International Center Updates: October 22, 2021

International Center Updates
October 22, 2021

International Center’s New Campus Bulletin Board
Everyday there are many wonderful events and programs taking place across the Tufts campuses. These include social events, opportunities to create connections, workshops aimed at academic support and career planning, and much more. To help you keep track of events and programs that might be especially useful or interesting to our international community, we've created a Campus Bulletin Board. Each week we will update the Board with announcements about new ways to connect further with other offices across the University so that you can take full advantage of the resources and opportunities available to you.

Peer Advisor Mentorship Program
The International Center Peer Advisors are very excited to introduce the Peer Advisor Mentorship Program, which is aimed at providing international students with peer-to-peer mentorship on how to navigate their first year at Tufts. The mentors are responsible for organizing events, holding drop-in hours and conducting 1:1 sessions with their mentees with an attempt to add value to their experience at Tufts and address any concerns that their mentees might have.

We strongly encourage all the first-year international students to sign-up for the Mentorship Program using this link. Additionally, we recommend all international students to keep an eye on the Peer Advisor Website, which will enable you to track our incoming events, utilize our resource guides and contact us if need be!

International Center Thanksgiving Celebration
The International Center is excited to host our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration! The event is scheduled for Friday, November 12 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Invitations have been sent to current students and scholars via Eventbrite. Please contact our department via email at internationalcenter@tufts.edu if you did not receive an invitation, are a current member of the Tufts community, and would like to purchase a ticket. We look forward to seeing you there!

Travel Signatures
Are you planning to travel outside the US this winter? If so, please be aware that you will need a valid travel signature on your Form I-20 or DS-2019 in order to re-enter the US. Please be sure to confirm whether you have a valid travel signature while planning your travel. Travel signatures are issued on page 2 of your I-20, or page 1 of your DS-2019. Please be aware that:

• Signatures are generally valid for up to one year or until the I-20 or DS-2019 expiration date, whichever comes first
• Travel signatures for F-1 students on post-completion Optional Practical Training and STEM OPT are valid for six months
• Travel signatures are not required to depart the US; signatures are needed only upon re-entry to the US to continue studies and related academic activities
• Travel signatures are not required if you are entering the US for the first time to begin your program.

If you need a travel signature, you can request one electronically here: https://icenter.tufts.edu/immigration/travel/travel-signatures/. Once your request is received, an International Center advisor will review the request. It will ordinarily take 3 - 5 business days to process a travel signature request, at which time we will provide you with an I-20 or DS-2019 containing an updated travel signature by email.

If you would rather not request the signature electronically, you are also welcome to stop by the I-Center during posted walk-in hours at your campus for an updated travel signature instead.

Sincerely,

Tufts International Center
https://icenter.tufts.edu
internationalcenter@tufts.edu