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| USCIS Final Rule Expands Premium Processing |
| Effective May 31, 2022 but processing will be available most likely Fall 2022; ISO will notify students |
On March 30, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule titled Implementation of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act.
Of note in the new rule is expanding the availability to request “Premium Processing” of certain USCIS applications, including:
*Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization (including for F-1 Optional Practical Training and F-1 STEM OPT Extension)
Fee: US$1,500
Processing Timeframes for Application: 30 business days
*Form I-539 Application for Change of Nonimmigrant Status (including applications to F student visa status or J-1 Exchange Visitor from certain statuses)
Fee: US$1,750
Processing Timeframes for Application: 30 business days
The effective date of the rule is May 31, 2022, however the ability to actually file Premium Processing requests for the new application form types will not be available until USCIS issues new versions of the premium processing request forms, instructions, and confirming processing timelines. USCIS indicates the planned effective date will be “Fiscal Year 2022,” which may not be until Fall 2022 at the earliest.
The ISO will be sure to notify students, and update the ISO website, once Premium Processing is available for Form I-765 and Form I-539 applications. |
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| Tax Filing Resources and Tax Workshops |
| Deadline is Monday April 18, 2022 to file federal and state taxes (since April 15 falls near a weekend). |
The ISO has updated our Taxes webpage to reflect updated links to MIT and additional resources on filing income tax returns for the 2021 calendar year.
Sprintax is available NOW for federal income tax returns on the ISO website (you MUST access the Sprintax Portal from our website)
Workshop recordings are available on the VPF website.
Please review the VPF webpage "Tax Guidance for Nonresident Aliens" for tax resources and to view the recording/slides of the live Tax Workshops on March 1. For liability reasons, the ISO cannot give out tax advice.
ISO has made available for free (for filing U.S. Federal income tax returns) a new nonresident income tax return preparation software this year, Sprintax (replacing Glacier Tax Prep). The ISO sent out a notification to all international students on March 1 that the software is available for use, along with instructions on how to access the software.
- Current MIT International Students must log in to Sprintax via the ISO website. **Please note that you must have an MIT Kerberos ID and password to log in to this site.
- Alumni and students who attended MIT in the previous tax year and do not have an active Kerberos username may contact their ISO Advisor for a temporary access code (*spouses and dependents are also eligible to request an access code from the student's advisor)
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ISO TAX WEBSITE
MIT SPRINTAX WEBSITE |
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| Online Filing Resources for OPT/STEM Applications |
Do NOT submit online I-765 form for OPT/STEM application without the OPT Form I-20 from ISO
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ONLINE FILING RESOURCES
The ISO has posted a “USCIS Online Form I-765 Filing Resource Guide” to provide some additional guidance available for those students/alumni looking to file applications to USCIS Online for F-1 Pre-Completion and Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), as well as F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training Extension (STEM OPT).
*Please be reminded to read the full written instructions for Form I-765 filing, provided for paper filing but which will assist for online filing, on the USCIS website: https://uscis.gov/i-765
REMINDER: Collect ALL required documents for filing the OPT application, including the new Form I-20 from the ISO, as if you were filing by mail, BEFORE you go online to file the OPT application (the online Form I-765 will require uploading ALL supporting documents and paying the application fee online).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Do NOT submit the online I-765 form without your new OPT Form I-20 from the ISO; otherwise your application will be denied, you will have to re-apply, and you will have to pay the $410 again!
While USCIS has not provided a detailed, step-by-step set of instructions for Online filing of Form I-765 for F-1 OPT and F-1 STEM OPT applications, the following resources have been provided as part of or following webinars provided in May and November 2021 by the CIS Ombudsman’s Office. Please feel free to review the following resources. The ISO will continue to update resources as they become available.
You can access this new guidance on the following OPT/STEM OPT pages on the ISO website:
•F-1 Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training
•F-1 Post-Completion Optional Practical Training
•F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training Extension |
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| Notify Bank when Mailing OPT/STEM Applications |
| Some banks are issuing fraud alerts for the $410 OPT/STEM fee |
Some students have encountered issues with their bank when mailing the OPT/STEM applications.
The banks have issued fraud alerts in these cases. Since the government will only try to run the payment once, the applications are being returned to the student.
Therefore, please notify your bank that this $410 charge will be coming. |
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| Request Extensions Now |
| Check Your Form I-20 or DS-2019 for expiration date |
If your Form I-20 or DS-2019 is expiring this spring and you will not be completing your degree by the program end date on the document, you must request an Extension on iMIT.
Review more information at the Extending your Current Program webpage under Maintaining Status. |
READ MORE
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| Traveling this Summer? |
Check your documents NOW
Request Replacement Form I-20 or DS-2019 on iMIT to receive travel signature
Form I-20s will be emailed to you; Form DS-2019s will be physically mailed to you. |
Check if your entry visa will be valid for your return, and please be sure to get a travel validation signature. *Please note that you can leave the US without a travel signature, but you will need one to re-enter the US.
The ISO has a number of resources available to guide students on preparing for travel.
Please be sure to consult the ISO “Visas and Travel” webpage for details on requesting a new Form I-20 or DS-2019 with travel signature, guidance on “Entering the U.S.” to verify documents to carry when traveling, and links on how to apply for a new entry visa, if needed, from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.
When traveling back to the US always present your form I-20 or DS-2019 along with your F-1 or J-1 visa to CBP.
*Please also check each time you return to the US that your I-94 is valid upon arrival (should be in F-1 D/S or J-1 D/S). If you accidentally enter in tourist status and do not get it corrected, your immigration status may be interrupted and could affect your future employment plans. |
| ISO TRAVEL WEBSITE |
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| Working Off-Campus this Summer? |
| Review Employment Information session [recording] |
Reminder: for students who are looking to pursue internships or post-degree employment this summer, you are required to attend/watch an F-1 Employment Information Session for guidance on application timelines and procedures.
The information session will discuss F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT), F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT), and F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training authorizations, how a student can be eligible for CPT, OPT or STEM OPT, and the application procedures to obtain the appropriate authorization for their off-campus activity.
Students should fully review the ISO Employment webpages before attending or reviewing the recording/slides.
PLEASE NOTE: If you could not attend a live session, you can review the recording and slides.
To access slides/recording:
Student Content Access page (Kerberos login required)
Click on ISO F-1 Employment Information Session recording and slides for the latest materials.
When you request CPT or OPT on iMIT, please indicate you completed your session “Online.”
AFTER you have reviewed the slides/recording and website, if you still have questions, you can email you ISO advisor directly.
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| ISO EMPLOYMENT WEBSITE |
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| Reminder: Beware of Scams! |
| NEVER give out any personal or financial information |
We cannot stress this enough. PLEASE be careful if you receive any communication from someone claiming to be from the government or police. Unfortunately, MIT International Students are victims of scams and fraud every semester. Scams are even more prevalent during and right after tax season, and during apartment hunting season. PLEASE be careful if you receive a phone call, email, text message or in-person visit from someone claiming to be a U.S. government official or law enforcement. So what should you do?
- First, do NOT provide any personal or financial information, for identity-protection purposes.
- Second, remain calm and ask the person for as many details as possible. For example, request their name, their phone number, the reason why they are contacting you, as well as their government ID number or badge number and what branch of the government they work for (if applicable). Tell them you will get back to them after you speak to the ISO.
- Third, contact the ISO immediately, by phone, email, or in person. We can help you determine if the official is legitimate or if it's a scam, including recommending calling the MIT Police. If the official or request is legitimate, we can help you navigate the process.
How to Recognize a Phone Scam
Current Scam Alerts
List of Common Scams |
| ISO SCAMS WEBSITE |
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| ISO Movie Night! |
Tuesday April 12 at 6:20pm
Landmark's Kendall Square Cinema |
In celebration of Grad Appreciation Week, let the ISO treat you with Tuesday Movie night with popcorn/ candy at Landmark's! Come along to de-stress and watch Everything Everywhere All at Once with fellow grad students. Sign up and if you make it on the list, we will send you an email confirming your spot.
The film will begin 6:40pm, but we ask that you please arrive by 6:20pm sharp so that we finalise head count before purchasing the tickets and food. We will gather at the cinema and you can meet the other international students!
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Spring 2022
Navigating MIT Series |
Next session is virtual on Tuesday April 12:
Cooking and Meal Prep for the Week |
- Discover Boston in the Spring/Summer - Thurs, March 17 at 12noon in E19-202 (Slides)
- Imposter Phenomenon - Tues, March 29 at 5pm in 32-124 (Slides and IP Scale)
- Dating and Long-term Relationships - Fri, April 8 at 12noon in E19-202 (Slides)
- Cooking and Meal Prep for the Week - Tues, April 12 at 4pm via Zoom
- Finish Strong: End-of-Semester Hacks - Fri, April 29 at 12noon in E19-202
*MOST SESSIONS ARE IN PERSON, UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. SPACE IS LIMITED. |
| REGISTER |
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| LCE: Conversation Groups |
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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!
Find dates and times in our LCE Community Slack Space and by subscribing to our newsletter. Interested in starting a group for another language? Reach out to the LCE team at lce@mit.edu.
If you are interested in another language, please fill out the form. We are also looking for new group leaders.
The Language Conversation Exchange is co-sponsored by ISO
Link to interest Form here |
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| Graduate Student Appreciation Week |
| April 11-17 |
* Free coffee at Darwin’s
* Chair massages!
* Plant your own “Lucky Bamboo”
* Skip the Small Talk “speed-friending”
* Paint Night
* GradDiversity meet & greet
* Walking tours of Boston
* Raffles
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Announcing the 2022 gwaMIT Spring Leadership Conference!
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April 11-15
In-person and virtual events
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Visit our Event Website
Storytelling Workshop with Kirsty Bennett:
When: Monday, April 11th, 2022 12 – 1:30PM
Where: W20-307 Mezzanine
Details: How do you talk in a way that makes people want to listen? Good storytelling is a skill you can learn, and in this workshop, you'll learn the fundamentals of spoken word storytelling, including how to develop a story arc, structure your ideas and frame your experiences. These skills are transferable, so we'll also talk about how to use these techniques to talk about your work and research in an engaging way.
Register here! (Attendance cap is 20 people)
gwaMIT Alumni Panel
When: Wednesday, April 13th, 2022 5:30 – 6:30PM
Where: Zoom
Details: Meet and chat with MIT alumni to learn more about their career paths and professional development tips.
Check our event website for panelist bios.
Register here!
Keynote – Fireside Chat with Chancellor Nobles
When: Thursday, April 14th, 2022 12 – 1PM
Where: W20-307 Mezzanine
Details: Chat with Chancellor Nobles to learn more about her experience and challenges along her career path.
Register here!
Gender Bias in AI Discussion
When: Thursday, April 14th, 2022 6 – 7PM
Where: W20-307 Mezzanine
Details: Coming soon! (check event website for updates)
Register here!
Fundamentals of Communication Workshop
When: Friday, April 15th, 2022 12 – 1:30PM
Where: W20-307 Mezzanine
Details: This interactive workshop, using curriculum developed by RELATE (learntorelate.org), will cover fundamental communication skills for talking to any audience about technical topics. We will discuss how to develop an understanding of your audience, choose appropriate language, and craft a central message. As part of this workshop, participants will put these principles into practice to create and deliver an effective elevator pitch.
Register here!
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| MIT Research Slam – Public Showcase |
Monday, April 11; 5:00-6:30 PM;
Virtual |
Learn about cool research across MIT and celebrate inspiring communicators! Register to attend the MIT Research Slam Showcase, a research communication competition for MIT PhD students and postdocs. The showcase will feature 3-minute videos, where participants explain their research and its significance in an engaging way to a general audience.
The program will include live viewing of finalist videos and evaluation by an expert panel of judges. Attendees can join in the fun and contribute their vote for the audience-choice awards, as well as ask questions and leave comments. Come support MIT students and postdocs as they polish the important skill of communicating their research in a clear and concise manner.
Link to register
Link for more information
Registration is open to the general public, so help us spread the word at MIT and beyond! |
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| Lit Tea |
4:30-5:30pm every Monday, except Institute Holidays
Building 14, Room 14N-417 |
**Come by for snacks & tea with the Literature Section instructors, students, & friends!**
Veg, GF, and fruit options will be made available. |
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| The MTA Playwrights Lab is back! |
Multiple Tuesdays until April 26 at 8pm
W97-160, 345 VASSAR STREET |
The MTA Playwrights Lab is back! From March 29 until April 26. Started as a weekend-long event in 2017, the Lab has now grown into a multi-week festival of staged readings featuring the work of the writers in 21M.785 taught by Ken Urban. ALL READINGS @ W97-160 @ 8pm, 345 VASSAR STREET.
Open to the MIT Community and Public.
Please register all 5 readings through this link. |
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| Skip the Small Talk 2022: Graduate Students and Alumni |
Wed Apr 13 from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Zoom, registration required
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Come talk with MIT graduate alumni!
- This event will pair attendees 1:1 in breakout rooms and provide questions to build connections between graduate students and alumni
- Led by Skip the Small Talk facilitators
- Space is limited for this event. Sign up today to reserve your spot!
Link for RSVP and more info |
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| MIT Ibero-American Film Festival 2022 |
Final session: Thursday April 14 @7pm
Building 6-120
The Second Mother / Que horas ela volta? (2015, Brazil) |
The Latino ERG is co-sponsoring the MIT Ibero-American Film Festival 2022 taking place in March and April 2022. Please go to: https://languages.mit.edu/mit-ibero-american-film-festival-2022/ for full details.
The MIT Ibero American Film Series 2022 features five critically acclaimed films by directors from Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guatemala:
All events are on Thursdays 7pm :
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| The Warehouse 20th Anniversary Dinner |
Thurs Apr 14 from 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Colbert Room, The Warehouse (NW30)
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The 2020-21 academic year is the 20th anniversary of the Warehouse as a graduate housing! The celebratory event features free dinner, raffles, trivia night to win TechCash prizes, and more.
Spots are limited. The event is open to all MIT community, with priority given to current and former Warehouse residents.
Link for RSVP
This event is sponsored by GSC Funding Board.
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| MIT Grad Student Wellness FAQs 2022 |
Wed April 20
12pm to 1pm via Zoom
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Click here to join via Zoom.
Address issues of life balance, burnout prevention, self-care, and emotional wellbeing. Feel free to submit your own questions for Zan Barry, PsyD in Community Wellness at MIT Medical.
About Zan:
Susanna (Zan) Barry is a senior program manager in Community Wellness at MIT Medical. Her health coaching programs for MIT students include stress reduction, sleep health, mindful eating, and ways of finding motivation and meaning. |
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| MIT Spouses & Connect: 50th Anniversary Events |
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Celebrating 50 years of supporting newcomers, creating connections, building community (1972-2022). Learn more at http://bit.ly/mspc50 and RSVP for our opening event on Friday April 22 at 10 a.m.
50th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS
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| OGE: Parenting Students Lunch & Learn Series |
Final session on Thursday, April 28 at Noon
Virtual via Zoom |
2022 MIT: Office of Graduate Education
Parenting Students Lunch & Learn Series
Carole Ann Penny
Thurs April 28, 2022 at Noon
Leadership and Parenting - Carole Ann Penny runs a strategic career coaching business while parenting two kids. She will guide a conversation about what it means to be a leader in the workplace as well as a parent!
Link to register
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| An Evening with Tressie McMillan Cottom |
Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 5:30pm
The Nexus, Hayden Library 14S-130 |
Tressie McMillan Cottom explores the everyday culture of big ideas like racism, sexism, inequality, and oppression by giving us the language to live better lives. Her far-ranging intellectual interests include books, articles, magazine profiles, and opinion-editorials, but it is her essays that routinely shape the discourse – part revolutionary pamphlet, part poetic chapbook, part sociological analysis, and part call-to-arms.
Cottom is a professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, a 2020 MacArthur Foundation Fellow, and New York Times contributing opinion writer. She is a member of the inaugural external advisory committee for the MIT Libraries’ Center for Research on Equitable and Open Scholarship (CREOS).
- In-person attendance at Hayden Library (14S-100): MIT Covid Pass required
- The event will also be live streamed.
Link to register |
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| The Writing and Communication Center continues its free consultations during Spring 2022! |
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| The Writing and Communication Center (WCC) continues its free one-on-one consultations on different types of written, spoken, and visual communication. You can receive in-person and remote support there at all stages of the writing and communication process, from brainstorming to the final version, on such projects as research papers, fellowship applications, cover letters, personal statements, dissertations, presentations, or posters. The WCC can also mentor you through writer’s blocks including procrastination, perfectionism, demoralization, and imposter stress. To learn more about the WCC, check their website and make an appointment through this link: https://mit.mywconline.com. Don’t wait, schedule today! |
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| Guide to Food @MIT |
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| The Food Security Action Team has shared guides to food @ MIT. Click on the flyers to access. |
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| Wellness Events & Resources |
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| [Wellbeing Check-in] This month: Mind |
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Focusing on your wellbeing by caring for your mind and body, fostering meaningful relationships, and finding purpose can help you to thrive in all aspects of your life.
Each month, we will provide a wellbeing check-in question related to one of the 4 pillars. Wellbeing Check-in questions are brought to you by DoingWell.
Ask Yourself: How am I letting matters that are out of my control stress me out?
Visit doingwell.mit.edu for more resources to prioritize your wellbeing. |
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Sleep, Outdoors, Mindfulness, Exercise |
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| SOME is better than none |
| An acronym to help you through tough times. |
During times of uncertainty and stress, SOME activities are especially effective for caring for the body and mind: Sleep, Outdoor time, Mindfulness, and Exercise will help sustain you during tough times.
Instead of an “all-or-nothing” approach to self-care, you can choose SOMEthing from the list and do SOME of it today. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to work for you. SOME activities signal to your body and mind that you are listening to, appreciating, and taking care of yourself – because during extraordinary times, you really are doing SOMEthing extraordinary.
S is for Sleep: If you feel draggy and tired when you first wake up, turn on lights immediately and open window shades if the sun is up. Light can help suppress melatonin production (associated with sleepiness) and increase wakefulness.
O is for Outdoors: Sensory Walking: This adaptation for the walking meditation is simple, and just involves really tuning into our five senses as we move through space. As we get into the moment with our senses, we can really savor the precious moments we do have to be outside and moving, and all that is around us. Our senses keep us grounded in the moment while our thoughts drift to the past or future. Keep your eyes still, focus on the soles of your feet, focus on sounds, and focus on smells and tastes in the air.
-Dr. Chris Willard
M is for Mindfulness: Try listening mindfully when your friends speak. Instead of planning what to say next, take a deep breath, stay present, and give them your full attention. Attention is the greatest gift you could give!
E is for Exercise: Fit a workout in doing every day tasks! Increase your leg strength by doing squats instead of bending at the waist while picking up your house. As you walk up the stairs, try doing calf raises. Run alongside your kids when they are playing outside to get some cardio in. Making little changes like these could add up to about 60 minutes of exercise a day. |
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| Take Care of Yourself During Challenging Times |
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The unfolding news of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine has been horrific. Our thoughts are with students from the region or have loved ones in the region who are impacted. Please do not hesitate to be in touch with the Student Support Services or GradSupport dean who has been in contact with you. Or, contact ukrainehelp@mit.edu and a support staff member will respond to your email. MIT is here for you.
Even if you are not from the region or have family in the impacted area, these times can still feel unsettling. During times like this, it is important to take care of yourself in ways that work for you. Finding healthy practices to manage your stress, process your feelings, or connect with others can be a great way to focus on your wellbeing.
Check out this page from DoingWell at MIT for some tips if you need help getting started.
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| Boston Symphony Orchestra MIT Discount |
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| Subsidized $5 BSO College Cards are now available for MIT students! This program is supported by the Bobko BSO Ticket Fund. With a BSO College Card, students can reserve free tickets to Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts each week during the entire 2021-22 season. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test required—make sure to review the BSO public health policy: Safe in Sound. |
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MIT International Students Office
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
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Office Hours:
9:00-16:00 (M-F)
Closed (W) 10:00-11:30
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