Ever wondered about the history and tradition of Halloween? Celebrated in the U.S. on Oct. 31, the name "Halloween" comes from “All Hallows Eve,” or the day before All Saints Day, a traditional holy day for Christians. According to tradition, the spirits of the dead were able to come back to life to harm people and crops in the physical world. People tried to appease the restless spirits on Halloween, and these practices led to many of today's Halloween traditions. For example, people used to wear costumes of monsters, ghosts, and devils to scare away harmful spirits. Today, people still celebrate by wearing costumes.

When selecting a costume for Halloween, it's important to avoid cultural appropriation. Culture appropriation is "the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc., of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society." Learn more about cultural appropriation and Halloween »

Don't miss out on the Job Success Strategies workshop! Former international students are coming back to USF to share their triumphs in securing jobs in the U.S., offering a valuable chance to network with alumni and gain insights from current professionals. Join us on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 5:30 p.m. in McLaren 252. 

Get ready for networking! All international alumni and currently enrolled international students are invited to this reception. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. Join us on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. in McLaren 251. RSVP form coming soon.

If you are requesting an immigration document or letter from our office, remember that we request ten business days to process requests. Make sure you plan accordingly so you have enough time to receive your document before you need it. All ISSS requests should be submitted through the MyISSS student portal (click on requests on the left-hand menu). You can view our MyISSS Student Handbook for assistance with your submission.

Appointments can be made online. Please visit the ISSS website to schedule an appointment. Appointments are still booked in 15-minute increments.To schedule a workshop, select workshops from the first menu option in our scheduler. Students must complete an OPT workshop before applying for OPT.