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ISSO Scholar Services CommuniquéVolume 4, Number 4 October 2 , 2007 The Communiqué is an on-going series of messages to departments who sponsor international scholars at Boston University. With the Communiqué, we offer information that helps in the processing of scholar immigration-related documents and petitions. We hope you find the Communiqué a useful tool in working with the ISSO and in successfully hiring and sponsoring scholars from around the world. Past Communiqués are archived on our web site. Click here to go to the archive page. AGENDA • New Scholar Advisor to Serve Medical Campus • New Scholar Services Assignments • Modified ISSO Schedule for Scholar I-9s • New Wednesday Walk-In Hours for Scholars and Administrators • Scholar Services Weekly Calendar – Fall 2007 • New Scholar Advisor to Serve Medical Campus The ISSO is pleased to welcome Miriam Krueger (soon to be Miriam Schmidt) as a new International Scholar Advisor. The addition of a second scholar advisor position to the scholar services staff will allow the ISSO to better serve scholars and departments at the Boston University Medical Campus (including MED, SDM, and SPH). Originally from California, Miriam received her Bachelor's degree from Linfield College in Oregon. After working in Austria and volunteering in Mexico, she moved out to Boston to pursue her Master's degree in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University. She graduated from this program in 2005 and has served as an advisor to international students and scholars since earning her degree. Miriam can be reached at mks@bu.edu .
Miriam's principal responsibility at the ISSO will involve oversight of scholars affiliated with Boston University Medical Campus who hold J-1 and TN immigration classifications. • New Scholar Services Assignments Effective immediately, ISSO scholar staff assignments will be distributed based on the scholar's immigration classification and campus affiliation, as follows:
• Modified Schedule for Scholar I-9s Effective October 1, 2007, the ISSO has made several significant changes to our weekly scholar services schedule: • WEEKLY I-9 HOURS: We will offer two weekly I-9 hours for new and continuing employees:
• I-9 APPOINTMENTS FOR H-1 and O-1 EMPLOYEES: Employees sponsored by Boston University in H-1 and O-1 employment classifications will be asked to arrange an I-9 appointment instead of coming to the ISSO during the weekly I-9 hours. • H-1 employees should arrange an appointment with Andrea – apopa@bu.edu • O-1 employees should arrange an appointment with Jeanne – jkelley@bu.edu Having individual appointments will allow employees to select a time that more conveniently falls within their personal schedule and will also allow time for ISSO staff to provide more complete advising to scholars in H-1 and O-1 status with regards to their immigration rights and responsibilities. • I-9s FOR NEW SCHOLARS IN J-1 STATUS: As a reminder, all new scholars in J-1 status (Research Scholar, Professor, Short-Term Scholar or Specialist) who are beginning their employment with Boston University will complete the form I-9 as part of the required New J-1 Scholar Orientation Session – offered weekly at the ISSO on Mondays at 11:00 and Thursdays at 3:00. J-1 Scholars who are extending their immigration documents and employment authorization should utilize the weekly I-9 hours (listed above). J-1 Scholar sponsored by Boston Medical Center (not BU) must complete I-9s at BMC Office of Human Resources. • New Wednesday Walk-In Hours for Scholars and BU Administrators – Wednesdays 2:00-5:00 In an effort to be more readily accessible to BU administrators and provide in-person services to scholars, the ISSO Scholar Services Team will introduce Walk-In Hours each Wednesday afternoon from 2:00-5:00 p.m. to assist scholars and administrators with general questions and select services on a walk-in basis. Wednesday Walk-In Hours will be held each Wednesday at the ISSO, at 19 Deerfield Street, 2nd Floor. Services provided during Wednesday Walk-In Hours will include: • DS-2019 Travel Signatures • “Quick questions” on travel, visa renewal, immigration status and benefits • Questions about filling out Form A and Form B requests for immigration sponsorship or extension • Drop-off of requests for processing ( Please note: While these requests can be dropped off during Wednesday Walk-In Hours, processing for these requests cannot be completed on the spot.):
Please keep in mind that Wednesday Walk-In Hours are meant to provide general information and procedural guidance only. Situations requiring a review of a scholar's immigration history or file are best handled in an individual appointment. Individual appointments with the appropriate scholar advisor or ISSO administrator would be required for:
• ISSO Scholar Services Weekly Calendar – Fall 2007 Please refer to the calendar below as a quick reference of weekly ISSO services provided to scholars and BU hiring departments:
We are very pleased with the addition of our newest professional position and hope that our expanded staff resources and our modified fall 2007 schedule will enable us to better serve the needs of Boston University hiring and host departments as well as those of our international teaching and research scholars. Your
Scholar Services team, M.
Andrea Popa
Miriam
Krueger
Are you a new BU department contact or new host to an international scholar? Are you a BU affiliate who wants to receive the ISSO Communiqué? To update your department's contact information or to sign up for the ISSO Communiqué, please complete a Department Contact/Host Update Form on-line at: http://www.bu.edu/isso/administrators/contacts/index.html |
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