Communique – Volume 17, Number 3

September 2021

Greetings from the ISSO!

In this issue:

Scholar & Employee Services Updates

ISSO Scholar/Employee Services is looking forward getting back to normal at BU! Like most of you, we have recognized some efficiencies over the last 18 months but are also looking forward to returning to some of our pre-COVID processes. Please note the following updates related to appointment scheduling, ISSO check-in and clearance and general immigration processing:

  1. In-Person appointments:  We are excited to announce new options for requesting appointments and services from the Scholar Services Team. We are happy to accommodate in-person appointments at the ISSO but will also retain the option to schedule virtual appointments via Zoom or Teams. The in-person appointments are available to new and continuing scholars and employees as well as to any hosting faculty or department administrators who require additional assistance. In addition, we are now scheduling in-person orientation sessions for new employees in H-1B status as well as for continuing employees who have recently been granted a change to H-1B status. While the Scholar Services team will not resume general walk-in services, we are confident that the expanded appointment schedule will allow our clients greater flexibility with regard to requesting ISSO Scholar Team services and will limit potential delays associated with general walk-in hours.
  2. New J-1 scholar orientation & check-in: We will continue to offer our weekly new J-1 scholar check-in and orientation sessions virtually. This will allow more flexibility for our incoming J population as they settle into their life in Boston and roles at BU. Once your new J-1 scholar arrives, you can refer them to our scheduling page so that they can register for a virtual session. Given that this session involves a review of immigration and entry documents as well as I-9 employment verification (if applicable), scholars cannot attend prior to entering the US.
  3. Immigration processing requests: The ISSO will continue to accept requests for immigration processing via email. Alternately, department administrators can send the immigration processing request packets to the ISSO via regular or campus mail or can drop them off at the ISSO front desk during our normal business hours (M, T, Th, F 9 am – 5 pm; W 12 pm – 5 pm). New administrators or those that may have questions related to the immigration processing request forms can feel free to  schedule a time to deliver the paperwork in-person so that we can provide a thorough review to ensure completeness and accuracy.
  4. Fedex & DHL air bills required again for J-1 processing: The ISSO is resuming our pre-COVID process related to the creation and costs associated with Fedex or DHL air bills. Effective immediately, host departments will either need to provide a pre-completed air bill with each J-1 processing request packet or schedule a 15-minute in-person appointment to pick up the J-1 documents in-person so that you can mail the packet directly to your J-1 scholar. Please clarify your preference on the Form A, Part G, Request for Immigration Processing so that we can take proper action once we complete the required processing. If you do not have an on-line account that enables you to create and send the air bills to the ISSO via e-mail, please contact the courier directly for assistance setting up an on-line account and/or for assistance in creating your air bills electronically. Alternately, if you prefer to complete the air bills by hand or if you do not have an account to create them electronically, you are welcome to submit the completed air bill to your Scholar Advisor via campus or regular mail or drop it off at the ISSO front desk during our normal business hours (M, T, Th, F 9 am – 5 pm; W 12 pm – 5 pm).

Scholar Team Advising Assignment Updates

The ISSO Scholar/Employee Services Team has made some temporary changes to our advising assignments. Rather than dividing by school, we are temporarily managing inquires and requests by the current and/or requested immigration status of the client in question (ie. H-1B, J-1, etc.).

Please review the temporary assignments on our website so that we can best assist you or contact us at issosch@bu.edu and we will direct your inquiry as appropriate. We expect that this temporary arrangement will be short-lived and hope to have you working with your usual ISSO Scholar Services Team member before the end of the year.

The Scholar Services Team remains committed to advising and assisting our international scholar community and appreciates your continued support!