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MIT | ISO | International Students Office
ISO Newsletter
Aug 05, 2022
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Check your I-20 or DS-2019 for a Travel Signature
  • *Note: You can leave the US without a travel signature; however, you will need a valid signature to re-enter (signed within the last 12 months)
  • Request new immigration form on iMIT

  • Go to "F-1 or J-1 Student Services"  

  • Choose "Request Replacement Form" (Reason: Travel signature)

Please check your Form I-20 on Page 2 (F visa holders) or Form DS-2019 (J visa holders) on Page 1 to be sure you have a travel validation signature signed within 12 months of your planned date of return to the U.S.  If you do not yet have a travel validation signature, or it will be older than 12 months, you can request in iMIT a new Form I-20/DS-2019 with travel signature.  Instructions are available on the ISO “Visas and Travel” webpage. Please note our processing time, which can take up to 10 business days.

Form I-20s will be emailed to you; Form DS-2019s can be picked up or mailed to you.
ISO TRAVEL WEBSITE
Entering the U.S.
Plan ahead!

Please review our website to check what documents you will need to re-enter the U.S. as a continuing student.
Upload I-94 and any new visa upon arrival to U.S.
Always check that your I-94 record is correct
Each time you enter the US, please retrieve your I-94 record to ensure you are in F-1 or J-1 D/S status.

On iMIT, please upload your most recent I-94 record each time you re-enter, as well as a copy of your visa if you have renewed your visa.
Check Program End date of I-20 or DS-2019
Review dates NOW
If your program end date is approaching and you are not yet finished, it is your responsibility to request an extension BEFORE the expiration date. Please request an Extension on iMIT. Please note it can take up to 10 business days to process any new immigration documents.

If you have concerns or questions, please contact your ISO advisor directly. 
EXTENDING YOUR PROGRAM
ISO Office Hours
Regular operations resume Monday August 8
Just as in the summer, the ISO Staff will continue to work 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday; however, but please note our office hours starting Monday, August 8.

ISO Walk-In Hours (for urgent situations only)
M, Tu, Th & F: 10:00am-3:00pm
Wednesday: 1:00pm-3:00pm

If you have an urgent situation, you can call the ISO between 9:00am-5:00pm at 617-253-3795, or send an email to 

If you need to contact the ISO outside of work hours for an emergency situation (such as travel or port-of-entry issues) that cannot wait until the next business day, you may contact the ISO Emergency phone number (617-258-5480).
*As always, you may contact your ISO Advisor directly by email with any questions or to schedule a Zoom or phone appointment.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Renewing your Visa: Report your experience on iMIT
If you are traveling outside the US and your visa has expired, please make sure you renew your F-1 or J-1 visa.

Please note: some visa applications could undergo administrative processing, which can take 1 month or more. Please plan accordingly. 
In order to help track visa processing experiences at U.S. Embassies/Consulates around the world, and to help advocate for our students, we ask for your assistance in reporting 1) when you have secured your visa interview appointment and 2) when you receive your visa.

You can complete this reporting in iMIT with the following steps:
*Login to iMIT (https://imit.mit.edu)
*Click on the left-hand menu “Admissions”
*Click on the button “Visa Interview & Approval”
*Select the appropriate E-Form ("Visa Interview Scheduled" or "Visa Approved/Received), complete the information, and click “Submit”

Please note that if your visa interview appointment changes, please go into iMIT and submit a new “Visa Interview Scheduled” eform.  Thank you very much for your assistance.
OBTAINING A VISA WEBSITE
ISO Virtual Forums: Slides & Recordings Available on ISO website
Recording links and slides accessible on the Student Content Access Page

Find materials from both Virtual Forums:
Open Forum - July 27
Forum on Visas & Travel - June 23 
ISO SPONSORED EVENTS
Discover Boston
Updated Slides available here

Read more at ISO website: Explore Cambridge & Boston

 
Networking in an American Context
Joint collaboration with CAPD

Recording from July 14 event available at Student Content Access Page on ISO website


MIT Language Conversation Exchange  (LCE)
Open to all members of the MIT community, We connect people across MIT for conversation, cultural exchange, and friendship. Find a conversation partner at MIT so you can practice a language you are learning or want to improve with a native speaker.
 
Visit our websitehttp://lce.mit.edu
  • Search and contact native speakers of languages you want to practice for one-on-one conversation held at your convenience
  • Watch this video to learn how our website works
 
Join our Slack Spacehttps://bit.ly/lce-slack
  • Join or create channels for the languages you are interested in
  • Practice your writing skills while meeting other people at MIT who share your language interests
 
Subscribe to our newsletterhttps://lce.mit.edu/subscribe
  • Stay informed about upcoming small group meetings & events

Join a small group for language practice and conversation exchange!
Our enthusiastic volunteers are leading small groups for Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, Portuguese/Spanish, and German! We're also always looking for group leaders for current/other language groups.
Link to interest Form here
MIT EVENTS & PROGRAMS
Feast of the Assumption Cookout

When: Sunday Aug 7 from 11 AM – 1 PM

Where: MacGregor Courtyard

Contact: tcc@mit.edu

URL: https://forms.gle/uncHEz84NyfTrhat9

  • Come join the TCC for a summer BBQ to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary!
  • We will head over to MacGregor immediately following Sunday mass at the MIT chapel.
  • Please sign up at https://forms.gle/uncHEz84NyfTrhat9 no later than August 4th so we know how much food to buy.

BSA Eid-ul-Adha celebration

When: Sunday Aug 7 from 1 PM – 3 PM

Where: Twenty Chimneys, Stratton Student Center

Contact: djpaul@mit.edu

  • Come join us with the BSA Student Association over food

Tu B'Av Movie Night

When: Wed Aug 10 from 7 PM – 9 PM

Where: W11-Hillel Center

Contact: talsneh@mit.edu

URL: https://forms.gle/fVfCp5LW8kcQB8rF6

  • Join Hillel in eating Kosher Chinese food and watching a (vaguely romantic?) movie to celebrate the August 10 at 7pm!
  • We will be watching The Goal, featuring Gal Gadot
  • NOTE: The event is the day BEFORE Tu B'Av
Beginner Class for Acroyoga

When: Thursdays until August 18 from 6:15 PM – 7:45 PM

Where: Killian Court (Rain/Cold: is inside the Z Center in the Dupont Lower Matted Court)

Contact: nsunil@mit.edu

URL: https://forms.gle/bL11pRhLKeerZEvSA

  • Come join us to learn the basics of acrobatic yoga!
  • This course is very beginner friendly and teaches the basics of each pose
  • Follow our facebook group (MIT Acroyoga) and Instagram (mit.acro)
  • Join us even for just one class! Please reach out if there are questions!
  • Funded by MIT Office of Graduate Education so there is no cost to you
Social Dance Classes

When: Mondays from 9:45 PM – 10:45 PM

Where: La Sala de Puerto Rico, Student Center

Contact: mitbdt-publicity@mit.edu

MIT Ballroom Dance Team continues FREE summer social dance classes with a cha lesson!
 

  • Learn to ballroom dance from the MIT Ballroom Dance Team!
  • We are having a series of FREE social dance classes every Monday night from July 11 - August 8.
  • Stay tuned for details regarding subsequent classes.
  • These beginner classes are the perfect way for you to try out ballroom dancing in a low-key way and meet new people.
  • Come to just one class or as many as you like. No RSVP is needed - just show up and start dancing!

English conversations group

When: Fridays at 10:00am through August 26, 2022

URL: https://mit.zoom.us/j/93976237967#success

  • If you would like to feel more comfortable conversing in English and work on your fluency via cultural dialogues about life in the US, customs, and current events, then this is for you! Meet other MS&PC members from around the world, get resources and information about MIT/Cambridge/Boston, exchange ideas, and have fun in a friendly environment!
  • The group works best for people who have studied some English. Conversation topics depend on the interests and questions of the participants​​​​​​
  • Please contact ecgatmit@gmail.com for more information or for the password to attend the meeting.  Open to members of the MIT community, which includes enrolled students, staff, visiting scientists and scholars, faculty, their spouses, and partners.
Wellness Events & Resources


 
Acupuncture appointments now available at MIT Medical
For students and family members enrolled in Extended Health Insurance Plan
Community Wellness at MIT Medical is now offering onsite acupuncture appointments for students, affiliates, and their family members enrolled in the extended insurance plan.  Students are covered for 20 sessions per calendar year, each with a $10 co-pay.  Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
  • Musculoskeletal pain in the back, neck, knees, etc.
  • Tension and migraine type headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Menstrual cramps and other menstrual conditions
  • Allergic Rhinitis
  • Some mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression
  • Sports injuries
Patients can schedule appointments through HealthELife or by calling Community Wellness at 617-253-1316.
*Please note: the onsite service is limited to MIT students and affiliates and their spouses/partners/dependents who are covered by the Student/Affiliate Extended Insurance Plans. Patients should refer to their plan’s benefit description document to learn about benefit limits and any potential out-of-pocket costs.
READ MORE
Noon Unwind
When: Tuesdays through August 18, 2022

RSVP

This live, virtual 15-minute class is a combination of simple stretches to release tension in the body and guided meditation to mentally reset during the day. 

 

It will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays to encourage taking a break midday. Register for free anytime, attend as often as you wish, and feel free to invite others to register as a self-care routine.


Breath of Fresh Air

When: Month of August

Where: Virtual

Contact: wellness@med.mit.edu

URL:https://wellness.gosignmeup.com/public/Course/browse?courseid=3853

  • Join Community Wellness at MIT Medical for a virtual Breath of Fresh Air! This is free & open to the public.
  • Classes run from August 1 through August 31, 2022.
  • Classes include: Accessing Meditation Through Yoga, Active Gentle Yoga, Qigong Meditation, and Who Needs a Back Rub?
  • Two classes are live through Zoom. Two classes are recorded for on-demand viewing.
  • Registration is ongoing through the end of August. Register today so you don't miss the live classes!
Explore Boston
The Boston Calendar
Check the Boston Calendar for free and cheap events around the city and enjoy the summer!

93 things to do in Boston this weekend

Highlights 

~ North End Festival: St. Agrippina di Mineo Feast 2022
~ Multicultural Folk Festival in Quincy 

Free Outdoor Movies in Boston

Free Outdoor Fitness Classes
10 beaches accessible by public transportation
Museums at a Discount!
CHECK HERE FOR A LIST OF FREE/DISCOUNTED MUSEUMS AND OTHER VENUES ACCESSIBLE WITH MIT ID, including Boston Ballet & Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO):
https://arts.mit.edu/camit/arts-access/ 

*Free admission with Student ID (check if you need to reserve ahead!)
MITAC Museum Discounts

Visit the MIT Activities Committee at the Stata Center from Tues-Fri 12-4pm to pick up tickets in person!

Get your discounted tickets for museums in the area through MITAC.
Museum of Science
Boston Children’s Museum
New England Aquarium
Harvard Museum of Natural History
Isabella Stewart Gardner - MITAC offers discounted rates for guests

and more!
3,313 People In Movie Theater Illustrations & Clip Art - iStock

Movies at a Discount!

$7 MONDAY and TUESDAY MOVIES 
@Kendall Square Cinema 

MITAC Movie Discounts
Visit the MIT Activities Committee at the Stata Center from Tues-Fri 12-4pm to pick up tickets in person!

Get your discounted tickets for almost all movie theaters in the area through MITAC.
Kendall Square Cinema 
AMC Theater in downtown Boston
Regal Cinemas in Fenway
Brattle Theater in Harvard Square
Museum of Science Omni IMAX
and more!
MIT International Students Office
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
Office Hours:
9:00-16:00 (M-F)
Closed (W) 10:00-11:30
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