VISA Series - Virginia Commonwealth University

VISA Series

The VISA Series (VCU International Student Achievement)

The VCU International Student Achievement (VISA) Series will consist of weekly, advisor-led
workshops, focused on topics relevant to the university’s F-1 students.

All workshops are virtual this semester.

GEO Immigration Services
geois@vcu.edu
(804) 828-0595

Fall 2025 Workshops

Download schedule

F-1 Employment
Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) We know that the training experience in your major gained through post-completion OPT can play a vital role in bringing to life the concepts learned in the classroom. We also know that applying for OPT and complying with OPT regulations can seem a bit daunting. These workshops are intended to help offer you clarity and confidence as you navigate the process. This workshop is intended for students who are graduating at the end of the current semester. Every Tuesday at 9 a.m. September 9 – December 9, 2025* Except for November 4^th and November 25th (Election Day and Fall Break) Register Here Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)* Gaining hands-on professional experience prior to graduation can be vital for preparing students to enter/reenter the workforce. Pre-completion OPT authorization will permit you to engage in practical training in your field while simultaneously completing your coursework. This workshop is ideal for students with training opportunities that do not meet the academic requirements for CPT. September 18, 2025 at 2 p.m. Register Here October 22, 2025 at 10 a.m. Register Here November 7, 2025 at 3 p.m. Register Here Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a great option for students whose program of study requires participation in an experiential learning activity like an internship or who wish to take an internship-type class to satisfy a degree requirement. This workshop will cover the regulatory framework for engaging in academically-aligned practical training, eligibility criteria, and the process for requesting CPT authorization. August 28, 2025 at 11 a.m. Register Here September 8, 2025 at 3 p.m. Register Here October 3, 2025 at 2 p.m. Register Here October 28, 2025 at 9 a.m. Register Here November 12, 2025 at 1 p.m. Register Here November 18, 2025 at 3 p.m. Register Here December 3, 2025 at 9 a.m. Register Here On-Campus Employment Working on campus is a great way to gain some valuable experience to add to your resume, engage with the campus community, and earn a bit of extra money. F-1 students interested in applying for on-campus employment are invited to attend this workshop. December 10, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Register Here Specialized On-Campus Employment Workshops F-1 On-Campus Employment for Graduate Assistants (GAs) Working on campus as a Graduate Assistant (GA), Graduate Research Assistant (GRA), or Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) is a great way to gain some valuable experience to add to your resume, engage with the campus community, and earn a bit of extra money. F-1 students starting GA positions here at VCU for the 2024-2025 academic year are encouraged to attend this workshop to familiarize themselves with the on-campus employment restrictions and the procedures for obtaining a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN). August 11, 2025 at 2 p.m. Register Here F-1 On-Campus Employment & the On-Campus Job Search F-1 students interested in applying for on-campus employment are invited to attend this workshop to discuss their eligibility and get a list of resources to support their job search. August 14, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) Register Here Co-Presented with VCU Career Services
Maintaining F-1 Status
The Basics: Maintaining Your F-1 Status A key component to your success as an international student in the U.S. is understanding the F-1 regulations. In this workshop, we will provide a brief overview of the regulatory requirements for F-1 students and outline the processes for maintaining your SEVIS record and your F-1 status. August 19, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) Register Here August 27, 2025 at 10 a.m. Register Here September 3, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) Register Here F-1 Travel Traveling outside of the U.S. as an F-1 student requires a significant amount of pre-planning. This workshop will cover a number of travel-related topics, including the process for obtaining a travel signature, renewing an expired F-1 visa, and gathering the proper documentation to present upon reentry. Anyone looking to take a vacation or return home to visit friends and family is encouraged to attend. September 23, 2025 at 9 a.m. Register Here October 13, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. Register Here November 6, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) Register Here November 17, 2025 at 10 a.m. Register Here December 4, 2025 at 9 a.m. Register Here December 15, 2025 at 10 a.m. Register Here Post-Graduation Planning for F-1 Students Deciding what to do after graduation can be a challenge for any student. For F-1 students, this comes with the added responsibility of maintaining your status. Our Post-Graduation Planning workshop will outline the options available to students completing their program of study at the end of the semester, including getting a new I-20 to begin a new degree program, transferring out, training and employment, and more! November 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Register Here December 2, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Register Here All virtual workshops will be delivered using the Zoom platform. To access your VCU Zoom account, please visit vcu.zoom.us and log in with your VCU credentials. After you register, we recommend that you add your workshop details to the Gmail (Google) calendar associated with your student account. Instructions for importing Zoom meetings to your Gmail calendar can be found in the Zoom Support Center.

F-1 Employment

Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)

We know that the training experience in your major gained through post-completion OPT can play a vital role in bringing to life the concepts learned in the classroom. We also know that applying for OPT and complying with OPT regulations can seem a bit daunting. These workshops are intended to help offer you clarity and confidence as you navigate the process.

This workshop is intended for students who are graduating at the end of the current semester.

Every Tuesday at 9 a.m.

September 9 – December 9, 2025*

*Except for November 4^th and November 25th (Election Day and Fall Break)

Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Gaining hands-on professional experience prior to graduation can be vital for preparing students to enter/reenter the workforce. Pre-completion OPT authorization will permit you to engage in practical training in your field while simultaneously completing your coursework. This workshop is ideal for students with training opportunities that do not meet the academic requirements for CPT.

September 18, 2025 at 2 p.m. Register Here

October 22, 2025 at 10 a.m. Register Here

November 7, 2025 at 3 p.m. Register Here

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a great option for students whose program of study requires participation in an experiential learning activity like an internship or who wish to take an internship-type class to satisfy a degree requirement. This workshop will cover the regulatory framework for engaging in academically-aligned practical training, eligibility criteria, and the process for requesting CPT authorization.

August 28, 2025 at 11 a.m. Register Here

September 8, 2025 at 3 p.m. Register Here

October 3, 2025 at 2 p.m. Register Here

October 28, 2025 at 9 a.m. Register Here

November 12, 2025 at 1 p.m. Register Here

November 18, 2025 at 3 p.m. Register Here

December 3, 2025 at 9 a.m. Register Here

On-Campus Employment

Working on campus is a great way to gain some valuable experience to add to your resume, engage with the campus community, and earn a bit of extra money. F-1 students interested in applying for on-campus employment are invited to attend this workshop.

December 10, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Register Here

Specialized On-Campus Employment Workshops

F-1 On-Campus Employment for Graduate Assistants (GAs)

Working on campus as a Graduate Assistant (GA), Graduate Research Assistant (GRA), or Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) is a great way to gain some valuable experience to add to your resume, engage with the campus community, and earn a bit of extra money. F-1 students starting GA positions here at VCU for the 2024-2025 academic year are encouraged to attend this workshop to familiarize themselves with the on-campus employment restrictions and the procedures for obtaining a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN).

August 11, 2025 at 2 p.m. Register Here

F-1 On-Campus Employment & the On-Campus Job Search

F-1 students interested in applying for on-campus employment are invited to attend this workshop to discuss their eligibility and get a list of resources to support their job search.

August 14, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) Register Here

Co-Presented with VCU Career Services

Maintaining F-1 Status

The Basics: Maintaining Your F-1 Status

A key component to your success as an international student in the U.S. is understanding the F-1 regulations. In this workshop, we will provide a brief overview of the regulatory requirements for F-1 students and outline the processes for maintaining your SEVIS record and your F-1 status.

August 19, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) Register Here

August 27, 2025 at 10 a.m. Register Here

September 3, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) Register Here

F-1 Travel

Traveling outside of the U.S. as an F-1 student requires a significant amount of pre-planning. This workshop will cover a number of travel-related topics, including the process for obtaining a travel signature, renewing an expired F-1 visa, and gathering the proper documentation to present upon reentry. Anyone looking to take a vacation or return home to visit friends and family is encouraged to attend.

September 23, 2025 at 9 a.m. Register Here

October 13, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. Register Here

November 6, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) Register Here

November 17, 2025 at 10 a.m. Register Here

December 4, 2025 at 9 a.m. Register Here

December 15, 2025 at 10 a.m. Register Here

Post-Graduation Planning for F-1 Students

Deciding what to do after graduation can be a challenge for any student. For F-1 students, this comes with the added responsibility of maintaining your status. Our Post-Graduation Planning workshop will outline the options available to students completing their program of study at the end of the semester, including getting a new I-20 to begin a new degree program, transferring out, training and employment, and more!

November 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Register Here

December 2, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Register Here

All virtual workshops will be delivered using the Zoom platform. To access your VCU Zoom account, please visit vcu.zoom.us and log in with your VCU credentials.

After you register, we recommend that you add your workshop details to the Gmail (Google) calendar associated with your student account. Instructions for importing Zoom meetings to your Gmail calendar can be found in the Zoom Support Center.