International Center News for Faculty and Staff – January 2025
Page 1
Summer International Center Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8 am to 4 pm
Drop-In Hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 2 pm to 4 pm
Appointments can be scheduled through Handshake. The URL for Handshake is:
https://clarkson.joinhandshake.com/edu
Search for Global Opportunities in CU Global at this link:
https://clarkson-horizons.symplicity.com/https://clarkson-horizons.symplicity.com/
CU International Student Population
● Fall 2024 = 518 from 62 countries
● Spring 2025 = 532 from 63 countries
Thank you for helping us welcome 101 new international students this semester!
F-1 / J-1 Student Status Reminders
Students are responsible for maintaining their own status! The Staff of the International Center is here to assist with
questions.
Enrollment Minimum Requirements
● Undergrad = 12 credits
● Grad = 9 credits
If a student falls below the minimum credits they will be out of status.
Please note: international students must not enroll in more than one on-line class per term that counts toward
their full-time enrollment requirement.
Students are not allowed to work more than 20 hours per week. This could potentially affect future benefits.
After degree completion, international students require off-campus work authorization to work on and off campus!
PAGE 2
Encourage students to Study Abroad
Round 2 semester applications are open from March 1 – 31 for Spring only.
If students are interested in Fall 2025 there may be options – serious inquiries only.
There are several awesome summer study abroad opportunities with our partners abroad too! Encourage students
to reach outside their comfort zone! Summer application dates vary by program.
Link to CU Global: https://clarkson-horizons.symplicity.com/
Link to Study Abroad Pre-Acceptance Process 25-26:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H5TyaSM90U7R144QuF20azksOexdjYVo/view
Page Footer: Clarkson International Center – ERC 2300 – Email: internationalcenter@clarkson.edu
PAGE 3 – Immigration Jargon Defined…
SEVP – Student and Exchange Visitor Program
A government program that collects, maintains and provides information that allows legitimate foreign students or
exchange visitors to gain entry into the United States.
SEVIS – Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
One of the U.S. Government database which hold information on F1, J1 & M1 Students and their dependents. Its
purpose is to collect, maintain & track information about the international students and exchange visitors.
F-1 Nonimmigrant Student
A person who has been admitted to the US as a full-time academic student at an accredited college, university,
seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school or other academic institution, or in a language
training program. The student must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma
or certificate, and the school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students.
I-20 – Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status
J-1 Exchange Visitor
A person admitted temporarily to the United States in J-1 status as a participant in a program approved by the
secretary of state for the purpose of teaching, instructing, lecturing, studying, observing, conducting research,
consulting, demonstrating special skills or receiving training.
DS-2019 – Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status
Resources
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study.html
https://www.uscis.gov/tools/glossary
Page 4 – Visa Processing Tip:
It is important that students are patient and visit the US Consulate website daily to see if appointments have become
available. Students should watch out for special events such as ‘Super Saturdays’ in which visa processing is
reserved solely for students.
We are streamlining our processes!
You may have noticed that some of the International Center documents are now completed via Google Forms.
The list of forms can be found here: https://intranet.clarkson.edu/student-life/international-center/resources/
The goal of this process is to improve our efficiency and reduce paper waste!
Page 5 – International Visitors: The Process
The International Center assists departments and faculty sponsors with hiring or hosting international faculty, staff
and scholars under the J Exchange Visitor Program. This includes:
● assistance with immigration document preparation
● arrival guide for J Scholars
● general scholar advising to those on J visa status
Clarkson can issue documents under the following categories:
● J Professor / Research Scholar: Individual whose primary duties are teaching or research. These categories
commingle. Length of stay is 3-weeks to 5-years
● J1 Short-Term Scholar: A professor, research scholar or person with similar education or accomplishments
coming to the US on a short-term visit for the purpose of lecturing, observing, training or demonstrating
special skills. Length of stay is up to 6-months.
● J Student Intern: Student pursuing a degree outside the US where the internship is fulfilling the education
objective for his/her degree at home institution. Special conditions do apply. Length of stay is 3-weeks to
1-year.
Please visit the International Center intranet to view the Steps to host a J-1 Scholar:
https://intranet.clarkson.edu/student-life/international-center/cu-faculty-staff/#hosting
Important Note: Please allow at least 2 – 3 months processing prior to the start of the J program. This allows enough
time for International Center staff to review and process the visa paperwork, visa processing – and – travel to
Clarkson University.
Please email internationalcenter@clarkson.edu with any questions or requests.
Facts from the Department of State – Student Visas, by the Numbers
Embassies and consulates are prioritizing student visa appointments and utilizing expanded interview waiver
authorities.
42 missions issued more in GY 2023 than they have in 20 years
Mission India issued over 140,500 student visas
Over 40,000 visas to African students, the most in the past decade
Over 9,700 issued to Nigerian nationals, making it the top sending country in Africa
FY 2023, the Department of State issued more student visas than in any year since FY2016 – almost 609,000
student visas.