Welcome to Syracuse University and SUNYESF

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Welcome to Syracuse University
and SUNY-ESF!
New Student Arrival Seminar
Slutzker Center for International Services
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The Slutzker Center for
International Services (SCIS)

• The Slutzker Center's primary objective is to
  assist you in maintaining compliance to U.S.
  immigration laws.
• The Slutzker Center provides
• Interpretations of immigration regulations
• Updates of regulation changes through SCISNEWS
  and
• the Slutzker Center website
• Weekly seminars on immigration topics
• Scheduled appointments (Tues-Thurs)
• Daily walk-in appointments with the Advisor
  On-Call
• Hours Mon Fri 830am-5pm during the school
  year
• Mon Fri 8am-430pm during summer
• Cultural adjustment support, counseling, and
  programming
• A comfortable place to visit and relax

Despite the support we provide, please note that
maintaining your immigration status is YOUR
responsibility and Syracuse University is not
liable.
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Clearance Process

• You must complete all of the actions listed on
  your clearance form failure to do so in a timely
  manner will result in a hold being placed on your
  student account.
• Submit the following documents for you and any
  dependents to the Slutzker Center
• Health insurance policy information, current
  photo, and copies of your I-20 or DS-2019,
  passport, visa, and I-94 card
• Create U.S. address record and submit a copy of
  the entry
• SU Activate NetID, enter and print MySlice
  address page
• ESF Access Update Your Address, enter info,
  print, then submit
• Current Address Address your reside at in the
  U.S. (on- or off-campus)
• SEVIS Foreign Address Home country address
  outside the U.S.
• Permanent Address  Permanent address outside of
  the U.S. (may be the same as your SEVIS foreign
  address)
• Please note that your address must be updated
  every time it
• changes.

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Clearance Process (cont.)

• Attend English Language Assessment Exam
• August 18, 20, 21, 2008 from 900 a.m.-1200
  p.m.
• Gifford Auditorium of the Huntington Beard Crouse
  Building (HBC 4 on your map)
• Required for all graduates with a TOEFL score
  under 600 (under 250 if you took the computerized
  test or under 100 if you took the internet-based,
  IBT, version).
• Required for all undergraduates for determination
  of English classes.
• If you have questions contact Margo Sampson,
  443-9484
• Attend International Student Orientation
• Graduates Sunday, August 17, at 1245pm in Grant
  Auditorium (12 on your map)
• Undergraduates Wednesday August 20, at 1245pm
  in Watson Theater (11 on your map)
• Please remember to bring your Clearance Forms
  with you to Orientation to be signed and handed
  in if it is your last step to finish
• Be sure to read and sign the back of the
  Clearance Form

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Clearance Process (cont.)

• Medical Clearance Health Services (5 on your
  map), 111 Waverly Ave next to the Sheraton Hotel
• Provide immunization and medical exam records to
  comply with Syracuse University Health Center
  regulations.
• Required Tuberculosis Screening must be read in
  48-72 hrs
• You should have Health Insurance BEFORE doing
  your Tuberculosis screening and for any further
  medical procedures after that
• Verify Billing Address Bursars Office
• If you are sponsored by funds other than personal
  or family, you should confirm the billing address
  of your sponsor with the Bursar
• SU Student 102 Archbold Gymnasium (1 on your
  map)
• SUNY ESF Student 103 Bray Hall (9 on your map)

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F-1 Health Insurance

• F-1 Students and F-2 Dependents
• You are expected to maintain comprehensive,
  lapse-free health insurance coverage for the
  duration of your academic program
• Coverage should include medical evacuation and
  repatriation coverage
• Syracuse University assistantship insurance
  (BluePoint/ OrangePoint) do not include MedEx
• Health insurance should be valid for a full
  academic year
• (e.g., Aug 2008-Aug 2009) and renewed each and
  every year thereafter.
• - Submit updated copy of insurance
  (including MedEx) to SCIS each year

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J-1 Health Insurance

• J-1 Students and J-2 Dependents
• Exchange Visitors under the Department of
  States J-1 nonimmigrant visa program, are
  required to maintain health insurance for
  themselves and any J-2 dependents throughout the
  duration of their stay in the U.S.
• Health insurance coverage for you and your
• dependents must meet the following minimum
• requirements
• Medical benefits of at least 50,000 per accident
  or illness
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of 7,500
• Expenses associated with the medical evacuation
  of the exchange visitor to his/her home country
  in the amount of 10,000 and
• A deductible not to exceed 500 per accident or
  illness

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Health Insurance cont.

• Accepted Health Insurance Plans
• HTH Worldwide
• ICICI Lombard Gold Plus
• Compass Benchmark
• Harbour Group
• For any other plan, complete the blue Health
  Insurance Analysis Form inside your Welcome
  Packet to make sure it fulfills the necessary
  requirements.
• Sponsored Students (i.e. Fulbright, IIE, etc)
• - DO NOT need to buy Health Insurance.
  Health Insurance is provided by your
  sponsoring agency.

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Health Insurance Verification

• You will be asked to provide proof of valid
  health
• insurance when requesting
• A travel signature
• Document updates reprints (extension, financial
  update)
• On-campus employment eligibility approval
• Curricular Practical Training Authorization (F-1)
• Optional Practical Training Authorization (F-1)
• Academic Training (J-1)

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Registering for Classes

• Registration for Classes
• SU Graduates starting August 7, 2008
• SU Undergraduate August 23-24, 2008
• ESF Students August 20, 2008
• Late registration and schedule adjustment August
  25 September 2
• Search for classes online
• Graduate Catalogue
• Undergraduate Catalogue
• Register online Activate your NetID and access
  MySlice
• Locate the Student Services Section
• Select Class Search to look for a class by
  course number,
• department, or instructor
• Select Enroll in classes to register for a
  particular class

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Important Dates Deadlines

• First Day of Classes August 25, 2008
• Late registration and Schedule adjustment August
  25 September 2
• Financial deadline for dropping courses
  September 15
• Breaks (no classes)
• Labor Day September 1
• Eid Ul Fitr September 30
• Yom Kippur from 6pm Wed, Oct 8 Thu, Oct 9
• Thanksgiving Break November 26- November 30
• Academic Drop Deadline October 22
• Registration for Spring November 12 December
  12
• Withdrawal Deadline November 14

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Establishing Your Life In Syracuse

• Student ID Card
• (You cannot pick up ID until you have registered
  for at least 1 credit)
• Office of Housing, Meal Plan, and I.D. Card
  Services, 202/204 Steele Hall (8 on your map)
• Can use your temporary ID until Aug 31, 2008
• Submit ID photo and Information online or in
  person
• Go to ID Card Office for ID issuance,
• Dependents may also receive SU ID cards
• Housing
• Temporary Housing
• Permanent Housing
• On-campus
• Off-campus
• Orange Housing
• Off-Campus Student Services
• Apartmentfinder.com

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Establishing Your Life In Syracuse (cont.)

• Driver License and Driving in the U.S.
• You may drive legally in New York if you have a
  valid foreign drivers license from your country
  and either a certified translation of your
  license or a valid International Driving Permit
  (issued for 1 year only) in your possession while
  you drive.
• If you do not have a driver license and/or would
  like to apply for a NY State license you must
  provide proof of identity, pass a written test,
  complete a 5-hour pre-licensing course, and pass
  a road test to qualify for a NYS driver license.
• Non Driver Photo ID
• A person of any age who does not have a driver
  license can apply to the DMV for a non-driver
  photo ID card. You must provide acceptable proofs
  of identity, date of birth, and your social
  security card. (If you are not eligible for a
  Social Security Card, you must provide a letter
  or form SSA-L676 from the US Social Security
  Administration (SSA) that states that you are not
  eligible.)

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Establishing Your Life In Syracuse (cont.)

• Banking
• To open an account, bring passport and other
  immigration documents
• You will have to sign a W-8 statement that
  certifies that you are a non-citizen and are not
  subject to the withholding of income taxes on
  interest on your deposit.
• Banks located near North Campus (2 on your
  map)
• HSBC, Chase, MT Bank, Alliance
• Banks located near South Campus
• Key Bank, Bank of America
• Cell Phone
• Common Cell Phone Providers Verizon, T-Mobile,
  ATT, Sprint
• If you do not have an SSN, you need to provide
  proof that you are an international student by
  bringing all of your original immigration
  documents with you when you purchase a cell phone
  plan.
• Without an SSN, you will need to make a large
  down payment (300-600) but may receive it back
  after a year with the company.
• Many international students without social
  security numbers or a U.S. credit card purchase
  TracFones with pre-paid minutes to avoid paying
  high deposits in order to obtain cell phone
  service with a major provider.

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Establishing Your Life In Syracuse (cont.)

• On-Campus Employment
• After academic registration and upon receiving a
  job offer, international students are eligible to
  apply for on-campus employment as long as they
  maintain their status.
• To receive approval, you must attend an On-Campus
  Employment Seminar at the Slutzker Center Tues 2
  p.m. Fri 930 a.m.
• TAs, RAs, and GAs are exempt from this step
  but must check in with the Slutzker Center to
  complete the I-9 form
• ESF students working on ESF campus, you take
  care of your I-9 in 216 Bray Hall
• ESF students working on SU campus, it is the
  same I-9 procedure at our office as SU students

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SEMINAR CHANGES for the month of August

• Located in HEROY 113
• On-Campus Employment
• Tuesday, August 12 19 _at_ 2pm
• Friday, August 8, 15, 22 _at_ 930am
• Travel Wednesday, August 20 _at_ 130pm
• CPT Wednesday, August 20 _at_ 300pm
• OPT Wednesday, August 20 _at_ 345pm

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Establishing Your Life In Syracuse (cont.)

• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Social Security numbers are assigned to people
  who are authorized to work in the United States.
• To be eligible for a SSN, you must
• Have arrived in the U.S. at least 10 days prior
  to SSN application
• Be registered full-time for classes
• Receive a job offer and attend an On-Campus
  Employment Seminar
• Receive an endorsed Employment Memo from the
  Slutzker Center and submit it with your
  application for a SSN at SS Administration

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Getting Around

• Office of Orientation and Off-Campus Programs
• Syracuse University Campus
• Interactive Map of SU
• Virtual Campus Tour of SU
• Index of Tour
• Printable Maps
• Map of North Campus
• Map of South Campus
• SUNY-ESF Campus
• Campus Map of SUNY ESF
• Syracuse, NY
• Map of Syracuse, NY
• Centro Bus Information

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Upcoming Events

• Fall Welcome
• Intl Student Fall Orientation
• Mandatory orientation providing an overview of
  immigration regulations and relevant information
  to help you adjust to University life and the US
  culture
• Graduate Sunday, August 17, 2008 _at_ 1245pm
• Undergraduate Wednesday, August 20, 2008 _at_
  1245pm
• Restaurant Hopping
• Get to know your fellow peers and Slutzker Center
  staff
• August 17th after Orientation until August 19th
• Sign up today at the Slutzker Center if you are
  interested
• Chancellors Reception for all Undergraduates
• Get to know other undergraduate students, the
  Slutzker Centers sponsor staff, your
  department staff, and the Chancellor
• Wednesday, August 20, after Orientation
• Upcoming Syracuse Events