ISSO Scholar Services Communiqué

Volume 5, Number 1

January 26, 2009

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.

TOPICS

1. New Services Available at Medical Campus

2. Modified ISSO Schedule for Scholar I-9s

3. Scholar Services Weekly Calendar – Spring 2009

1. New ISSO Scholar Services to Begin at Medical Campus

The ISSO is pleased to announce that beginning Thursday, February 5th, we will hold a weekly office hours at Boston University Medical Campus for administrators and international scholars. Miriam Schmidt, International Scholar Advisor, will be available Thursday mornings to complete I-9s, meet with administrators and scholars and provide an orientation to new J-1 scholars. Schedule of services is as follows:

9:00-10:00 a.m. – Walk-In Hours for Scholars and Administrators

During this time, new and extending international employees can complete I-9 Forms. Administrators may also drop off ISSO request packets. Scholars in J-1 immigration status may use this time to bring in their DS-2019 documents for a travel validation signature, provided they contact Miriam in advance.

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon – New J-1 Scholar Orientation

We will offer an orientation session that is required for all new J-1 scholars. No reservation is needed to attend the orientation.

These services will be provided every Thursday morning at:

BU Office of Human Resources – Medical Campus

801 Massachusetts Avenue (Crosstown Center), Suite 400

The ISSO is grateful to the staff of the Office of Human Resources for providing the venue for these services.

2. Modified ISSO Schedule for Scholar I-9s

Any professor, researcher or employee of Boston University who is not a U.S. citizen or a lawful U.S. permanent resident (“green card” holder), must complete an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form at the ISSO within three days of beginning employment.

Effective February 5, 2009, the ISSO I-9 schedule is as follows:

• DESIGNATED WEEKLY I-9 HOURS FOR NEW AND CONTINUING EMPLOYEES : The ISSO offers three weekly I-9 hours for new and continuing employees. No appointment is necessary during designated I-9 hours.

  o Tuesdays 9:00-10:00 am – ISSO, 19 Deerfield Street, 2nd Floor

  o Wednesdays 2:00-5:00 pm – ISSO, 19 Deerfield Street, 2nd Floor

  o Thursdays 9:00-10:00 am – BU MED HR, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown Center, Suite 400

• 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 appointment with their advisor to complete an I-9.

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 on Mondays at 11:00 at the ISSO and Thursdays at 10:30 at the Medical Campus. J-1 Scholars who are extending their immigration documents and employment authorization should utilize the weekly I-9 hours (listed above). J-1 Scholars sponsored by Boston Medical Center (not BU) must complete I-9s at BMC Office of Human Resources.

Further information about I-9 completion, including discussion of when I-9s must be completed and documentation required can be found at: http://www.bu.edu/isso/scholars/I-9EmploymentEligibilityVerification.html .

3. ISSO Scholar Services Weekly Calendar – Spring 2009

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 to be able to offer services at the Medical Campus, and we hope that this 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,

Jeanne E. Kelley
Director
jkelley@bu.edu

M. Andrea Popa
Assistant Director for Scholar Services
apopa@bu.edu

Peter F. O'Meara
International Scholar Advisor – Charles River Campus
pomeara@bu.edu

Miriam Schmidt
International Scholar Advisor – Medical Campus
mks@bu.edu


International Students & Scholars Office
Boston University
19 Deerfield Street, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02215

Tel: (617) 353-3565
Fax: (617) 358-1170

www.bu.edu/isso
issosch@bu.edu

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

ISSO
Boston University
February 28, 2005