Attention F-1 and J-1 students! Is your I-20 or DS-2019 expiring this semester? Do you need more time to finish your studies? If so, you will need to extend your I-20/DS-2019. ISSS can help you with that. First, you’ll need to get in touch with your academic advisor. Ask for… read more
General
USCIS OPT/STEM OPT Delays and Flexibility
USCIS is currently experiencing delays in issuing receipt notices for OPT and STEM OPT applications. USCIS has acknowledged these delays and are extending some flexibility to OPT or STEM OPT applications received between October 1, 2020 and May 21, 2021. If you applied for OPT and are concerned because your… read more
Help an International Graduate Student’s Dissertation Research
An international graduate student from South Korea, Kibaek Kim, is conducting his research at the University of Arkansas to collect data for his dissertation. The purpose of this study is to analyze how sports, in the forms of watching and participating, can contribute to international students’ adjustment to the new… read more
New Scholarships Available to Students from Latin America
Looking for scholarship opportunities? The Pan American Round Table of Austin has two new scholarships available for students from Latin America: The Jeannie Hunter Hackett Memorial Scholarship, and The Gloria Mata Pennington Scholarship. The Jeannie Hunter Hackett Memorial Scholarship The Jeannie Hunter Hackett Memorial Scholarship of $2,000 is awarded to… read more
Graduating in Spring 2021? Apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Are you an F-1 student who will graduate in spring 2021? Do you want to work in the U.S. after graduation? If you answered yes to both questions, then you want to apply for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT). OPT is work authorization for F-1 students that allows you to… read more
7,671 Miles Away from Home: My Learnings
Looking back to when I was a 17-year-old girl in Karachi, Pakistan waiting to hear back from universities I applied to, I never thought I would end up where I did. The University of Texas at Austin was the very first university I heard back from, and I knew in… read more
Be Part of the Global Student Voice
Texas Global is taking part in the International Student Barometer survey. We want to learn about your experience at UT Austin and how to make it better. All current UT students received an email with an individual link to the International Student Barometer. The survey is for current UT students… read more
International Orientation Volunteers Offer Advice to Incoming Students
To welcome incoming international students this spring, International Orientation Volunteers (IOVs) conducted “Mentor Meetings,” a series of informative presentations covering various cultural, social and academic topics introducing new students to the Longhorn way of life. These sessions took place over Zoom from Jan. 6-14. There was a total of… read more
Negative COVID-19 Test Now Required to Enter US
Beginning Jan. 26, 2021, all air passengers entering the U.S. must provide a negative COVID-19 test before boarding their flight, as required by the CDC. Passengers are required to get a test within three days of their departure. Written documentation of the negative test result must be provided to the… read more
How to Combat Homesickness and Smoothly Transition to a New Culture
This post was contributed by Le Dang Khoa (Kevin) Pham, a Civil Engineering freshman from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Before coming to the United States, I had been going to “international schools” in Vietnam. Essentially, they are private schools that combine two educational systems: one of the systems is… read more