Announcements
Find information about upcoming events for international students and scholars along with news and headlines!
EVENTS
September 26, 2022
Institute Travel Signature Times in Monterey, California
International Services Specialist Loren Scott will be in Monterey, California to provide in-person support for international students, including holding time for drop-in travel signature hours. Below is the email that was sent to Institute international students on September 14, 2022:
Dear Institute international students on F or J visa documents,
I’m writing to you with important information about travel signatures on your I-20 or DS-2019 document. Please read the below information to find out what a travel signature is, if you need one, and how you can obtain it! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at isss@middlebury.edu.
Summary: Loren Scott from the Vermont ISSS office will be on the Institute campus in the Student Services Building in Monterey to provide travel signatures on Thursday, September 29th from 12-2pm Pacific time and 4-5pm Pacific Time and on Tuesday, October 4 from 12-2pm Pacific Time and 4-5 Pacific Time or, if possible, by pre-scheduled appointment other times during that week. Please bring your hard copy I-20 or DS-2019 document and your passport/passport with US visa stamp with you to these drop-in times.
Travel Signature
- What is it?
- A travel signature space is located on page 2 of your I-20 form (for those of you in F visa status) or on the bottom right corner of page 1 of your DS-2019 form (for those of you in J visa status).
- Only SEVIS authorized signatories (Principal/Designated School Officials—PDSO or DSOs and Alternate Responsible Officers—RO or AROs) can provide a signature. The ISSS Office DSOs/AROs are Loren Scott, Kathy Foley, Janet Hulnick, Kas Singh, and Christy Fry in Vermont, and Ashley Arrocha in Monterey.
- The travel signature is an endorsement noting to U.S. Customs and Border Protection that you are eligible for re-entry into the United States due to being a current F-1 or J-1 student at the Middlebury Institute, provided this signature is valid (i.e. signed within 12 months of entry date).
- Often you will need a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 if you need to fill out paperwork for an HR office, to obtain a Social Security Number, or to obtain a driving license (among other reasons).
- How often should I get one?
- Middlebury ISSS recommends that you obtain a travel signature once during the fall term and once during the spring term.
- You may note that the fine print on the travel signature section of your I-20 or DS-2019 indicates that the travel signature is valid for one year from the date it was last signed. Yet, we advise that you obtain one once per term (about every 6 months) to avoid future problems or last-minute delays that could impact your travel or your re-entry into the United States.
- How do I know if I need an updated travel signature?
- Look at the last travel signature you received on page 2 of your I-20 or page 1 of your DS-2019. If this travel signature is more than 6 months old, ISSS recommends you receive an updated one.
- If the date on this signature is more than 365 days old, or if there is no signature at all, you definitely need a new travel signature.
- Additionally, if you received an initial or updated I-20 from ISSS at the beginning of this term (most notably, this applies to first year, first semester students), you will very likely need a travel signature at some point this semester.
- Please note, if you are a first year student and have not yet reported your address to ISSS (via our Address Update form), we will not be able to provide a travel signature until you complete this task.
- How/When can I get one?
- As you may know already, ISSS has a staff vacancy on the Institute campus in Monterey. Because of this, we ask for your patience in obtaining a travel signature. We also ask that you anticipate when you may need one prior to any travel or other activities that warrant an updated travel signature and allow sufficient time to obtain one.
- ISSS will be sending Vermont-based ISSS staff member (myself: Loren Scott) to the Institute campus to hold I-20 and DS-2019 travel signature signing days in the Student Services Building. We request that you wait until this time to come by for a travel signature, the scheduled times will be:
- Thursday, September 29th from 12:00-2:00pm Pacific Time AND 4-5pm Pacific Time
- Tuesday, October 4th from 12:00-2:00pm Pacific Time AND 4-5pm Pacific Time
- I will be on campus in Monterey Wednesday, September 28 through Wednesday, October 5. If you cannot make it to one of the above drop-in times, please email us at isss@middlebury.edu and we will try to arrange another time during the week I am there to get your document signed.
- Please be sure to bring your hard copy I-20 or DS-2019 and your passport for ID verification.
Please reach out to us via email if you have questions or concerns.
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*United for Ukraine, A Beneficiary Evening of Ukrainian Music, Poetry, and Culture
The event includes music, spoken word, and dance celebrating Ukrainian culture and features Middlebury College students, alumni, the Middlebury College Choir (under the direction of Jeffrey Buettner), and more.
Watch it anytime on YouTube!
WORKSHOPS & INFORMATION SESSIONS
ACADEMIC READING WORKSHOP
When: Mon Sept 26th, 4:30-5:30pm, followed by extended Q/A if requested
Where: Zoom (link will be sent upon registration)
Why: To learn how to engage more effectively and efficiently with readings assigned for your courses 😊
What should I bring? Please have handy a reading that you’ve been assigned—ideally one you’re struggling with! Also bring your reading challenges and questions!
You must RSVP for this event at https://middlebury-ctlr.libcal.com/event/9691259
The session will be recorded, and the handouts are here, if you’d like to preview them.
If you have any questions about this workshop, please contact Prof. Shapiro at sshapiro@middlebury.edu.
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