Berkeley International Office

Happy Halloween from the Berkeley International Office!

Looking for internship and work opportunities? Attend this CPT/OPT workshop hosted by the Office of ASUC Senator Jerry Xu, the Office of ASUC Senator Amy Chen, Berkeley Chinese Students and Scholars Association (BCSSA), International Students Association at Berkeley (ISAB), and Berkeley International Office to get more information. CPT and OPT are temporary work authorizations that international students need to obtain in order to be legally employed in the U.S. Come to our w...orkshop to learn more details on the CPT/OPT application process and other relevant information! The workshop will be hosted in a hybrid format both in-person in the ASUC Senate Chambers in Eshleman Hall, as well as via Zoom on Tuesday, November 2nd, 6:00-7:30 PM PST. See you there! Zoom Link: https://berkeley.zoom.us/my/cptworkshop Registration Link: https://forms.gle/AuVULHtF9pTpN7KW7

Berkeley International Office wishes you a healthy and relaxing winter break. We look forward to supporting UC Berkeley's international community in 2021!

Does your expected graduation date match your I-20/DS-2019 end date? Need more time to finish up your studies? No problem! If you are not able to finish your degree program by the end date noted on your I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1), you should request an extension of your program today: bit.ly/BIO_EXTENSION Make sure you submit your completed request to BIO at least 3 business days before your I-20 or DS-2019 expiration date! For example, if your I-20 or DS-2019 expires on Dec. 18, this means BIO needs your extension request by Tuesday, Dec. 15 to be sure your documents don't expire! Not sure if you need a program extension? Check in with BIO: https://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/contact-us

To celebrate International Education Week, the Office of ASUC Senator Samuel Peng made this video showcasing all the delicious dishes that are loved by UC Berkeley international students. Take a journey around the world through yummy food!

We're proud to see Sydney Ji, one of our Customer Service Assistants, featured on the UC Berkeley news site sharing their evolution of self-acceptance and emergence as an activist as a disabled, queer, nonbinary Asian American.

Which campus did it best? Last week, we announced the #UnitedUC UC-Wide mascot competition. Now you can show your support for our #InternationalOski! You can vote all week for your favorite illustration by heading on over to tinyurl.com/ucwidemascot. The winner will be announced this Friday. Go Bears! #UnitedUC #ieweek #internationaleducationweek

Due to popular demand, BIO's biweekly Virtual Coffee Break has been moved from Tuesday morning from 8:30-9:30 a.m. PST to Tuesday evenings from 4-5 p.m PST starting this afternoon! If you previously wanted to attend but couldn't due to a schedule or time zone conflict, we hope to see you on Tuesday evenings!

This morning! In celebration of International Education Week, come enjoy a guided hour of light stretching and meditation that will acknowledge and address stressors specific to international students here at UC Berkeley. Register here to receive the Zoom link: https://berkeley.zoom.us//tJEtd-6tqjsiHNakAu5M0Muq5ngS-W-o

Tomorrow! If you're an international student looking for internship and work opportunities, attend this workshop to learn about the CPT/OPT application process. Register here to receive the Zoom link: https://forms.gle/Umu5xTznegejaQv49

Due to popular demand, English Conversation Tables has been moved from Wednesday mornings from 8:30-9:30 a.m. PDT to Wednesday evenings from 5-6 p.m. PDT starting today! If you previously wanted to attend but couldn't due to a schedule or time zone conflict, we hope to see you on Wednesday evenings!

Tonight! Come kick off International Education Week at this team-based virtual scavenger hunt where you can socialize with fellow students, meet new people, and get engaged with the international community. Register here: https://berkeley.zoom.us//tJwofu-hqT0vGtZ7mWbaXaSi08wif_Jx

Learn what banks do with your money and why it matters at Bank of the West, the official Bank of UC Berkeley.

To kick off International Education Week, BIO is hosting a Q&A session for international students on Monday. Join us to hear about what we know (and don’t know) about the upcoming spring semester, results of the U.S. election, and possible immigration changes to come. If you have a question you’d like addressed, submit it via the registration form below to make sure we get to it. Hope to see you there! Register here: https://berkeley.zoom.us//tJUuc-6rpj8vHdGDtD7s4saOyikUgrRL

A reminder that the International Students Association at Berkeley - ISAB's info session is tonight and their 24 Hour Social is tomorrow! Join the largest international student group at UC Berkeley from any corner of the world!

International Students Association at Berkeley - ISAB is recruiting! Join the largest international student group at UC Berkeley and find a virtual home away from home!

Submit your #InternationalOski to the UC-Wide Mascot Competition! The UC Schools are joining together to show our support to the international population during International Education Week, from November 1620, by having a friendly international mascot competition! Submit your interpretation of an International Oski through original artwork, photos, graphic design, or any other artistic rendering of our beloved mascot.... Please submit your entry by next Friday, November 13, to be considered. The finalists will be voted on by the UCB community, and the overall winner will be submitted to the UC-wide competition. Go Bears! #ucglobal SUBMIT HERE: https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLSfM7QigUPjsdsw1ob/viewform

Grad students: Tomorrow, come hear UC Berkeley graduate alumni and BIO advisers share information and advice about starting your graduate studies here at UC Berkeley. We'll cover information such as selecting an adviser, choosing a lab, and general academic advice that will help set you up for success here at Cal.

Are you an international student who is looking for internships and work opportunities? Join International Students Association at Berkeley - ISAB and Berkeley International Office this afternoon for an OPT/CPT Workshop!

Leading up to and following the 2020 U.S. presidential election, we encourage our international community to seek resources to support your mental health and well-being as we navigate this period of anxiety and change. Check out these UC-wide pre- and post-election events specifically for the international community. These are spaces to reflect, share your thoughts, and be a part of a supportive environment. Fill out this Google form to automatically receive the Zoom link for one or both of the events: https://forms.gle/7THeypBbnrM2ZcX58

Our first International Grad Happy Hour of the semester is tomorrow from 45pm! Grab your favorite beverage and join us to connect and relax with your fellow international grad students!

Tomorrow, Coffee Break is back! Grab your favorite beverage of choice, get cozy in some comfy clothes, and join us to connect with your international student community from a distance. This week we're chatting about your UC Berkeley Bucket List.

The application for Berkeley International Office's need-based financial aid is open! The deadline to apply is September 15 at 4:00 pm. See more details at tinyurl.com/intl-finaid

Join the Office of ASUC Senator-Elect Ruchi Shah and the ASUC Mental Health Commission tomorrow to address the mental health needs of the South Asian community on campus. Their goal is to decrease the stigma and shame associated with mental illness and offer resources. Register here: tinyurl.com/samentalhealthstigmas

Berkeley International Office is excited to welcome you into the UC Berkeley community no matter where you are in the world. We look forward to supporting you, and when the time is right, welcoming you here on our beautiful campus nestled among the California redwoods! GO BEARS!!

Check out this virtual roundtable focusing on international students, happening tomorrow: The event aims to give students, both international and domestic, a place for supportive and informational conversations on the experiences of international students in the U.S. and what international students have meant, mean, and will mean to our domestic students, faculty, institutions, and the U.S. Guest faculty speakers will offer us critical approaches to contextualize and historicize our individual experiences.

CONTINUING UC Berkeley international students: Do you have questions about Fall 2020 enrollment and its impacts to your visa status and travel and entry to the U.S.? BIO's Assistant Director for Student Services will answer your questions in our Q&A session this Friday. Please submit your questions in advance through the registration form: https://register.gotowebinar.com/regist/2827783786225329422 If you can't attend the Q&A session but would like to watch the recording, pl...ease register for the session and the recording will automatically be sent to you a few hours after the event. If you're a NEW international student, sign up for the New Student Q&A instead: https://www.facebook.com/events/995108540909666/

NEW UC Berkeley international students: Do you have questions about Fall 2020 enrollment and its impacts to your visa status and travel and entry to the U.S.? BIO's Assistant Director for Student Services will answer your questions in our Q&A session this Friday. Please submit your questions in advance through the registration form: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regist/8253051234602004750 If you can't attend the Q&A session but would like to watch the recording, please r...egister for the session and the recording will automatically be sent to you a few hours after the event. If you're a CONTINUING international student, sign up for the Continuing Student Q&A: https://www.facebook.com/events/2917257478396203/

The government will rescind the policy and return to the status quo of guidance issued in the spring.

BIO just sent an email to all international students with the latest updates on what the new DHS guidance means for Fall 2020 enrollment. As soon as we can, we will update our COVID-19 FAQ webpage to include updated questions and answers regarding impacts to student status, travel and entry to the U.S., and F-1 OPT/CPT/ J-1 AT qualification. We understand the concern and anxiety that the DHS guidance has caused you and we are going to make every effort to assist you as we address these new requirements. Although we do not have all the answers yet, we want to offer you as much information as we can. Please keep in mind that this information is subject to change based on decisions made by DHS and/or the campus.

A federal judge in Boston said on Friday that a challenge to new federal rules stripping visas from foreign students who planned to study entirely online in the fall was likely to succeed, but she put off any decision on whether to block the rules’ implementation until another hearing on Tuesday.

Be Well Cal is hosting a Community Forum for international students and students with international backgrounds on Thursday, July 23rd at 2:15pm PDT. More info uhs.berkeley.edu/international

Nearly 100 members of Congress are demanding that the Trump administration withdraw the proposed policy immediately.

The University of California will file suit against the federal government for violating the rights of the University and its students when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to bar international students from staying in the country if they attend U.S. universities that offer only online courses during the COVID-19 health crisis.

It is not only important for UC Berkeley, but for all of higher education across the U.S. to take every step possible to mitigate these policies that send a message of exclusion to our international community of scholars. You are welcome here!

Happening now! Join us! https://berkeley.zoom.us/j/5887075885

Our first English Conversation Tables meeting is happening now on Zoom! Join us for some fun conversation: https://berkeley.zoom.us/j/5887075885

Want to keep your English conversation skills fresh over the summer? Come practice with your peers at our first English Conversation Tables meeting tomorrow morning! Bring your questions about slang and figures of speech or just stop by to chat with BIO staff and other students!

Congratulations, Class of 2020! Here’s a message from our Director, Ivor Emmanuel. GO BEARS!

TOMORROW! Share your musical and poetic talents with a worldwide audience in our first virtual Open Mic Jam!

Join us tomorrow evening from 6-7 p.m. PDT to discuss chapters 9-12!

BIO is here for you, International Bears! Help us respond to your requests faster by following these tips for contacting us, and check our COVID-19 updates and FAQ page often for new information: https://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/covid-19-updates-f

JOB ALERT! The UC Berkeley Career Center is hiring an International Student Peer Advisor for 2020-2021. Work directly with the International Student Career Counselor and gain leadership skills, counseling techniques, and design experience. Apply via Handshake by April 15th! https://berkeley.joinhandshake.com/jobs/3700047

Ashley Njoroge, a student at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, is working on a print and visual story on the impact of COVID-19 on international students. Everyone, even those who have already traveled back home, is welcome to share their experiences. If you're interested in sharing your story, please reach out to her at [email protected].

Our first Virtual Coffee Break is happening tomorrow morning on Zoom! https://berkeley.zoom.us/j/3021628275 Join us to connect with the international student community from a distance. This week we’ll be talking social distancing hobbies. Share/teach/explain your favorite method of staying active, creative, and well during this new era of confinement.

Tonight! If the time doesn't work for you, register anyway and we'll send you a copy of the recording.

Join us on Monday to hear from current UC Berkeley international students as they share their experience during the recent few weeks. They will discuss their experience traveling back to their home countries, accessing classes remotely, and their tips and tricks for staying positive and dealing with stress. Hear from a variety of students from different backgrounds, majors, and countries!

Don’t forget! The #2020Census is happening March-May and should be completed as soon as possible. Everyone who lives in the U.S., including international students, should be counted! Taking the census is simple, confidential, and important for our community. If you live off-campus, the easiest way to complete is online. Students who live on-campus will be counted with the help of housing staff.... Visit calcounts.berkeley.edu for more info. #CalCounts

BIO remains committed to supporting the international community during these challenging times. Please take care of yourselves!

Please take care of yourselves, continue to check our Coronavirus Updates & FAQ page for the latest updates and information, and reach out to us if we can be of assistance during this challenging time. https://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/coronavirus-covid-

As we approach Spring Break (March 23-27), you may be considering traveling abroad. BIO currently does not recommend international travel due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 outbreak and its impacts to global travel. If you are considering travel, join us this Wednesday for a webinar about what to expect when traveling abroad and re-entering the U.S. Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regist/6353582221938910731

BIO has extended the deadline to complete our International Student Campus Climate Survey to Monday, March 9th. We rely on your valuable opinions to understand the priorities and needs of the international community here at UC Berkeley, so please consider taking our survey if you haven't already: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2WRLSP5

Need help with your California state taxes? Attend this workshop and follow along as a representative from the California Tax Franchise Board presents on how to determine your California state tax residency and complete your nonresident alien tax forms.

A reminder that our CPT webinar is tomorrow! Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/938669974070976525

We're playing Self Care Bingo at Coffee Break this afternoon! Join us, 3-4 p.m. at Windmill Coffee House.

ALERT BIO will be closed next Wednesday, March 4th as we relocate to a new office space at 2150 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 500. Normal business hours and request processing will resume at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 5th.

A reminder that our Game Night is tonight! Come for the games, stay for the snacks, laughs, and new friends.

Interested in CPT? Tune in to our webinar this Friday and learn all about it! Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/938669974070976525

Who's got game? Find out at our Game Night iMix this Wednesday! We'll have a wide variety of challenging, hilarious, and fun games to choose from, including board games, word games, and trivia and prizes for the winners, of course! Come for the games, stay for the snacks, laughs, and new friends.

Interested in applying for CPT or OPT? Come to this workshop hosted by Office of ASUC Senator Evina Wang and BIO to hear an International Student Adviser share details about the CPT and OPT application processes.

Are you a language enthusiast? Check out Language Exchange Program at UC Berkeley's Language Pods! Pods are a great way to practice conversation skills on a regular basis with peers from across the global campus community.

Questions about your OPT application? Attend one of our OPT Doc Check workshops! There are three sessions this week. Sign up for the time and location that work best for you:

Looking to make a positive impact and help new international students acclimate to their first semester at UC Berkeley? Apply now to become a Peer Mentor this fall! Learn more: https://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/be-peer-mentor

Join us tonight at Cafenated Coffee Co. for a coffee mixer with UC Berkeley Extension International Programs students and staff! We'll be out back on the beautiful garden patio

The weather will be warm and beautiful tomorrow, so take a break and join us for some nature and exercise!

Students graduating this spring can apply for OPT starting today! Don't miss your opportunity to review your application with an adviser attend one of our upcoming OPT Doc Check Workshops:

OPT season is here! If you're planning on applying for OPT, visit our website for more information and plan to attend one of our upcoming OPT Document Check Workshops: https://www.facebook.com/events/606643206566091/

Discover your love for Design! Creative Discovery will be hosting a series of free student-led workshops for a variety of hands-on skills and software programs.... Stop by the Moffitt Instructional Design Lab on Fridays from 4:00-6:00PM, including this Friday 2/14 for anyone interested in Creative Jam. Mark the dates in your calendar so you don’t miss out on the fun! See more

BIO will be relocating early next month to a new office space at 2150 Shattuck Avenue (directly in front of Downtown Berkeley BART station). More details coming soon!

It's Love Data Week! Check out UC Berkeley Library's workshops covering topics such as Savio, information security, and more: https://guides.lib.berkeley.edu/ldw2020