How did you become interested in working with international students? When I moved to Seattle for undergrad, I knew I wanted to learn more about other cultures, and so I studied abroad in Granada, Spain. I earned my undergraduate degree in International Studies and Spanish, which then led me to work in the travel industry for 6.5 years, traveling all over the world. In 2022, I combined my passion for the power of education with my love of learning about…
Author: mellishj
Campus Spotlight: Student Legal Services
Written by Ilham Mohamed of Student Legal Services Providing FREE to low-cost legal services to students since 1969. Student Legal Services is an on-campus law office that provides a safe and confidential space for all UW-Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma students who have legal questions or concerns. SLS offers free 40-minute consultations on a broad range of issues such as immigration, landlord/tenant, name and gender marker changes, contracts, discrimination, obtaining a protection order, traffic tickets, criminal cases, and other legal issues….
May 28-30: No Advising. Plan Ahead!
During the week of May 27th, the ISS team will attend the annual NAFSA professional conference. This conference ensures that our advisors stay updated on the most recent immigration regulations, policies, and issues. Our office will remain open during our regular hours of 1-4 PM. However while our team is away, there will not be any drop-in advising available. Need help during this time? If you need assistance while our advisors are attending their conference, you can reach us in…
5 Tips from a Career Coach: The International Student Job Search
Written by Erin Lee of the Career and Internship Center We know that many of you are busy applying for summer internships or making post-graduation plans. The Career and Internship Center is here to help you navigate the job-search process. We’ve written a few tips below to help students both early in their studies and finishing their degrees. Gain Experience as Early as Possible: Take initiative in class projects, engage in RSOs, and/or secure an on-campus job to gain practical…
DHS Announces Special Student Relief for Students from the Palestinian Territories
Summary On April 12, 2024 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended Special Student Relief (SSR) to Palestinian F-1 students experiencing economic hardship due to the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian Territories. The designation suspends certain on-campus and off-campus regulations and is set to expire on June 13, 2025. What is Special Student Relief? Special Student Relief (SSR) is the suspension of specific immigration regulations for F-1 students who face unexpected hardship due to a situation in their home country….
DHS Extends Special Student Relief for Students from Ethiopia
Summary On April 12, 2024 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended Special Student Relief (SSR) to F-1 students from Ethiopia through December 12, 2025. The original SSR notice was set to expire on June 12, 2024. What is Special Student Relief? Special Student Relief (SSR) is the suspension of specific immigration regulations for F-1 students who face unexpected hardship due to a situation in their home country. SSR typically provides eligible students flexibilities related to employment and enrollment requirements….
Reminders about Work Authorization
Many of our F-1 international students are applying for summer internships and post-graduation jobs which we know is an exciting but stressful process. To work off campus, whether an internship during your studies or a job after graduation, you must apply for authorization. We’ve put together a few reminders about work authorization and your immigration status. Internships, Trainings, and Off-campus Work Require Authorization To work off campus during your studies, you likely need to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT)…
Update Your ISHIP Coverage for Summer
As an F-1 or J-1 international student, you are required to have health insurance. Most students are automatically enrolled in the International Student Health Insurance Plan (ISHIP) which has 2 different rates: quarterly and annual. What is the difference between the quarterly and annual rates? The Quarterly coverage is applied every quarter once you register for classes. If you do not register for classes in a quarter, including summer, you will not be enrolled in insurance. However, the Annual coverage…
DHS Extends Special Student Relief (SSR) for Students from Burma
Summary On March 22, 2024 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended Special Student Relief (SSR) to F-1 students from Burma through November 25, 2025. The original SSR notice was set to expire on May 25, 2024. What is Special Student Relief? Special Student Relief (SSR) is the suspension of specific immigration regulations for F-1 students who face unexpected hardship due to a situation in their home country. SSR typically provides eligible students flexibilities related to employment and enrollment requirements….
ISS Services Are Changing Spring 2024
Spring quarter means warm weather and cherry blossoms! For the ISS team, it is also the busiest time of the year. Many of our F and J international students are applying for summer or post-graduation work authorizations such as CPT and OPT. To better support you throughout this busy time, we are making a few changes to our services. Live Online Chat Support We are happy to announce that you are now able to connect directly with our team through…