Newsletter

Happy February Region V NAFSAns!

The Region V Team is excited to introduce some new offerings to our members beginning this month!

The first new offering is virtual "Lunch and Learns". The title of the February virtual Lunch and Learn is Hot Topics in ISSS. The Lunch and Learn will be held on Tuesday, February 20th at 12:30pmEST/11:30amCST. The speakers will be our KC ISS Rep Catherine Lee from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Jennifer Taylor from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Scott Manley from the University of Michigan and our Region V Chair Bob White from Masuda Funai. The Zoom link to this Lunch and Learn is below. All are invited to attend!

The second new offering is KC "Office Hours". Your Knowledge Community (KC) representatives are making themselves available through Zoom to answer any questions that you have or discuss any issues that you are encountering. No question or issue is too big or small! The dates/times when the KC Reps will be available and the Zoom links are below.

If you have ideas for additional offerings that you would like the Region V Team to consider, please email regionv.chairstream@gmail.com.

Bob White, Chair

Laure Bordas-Isner, Chair Elect

Ashton Troxel, Past Chair

ANNOUNCEMENTS

News You Can Use from KC ISSS

USCIS Filing Fee Changes Effective April 1st

The USCIS released its new filing fee schedule which becomes effective on April 1st. Some of the changes include I-539 filing fee increasing from $370 to $470 and I-765 filing fee increasing from $410 to $520. There are reduced filing fees for on-line filing, instead of paper filing. Additional information about the new USCIS filing fees is available at https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-issues-final-rule-to-adjust-certain-immigration-and-naturalization-fees

DHS Extends Special Student Relief for Students From Syria

On Jan. 29, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a notice in the Federal Register that provides Special Student Relief (SSR) employment benefits for F-1 nonimmigrant students from Syria who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a result of the current armed conflict and current humanitarian crisis in Syria. This notice extends relief from April 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025, for eligible Syrian students. Read more below:

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/2024/01/dhs-extends-special-student-relief-employment-benefits-for-f-1-international-students-from



USCIS to Introduce On-Line Filing For H-1B Petitions

The USCIS has indicated that it will be rolling out on-line filing for all types of H-1B petitions in the middle of February. The USCIS confirmed that there will be no special organizational process for colleges and universities. Instead, they will set up organizational accounts similar to other employers. Additional information about the expansion of on-line filing to all types of H-1B petitions is available at https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-to-launch-organizational-accounts-enabling-online-collaboration-and-submission-of-h-1b

H-1B Quota Registration Opens on March 6th with Changes

The USCIS announced that the FY2025 H-1B quota registration system will open on March 6th and remain available until March 22nd. The USCIS will also be changing the system from a registration centric process to a beneficiary centric process in order to potentially ensure greater fairness in the system. Also, the filing fee for each registration will remain at $10 this year. Employers who have registrations selected will be able to file H-1B quota petitions on behalf of the selected beneficiaries. Additional information about the FY2025 registration process is available at https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-announces-strengthened-integrity-measures-for-h-1b-program

International Educators’ Career Satisfaction

a Comprehensive Study

Dear International Educator:

My name is Peter Thomas and I am a doctoral candidate at The University of Toledo. I am also the Director of the OISS at Campbellsville University. I am writing to request your help to answer a survey for my study. The research is entitled “International Educators’ Career Satisfaction a Comprehensive Study.” ​To participate in the survey, click on the following link: https://toledouw.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b3CFLi2skGG9wns

I'm excited to conduct this first ever research about International Educators. I hope the results will inform leadership, shape policy, and bring change to retain and help institutions better understand International Educators.

Thank you for your participation.

Sincerely,

Peter Thomas

pthomas@rockets.utoledo.edu

NAFSA Region V will be regularly hosting virtual "Lunch and Learns" during which our Region V Knowledge Communities (KC) representatives and other guest presenters will be discussing current topics within their areas.

The February Lunch and Learn will be on Hot Topics in ISSS. The session will be on Tuesday, February 20th at 12:30pmEST/11:30amCST. Join us from the Zoom link below.

Bring your lunch and questions to the Lunch and Learn!

The leaders of the Region V Knowledge Communities (KC) are hosting virtual "Office Hours" each month in order to answer any questions or discuss issues that any Region V NAFSAn may have. Please bring all of your questions/issues which will be discussed with the KC reps and your other Region V colleagues! The following are the February 2024 Office Hours for each of our KCs with the Zoom links:

K-12 KC

Thursday, Feb 15^th at 1pm CST/2pm EST

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82850778195?pwd=RLbbAbKonnF1kZlWicz68C1ZUXQTbh.1

ISSS KC

Thursday, Feb 15^th at 2pm CST/3pm EST

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86961705836?pwd=VabyU0OWH3IgZ7QaLDczHPEVLGCkJo.1

EA KC

Friday, Feb 16^th at 11am CST/Noon EST

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86391259698?pwd=SaFM4O5VLKMLO6a134VazsbcztTL2C.1

IEL KC

Thursday, Feb 22^nd at 2pmCST/3pmEST

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83963644925?pwd=OVusR7vuntFZhLkThGZomZqrgLRAFN.1

IEM KC

Thursday, Feb 22^nd at 3pmCST/4pmEST

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82281731470?pwd=q0cOUJL5N7aa3dsJe6N9GgCsW0aE49.1

MIG Meeting: Engaging International Alumni in Uncertain Times

You are invited to the first 2024 meeting of the (new) International Alumni and Advancement NAFSA MIG. This is a virtual meeting free and open to all. International educators interested in international alumni engagement and global fundraising are encouraged to attend. For the Zoom link see our Linkedin page:

WAIE

February 22 - Virtual Roundtables. Topics TBD. Free to participate.

Summer 2024: In person event, details coming soon!

IEI

The 2024 IEI Annual Conference will be held on March 7 & 8 at Loyola University Chicago! There is still time to register, so we hope to see you there!

MAIE

March 13 - 15 in Midland @ the H Hotel

Early bird registration closes February 19th!

Follow us on our new Facebook page and Instagram

for more updates from Region V!

Have an update from your MIG/SIG that you'd like us to include in our newsletter? We'd love to hear from you! Please use the form below to submit your content to Region V.

Our Facebook page is now open to the region! Follow us on Facebook and post your international education updates directly to our page. We'd love to hear from you!