Wellesley College
Slater International Center
Spring 2017 Newsletter

Mondays, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Wednesdays, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Thursdays, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

If you are unable to come to Slater International Center during walk-in hours, please call (781) 283-2082 to set up an appointment.

Life After Graduation: Senior Workshop              Wednesday, 2/15, 1:00-2:00pm
LWC 413
This is a must for seniors! If you are graduating this spring, come to this workshop to learn about employment, graduate school, returning home, or other options upon graduation.

Working in the U.S. #3                                               Thursday, 3/2, 4:30-5:30pm
Library Lecture Room
An information session for F-1 International Students. If you are graduating this spring, and you are interested in working in the U.S., you should attend this session. This is a repeat of the first and second "Working in the U.S." information sessions held earlier in the year.

Tax Information Session                                         Wednesday, 3/8, 6:00-7:00pm
Collins Cinema
This session will overview the U.S. tax system, review your tax responsibilities as an international student, introduce the Thomson Reuters FNTR Tax Prep software, and provide you with some helpful information and handouts.

Tax Preparation Workshop #1                              Wednesday, 3/15, 5:00-7:00pm
Library Lecture Room
The first of two informal and interactive workshops to help you navigate the Thomson Reuters FNTR software. Bring your laptop, immigration documents, and tax documents to begin working on your taxes!

Tax Preparation Workshop #2                                  Tuesday, 4/11, 5:00-7:00pm
Library Lecture Room
The last informal and interactive workshop to help you navigate the Thomson Reuters FNTR software. Remember to bring along your laptop, immigration documents, and tax documents.

Immigration Attorney Visit #2                               Wednesday, 4/12, 5:30-7:00pm
Library Lecture Room
Are you an international student interested in working in the U.S. after you graduate and complete your OPT? Come hear an overview of common visa options from an immigration lawyer!

Spring Festival                                                             Saturday, 4/15, 1:00-4:00pm
Chapel Lawn
Spring Festival is a celebration of the beginning of a beautiful season, as well as multiculturalism at Wellesley. This year, Spring Festival will be an unprecedented collaborative event hosted by Slater and over fifteen cultural organizations on campus.

Alumnae Panel                                                                    Saturday, 4/22, 11:00-1:30pm
Slater International Center
The panel will feature alumnae getting asked a number of questions centered around their experiences in college, graduate school, the professional world, and life after Wellesley. Brunch will be provided afterwards so that students can chat with alumnae.

End of Semester Gathering                                     Wednesday, 5/3, 5:00-7:00pm
Slater International Center
Join the Slater E-Board and Slater International Center Staff in celebrating the end of the semester and hear updates on what’s happening at Slater! Food will be served.

Travel Signature Day                                                   Monday, 5/8, 9:00-4:00pm
Slater International Center
If you are traveling outside the U.S. and plan to re-enter in F-1 or J-1 status, come to Slater to have your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 signed for travel.

Slater International Senior Reception                       Thursday, 5/25, 6:00-8:00pm
Library Lecture Room
Seniors, come by Slater to celebrate your time at Wellesley!

Declaring a Major
If you have recently declared or changed your major, you must request a new Form I-20 to reflect your new major. The Department of Homeland Security requires that your immigration document reflects the most accurate and up-to-date information about your program of study.

Working in the United States
If you are thinking about doing an internship over the summer, of if you are graduating in May, you should learn about your employment authorization options. You can do this by attending our "Working in the U.S. Workshop" and "Immigration Attorney Visits". You can also refer to the employment section on our website for more information.

Travel
If you are traveling outside the U.S. and plan to re-enter in F-1 or J-1 status, you must have your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 signed for travel. For F-1 students, the travel signature is valid for one year and is located on page 2 or 3 of your Form I-20. For J-1 students, the travel signature is valid for the duration of your form and is located in the lower left corner of your Form DS-2019. Refer to the travel section on our website for more information. Please carry the following documents when you travel:

• Valid Form I-20 or DS-2019, with valid travel signature (12 months for currently enrolled students)
• Valid passport (at least six months into the future)
• Valid F-1 or J-1 visa
• Proof of financial support
• Current transcript or enrollment letter (optional)

If you need a travel signature, you must bring your passport, your Form I-20, and your Form I-94 to The Slater International Center during walk-in hours. If walk-in hours are not convenient for you, you may contact Slater Center to make an appointment.

Form I-94
Upon arrival to the U.S., an electronic Arrival/Departure document/Form I-94 will be created for you. Please print out a copy of your Form I-94 from the Department of Homeland Security website after each entry into the U.S. If you have problems retrieving your Form I-94, please see the handout on our website or contact our office for assistance.

Tax Season is coming! You may start receiving various tax documents in the mail. Please gather them together to bring with you when you attend one of our tax sessions. Taxes are complicated, especially for international students and scholars, but we will provide support as you try to navigate the U.S. tax system. Remember that the deadline to file your taxes is April 15th! It is your responsibility to understand and comply with U.S. tax regulations in a timely manner. Keep your eyes open for more details on the availability of our tax preparation software, FNTR, and mark your calendars for the important tax programs listed in the "Upcoming Events" section.

A collection of memories from the end of last semester...

Host Families
Reconnect with your host family this semester to learn more about North American culture and to share your culture with them too! They would love to hear from you.

Spending Time at Slater
Don't forget you can always spend time at Slater! Your Wellesley ID gives you swipe access and allows you to come relax, eat snacks, meet with friends, or watch movies 24/7. Just remember to follow the posted clean-up guidelines, and return all DVDs after use. Please be respectful of the Slater space.

Going Global
Check out "Going Global," a Wellesley College resource that links students to a comprehensive database of international employment opportunities and country-specific information on industries and networks. It is recommended that you set up your own account to save searches and information.

Dining and Transportation Services
Dining and transportation services change during academic breaks. For more information, please contact Dining Services, Residential Life, or the Housing & Transportation office.

Slater International Student Organization
The Slater Executive Board is a student organization closely affiliated with the Slater International Center. The organization encourages greater understanding among cultures and acts as an advocate for international students and scholars. Its members collaborate with other student groups and departments to coordinate and organize events that increase intercultural awareness and involve the diverse Wellesley community. Meetings are held weekly on alternating Wednesdays (6:00-7:00pm) and Thursdays (8:00-9:00pm). All are welcome. Elections for next year's e-board are coming soon. Contact Lamisa Hossain or Lia Camargo for more information.  

World Issues Forum
World Issues Forum is an informal discussion group focused on current events and international affairs. Meetings will be open to all students, regardless of prior knowledge of international affairs. The group strives to provide an open environment for discussion about weekly topics without formal structure. It will have biweekly meetings to discuss current events based on sources from international news media. Meetings will be held at Slater International Center. Contact Haley Buchan or Kathryn Pundyk for more information.

 

President: Lamisa Hossain (2017), Bangladesh
Vice President: Lia Camargo (2017), USA/Japan
Treasurer: Aryamika Bhatia (2019), India
Secretary: Amy Jin (2019), China
Alumnae Chair: Aditi Saha (2020), Singapore
Senator: Sarah Kasha (2020), USA/France
Community Coordinator: Ginny Nie (2019), China
Cultural Chair: Emma Muschett (2019), Jamaica/United Kingdom
Media Chair: Daxi Sun (2019), China
Publicity Chair: Malak AlSayyad (2019), Egypt
First-Year Liasion/Historian: Maya Mubayi (2020), India
Africa Representative: Demilade Adeboye (2019), Nigeria
Asia Pacific Representative: Sophia Leung (2019), Hong Kong
Caribbean Representative: Tempestt Morgan (2017), Jamaica
European Representative: Ortensia Palmonella (2019), Italy & Tara Wilfert (2019), USA/Germany
Latin American Representative: Daniela Kreimerman Arroyo (2019), Chile
Middle East Representative: Aida El Kohen (2019), Morocco
North America Representative: Iletze Porras (2019), Canada
South Asian Representative: Madhumalika Gupta (2018), India & Anya Prakash (2018), India
 
Please feel free to contact any of your E-Board members with issues or concerns.