������ɫ

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. Board Game Afternoon with ISSS June 5

         3. Last call to apply: Leadership Volunteers needed for Fall 2025 International Student Orientation

         4. OPT Application Process for Summer 2025 Graduates

         5. Summer Break and Travel Information Reminders

         6. Fall 2025 bus service from NYC airports to campus

         7. Be Aware of Scams

1. Reminder of ISSS Availability

Advising Hours & Updates:

The ISSS office 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 Notices:

The ISSS office will be unavailable on Thursday, June 19, 2025 in observance of Juneteenth.

2.

Thursday, June 5 | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Old Champlain Atrium (Old Champlain Hall, Room 133)

Looking for a chill way to spend a summer afternoon? Come hang out with ISSS for games, laughter, and great company! We'll have a mix of classic board games and card decks ready to go — or bring your favorite game to share with the group!

Snacks will be provided, so be sure to in advance - we want to make sure there’s plenty for everyone!

If you have any questions about this event, contact the ISSS Programming Coordinator, Annie Smith (dsmith66@binghamton.edu)  

3. Last call to apply: Leadership Volunteers needed for Fall 2025 International Student Orientation

The ISSS is currently recruiting Leadership Volunteers for the Fall 2025 International Student Orientation! All international and domestic students are welcome! Leadership Volunteers are a select group of current ������ɫ students who join ISSS staff to welcome new international students during Fall International Student Orientation.

The Fall 2025 International Student Orientation is a two-day orientation on Tuesday, August 12 and Wednesday, August 13. Leadership Volunteer Training will take place Monday, August 11.

During Orientation, Leadership Volunteers greet new international students at check-in, welcome them during the introductory meeting, participate in group events, provide reassurance and essential information, and most importantly contribute to a warm and sincere presence for new international students during their first few days on campus. Many new students tell the ISSS how important the Leadership Volunteers were to their initial experience at ������ɫ. Many Leadership Volunteers tell the ISSS how valuable the training was to their own professional and personal development.

If you would like to volunteer, please by Monday, June 2, 2025. If you have any questions please contact ISSS Programming Coordinator, Annie Smith (dsmith66@binghamton.edu).

4. OPT Application Process for Summer 2025 Graduates

F-1 students who will be graduating in Summer 2025 and plan to apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), can apply for OPT now. You may pick an OPT start date between August 18, 2025 and October 16, 2025. When picking your OPT start date, you should keep in mind that it generally takes at least 3-5 months for an OPT application to be processed by USCIS. Our employment webpage will provide you with more information regarding the OPT application requirements. If you have any questions contact us at intlwork@binghamton.edu.

5. Summer Break and Travel Information Reminders

The ISSS Office recommends that you use caution when planning travel outside the United States. Travel restrictions have the potential to affect your ability to return to the United States. If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside of the U.S. for an indefinite amount of time.

If you choose to travel outside the United States:

• • Make sure that you have all of the required documents to return to the US, including a valid passport, a valid F-1 or J-1 visa, and an I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature. 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 US, you should visit the ISSS office for an updated signature before you leave or online. Review the detailed instructions on our Travel page for more information. Students who are on OPT or STEM OPT should review our OPT Travel page.
  • Be aware of anything you have posted on social media or any public statements you have shared. The U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security have indicated that they are using AI to review information that international students and scholars have posted online, and this information may be used in decisions for visa issuance, entry to the U.S., and immigration enforcement.
  • If your passport will be expiring soon, make sure that you start the renewal process as soon as possible. Your passport must always be valid at least 6 months into the future.
  • If your F-1 or J-1 visa has expired, ISSS advises you not to travel outside the U.S. at this time.
  • If you have experienced any interaction with law enforcement, you should consult with an ISSS advisor about the potential risks of travel.
  • Monitor emails from ISSS for any updates related to travel restrictions. It is possible that new travel restrictions could be enacted while you are outside the U.S. that would prevent you from returning. 

If you choose to travel outside the United States, you should ensure that you have back-up plans in place in case you are delayed or are unable to return to the U.S. Please note that entry to the U.S. is always subject to the discretion of Customs and Border Protection, and ISSS cannot guarantee re-entry. If you face difficulty when entering the U.S., you or a CBP officer can contact ISSS during business hours at 607.777.2510. If you are re-entering the U.S. and face difficulty outside of business hours, you or a CBP officer can contact the University Police Department at 607.777.2393. 

If you have questions regarding travel, we encourage you to visit the ISSS office or call (607.777.2510) during advising hours to speak with an ISSS Advisor. ISSS has advising hours on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00-11:45 am and on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:30-3:30 pm.

6. Fall 2025 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.

7. 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 , , .

Visit ISSS on the Web Like Us on / Follow us on