Editor’s Note: The ISSS Newsletter is distributed monthly. Between monthly newsletters, please follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram to learn more about programs, events, and updates.
Contents:
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Reminder of ISSS Availability
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Upcoming ISSS Events
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Cultural Bites: Chinese, Lebanese, and Indian Lunches
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OPT Filing Deadline for Spring 2025 Graduates
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Graduate Application for Degree Open
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Fall 2025 Bus Service from NYC Airports to Campus
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Summer Break and Travel Information Reminders
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Arrival of New International Students
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Alumni: Opt in to Keep your ˿Ƶ Email Account Active
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Reminders about Publicly-funded Health Insurance
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International Health Insurance Team is Now Accepting Insurance Fee Waiver Requests for Fall 2025
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1. Reminder of ISSS Availability
Advising Hours & Updates:
The ISSS office holds advising hours on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00am to 11:45am and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. Please visit the ISSS website for updates.
The ISSS office will be unavailable on Friday, July 4, 2025.
2. Upcoming ISSS Events
Thursday, July 10 | 1:00pm - 3:00pm | Old Champlain Atrium (Old Champlain Hall, Room 133) and outside area
Ready for some sunshine, good vibes, and great food? Come join us for a fun picnic where you can kick back, play games, and enjoy a warm summer afternoon with friends! Bring your energy, your friends, and your picnic spirit – everyone’s welcome!
Please in advance so we can be sure to order enough pizza for everyone.
Have questions? Contact ISSS Programming Coordinator, Annie Smith, at dsmith66@binghamton.edu.
Wednesday, July 30 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm | Old Champlain Atrium (Old Champlain Hall, Room 133)
Join us for a chill afternoon filled with coffee, snacks, and refreshing lemonade. Enjoy some games, get creative with crafts, and connect with friends- both old and new! All are welcome!
If you have any questions about the Summer Social Hour, contact Annie Smith at dsmith66@binghamton.edu.
3. Cultural Bites: Chinese, Lebanese, and Indian Lunches
Staying in ˿Ƶ this summer? Join the Office of International Education and Global Affairs (IEGA) for Cultural Bites — a series of free, global lunches where you can enjoy Chinese, Lebanese, and Indian food from local restaurants in ˿Ƶ and connect with other students! Lunches will be held in the Old Champlain Atrium from 12:00-1:30PM. If you have any questions, please email Catherine Hall at chall20@binghamton.edu. Everyone is welcome, but please register ahead of time! .
Chinese Lunch: Wednesday, July 16
Lebanese Lunch: Thursday, July 24
Indian Lunch: Tuesday, August 5
4. OPT Filing Deadline for Spring 2025 Graduates
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is employment authorization for international students in F-1 visa status in a job related to your academic major after graduation. You do not need a job offer to apply for OPT.
If you graduated in the Spring 2025 semester (May 18, 2025) and plan to apply for post-completion optional practical training (OPT), USCIS must RECEIVE your OPT application by Thursday, July 17. If your OPT application is received by USCIS after the filing deadline, your application will be automatically denied. If you have not applied for OPT yet, please review our How to Apply page. You must submit the to the ISSS Office as soon as possible so a new OPT I-20 can be created and to allow time to submit your OPT application to USCIS.
If you have questions after reading the above information, please email intlwork@binghamton.edu.
5. Graduate Application for Degree Open
The Graduate Application for Degree (GAFD) for Summer 2025 is available on the Graduation page of the Graduate School website. Timely completion of this form ensures timely completion of degree paperwork. Students must submit the GAFD by August 8, 2025. Students are also encouraged to take note of all degree requirements in the Graduate School Manual.
6. Fall 2025 bus service from NYC airports to campus
If you will be returning to ˿Ƶ University from NYC area airports, review the ISSS Transportation to ˿Ƶ page to understand transit options. One option for this fall is the OurBus rideshare service offering direct service to ˿Ƶ from JFK International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport on select dates. You can find more details about this service and available dates on the . If you are interested in using that service, you will need to review that page carefully for instructions on selecting a time slot in advance. If you have any questions about the OurBus service, please email intarriv@binghamton.edu.
7. Summer Break and Travel Information Reminders
The ISSS Office recommends that you use caution when planning travel outside the United States. Travel restrictions have the potential to affect your ability to return to the United States. If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside of the U.S. for an indefinite amount of time.
If you choose to travel outside the United States:
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- Make sure that you have all of the required documents to return to the US, including a valid passport, a valid F-1 or J-1 visa, and an I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature. If the signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 will be more than 12 months old (6 months for students on OPT or STEM OPT) when you return to the US, you should visit the ISSS office for an updated signature before you leave or online. Review the detailed instructions on our Travel page for more information. Students who are on OPT or STEM OPT should review our OPT Travel page.
- Be aware of anything you have posted on social media and your online presence in general. The U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security have indicated that they are using AI to review information that international students and scholars have posted online, and this information may be used in decisions for visa issuance, entry to the U.S., and immigration enforcement.
- If your passport will be expiring soon, make sure that you start the renewal process as soon as possible. Your passport must always be valid at least 6 months into the future.
- If your F-1 or J-1 visa has expired, ISSS advises you not to travel outside the U.S. at this time.
- If you have experienced any interaction with law enforcement, you should consult with an ISSS advisor about the potential risks of travel.
- If you are a citizen of a country included in the recent barring entry to the U.S., ISSS advised you not to travel outside the U.S. at this time.
- Monitor emails from ISSS for any updates related to travel restrictions. It is possible that new travel restrictions could be enacted while you are outside the U.S. that would prevent you from returning.
If you choose to travel outside the United States, you should ensure that you have back-up plans in place in case you are delayed or are unable to return to the U.S. Please note that entry to the U.S. is always subject to the discretion of Customs and Border Protection, and ISSS cannot guarantee re-entry. If you face difficulty when entering the U.S., you or a CBP officer can contact ISSS during business hours at 607.777.2510. If you are re-entering the U.S. and face difficulty outside of business hours, you or a CBP officer can contact the University Police Department at 607.777.2393.
If you have questions regarding travel, we encourage you to visit the ISSS office or call (607.777.2510) during advising hours to speak with an ISSS Advisor. ISSS has advising hours on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00-11:45 am and on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:30-3:30 pm.
8. Arrival of New International Students
If you happen to meet a new international student, please be sure to direct them to the ISSS New Students webpage which includes helpful information related to our fall 2025 International Student Orientation. New students will complete their check-in process online this semester (this includes uploading information about their immigration documents) so they will not be required to visit the ISSS Office in person before orientation.
9. Alumni: Opt in to Keep your ˿Ƶ Email Account Active
If you have recently graduated from ˿Ƶ University, you will need to opt in to keep your ˿Ƶ University email account active. You can opt in by logging in through . For more details about keeping access to your email address, Google Drive, and other accounts, view the Alumni Association Email FAQ.
10. Reminders about Publicly-funded Health Insurance
International students, scholars, and their dependents in F or J status should not enroll in Medicaid, the New York State Essential Plan, or other government-funded health insurance programs.
These plans do not meet the requirements to waive the mandatory International Health Insurance, and utilizing these programs may result in serious immigration consequences. Because these programs are subsidized by the government, enrolling in them could lead to a “public charge” determination, which may impact your ability to:
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- Be approved for an F-1 or J-1 visa
- Enter or re-enter the U.S.
- Change or extend your immigration status in the future
If you are currently enrolled in one of these plans or are using benefits such as a debit card associated with these plans, we strongly recommend that you contact the insurance provider as soon as possible to cancel your enrollment. If you have questions about the SUNY International Health Insurance plan, please review the information on the ISSS Health Insurance website or email intl.insure@binghamton.edu.
11. International Health Insurance Team is Now Accepting Insurance Fee Waiver Requests for Fall 2025
The International Health Insurance Team is now accepting requests from those who believe they meet the requirements for an international health insurance fee waiver. In order to qualify for a waiver of the fee you must:
RAs/TAs/GAs with health insurance (NYSHIP or Empire Blue) will no longer be automatically waived from the standard SUNY International student insurance policy, as was the case in previous semesters. Any student who wishes to file an application for a waiver from the standard international student health insurance plan will need to complete an international health insurance waiver e-form. You will be notified if your waiver is approved and your charges will be adjusted accordingly.
Please note that a submission does not guarantee approval. A full review of your policy must be conducted to ensure compliance. Approved waivers are valid for one semester only. Students must submit a health insurance waiver request every semester. The deadline for submission of a waiver request is October 15, 2025. No exceptions are granted.
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