Newsletter-01/11/2023

Post-Completion OPT Application Workshop, Part 2 (for Winter 2023 graduates)

Zoom link
Password: 220537

Thursday, January 12, 2023
4pm PST
Part 2 is for students who have completed the application packet and will focus on reviewing your application as well answering application questions in a group format. Part 2 will not be recorded. 

We're closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

We will be closed on Monday, January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will resume normal operating hours on Tuesday, January 17 at 10 AM.

We hope that you enjoy your Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend!

Community Alert - Impersonation Scam

The United States' Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will NEVER contact you via email or phone. You should NEVER provide your SSN/ITIN to anyone via email or phone.

For additional information and safety tips on fraudulent schemes, visit these University and Federal Trade Commission resources:

https://uit.stanford.edu/phishing/forwardspam

https://uit.stanford.edu/service/phishingawareness

https://uit.stanford.edu/emailcalendar/phishing

The Department of Public Safety has received multiple reports of people receiving calls from someone claiming to be a Stanford Department of Public Safety deputy. The DPS business number has been spoofed, making it appear that the call is coming from an official and published phone number for Stanford DPS. During the course of these calls, the impersonator informed the recipient that they are in legal trouble.  The impersonator has even set up a voice mail box under the identity of an actual DPS deputy. These calls are intended to perpetrate fraud, similar to calls from people impersonating IRS agents who are claiming to collect overdue taxes.

DPS does not make phone calls or perform other outreach to collect fines or other payments for legal processes. If you receive a call from a DPS deputy claiming to be performing one of these duties, please hang up and call DPS via a published number.

If you receive a similar call, and you are uncertain about the authenticity of the person or the information being presented, ask the person calling you for their full name and a call back number, then disconnect. If you think you might have been contacted by a legitimate business, verify the number with internet directory listings and use that number to return the call. You can use this same approach for any caller representing themselves as a local authority or government agent.

Below are some additional tips for phone scam awareness:

There are some elaborate scams circulating. If a caller asks you to provide information to confirm your identity, tell them you will call back on a published number to continue the conversation. Do not give the caller any personal information or location details.
Do not send electronic payments or cashier’s checks to unverified recipients. Never send gift cards as payments.
If the caller demands immediate action from you and tells you not to hang up, or you sense that the caller is trying to keep you on the phone by continually transferring you to other impersonators, perhaps even telling you about worsening or severe consequences, disconnect immediately.
If a caller threatens your safety, hang up and call 9-1-1 immediately.
You can also take advantage of the following resources to protect yourself and your information.

The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov

The IRS Identity Theft Central page: irs.gov/identity-theft-central

The Federal Trade Commission: ftc.gov

Bechtel Website Update Help

Help us improve the Bechtel International Center website
We’re redesigning our website this Autumn and need your help to validate our new navigation to ensure you – and fellow international students – can easily find information you need. Participate in this online, self-paced navigational test, which should take you no more than 10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for helping us improve your student experience at Stanford.

Let's Get Social!

explore new traditions and--most importantly--eat free food? Look no further! The programming team at the Bechtel International Center has just launched a new newsletter and Instagram page. Follow us on both platforms for consistent updates on all of the parties, trips and experiences that you won't want to miss out on. We have some exciting activities coming up including a special trip around Northern California and some fun events right here on campus (we hope you like puppies, hint, hint). Sign up today and join our virtual community!

Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter here!
Follow our Instagram here!

Thank you for your patience

The Bechtel International Center wants to thank all of you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. There is no need to send multiple emails before we can respond to your original email or follow-up emails once you have submitted an I-20/DSO-2019 request or a STEM Extension request. Please include your student ID # or SEVIS # on all your email inquiries. Ring for Emergency Travel Signature

We strive every day to answer your emails and process your I-20/DS-2019 requests as we shelter-in-place and deal with the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 response. If it seems like we are taking a little longer to respond to your email or process your request, please remain patient and be assured that we will get to your questions or requests as quickly as we can.

• The front desk will re-open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The front desk can provide travel signatures as well as direction on how to receive assistance but not immigration advising. The front desk (located on the second floor of Bechtel) will be closed from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• If approaching the front desk or going to the Assembly Room for afternoon walk-in advising, we kindly request that you wear a mask. If you do not have a mask, one will be available for you to use.
• The hours to pick up documents from the pick-up area located near the bottom of the stairs have been extended to 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.