to learn more about programs, events, and updates.

Contents:

1. 1. 1. 1. Reminder of ISSS Availability

         2. ISSS Webinars - Upcoming Changes to F-1 and J-1 Regulations

         3. Essential Reminders and Resources for Changes to F-1 and J-1 Regulations

         4. Fall 2026 Bus Service from NYC Airports to Campus

         5. Arrival of New International Students

         6. Fall 2026 Semester Reminders

         7. International Student Health Insurance Updates

         8. International Health Insurance Team is Now Accepting Insurance Fee Waiver Requests

         9. Reminders about Publicly-funded Health Insurance

         10. Save the Dates: Fall 2026 International Coffee Hours!

         11. Be Aware of Scams

1. Reminder of ISSS Availability

The ISSS is currently on “summer hours,” staffed on weekdays from 8:30am to 4:00pm. On Monday, August 17, the ISSS will begin to operate on “academic year” office hours. This means that the office will be open on weekdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm.  Please visit the ISSS website for additional updates.

Advising Hours & Updates:

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services holds advising hours on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00am to 11:45am and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.  Please visit the ISSS website for updates.  

Special Notice Regarding ISSS Unavailability:

Please be advised that ISSS advising hours are canceled on Tuesday, August 11 and Wednesday, August 12 for International Student Orientation. ISSS advising hours will resume, as scheduled, on Thursday, August 13. Please visit the ISSS Website for updates.

2. ISSS Webinars - Upcoming Changes to F-1 and J-1 Regulations

A major change to the regulations for F-1 and J-1 international students and scholars is scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026. The Office of International Student and Scholar Services is offering online information sessions to share updates with the ������ɫ community about the impact of these changes. Each of these information sessions will include information that is focused on a specific population, so be sure to register for the webinar that most closely reflects your situation. Check your email for registration links for each session.

Faculty/Staff Info Session: New DHS Duration of Status Rule
Thursday, August 6, 10:00 AM Eastern Time

Current F-1 and J-1 Student/Scholar Info Session: New DHS Duration of Status Rule
Thursday, August 6, 2:00 PM Eastern Time

OPT and STEM OPT Info Session: New DHS Duration of Status Rule
Friday, August 7, 1:00 PM Eastern Time

3. Essential Reminders and Resources for Changes to F-1 and J-1 Regulations

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule ending the long-standing “Duration of Status” (D/S) policy for F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants. The rule is currently scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026.

The ISSS has created a web page with detailed information about the final rule and how it will impact ������ɫ University international students and scholars. The page also includes answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the final rule. We encourage all international students and scholars to review this page carefully so that you understand how this new rule will impact your status moving forward. ISSS will continue to update this page with new information as the Department of Homeland Security provides additional details and clarification. 

Here are some important highlights for students and scholars:

• International students who enter the U.S. on or after September 15, 2026 will not have “duration of status” and will be limited to a 30-day grace period and other limitations under the new rule. If you are traveling outside the U.S., the ISSS recommends that you return to the U.S. before September 15, 2026.
• The new rule will add extra steps and costs to the extension process, including the need to file an application for Extension of Stay with the U.S. government. If you will need additional time to complete your program due to compelling academic or medical reasons, you can apply for a program extension now under the current regulations. Please note that all extension requests are carefully reviewed by ISSS on a case-by-case basis, and approval is not guaranteed. Review the ISSS Program Extension page for more details about this process, and submit a complete request to ISSS by August 15, 2026 to ensure that your request can be reviewed prior to the effective date of the new rule.
• Under the new rule, international graduate students will not be able to change majors or change from a higher degree to a lower degree level (for example, changing from a PhD program to a Master’s degree.) International undergraduate students will need to complete one full academic year before changing their major. If you are planning to change your academic major or level, contact your academic department or academic advisor and ISSS now, and ensure this process is completed before September 15, 2026.
• It is essential to ensure all of your immigration documents are accurate and that your passport expiration date extends far into the future. Check ALL of your immigration documents to ensure that they are accurate. Your I-94 record should show your current status (F-1 or J-1) and the Admit Until Date should say D/S. Your I-20 or DS-2019 should show accurate information about your current academic program. If you have dependents in F-2 or J-2 status, review their documents to make sure all information is current. Remember that all individuals in F or J status should carry a printed copy of the I-94 and I-20 or DS-2019 at all times. If your passport will expire soon, start the renewal process with your country’s embassy or consulate as soon as possible.
• OPT and STEM OPT applications will become more complicated under the new rule. There are special transition provisions in the regulation for students who are applying for OPT or STEM OPT and who are in the U.S. with an I-94 showing D/S on the effective date of the final rule. If you are planning to apply for OPT or STEM OPT between September 15, 2026 and March 18, 2027, please speak with an ISSS advisor before finalizing any travel plans. 

4. Fall 2026 bus service from NYC airports to campus

If you will be returning to ������ɫ from NYC area airports, review the ISSS Transportation to ������ɫ page to understand transit options. One option for this fall is the OurBus rideshare service offering direct service to ������ɫ from JFK International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport on select dates. You can find more details about this service and available dates on the . If you are interested in using that service, you will need to review that page carefully for instructions on selecting a time slot in advance. 

5. Arrival of New International Students

If you happen to meet a new international student, please be sure to direct them to the ISSS New Students webpage which includes helpful information related to our fall 2026 International Student Orientation. New students will complete their check-in process online (this includes uploading information about their immigration documents) so they will not be required to visit the ISSS Office in person before orientation. 

6. Fall 2026 Semester Reminders

The staff from the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) would like to welcome all returning students back to campus! 

We would like to share a couple of reminders as the beginning of the semester approaches! 

• The first day of classes is Tuesday, August 18, 2026. You can view more details about the fall semester schedule on the academic calendar website.
• Check your most recent I-20 or DS-2019 to be sure you have an updated travel signature from the ISSS. If the signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 will be more than 12 months old (6 months for students on OPT or STEM OPT) when you return to the U.S., you can with an updated signature online. 

7. International Student Health Insurance Updates

Effective August 15, 2026, the new monthly insurance rate for students on OPT/AT and J-1 scholars is $200.25.

For enrolled students, rates for 2026-2027 are $1,006.73 for the fall semester and $1,396.28 for the spring semester.

The rate for dependents of students on OPT/AT, J-1 scholars, and enrolled students is $160.42 per dependent. 

8. International Health Insurance Team is Now Accepting Insurance Fee Waiver Requests for Fall 2026

The International Health Insurance Team is now accepting requests from those who believe they meet the requirements for an international health insurance fee waiver. In order to qualify for a waiver of the fee you must:

• Meet ALL of the requirements found here.
• Upload documents as instructed here.
• Your policy submission must indicate the services that are NOT paid for under the policy, found in the “Exclusions and Limitations” section of the policy, plus the deductible charged to you.

RAs/TAs/GAs with health insurance (NYSHIP or Empire Blue) will no longer be automatically waived from the standard SUNY International student insurance policy, as was the case in previous semesters.  Any student who wishes to file an application for a waiver from the standard international student health insurance plan will need to complete an international health insurance waiver e-form. You will be notified if your waiver is approved and your charges will be adjusted accordingly.

Please note that a submission does not guarantee approval.  A full review of your policy must be conducted to ensure compliance.  Approved waivers are valid for one semester only. Students must submit a health insurance waiver request every semester.  The deadline for submission of a waiver request is October 15, 2026. No exceptions are granted.

9. Reminders about Publicly-funded Health Insurance

International students, scholars, and their dependents in F or J status should not enroll in Medicaid, the New York State Essential Plan, or other government-funded health insurance programs.

These plans do not meet the requirements to waive the mandatory International Health Insurance, and utilizing these programs may result in serious immigration consequences. Because these programs are subsidized by the government, enrolling in them could lead to a “public charge” determination, which may impact your ability to:

• Be approved for an F-1 or J-1 visa
• Enter or re-enter the U.S.
• Change or extend your immigration status in the future

If you are currently enrolled in one of these plans or are using benefits such as a debit card associated with these plans, we strongly recommend that you contact the insurance provider as soon as possible to cancel your enrollment.  If you have questions about the SUNY International Health Insurance plan, please review the information on the ISSS Health Insurance website or email intl.insure@binghamton.edu. 

10. Save the Dates: Fall 2026 International Coffee Hours!

Save the dates for the four Fall 2026 International Coffee Hour events! ISSS will be hosting these events with other campus offices that support our international community. Be sure to join us for an informal social program!

Fall 2026 International Coffee Hours

Wednesday, September 2
3:00-4:30pm
Old Champlain Atrium

Wednesday, October 7
3:00-4:30pm
Old Champlain Atrium

Wednesday, November 4
3:00-4:30pm
Old Champlain Atrium

Wednesday, December 2
3:00-4:30pm
Old Champlain Atrium

If you have any questions about International Coffee Hour, contact akennedy66@binghamton.edu. All are welcome! 

11. Be Aware of Scams

We have received recent reports of international students who have been targeted by scams:

• • Multiple students have reported receiving an email and/or phone call from someone claiming to work for a US government agency and requiring the student to complete an AR-11 Form to avoid imprisonment or removal from the US. These callers are often aggressive and threatening, and they may demand personal information and payment (gift cards, wire transfers, etc.) to resolve the “immigration” matter. Form AR-11 is not required for F-1 and J-1 international students or scholars.
  • Many scams claim to be representatives from the students' home country or from individuals claiming to be US government agency officials. These callers often tell a student that they have violated the law in their home country or a US immigration law and must now pay a large amount of money to avoid being arrested or deported.
  • Students have received phone calls from what appears to be a ������ɫ phone number but the caller then threatens their immigration status.
  • Students have received an email that appears to be from a ������ɫ email account indicating an overdue fee and directing students to a self service payment portal. ������ɫ will never send out emails with a self service payment portal. For more information about this and other email scams targeting ������ɫ students, see the ITS Phish Tank. 
  • International students have been targeted by third parties or agents promising to pay tuition on behalf of a student or their family, but the third party then takes the money and does not pay the bill or pays the bill with stolen credit cards. You should only pay tuition and fees using the options on the Student Accounts website, which includes information on international payment options.
  • Students have received emails appearing to be from a ������ɫ professor or staff member, asking them to buy gift cards for books or lab equipment. 

The US Department of Homeland Security and other US government agencies will NEVER ask you to transfer money to an individual, pay a fee using security vouchers or gift cards, or provide payment over the phone or online. If you receive an email appearing to be from a university faculty or staff member, check with them by phone, in person, or using their ������ɫ email to confirm the validity of the message.

Email and phone scams can be very sophisticated. Callers might:

• • Appear to be calling from a US government or ������ɫ phone number as scammers can “clone” a phone number.
  • Provide fake badge numbers or give a “claim number.”
  • Tell students not to come to ISSS because they claim that ISSS will terminate their immigration record.

Please know that ISSS and the University Police Department are here to help you. If you receive a call like this, you should hang up immediately and call the ISSS during our . Do not provide any financial or identifying information to the caller. We will review your record to assure you that there are no issues, and we can help you in reporting the scam call if you wish to do so. If you receive a call like this outside of business hours, you should contact the University Police Department. The caller may threaten you or tell you that ISSS or UPD will terminate your immigration record if you call. This is not true. ISSS and UPD are here to help you. 

If you receive threatening calls or messages from someone claiming to be a government official or law enforcement official:

• • DO NOT give the caller any personal or financial information. Even if they have some of your information, do not confirm anything or give additional information.
  • DO NOT meet the caller in person.
  • Collect the caller’s contact information. If the caller will not give you that information or will not let you call them back, hang up.
  • End the conversation immediately if threats and intimidation persist.
  • Contact the ISSS Office and/or the University Police Department.

Please see the ISSS website for additional information about scams impacting international students. 

You can find additional resources online at , , .

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