Overview of International Students at CCNY

Welcome to the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS). The Department of International Student & Scholar Services provides services and advocacy for the international students and scholars who are not permanent residents of the United States. Additionally, it provides pre-semester orientation programs and semester long workshops that assist with adapting to life in the United States while pursuing their education. Professional counseling assistance is available for students with immigration concerns, or academic and personal difficulties.

CUNY International Student Guide

OISSS Update 6/23/2020

We continue to closely monitor news coming from The White House and the most recent proclamation "Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak".  The proclamation is effective from June 22, 2020 and it remains in effect until December 31, 2020.
 
This proclamation is listed as a continuation of the previous proclamation (proclamation 10014, dated April 22, 2020) which suspended entry to certain immigrant visa types and has now added certain H, L and J nonimmigrant visa types. According to President Trump "Given that 60 days is an insufficient time period for the United States labor market, still stalled with partial social distancing measures, to rebalance, and given the lack of sufficient alternative means to protect unemployed Americans from the threat of competition for scarce jobs from new lawful permanent residents, the considerations present in Proclamation 10014 remain."
 
For a more detailed explanation of the proclamation, we are sharing a YouTube video by Arda Beskardes, an Attorney-at-Law, who discusses the latest immigration situation. 
 
For the details regarding the proclamation, please see links below:
 
 
 
We will continue to share updates with you as we receive them.
 

OISSS Update 6/10/2020

We have updated our Frequently Asked Questions document reflecting the most recent changes regarding COVID-19.

Please read it carefully and reach out to us if you have any questions at oisss@ccny.cuny.edu.

OISSS Update 6/5/2020

Dear International Students and Scholars,

We hope you are all well and safe! We are closely monitoring President Trump's Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers from the People’s Republic of China. The proclamation is effective from June 1, 2020 and it remains in effect until the President terminates it.

According to the Secretary of State, Mr. Pompeo “The President’s proclamation suspends the entry into the United States of any People’s Republic of China national seeking to enter the United States pursuant to an F or J visa to study or conduct research in the United States, except for a student seeking to pursue undergraduate study, where the individual’s academic or research activities are likely to support a PRC entity that implements and supports the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) “military-civil fusion” strategy.”  

We would like to share a YouTube video by Arda Beskardes, an Attorney-at-Law, who discusses the latest immigration situation. 

For the details regarding the proclamation, please see links below:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspension-entry-nonimmigrants-certain-students-researchers-peoples-republic-china/

https://www.nafsa.org/regulatory-information/proclamation-suspending-entry-chinese-students-and-researchers-connected-prc

https://thepienews.com/news/china-students-us-military-links/?mc_cid=ed694f7c3f&mc_eid=ea8e90bd13​

We will keep sharing updates with you as we receive them.

Stay safe!

OISSS Update 5/20/2020

The Department of International Student and Scholar Services closely monitors immigration changes during this difficult time.

We are sharing with you an updated Frequently Asked Questions document that reflects most recent changes regarding COVID-19 that may impact you.

As we continue to receive guidance from SEVP, we will continue to share it with you. Please check your emails regularly. 

COVID FAQ May 2020 (Updated. Please see 6/10/2020 update for the revised FAQ)

 

 

OISSS Update 5/19/2020

Dear International Students,
​ 
Nicole Agu, who is the USS Vice Chair for International Student Affairs would like to inform you that the University Student Senate relief fund application is now open and our international students could benefit from the resources during these difficult times. The application is located in the CUNYfirst "To-do" list.The deadline is June 15th. 
 

 
If you have any questions regarding this relief, please contact Nicole Agu at  ussemergencygrant@cuny.edu .
 
Please stay safe and well!

 

OISSS Update 4/1/2020

The Department of International Student & Scholar Services continues to operate remotely.  For your convenience we have set up a Virtual Front Desk. Copy the link below, or call the phone number provided, to visit our Virtual Meeting Room and we will be there to answer your questions. 

Virtual front desk

 

OISSS UPDATE 3/24/2020

Dear Students and Exchange Visitors,
 
We hope that you are all staying safe during this crisis. As a reminder the staff of the Department of International Student and Scholar Services is working remotely until further notice.
 
We want to make sure that you know that we are still maintaining your SEVIS records and that we will continue to update you on any changes that impact your status.  For now, DHS has allowed all students who are enrolled in online courses, whether in the U.S or in their home countries to remain in status. 
 
For F-1 students who plan to travel and are in need of a travel signature, please be advised that we are no longer able to provide travel signatures prior to your departure.  We ask those who plan to travel to send an email to oisss@ccny.cuny.edu with the subject line COVID-19:  F-1 TRAVELING HOME.  The e-mail should include your full name, EMPL ID and SEVIS number, date you will travel and country you will travel to.  Once you are ready to return, you will need to contact us and let us know, at that time we will mail you a new I-20 form with the travel signature.  As a reminder, if your I-20 form was signed within the last 11 months, you do not need to obtain a new signature.  
 
Exchange visitors holding J-1 visas who are planning to leave the United States, may leave and once ready to return email us at oisss@ccny.cuny.edu to request an updated DS-2019 with the travel signature to be sent to your address abroad.​ I also ask that you e-mail us prior to leaving and that you include in the e-mail, your full name, SEVIS number, country you will be traveling to and address where you will be staying.  Please indicate in the subject line of your email COVID-19:  J-1 TRAVELING HOME. 

​Please keep in mind that in order to return to the United States you will need a valid visa, if the visa has expired, you will need to apply for a renewal at the American Embassy abroad.  
 
​Thank you for your patience and again reach out to us at oisss@ccny.cuny.edu if you have any further questions or concerns.
 
Maribel Morua
Director
International Student and Scholar Services

 

For information on the Coronavirus, click on the links below:

https://www.cuny.edu/coronavirus/

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

 

As you may know we are closely monitoring any immigration changes regarding Covid-19. We would like to share a YouTube video by Arda Beskardes, an Attorney-at-Law, who shares the latest immigration updates about this very fluid situation on his account.

Please subscribe to his account to get the most recent immigration news that may impact you.

 

 

 

ATTENTION FALL 2020 NEW STUDENTS

All new International Students are required to report your arrival into the U.S. to our office. Due to COVID-19 all reporting will be done electronically. Students must complete the Student Contact Sheet, and submit copies of their passport, visa, and a printout of the I-94 to oisss@ccny.cuny.edu . 

Student Contact Sheet

The form I-94 is available by inputting your passport information in the link below.

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home

 

AS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS YOU ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER FULL TIME

12 CREDITS UNDERGRADUATE

9 CREDITS GRADUATE

7 CREDITS PH.D

Also, in order to maintain matriculation you must be physically present within the United States

Immigration Updates

Immigration tips in times of uncertainty 

For DACA students who have reached our page, please click on this link for information specific to your status.

https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/we-are-one-ccny/dreamers-and-daca

CONTACT INFORMATION

Maribel Morua
Director

North Academic
Center Room  1/107
160 Convent Avenue New York, NY 10031

p: 212.650.8106/8107
f: 212.650.5833
e:  oisss@ccny.cuny.edu