Friday, February 8, 2019
Table of Contents
1. Greeting
Happy Lunar New Year!
2. Important Announcements
- Friday Afternoon Workshops with ISSS- Career Fair
Preparation Today at 3pm in the Standish Room, Science
Library (3rd Floor)!
- Job and Internship Fair 2/14
- Immigration Art: Free Consultations with an Immigration
Attorney
- Sprintax Codes Available for Tax Filing
3. Other ISSS Updates and Events
- OPT/CPT Workshop Schedule
- Apply for UAlbany Alumni Association scholarships
- Travel Signature Day Schedule - Spring 2019
- The Language Chatting Room (LCR)
- University Library Workshops
4. University at Albany Events
Click here for a full list of upcoming UAlbany events!
- Blackstone LaunchPad Pitch and Networking
- Winning Wednesday - For the Love of Law
- Men's Basketball vs. UMass Lowell
- LGBTQ Hospitality Day: Celebrating our Identities
- Orientation and Transition Programs: Leadership opportunities
5. Capital District Events
- Free ice skating at the Empire State Plaza Ice Rink
- The LEGO Americana Roadshows: Buildings across America
- The 2019 Flurry Festival
1. Greetings!
This is the Weekly ISSS Newsletter that we send out every Friday. It
includes very important immigration updates that you must be aware of,
as well as information about events happening on campus and in the area.
Are you a part of a student organization and want to see your event
advertised to your fellow students? Please send the details and/or flyer to
2. Important Announcements
Friday Afternoon Workshops with ISSS!- Career Fair
Preparation Today at 3:00pm in the Standish Room, Science
Library (3rd Floor)!
This semester, ISSS is happy to provide a new program: Friday Afternoon
Workshops with ISSS! Every Friday afternoon we will have a different workshop,
covering topics including employment, academics, wellness and social
activities. We look forward to you joining us!
Today, 2/8, will be Career Fair Preparation!!! It will be from 3-5pm in the Standish
Room (3rd floor of the Science Library). ISSS partners up with Career Services to
provide tips on how to successfully navigate the Career Fair and U.S. job search. A
full schedule is available here.
Job and Internship Fair 2/14
Thursday, February 14, 2018
11:00am-4:00pm
SEFCU arena
This event is sponsored by the Career Center. Dress professionally and bring copies of
your resume. More information is online
here: https://www.albany.edu/career/index.shtml
Immigration Art: Free Consultations with an Immigration
Attorney
We are excited to inform you of a great opportunity to receive 1-on-1
consultations and advice from an immigration attorney, Arthur Serratelli, Esq..
Mr Serratelli.—from the Virginia law firm of Seratelli Mijal PLLC—will be here
to provide international students with information for: H-1B visa applications,
other possible visa options, or petitions for Permanent Residency. Immigration
Art has been working with the UAlbany international community for the last ten
years, and we are happy to welcome him back!
Personal Consultations are available by appointment on March 11th and March
12th. See flyer below for details.
Additionally, Mr. Serratelli will host evening workshops on March 11th and
March 12th. See flyer below for details.
Sprintax Codes Available 2/4 for Tax Filing
ISSS has purchased Sprintax tax software to help international students and
scholars to file their 2018 federal tax return. To obtain a tax code; please email
ISSS at [email protected]. Please include the following information in your email:
first & last name, student id number, and the name of your employer. If you were
not employed, please go to: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8843.pdf, to obtain
form 8843. For questions, please contact ISSS.
3. Other ISSS Updates and Events
OPT/CPT Workshop Schedule
ISSS has weekly employment workshops, either for CPT authorization or OPT
authorization. Students must attend one of these workshops before applying for
OPT. If you are graduating in May, you can begin applying for OPT on February
16, 2019. Remember that USCIS estimates up to 3-5 months for processing of an
OPT application. An OPT workshop is on Friday, 2/15, at 3:30pm in SL G-05. To
view a full schedule, click here.
Apply for UAlbany Alumni Association scholarships!
For more than 38 years, the University at Albany Alumni Association has provided
scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students to help continue UAlbany’s
tradition of excellence and opportunity and is pleased to announce funding for the
following student scholarships for 2019-2020. Click here for a full list of
scholarships.
Travel Signature Day Schedule- Spring 2019
Every F-1 and J-1 student must have a valid travel signature on their I-20 or DS-
2019 in order to re-enter the United States after travelling outside. These travel
signatures are usually valid for 1 year while you are a full-time student, though we
recommend getting your I-20 or DS-2019 signed every 6 months. Usually, travel
signature requests take 5-7 business days. On our special travel signature days,
however, we will sign the I-20 or DS-2019 on the spot. Download the schedule
here.
The Language Chatting Room (LCR)
The LCR allows students (international students and Americans) to meet up, chat,
and exchange information about their languages and cultures. It is a great way to
meet a student who speaks a language different from you, and learn some fun
phrases and new words from them! This group is a casual exchange and is not
intended as a substitute for formal tutoring for a University language courses or a
formal translation service . It runs from 2:30 - 4:00PM in the Campus Center
by SEFCU. We hope you will join us on the following dates: Feb 21, March 7,
March 28, April 11 & April 25 (Thur).
University Library Workshops
Workshop I: Introduction to Research Process (Instructors: Mary Van Ullen and
Yu-Hui Chen)
February 15, Friday 10:30 am – 12:30 pm LI B48 (University Library basement level)
To sign up, please contact Mary VanUllen at [email protected]
Workshop II: What is “plagiarism” all about? How to avoid it? (Instructors: Yu-
Hui Chen and Mary Van Ullen)
February 22, Friday 10:30 am – 12:30 pm LI B48 (University Library basement level)
To sign up, please contact Yu-Hui Chen at [email protected]
Workshop III: Citation Practice (Instructors: Yu-Hui Chen and Mary Van Ullen)
March 1, Friday 10:30 am – 12:30 pm LI B48 (University Library basement level)
To sign up, please contact Yu-Hui Chen at [email protected]
4. University at Albany Events
Click Here for a full list of upcoming UAlbany events!
Blackstone LaunchPad Pitch and Networking
Tuesday, February 12 @ 5:30 - 8PM
Campus Center West Boardroom, Uptown Campus
To register, click here.
UAlbany student startups will be presenting their new ventures seeking advice, mentorship and
other resources.
Network with students, faculty and alumni. Doors open at 5:30. Pizza and beverages will be served.
Winning Wednesday - For the Love of Law
Wednesday, February 13, 11AM - 1PM
Student Success Center (1FL), Campus Center.
Mark your calendars for a unique opportunity to meet with representatives from a wide variety of
law-related professions right here on campus. Plus receive tips on how to best prepare for law
school. All students in attendance will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win an LSAT study
guide.
Men's Basketball vs. UMass Lowell
Wednesday, February 13, 7 - 9PM
SEFCU Arena
Cost: Adults: $12-20, Children 12 and under: $8 in Grey Level
LGBTQ Hospitality Day: Celebrating our Identities
Saturday, February 16 (all day)
Gender & Sexuality Resource Center (O190), Campus Center
Join the celebration by participating in any of the mixers of your choice: QTPOC Identity
Mixer; Bi/Pan Identity Mixer; Trans/GNC/NB Identity Mixer; Asexual Identity Mixer; Rent Sing-
Along and Game Night
Orientation and Transition Programs: Leadership opportunities
Applications due Wednesday, February 20
Click here for more info.
The office of Orientation and Transition Programs is happy to report that our Orientation Leader
(OL) applications are now available. Our office will be overseeing a 3-Week pre college Summer
Program for High School Rising Juniors and Seniors from NYC thanks to a generous grant. The
program is called “Project Achieve”, and we will also be hiring 6 - Project Achieve Leaders
(PALS) to assist us with that program! Applications are available
on albany.joinhandshake.com and are due on Wednesday, February 20th. For more
information about each position, click here.
5. Capital District Events
Free ice skating at the Empire State Plaza Ice Rink
Open daily through early March @ 12 - 8PM
Empire State Plaza Ice Rink, Albany
Free admission / Skate Rentals: $4 for adults (A photo ID is required)
Click here for more info.
The LEGO Americana Roadshow: Buildings across America
Saturday - Sunday, February 9 -24
Crossgates Mall, Albany
Famous American landmarks made completely out of LEGO bricks are brought to life in this free,
hands-on exhibit. Some of America’s most famous landmarks are temporarily moving to Crossgates
– or at least, their LEGO replicas are. The LEGO Americana Roadshow, presented by MVP Health
Care, is a free traveling roadshow stopping at Crossgates on February 9th until the 24th, marking its
first Upstate New York appearance for the 17-day interactive exhibit.
The 2019 Flurry Festival
Friday - Sunday, February 15 - 17
Saratoga Springs City Center (522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866)
Click here for times and prices.
The Flurry is well-known as the best winter weekend ever for dancers and music lovers of all ages!
Featuring: dances, workshops, singing, concerts, jamming performances, family events, storytelling,
vendors, and more.Shake off the winter blues! It's time to dance, sing, jam, and more at The Flurry
Festival! The 32nd Flurry Festival will run from February 15 - 17, 2019, in Saratoga Springs, NY!