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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ISSS Availability for the Fall 2025 Semester
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First International Coffee Hour: Wednesday, September 3!
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Save the Dates: Fall 2025 International Coffee Hours!
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Full Time Course Enrollment for Fall 2025 Semester
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Upcoming ISSS Programs
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Crossing Borders: Navigating the U.S. Health Care System
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Fall 2025 Career Passport: A September Series for International Student Success
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International Students Games
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Graduating in December? Attend an ISSS workshop and apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) early!
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International Health Insurance Team is Now Accepting Insurance Fee Waiver Requests
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Health Insurance Id Cards
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Download your I-94 Record
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Sign up for ELI Conversation Pairs!
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Family and Relative English Experience (FREE) Program
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New Graduate Students: Submit Your Final Transcripts to the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions
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1. ISSS Availability for the Fall 2025 Semester
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is excited to welcome all of our new and returning international students and scholars as we embark upon the Fall 2025 semester!
Advising Hours & Updates:
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services 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.
Special Notice Regarding ISSS Unavailability:
The ISSS will be unavailable Monday, September 1 for the Labor Day Holiday. Please visit the ISSS website for additional updates regarding availability.
2. First International Coffee Hour: Wednesday, September 3!
Good company! Complimentary refreshments! Come relax at our first , 3:00-4:30pm on Wednesday, September 3, in the Old Champlain Atrium (Old Champlain, Room 133). September’s coffee hour sponsor will be the University Police Department. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the sponsor while mingling with both international and domestic students. There will be games, interactive activities, and complimentary coffee and snacks!
If you have any questions about International Coffee Hour, contact dsmith66@binghamton.edu. All are welcome!
3. Save the Dates: Fall 2025 International Coffee Hours!
Save the dates for the four Fall 2025 International Coffee Hour events! ISSS will be hosting these events with other campus offices that support our international community. Be sure to join us for an informal social program!
| Fall 2025 International Coffee Hours | |||
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Wednesday, September 3 3:00-4:30pm Old Champlain Atrium |
Wednesday, October 8 3:00-4:30pm Old Champlain Atrium |
Wednesday, November 5 3:00-4:30pm Old Champlain Atrium |
Wednesday, December 3 3:00-4:30pm Old Champlain Atrium |
If you have any questions about International Coffee Hour, contact dsmith66@binghamton.edu. All are welcome!
4. Full Time Course Enrollment for Fall 2025 Semester
The add/drop deadline for the Fall 2025 semester is Tuesday, September 2. You must be enrolled in a full-time course load by the end of the add/drop deadline in order to maintain a valid immigration status. If you will not be enrolled full-time, you will need to submit a Request for Reduced Course Load form to the ISSS Office.
5. Upcoming ISSS Programs
Thursday, September 4 | 10:00-11:00am | Old Champlain Atrium (Old Champlain, Room 133)
Want updates on the latest hot topics? Missed orientation? Need a refresher?
Come to our ISSS Crash Course to get current updates from campus experts on essential topics for international students.
Topics include: employment, getting involved, ISSS and campus resources, and current scams / fraud schemes.
Friday, September 12 | 2:00-4:00pm | Old Champlain Atrium (OH 133)
Join the staff from the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) and other campus offices to learn about all the campus resources related to staying healthy! There will be snacks, games, activities, and lots of opportunities to ask questions and learn more about the wellness resources!
Monday, September 15 | 2:00-4:00pm | Q center Lounge (LS-G549)
Are you new to campus and looking to connect, unwind, and celebrate the start of a new chapter? Join ISSS, the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) and the Q Center for an afternoon of pizza, snacks, games, and crafts! Everyone is welcome- new and continuing students!
Tuesday, September 30 | 2:00-4:00pm | Recreation Turf Field
Do you love to play soccer? Would you like to enjoy some pizza with your friends? Join the Office of International Student and Scholar Services and the University Police Department for a game of pick-up soccer! We are looking for individuals to play during the event! Spectators are also welcome to attend and cheer for the players!
Please register to participate on B-Engaged so we can order enough pizza and so we can reach out in case of inclement weather.
Global Networking Group Fall Series
All students are welcome to attend any of the events listed below! Feel free to bring your friends too!
Wednesday, September 17 at 2:00pm - , BU Nature Preserve
Thursday, October 16 at 7:00pm - , Mountainview Firepit
Thursday, November 20 at 2:00pm - , Korean Center
Like ISSS on / Follow us on / Check our upcoming events on .
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Friday, September 5 | 12:30-2:00pm | Old Champlain Atrium (Old Champlain, Room 133)
Are you having trouble understanding the U.S. medical system? Join B-Healthy to discuss the following:
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- How to use your health insurance
- Connect with medical care, mental health and counseling providers
- Learn about the culture of the US healthcare system
7. Fall 2025 Career Passport: A September Series for International Student Success
Join ISSS and the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development throughout September for career-related programs designed to help prepare students for the Fall Job & Internship Fair, as well as for their internship or job search. The .
8. International Students Games
Athletics is celebrating International students at a few different upcoming games. Admission is free for all students. Go support our Bearcats and the international student athletes!
Women’s Soccer | Sunday, August 31 | 12:00pm | Bearcats Sports Complex
Men’s Soccer | Sunday, August 31 | 3:00pm | Bearcats Sports Complex
Women’s Volleyball | Friday, September 12 | 7:00pm | Events Center
9. Graduating in December? Attend an ISSS workshop and apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) early!
If you plan to graduate in December 2025, you can apply for OPT authorization now. The ISSS Office strongly encourages all students graduating in December 2025 to apply for their OPT authorization early because USCIS is currently taking 3-4 months to process OPT applications. The earliest that ISSS can issue OPT I-20s for fall graduates is Monday, September 22.
Graduating Students: How to prepare your Optional Practical Training (OPT) Application
The workshop, How to Prepare Your Optional Practical Training (OPT) Application, is recommended for international students who are graduating in December 2025.
During this workshop participants will learn how to:
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- Prepare and complete all documents needed to apply to USCIS for OPT authorization
- Understand the two-step application process
- Learn how to pick an appropriate OPT start date
To better prepare for this workshop, review the ISSS OPT page prior to participation. As a courtesy to other participants, please arrive on time. Event dates, times, and location can be found below.
| Workshop: How to Prepare Your Optional Practical Training (OPT) Application | ||
| Date | Time | Location |
| 1:00pm – 2:00pm | ||
| 11:00am – 12:00pm | ||
| 2:00pm – 3:00pm | ||
If you have any questions about this workshop or registration, please email intlwork@binghamton.edu.
10. 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.
11. Health Insurance Id Cards
Health insurance id cards are now available! To retrieve your new insurance id card, follow these instructions:
- Go to
- Click on Register Now
- Enter your first name, last name, date of birth
- Click on “Student ID/Civil ID/National ID (SACM)”
- Enter your B-Number
- Click continue and follow the instructions
- Once in your account you can click on “ID Card” and either print it out or have one mailed to you.
If you are having trouble creating an account, please call United HealthCare Student Resources at 888-714-6544.
** Please note, if you have been enrolled in United HealthCare Health Insurance in previous semesters, AND created an account, you can just log in and click on "insurance id card".
12. Download your I-94 Record
If you are a continuing student who has returned to the US for this fall 2025 semester, remember to download and print your new . Each time you exit and return to the U.S., you should download and keep your most current I-94 record for your own records. If you are unable to download your I-94 record, or if there is information on your I-94 record that is incorrect, come to advising hours to meet with an advisor.
13. Sign up for ELI Conversation Pairs!
Would you like to practice your English, learn more about American culture, and share your own culture and language with an American student? If so, please consider joining the English Conversation Pairs Program. In this program, a native English speaker is paired with an English language learner and asked to spend approximately one hour a week in conversation.
To fill out an application online, log in to and then click on to complete an application. There will then be an ELI Conversation Pairs where you will learn more about the program and get to meet your conversation partners.
If you have questions, please contact the English Conversation Pairs email at conpair@binghamton.edu.
14. Family and Relative English Experience (FREE) Program
Do you have a relative that wants to practice English? The TESOL Program hosts a weekly meet-up focusing on fun conversation and communication. Meet-ups are weekly on Tuesdays, starting on September 9 from 1:00-3:00pm. The location is Academic Building Room 234 (AB-234) on campus.
For more information, contact bclarkgareca@binghamton.edu.
15. New Graduate Students: Submit Your Final Transcripts to the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions
All new enrolling graduate students must submit their official final transcript(s) no later than six weeks after the beginning of the semester in which you start graduate studies. The Office of Graduate Admissions requires copies of your official, final transcript(s) documenting your previous college and/or university coursework and degree conferral. If your transcript does not show that your degree has been conferred or awarded, you will also need to submit an official (attested) diploma. Unofficial documents will not be accepted. Transcripts can be submitted between 8:30am-3:30pm at the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions, Old Champlain Floor 3R.
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