SFU International Services for Students

Release Date: January 29, 2013

“As part of the restructuring, the visa offices in Detroit and Seattle will be closed and workloads transferred to other offices. The Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. will cease processing of Temporary Resident Permit (TRP), Rehabilitation and Authority to Return to Canada (ARC) applications. TRP, Rehabilitation and ARC applications should now be submitted to either of the visa offices in New York or Los Angeles.”

Effective immediately, new U.S. and Canada based Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), Study Permit and Work Permit applications can be submitted online or to the appropriate visa office. All study permit applications will be processed at the visa office in Los Angeles and all work permit applications will be processed at the visa office in New York. The east-west divide along the Mississippi, previously instructed in OBs 427 and 435, will cease to be a determining factor in where to submit applications. This OB supersedes OBs 427 and 435, which have both been expired.

Further information can be found here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2013/ob496.asp

Seoul

Release Date: January 28, 2013

Effective immediately, the Visa and Immigration Section of the Canadian Embassy in Seoul are closed.

New Temporary Resident applications can be submitted online, unless directed otherwise by CIC.

Temporary Resident applications currently in process in Seoul will continue to be processed and finalized at that office. Applications submitted under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program have been transferred for processing to the visa office in Manila.

Further information on this closure may be found at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2013/ob498.asp

Caracas

Release Date: January 29, 2013

Effective immediately, the Visa and Immigration Section of the Canadian Embassy in Caracas is closed.

New Temporary Resident applications can be submitted online or at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Caracas.

VACs taking applications for residents of Venezuela (Caracas) will continue to operate normally, and applicants are encouraged to use those services.

Temporary Resident applications currently in process in Caracas will continue to be processed and finalized at that office.

Further information on the closure may be found at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2013/ob497.asp

Extended Health Insurance Plan – SFSS Health and Dental Plan (undergraduates) OR SFU Graduate Benefit Plan (graduates)

If you are eligible and interested in opting in the extended health insurance plan or would like to add family members to your plan, please note that for the Summer 2012 term, the Change of Coverage Period is May 3 – 18, 2012. For more information visit http://www.ihaveaplan.ca/

Medical Services Plan (MSP)

New students this term may bring their completed MSP application (with a photocopy of your study permit) to SFU International Services for Students before Thursday, May 24, and we will mail it for you. Visit http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/ for more information.

For more details, review our Health Insurance handouts.

• • Undergraduate students
• • Graduate students
• • Exchange/Study Abroad students

SFU’s Senate is looking for students to serve on a number of committees.

Committee work includes approving undergraduate and graduate curriculum, determining university academic priorities, developing policy on awards, scholarships and bursaries, and setting policy for the Calendar. If you’re interested in learning more about how the university is administered or plan a career in academia, serving on a Senate committee is a valuable experience. It’s a 1–3 year volunteer commitment, depending on the committee.

Visit their website for more information on how to apply and the list of committees

The Consulate General of Canada in Seattle has advised the University of significant changes to the operations of the Seattle office. These changes may impact international students applying for an initial study permit, temporary resident visa, and temporary work permit with which to enter Canada and take up, or continue, their studies at SFU.

Effective June 1, 2012 the following changes will take place:

(1) The Seattle visa office will no longer offer in person service. All applications will need to be mailed. Anyone intending to submit an application via mail will need to apply well in advance of when the visa will be required, or an application will need to be submitted to a visa office in ones home country.

(2) The Seattle visa office will no longer return documents (e.g. passports) by courier to U.S. or Canadian addresses.

Applicants with mailing address in the USA must purchase, and provide with their application a prepaid, 9″ x 12″ USPS Express Mail or USPS Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation envelopes.

Applicants currently residing in Canada who are applying for a new temporary resident visa must not submit a prepaid return envelope. All documents will be sent U.S. Postal Service First Class Mail with no tracking number.

More information can be found on their website.

Processing times are currently 6 – 8 weeks (subject to change). Applications will be processed in the order they are received and cannot be expedited.

If you have upcoming travels plans, please meet with an International Student Advisor to discuss your options during advising hours or via email or phone.

The SFU Library is continuing plans for a Research Commons, to be located on the second floor of the Bennett Library with a future presence at all SFU campus locations. The Research Commons will be a configuration of services, spaces, and technology designed to support the research endeavours of the University community, with particular focus on graduate students. Though the physical space is still under development, the SFU Library including the Student Learning Commons and Research Commons is very pleased to provide you with the following academic support services for Summer 2012.

Workshops
The Research Commons is pleased to offer you a range of workshops including Managing your time, Working with thesis templates, and an introduction to Refworks. View the complete list of workshops and register in advance.

To request an additional workshop not offered this semester, send a request to research-commons@sfu.ca

Liaison Librarians
Each department/faculty at SFU has a liaison librarian available to help you with your research and teaching needs. Find a complete list of liaison librarians for the contact information of your liaison librarian.

Read Ahead Service
The Read Ahead Service provides intensive and extended support for graduate students writing theses, projects or any piece of writing with a longer deadline. In order to receive in-depth feedback and maximize your consultation time with a Graduate Facilitator or an SLC Coordinator, you will be asked to submit the piece of writing you wish to discuss prior to your first appointment. To take advantage of this service, book an appointment in advance.

EAL/ESL Services
If English is not your first language, English as an Additional Language (EAL) specialist Tim Mossman is available to help you improve your spoken and written English through individual consultations, workshops, and personalized learning plans.

Contact Tim Mossman 778.782.8510 / tmossman@sfu.ca for details.

For more information, see the Student Learning Commons services and the Library services for graduate students.

Please forward any questions or comments regarding graduate student programming or services to
research-commons@sfu.ca

Your Summer 2012 term is just about to start. This is a great time to connect with SFU International Services for Students on Facebook and play the Big International Quiz (Big IQ)!

The contest starts next Monday, May 7th and runs to Friday, May 11th. Each day, a trivia question will be posted on three of our social media pages, with daily opportunities to win!  For contest rules and information, click HERE.

Welcome to SFU! We hope the start of the term is going well; below are a few details to help you settle into life at SFU.

Post-Orientation Sessions

New Student to SFU this Sumer 2012? Missed Orientation?

Attend one of the group on-line webinar sessions and receive the important information you may have missed. To participate in the online Post-Orientation session you need a computer and speakers or headphones. We will offer two sessions with limited spaces in each of them, please register as soon as possible as the registration will be on first-come first-served basis.

Post-Orientation Online Webinar Sessions

1) Monday, May 7th, 10:30 am – 11:20 am
2) Wednesday, May 9th, 09:30 am – 10:20 am

For registration please follow the link.

Off-Campus Work Permit

Did/do you hold an off-campus work permit or received verification from your previous institution for an off-campus work permit? If yes, you MUST request a “transfer of eligibility verification” through MyCIC account.

Failure to complete the online transfer will result in you being reported ineligible by your former institution as you are no longer registered there.

Applying for the Medical Services Plan (MSP)

Bring your completed MSP application (with a photocopy of your study permit) to SFU International Services for Students before May 24^th, and we will mail it for you!

Welcome Event – Photo Scavenger Hunt around downtown Vancouver

The ISS Photo Scavenger Hunt is a great way to connect with other new international and exchange/study abroad students, in beautiful downtown Vancouver. Take photos of great monuments and participate in fun games as your team explores the city! There is no cost to participate in the Photo Scavenger Hunt; if you would like to join us for dinner afterwards please be sure to bring money to cover your meal.

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012
Time: Photo Scavenger Hunt 2:30pm – 5:30pm, Dinner 6:00pm – 8:00pm @ Subeez (optional)
Location: Downtown
Cost: Free event

What to Bring: UPass, comfortable shoes and clothing, camera if you have one, money for dinner. Be sure to dress for the weather.

Registration Required, please RSVP by May 7^th

International Student Advisors can help you and your family with questions related to immigration (study permits and entry visas), health insurance, employment (work permits and eligibility to work), adjusting to life at SFU, and anything else related to your life as an international student.

If you have questions, you are welcome to connect with an International Student Advisor in one of the following ways:

• Advice in person (available at all three campuses)*

• * Burnaby: Monday – Friday, 1pm-4pm;
  Please note that, effective May 21, 2012 onwards, drop-in advising will be Monday to Thursday, 1pm-4pm
• * Surrey and Vancouver: once a month by appointment

Please click HERE for more detailed schedule and appointment times.

• Call 778-782-4232 to speak to an International Student Advisor

• Send an email to intl_advising@sfu.ca