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OGS MONTHLY UPDATE:
FEBRUARY

In this edition:

Updates and Announcements: New Faces at OGS + ISSI, ISSI Event for NYU Employees: Immigration 101 Webinar, 2021-2022 Annual Report, Key OGS Priorities, Proposed USCIS Increases
ISSI February Events: OPT, Visa and Employment Workshops, English Conversation & Culture, International Student Culture Discussion, Anti-Racism Workshops, Discover NY, Broadway Brunch Series, Loving Lunches, Global Buddies Kick Off, Black Gotham Tour

UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Faces at OGS + International Student Support Initiative (ISSI)

Evelyn Garcia, Program Administrator, ISSI

Evelyn joins the OGS and ISSI team after working with the NYC Department of Education supporting immigrant and undocumented students with immigration concerns through programming. An NYU alum, Evelyn grew up in the immigrant neighborhood of Sunset Park Brooklyn. Her time at NYU as an undergraduate helped develop her commitment to social justice and immigrant rights. When not at work, Evelyn’s cats and plants keep her busy. She’s also on a healing journey to take better care of her physical and mental health.

Kate Hageman, International Student Advisor

Kate joins OGS after working in Residence Life at SUNY Purchase College. She completed her undergraduate degree at NYU and jokes that she never wanted to leave in the first place, emphasizing that she had such a great experience and was supported by so many faculty members and administrators during her time at NYU that it shaped her decision to begin a career in higher education. She hopes to “pay it forward” by supporting current NYU students. A coffee-lover and lifelong student, Kate’s favorite visited place is Leiden, Netherlands, which happens to also be where her husband grew up.

Reaksha Persaud, International Student Advisor

Reaksha joins OGS after working at the CUNY Graduate Center’s Office of International Students. She came to the US from Guyana during high school and later studied archaeology then taught forensic science, both at Brooklyn College. She strongly believes that every student should have the opportunity to enjoy and explore their college career without limitations and considers NYU to provide a unique space and environment to facilitate precisely these experiences. One place Reaksha has most enjoyed visiting is Barbuda, West Indies. While conducting archaeological research there she was in awe of the pride and resilience of the Barbudan people, its rich histories, and beautiful beaches.

Noa Watkins, Program Administrator, ISSI

Noa joins the OGS and ISSI team after working for One To World, where she helped foster international student connections. She completed her master degree in International Education at NYU Steinhardt, building on her previous experiences teaching English abroad in 5 different countries and her time as a Peace Corps volunteer. She’s excited to engage the NYU international student community, foster intercultural exchange and communication, spark dialogue, and cultivate a sense of belonging. When not working, you can find Noa traveling the world, both literally and figuratively.

ISSI Event for NYU Employees: Immigration 101

February 3rd | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Virtual

We are offering a session specifically for staff and administrators to learn more about international student visas, requirements, and benefits. Immigration 101 is an introductory webinar that covers general terms and concepts that you should be aware of when working with international students. This session will include the journey international students navigate to come to NYU from abroad, what requirements they're subject to and the documents they need to have, as well as how and when they can potentially work. We will also discuss the latest immigration information to understand how students are affected by the current immigration debate.

2021-2022 OGS Annual Report

The latest OGS annual report is now available! Learn more about the international students and scholars at NYU and folks traveling to NYU’s campuses and centers outside the US. We also have lots of information on the services and programs our team offered during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Key OGS Priorities for International Students This Month

All international students need to be registered full-time for the spring semester in order to maintain their legal status in the United States. Keep in mind that international students who are unable to register full time must receive OGS permission to register for a reduced course load in order to keep their immigration status valid. For undergraduate students a minimum of 12 credits is considered full-time enrollment; for graduate students, typically a minimum of 9 credits is considered full-time enrollment (but it varies depending on the department's standards).
Please inform OGS as soon as possible if a student is dismissed or withdraws so that we can advise students on their options regarding their immigration status. We’re required to notify the US government within 21 days of an action so your help in this is essential!
OPT season has started! For students graduating this May, we’re encouraging students to start preparing early. For those of you who review and approve an international student’s OPT request that comes to you via email, we hope this Reviewing an OPT Request video proves useful.

Proposed US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Fee Increases

On January 4, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the proposed USCIS fee rule in the Federal Register. Of special interest regarding international students are fee increases on forms I-765 (form used to apply for OPT) and I-539 (form used to apply for a reinstatement or change of status).

Form I-539 paper filing raised from $370 to $620 (a 68% hike)
Form I-539 online filing raised from $370 to $525 (a 42% hike)
Form I-765 paper filing raised from $410 to $620 (a 59% hike)
Form I-765 online filing raised from $410 to $525 (a 35% hike)

Learn more about these fee increases. The fee hikes are substantial and we encourage you to submit comments (visit https://www.regulations.gov, and type “Docket No. USCIS-2021-0010” in the search bar and follow the prompts to submit comments) on or before March 6, 2023 through the Federal eRulemaking Portal to voice your opinion on them.

ISSI FEBRUARY EVENTS

The International Student Support Initiative (ISSI) is a centralized, coordinated, and comprehensive hub for NYU’s international student community. A collaboration between the Office of Global Services (OGS) and the Center for Student Life (CSL), ISSI is dedicated to not only support international students at NYU, but also to provide resources and expertise to create academic, co-curricular, and social opportunities for sustained, cross-cultural learning.