ISSO Scholar Services Communiqué
The Communiqué is an on-going series of messages sent via email to departments who sponsor international scholars at Boston University. With the Communiqué, we offer information that will help make more effective — and streamline — the processing of scholar immigration-related documents and petitions.
ISSO Scholar Communique – July 2025
TOPIC: Immigration & Travel Updates Impacting the Scholar/Employee Community, Onboarding Reminders Upcoming Changes to Premium Processing Fee Payments
Past Communiqués are reproduced here for your convenience:
Volume 20 - 2024
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 20, Number 5, December 2024
TOPIC: Immigration and Travel Considerations Before a New Federal Administration, Scholar Services Departmental Caseload, ISSO Closed for BU Intersession
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 20, Number 4, June 2024
TOPIC: Onboarding Reminders, Flexible Work Reminders, Upcoming Administrator Trainings
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 20, Number 3, May 2024
TOPIC: Special Edition – New Process for Departments to Obtain BUID Numbers for Scholar Processing
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 20, Number 2, March 2024
TOPIC: Upcoming Administrator Trainings, Considerations for Hiring Upcoming Graduates, Confirmation of End of Employment/Activity at BU
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 20, Number 1, January 2024
TOPIC: Onboarding Reminders, Premium Processing Fee Increase, Flexible Work Arrangements for Foreign Nationals, Stateside Visa Renewal Pilot Program, 2024 Faculty Hiring Reminder
Volume 19 - 2023
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 19, Number 3, November 2023
TOPIC: ISSO Launching New Student Immigration Portal, Flexible Work Reminders, Appointment Options on Medical Campus, International Education Week
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 19, Number 2, August 2023
TOPIC: COVID flexibilities for I-9 Employment Verification End, Flexible Work Reminders, J-1 Minimum Funding Requirements Updated
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 19, Number 1, May 2023
TOPIC: Remote work guidelines for foreign nationals, J-1 regulation updated to allows for digital signature & electronic document transmission, Immigration processing forms updated
Volume 18 - 2022
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 18, Number 3, October 2022
TOPIC: Funding Estimates & Wage Requirements for Immigration Processing Requests, Check-in & Clearance for New Employees, Faculty and Scholars, Resources for Administrators
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 18, Number 2, March 2022
TOPIC: New Online Resources for Administrators, Schedule an ISSO Administrator Training
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 18, Number 1, January 2022
TOPIC: Premium Processing Check Request & Pick-up, Faculty Hiring Season & Immigration Processing, J-1 Sponsorship Minimum Funding Estimates, Scholar Services Department Caseload Distribution
Volume 17 - 2021
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 17, Number 4, November 2021
TOPIC: COVID Related Travel Updates & Procedural Changes to Immigration Sponsorship to Support HR’s New Remote Work Policy
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 17, Number 3, September 2021
TOPIC: Scholar & Employee Services Updates & Scholar Team Advising Assignment Updates
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 17, Number 2, May 2021
TOPIC: COVID Related Travel Updates, H-1B Temporary Worker Updates & Immigration Processing Request Forms Updated
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 17, Number 1, January 2021
TOPIC: President Biden Revokes Travel Bans Implemented by Trump Administration, COVID Related Travel Updates, H-1B Visa Classification Updates, New Scholar Team Departmental Caseload Distribution
Volume 16 - 2020
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 16, Number 10, December 2020
TOPIC: Court Invalidates New H-1B Wage and Eligibility Rules, Travel Advisory for International Scholars and Employees, ISSO Closed for BU Intersession
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 16, Number 9, October 2020 (part 2)
TOPIC: Two Rules Change H-1B Wages and Eligibility Requirements, USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fees Effective October 19 and Q & A with ISSO Scholar Services
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 16, Number 8, October 2020
TOPIC: New CELOP ‘Everyday English’ Course, Proposed New DHS Regulation to Eliminate Duration of Status and Q & A with ISSO Scholar Services
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 16, Number 7, September 2020
TOPIC: Scholar Services will Continue Remotely into the Fall, New J-1 Scholar Check-in and Orientation, J-1 Sponsorship Minimum Funding Estimates Updated
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 16, Number 6, July 2020
TOPIC: Department of State Announces Phased-in Resumption of Visa Processing; ‘National Interest Exceptions’ for Certain Travelers from the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom and Ireland; H-1B Visa Ban Litigation Filed; Q & A with ISSO Scholar Services
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 16, Number 5, June 2020 (part 2)
TOPIC: Expansion of Presidential Proclamation Bans Certain Employment Visas; Continuing COVID-19 Related Travel Bans Limit Options for Returning to the US.
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 16, Number 4, June 2020 (part 1)
TOPIC: ISSO Scholar Services Remote Processing Reminders; USCIS Resumes Premium Processing Service; Presidential Proclamation Bans Entry for Certain Chinese Researchers; Continued Suspension of Routine Visa Services.
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 16, Number 3, April 2020
TOPIC: ISSO scholar services continues remotely; ISSO processing and employment verification during BU hiring freeze; USCIS suspends premium processing due to COVID-19; Suspension of routine visa services.
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 16, Number 2, March 2020
TOPIC: ISSO transitions to remote processing until April 13, 2020; Department of State recommends temporary pause of J-1 exchange programs; BU policy for individuals returning or arriving from abroad; Processing continues for new faculty and research appointments starting July 1, 2020 or later
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 16, Number 1, February 2020
TOPIC: Travel from China banned temporarily, Travel ban updates, New on-line resources for administrators, Faculty hiring season and immigration processing times, Invitation to schedule an ISSO administrator training
Volume 15 - 2019
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 15, Number 4, November 2019
TOPIC: English proficiency for J scholars, changes in DOL processes for H-1B petitions, premium processing fee increases & International Education Week at BU
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 15, Number 3, August 2019
TOPIC: New J-1 minimum funding estimates, end of employment/appointment notifications, increase in compliance site visits & avoiding common scams and fraud schemes
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 15, Number 2, April 2019
TOPIC: Hiring a BU graduate or graduate from another U.S. university, J-1 sponsorship requests, restrictions in employment authorization, employment verification at the ISSO, summer travel for new and continuing BU scholars
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 15, Number 1, January 2019
TOPIC: U.S. government shut-down and immigration processing, reminders for hiring temporary or part-time staff, 2019 gaculty hiring season and ISSO processing times.
Volume 14 - 2018
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 14, Number 3, October 2018
TOPIC: premium processing fee increase, USCIS policy change on the accrual of ‘unlawful presence’ for J scholars, temporary & identity and access management for BU affiliates.
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 14, Number 2, August 2018
TOPIC: fall check-in at the ISSO, scholar services on Labor Day, immigration updates and new J-1 financial minimum requirements.
ISSO Scholar Communique – Volume 14, Number 1, January 2018
TOPIC: Scholar Advisor caseload updates, increased scrutiny of H-1B petitions, ISSO ‘meet and greet’ and ‘updates for 2018’ session, processing delays, travel ban update.
Volume 13 - 2017
ISSO Scholar Services Communiqué – Vol. 13, No. 2 (April 27, 2017)
TOPIC: H-1B premium processing temporary suspension, processing timelines, upcoming training session, cancellation at BUMC on 5/11/2017, staffing update, Executive Order updates.
ISSO Scholar Services Communiqué – Vol. 13, No. 1 (February 23, 2017)
TOPIC: Changes to the BU hiring form, Executive Order 13769 on Immigration, training for administrators and ISSO statistics.
