Welcome to the COVID-19 page for ISSS!
Here is where you can find information from ISSS regarding office changes due to COVID-19, institutional information about COVID-19, and the impact of COVID-19 on your immigration status.
This page was lasted updated on: March 03, 2021
Rensselaer Information
All information from Rensselaer regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is available here: covid19.rpi.edu. This website is a way for you to remain informed about campus-wide decisions and information.
You can view all campus-wide communications here: covid19.rpi.edu/communications
You can view the return-to-campus planning website here: covid19.rpi.edu/return-to-campus#
Services
As Rensselaer moved to telework on March 18, 2020, all ISSS services are now online.
Please expand each section below to view information by selecting the + sign.
You can contact ISSS via email, phone, or virtual advising appointment.
- Email: ISSSoffice@rpi.edu
- Phone: +1-518-276-4966
- Virtual Advising appointment: https://go.oncehub.com/RPIISSSOffice
If your question does not require an appointment, you can send your inquiry via email to ISSSoffice@rpi.edu. We aim to reply to all messages within 1-2 business days.
ISSS has moved all advising online. You are able to schedule a 15 minute meeting with an ISSS advisor during our Open Hours every weekday, Monday-Friday.
Schedule a Virtual Advising appointment here: https://go.oncehub.com/RPIISSSOffice
Appointments will be held using the WebEx platform. Within one business day after you schedule an appointment, the advisor will send you a calendar invitation with a link to access the meeting.
To submit forms and other documentation to ISSS, please send them via email to the ISSS office at ISSSoffice@rpi.edu.
Your documents should be scanned by a scanner or mobile app. These scans must be clear and easy to read. For some free mobile scanning apps, see this Wirecutter article: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-mobile-scanning-apps/
ISSS has developed a digital signature policy for use during COVID-19. Please review our policy here: https://info.rpi.edu/isss/isss-forms/#ISSSFormPolicy
Spring 2021 Information
The Fall 2020 guidance (issued August 7, 2020) has been extended into the Spring 2021 semester, per confirmation from our SEVP Field Representative.
Emails were sent to students in December 2020 to explain how the Federal Guidance intersects with the RPI 2020 Return-to Campus plan, and impacts international students. The messages are available in the below Communications section.
Recordings of the ISSS Town Halls are available below:
- December 16, 2020 - Town Hall for Continuing Students: https://rpi.box.com/v/townhall-cont-12162020
- Please note there was a connection issue at the end, and the video and audio cut out early at the end of the question section.
- December 21, 2020 - Town Hall for Incoming Students: https://rpi.box.com/v/townhall-incoming-12212020
Communications
ISSS has been in regular communication with students via email to provide updates and information on COVID-19 and your immigration status. We post all email messages to this website as a quick reference for students, alumni, and their families.
Please expand each section below to view the messages by selecting the + sign.
March 03, 2021: Immigration Reminder Message
A message to F-1 visa holders (current students) was sent in the afternoon of March 3rd by International Services for Students and Scholars.
Please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/reminder-message-2021-03-03
December 15, 2020: Update to Spring SEVP Guidance
A message to F-1 visa holders was sent in the afternoon of December 15th by International Services for Students and Scholars.
- Message to current students: https://rpi.box.com/v/cont-guidance-SP21-12152020
- Message to incoming students: https://mailchi.mp/28b87669ee2f/sp21-incoming-guidance-update
- Message to readmitted students: https://rpi.box.com/v/readmit-guidance-SP21-12152020
- Message to Change of Level students: https://rpi.box.com/v/COL-guidance-SP21-12152020
July 28, 2020: Update to Fall SEVP Guidance #4
A message to F-1 visa holders was sent in the afternoon of July 28th by International Services for Students and Scholars.
- Message to current students: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-guidance-update-04
- Message to incoming students: https://mailchi.mp/536af5369f9d/isss-update-to-fall-sevp-guidance-4
- Message to readmitted students: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-guidance-update-readmits
- Message to Change of Level students: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-guidance-update-COL
- The last message was sent in the morning of July 29.
July 24, 2020: Update to Fall SEVP Guidance #3
A message to F-1 visa holders (current students) was sent in the afternoon of July 24th by International Services for Students and Scholars.
Please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-guidance-update-03
July 24, 2020: Update to Fall SEVP Guidance #3
A message to F-1 visa holders (new freshmen and new graduate students) was sent in the afternoon of July 24th by International Services for Students and Scholars.
Please see the message content at this link: https://mailchi.mp/818681dff652/isss-update-to-fall-sevp-guidance
July 16, 2020: Update to Fall SEVP Guidance #2
A message to F-1 visa holders (current students) was sent in the afternoon of July 16th by International Services for Students and Scholars.
Please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-guidance-update-02
July 16, 2020: Pending Update to Fall SEVP Guidance & Town Hall Details - Incoming Graduate Students
A message to F-1 visa holders (new graduate students) was sent in the afternoon of July 16th by International Services for Students and Scholars with information regarding the federal guidance and upcoming Town Hall meeting.
Please see the message content at this link: https://mailchi.mp/baf847709598/important-isss-update-regarding-sevp-guidance-gr
July 14, 2020: Pending Update to Fall SEVP Guidance
A message to F-1 visa holders (current students) was sent in the afternoon of July 14th by International Services for Students and Scholars.
Please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-guidance-update-01
July 14, 2020: Town Hall Details - Freshmen
A message to F-1 visa holders (new undergraduate students and parents) was sent in the afternoon of July 14th by International Services for Students and Scholars with information regarding the upcoming Town Hall meeting.
Please see the message content at this link: https://mailchi.mp/2761b4699767/isss-town-hall-details
July 13, 2020: Town Hall Details - Current Students
A message to F-1 visa holders (current students) was sent in the afternoon of July 13th by International Services for Students and Scholars with information regarding the upcoming Town Hall meetings.
Please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/ISSS-town-hall
July 13, 2020: Fall 2020 International Students: Message from ISSS
Revised messages were sent by International Services for Students and Scholars to student groups by cohort.
Graduate students and freshman were not sent new messages, as there were no changes to those cohort groups.
- Sophomore students - please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-update-sophomore-REVISED
- Junior students - please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-update-junior-REVISED
- Senior students - please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-update-senior-REVISED
July 10, 2020: Fall 2020 International Students: Message from ISSS
Messages were sent by International Services for Students and Scholars to student groups by class.
- Freshmen students - please see the message content at this link: https://mailchi.mp/4b799d258482/isss-newstudent-fa20-update2
- Sophomore students - please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-update-sophomore
- Junior students - please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-update-junior
- Senior students - please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-update-senior
- Continuing Graduate students - please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/SEVP-update-CONTgraduate
July 07, 2020: Fall 2020 International Students: Message from ISSS Director
A message to F-1 visa holders (new undergraduate students and parents) was sent in the afternoon of July 7th by International Services for Students and Scholars Director Mary Nellis.
Please see the message content at this link: http://mailchi.mp/030f89d3a3da/isss-newstudent-fa20-update1
July 02, 2020: Fall 2020 International Students: Message from ISSS Director
A message to F-1 visa holders (current students) was sent in the afternoon of July 7th by International Services for Students and Scholars Director Mary Nellis.
Please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/FA20-ISSS-Update-1
July 02, 2020: Fall 2020 International Students: Message from ISSS Director
A message to F-1 visa holders (new undergraduate students and parents) was sent in the morning of July 2nd by International Services for Students and Scholars Director Mary Nellis.
Please see the message content at this link: http://mailchi.mp/371dfa4a6e77/fa20-new-student-message-from-isss-director
July 02, 2020: Fall 2020 International Students: Message from ISSS Director
A message to F-1 visa holders (new graduate students) was sent in the morning of July 2nd by International Services for Students and Scholars Director Mary Nellis.
Please see the message content at this link: http://mailchi.mp/214881134419/fa20-gr-new-student-message-from-isss-director
June 17, 2020: Fall 2020 Campus Return: Message from ISSS Director
A message to F-1 visa holders (current students) was sent in the afternoon of Wednesday, June 17th by International Services for Students and Scholars Director Mary Nellis.
Please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/COVID19-DirectorMessage-June
June 12, 2020: Incoming International Student Outreach and Support
A message to incoming F-1 international students was sent in the morning of Friday, June 12th by the Vice President for Student Life and the Director International Services for Students and Scholars.
Please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/incoming-intl-outreach-support
June 10, 2020: COVID-19 Update #13 (Fall Updates - PLEASE READ)
A message to F-1 visa holders (current students) was sent in the afternoon of Wednesday, June 10th by International Services for Students and Scholars with an update regarding COVID-19 and student concerns.
Please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/ISSS-COVID19update13
Town Hall link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2X6GBseysY&feature=youtu.be
June 5, 2020: International Students and Alumni Outreach and Support
A message to F-1 visa holders was sent in the morning of Friday, June 5th by the Vice President for Student Life and the Director International Services for Students and Scholars with an update regarding COVID-19 and student concerns.
Please see the message content at this link: https://mailchi.mp/rpi.edu/international-students-and-alumni-outreach-and-support
June 4, 2020: COVID-19 Update #12 (Advising, Immigration Information, Presidential Proclamation)
A message to F-1 visa holders (current students) was sent in the afternoon of Thursday, June 4th by International Services for Students and Scholars with an update regarding COVID-19 and student concerns.
Please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/ISSS-COVID19update12students
June 4, 2020: COVID-19 Update #12 (Alumni Information #4)
A message to F-1 visa holders (alumni) was sent in the afternoon of Thursday, June 4th by Assistant Director Emilie Buse with an update regarding COVID-19 and student concerns.
Please see the message content at this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/ISSS-COVID19update12alumni