International Students & Scholars
The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) advises and assists students through the complexities of U.S. immigration and visa and travel regulations, both prior to their arrival and throughout their stay at Smith. We assess the needs of international students and professors and facilitate their smooth transition to life at Smith and within the United States. Our office conducts programs and workshops on various topics throughout the year, and we act as a liaison and an advocate with governmental agencies and various college offices.
News & Announcements
Important Note Re: Email and Phone Scams
Every year international students in the U.S. are the target of a variety of fraudulent phone and email scams. All students should remain cautious and wary of suspicious communications, as these kind of scams are especially common during this time of year! Remember that no U.S. government agency, will contact you by phone regarding money you owe, or problems with your visa. The same is true for most international governments as well. If you receive such a request, you should contact the ISSO and we can help you follow up to make sure that everything is OK.
Here are a few tips to help you identify fraudulent phone calls or emails.
Trust your instincts – fraudulent communications often
- do not make sense or seem unexpected/out of place
- have spelling or grammatical errors
- ask you to verify sensitive personal information
- ask you to send/transfer money to pay a bill
- entice or threaten you with urgent requests
- try to convince you that they are a friend, family member, government agency, college representative, or other well-known company/online service
- contain links and attachments that you don’t recognize, were not expecting, or that generally seem suspicious
International Student Resource Website from ISP
Trying to remember something that may have been covered during ISP? Check out our Resources Website for important information on getting healthcare, maintaining visa status, and more!
OPT Updates
If you need to update your OPT information with us, please visit our Graduated Students section.
Unlawful Presence Memo Update
As of May 3, the US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina issued an injunction for the USCIS unlawful presence memo of August 8, 2018. This injunction prevents the memo from being acted upon for the time being. Read more about the injunction and its effects on NAFSA’s update site.
Cultural Organizations at Smith
Asian Students Association (ASA)
A support network for Asian and Asian Pacific American students.
View moreChinese Interregional Student Cultural Organization (CISCO)
CISCO's mission is to understand, share and enjoy the multiple aspects of Chinese culture.
View moreEKTA (South Asian Organization of Smith College)
EKTA means "unity" in several languages spoken in South Asia.
View moreInternational Students' Organization (ISO)
Share, exchange and appreciate the wealth of experiences that international students bring to Smith College.
View moreKorean Students Association (KSA)
A support network for all Korean and Korean American students at Smith College.
View moreLatin American Students' Organization (LASO)
Formerly Nosotras, this organization provides a support network for Latin American students at Smith.
View moreMiddle Eastern & North African Smith Alliance (MENA)
A community to promote Arab culture, identity and language, and engage in dialogue about the MENA region.
View morePAIA
Pan Asians in Action
View moreQuinta
A safe and supportive space for international LGBTQIA+ students.
View moreSmith African & Caribbean Students' Association (SACSA)
Gather to share and discuss knowledge about Africa and the Caribbean.
View moreSazanami
This organization aims to stimulate enthusiasm about Japanese culture as well as give an encompassing representation of the country.
View moreVietnamese Students Association (VSA)
The VSA provides a supportive network for members and raises awareness of the Vietnamese culture.
View moreFeatured Upcoming Events
OPT Info Session for Faculty and Staff
- ISSO, Wright Hall, 4:15-5:15 p.m.
This information session is an opportunity for staff and faculty to learn about the requirements and opportunities available to international students through Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. OPT is for international students using an F-1 visa who wish to work in the U.S., usually post-graduation.
OPT Information Session
- ISSO, Wright Hall, 4:15pm-5:15pm
- This information session is an opportunity for international students who use an F-1 visa to attend Smith to learn about post-graduation work authorization available through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. Students preparing to graduate who wish to apply for OPT will be required to attend an OPT info session prior to applying.
CPT Q & A Session
- ISSO, Wright Hall, 5:00pm-6:00pm
- This information session is for international students on an F-1 visa who wish to apply for work authorization using the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) program in order to pursue work in the U.S. over winter or summer breaks.
Contact
125 Wright Hall
Smith College
Northampton, MA USA
Fax: 413-585-4982
Email: interstu@smith.edu
Open office hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 2:30–4 p.m.