PUBLIC HOURS FOR ISSS
UA International Student & Scholar Services has resumed on-campus operations.
PUBLIC HOURS: Monday – Friday, 9 am – 12 noon and 1 – 3 pm CST (by appointment only).
APPOINTMENTS REQUIRED FOR IN-PERSON MEETINGS
During this time, UA International Student & Scholar Services will be open for appointments only.
To make an appointment, please email international@ua.edu or call 205-348-5402.
Whether contacting us by phone or email, please be sure to include your name and CWID (if known) with your inquiry.
Specific Inquiries and Requests
For students and scholars who have specific requests for information, advisement, or virtual appointments, please direct your inquiries to UA ISSS Staff as follows:
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VIRTUAL ADVISING
If you have immigration questions, our staff is holding virtual advising Monday - Friday from 11am-4:45pm.
When seeking advising via Zoom, students and scholars will be connected with one of the UA ISSS Staff. If there are multiple students and scholars in the queue, you will be placed directly into a waiting room.
Please note, virtual advising is meant for shorter inquiries, and in order to serve all students and scholars, we ask that advising be limited to 5 minutes.
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REGISTRATION HOLD
All international undergraduate students currently have a registration hold on their account.
This hold was placed after Fall add/drop date and will be removed before Spring registration opens.
The hold is there to prevent students from dropping below full-time (12 credit hours) and jeopardizing their immigration status.
Please contact us at international@ua.edu, if you need the hold to be temporarily lifted so you can add/drop a course during the semester.
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DEADLINE:
Health insurance waiver for Fall 2020
September 18th 2020
If you already have medical insurance that meets or exceeds the University of Alabama guidelines (http://international.ua.edu/isss/insurance-medical-care/), you may request a waiver of UA insurance charges.
A waiver form is available here: https://shc.sa.ua.edu/university-sponsored-health-insurance/.
The waiver form must be completed by you as well as your insurance provider and submitted to UA’s Student Health Center.
Without processing a waiver, you will be automatically charged for the University-sponsored insurance policy; so, be sure to submit the waiver in order to avoid paying for two separate insurance policies.
INSURANCE WAIVER FOR FALL 2020 OUT-OF-COUNTRY STUDENTS
If you are enrolled in UA insurance for the Fall 2020 semester but will remain out-of-country for the semester, it is possible to waive out of the UA insurance policy for Fall 2020.
To be eligible for the waiver, you must submit an Out-of-Country Waiver Form with evidence that you are not inside the United States and agree that you
- will not return to the United States prior to January 1, 2021,
- will not be eligible for health insurance coverage through UA’s Insurance Plan until January 1, 2021, and
- will be responsible for any and all personal medical expenses incurred between August 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
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ALERT:
APPLY FOR OPT NOW to avoid increased fee
If you are an eligible F-1 student and have been planning to file OPT, the time is NOW, as the USCIS has announced large filing fee increases effective October 2, 2020!
OPT fee will increase by 34%, from the current $410 to $550. USCIS must receive your application before October 2, 2020 for the current fee to be applied.
Student do not have to have a job offer in hand in order to apply for OPT. Application can be filed up to 90 days prior to program completion date. Due to Covid-19 and USCIS cutdown on card production facilities, OPT applications processing will very likely be delayed. OPT applications will still be processed as usual, only not in person during this time.
To apply for OPT, please scan all of the documents in one (1) single PDF file to international@ua.edu or trang.t.nguyen@ua.edu . Due to the limitation of our database, please limit your file size to 4MB or less if possible. To ensure quick processing, only scan an application when all forms are completed and properly signed. Electronic signatures are acceptable on certain forms. We highly recommend that Form I-765 (for OPT applications) still contain “wet” signature. More information about student employment can be found here. OPT Packet can be accessed on ISSS website here
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PERSONAL SAFETY REMINDERS – STAY SAFE IN PUBLIC AND AT HOME
Recently, an international student was robbed in their home off-campus. While this is a very rare occurrence, we want to make sure to remind everyone of resources and some basic tips for safety.
- Remember to read and use the Safer Living Guide for tips and guidance on protecting yourself and your property - https://saferliving.ua.edu/.
- SAFETY AT HOME (from https://saferliving.ua.edu/safety-on-campus/personal-safety/)
- Assaults can occur at your residence. Practice prevention whether you live on campus or off.
- When you enter your residence, close and lock the door immediately. Use dead bolts and keep windows locked when not in use.
- Be smart about keys. Don’t leave them outside or in hiding places. Don’t lend them to anyone. If you lose your keys, change your locks. Have locks changed before you move in to a new residence.
- Get to know your neighbors and which ones you can trust in an emergency.
- Never open your door to strangers; install and use peep holes. Require proper identification from utility and repair people. If a stranger asks to use your phone, keep your door locked and offer to place the call yourself. If the situation seems suspicious, CALL POLICE IMMEDIATELY. Be able to describe the person when you report the incident to police.
- Don’t leave your name on your voice mail message. Agree with your roommates that none of you will give the following information to an unknown caller: Who is home; Who is out; When someone will return.
- In residence halls, follow all security regulations and tell your RA about unauthorized or suspicious persons.
- Make sure all entrances are well lit.
- When walking, avoid alleys, vacant lots and shortcuts. Listen for footsteps and voices. Notice cars that pass you more than once or pull up beside you. If someone follows you, go to a public building. If someone follows you on campus, use an emergency blue phone or call UAPD, and describe the vehicle and person to the police communications operator.
- Avoid placing visible banners or signs on the exterior or your apartment or dwelling because this sends a signal of college-aged occupants who may be away for weekends, breaks and holidays when burglars are looking for an easy opportunity
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International Coffee Hour is Back!!!
(Please note this picture was taken pre-pandemic)
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Be a part of INTERNATIONAL CIRCLES!!!
Apply by September 25th
The International Students Association invites you to be a part of the International Circles program.
It has been difficult to meet new people and make friends during this time of social distancing.
This program allows you to be a part of a group of people you might not have known otherwise.
International Circles Application Form: https://bit.ly/2YV4Y6i (log in with your Crimson student email account to apply)
Join ISA’s GroupMe for updates on all ISA events: https://groupme.com/join_group/61910917/s7CgNz3r |
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Success and Growth in the US Workshop
Dr Doh would like to invite you to her Success and Growth in the US Workshop.
This workshop will help you adjust better in the US and provide you with opportunities to share your experiences with fellow international students. It will benefit anyone who wants to explore and understand self in the US and is interested in striving for personal growth.
It will take place every Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:00 for 11 weeks starting on September 9th, 2020 (see the weekly schedule below)
If you are interested in this workshop, please fill in the application (http://international.ua.edu/files/2019/01/Success-and-growth-in-the-US-application.pdf) and email it back to international.ua.edu. Dr Doh will call you to schedule a short meeting prior to the workshop.
Applications must be returned by September 6th.
Those of you who have attended this workshop previously can also join the workshop again.
Dr Doh will only accept up to 8 students this semester, so fill in your application ASAP please!!! (we will have a waitlist if we have more than 8 requests).
| week |
Topic |
Activities |
1
(9/9) |
Introduction |
Program orientation
Getting to know each other |
2
(9/16) |
Leaving home
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My culture and me
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3
(9/23) |
Surviving in the US 1 |
In town and campus resources
self-care
Sleep hygiene |
4
(9/30) |
Surviving in the US 2 |
American Culture |
5
(10/7 ) |
Surviving in the US |
Stress management |
6
(10/14) |
Studying in the US |
Multiple intelligence
Effective study strategies
Test anxiety |
7
(10/21) |
Studying in the US |
Time management techniques
Procrastination |
8
(10/28) |
Relationship building
in the US |
Challenging relationship situations in the US
Four communication styles |
9
(11/4)
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Relationship maintaining with home |
Interpersonal style and expectations across culture
Remembering significant relationships back home |
10
(11/11)
|
Growing in the US-1 |
Acculturation model
Social, cultural, and personal
Potential psychological challenges |
12
(11/18) |
Growing in the US-2 |
My developmental tasks
Value exploration |
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African Students Association
The African Students Association is inviting all African students to join their organization and become part of the African community at the university of Alabama.
The Association aims to welcome the African students to the UA community, support them throughout their years at the university, and help them adjust to life in Tuscaloosa.
Please click on the link below to join the Association:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oxuK1sL4X2BwUBABBVrT7hOyFM6kYKRTJ5bF1qSvJPY/edit#gid=0
You will be contacted by the ASA after you complete the form.
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The English Language Institute (ELI) is looking for international students who would be willing to engage in conversation on various topics one day a week from August 26th- September 30th.
Time slots where students are needed: 2:00-2:50pm on Mondays, 2:00-2:50pm on Wednesdays.
If you are interested in volunteering, or want more information, contact Kelly McPherson at kellym@eli.ua.edu.
(Please note these pictures were taken pre-pandemic)
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The Navigators
International Students
Join The Navigators International Students for opportunities to make friends and have fun!!
They have weekly meetings and special events throughout the year.
Follow them on Instagram @uanavs_intl for more details!
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August 26th, 2020
September 4th, 2020
September 7th, 2020
September 18th, 2020
October 26th, 2020
October 28th, 2020
November 20th, 2020
November 20th,2020
November 21st-29th, 2020
November 26th-27th, 2020
December 4th, 2020
December 4th, 2020
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These dates are valid as of 09/03/2020 but could be modified as needed.
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