Visa Workshops and Cultural Events!

May 2026

  • St. Louis Cardinals Game (open to all international students - LIMITED SLOTS)

All Workshops

 CPT Workshop (Butler-Carlton 120)

  • 7 PM – 8:30 PM May 6, 2026

OPT Workshop (Butler-Carlton 120)          

  • 7 PM – 8:30 PM May 20, 2026

STEM OPT Workshop (Virtual)              

    • 7 PM – 8:30 PM May 27, 2026

Cultural Events

May 2026: St. Louis Cardinals Game 

June 2026: Onondaga Trip (Sponsored Students Only)

August 2026: St. Louis Zoo

September 2026: Six Flags

October 2026: Pumpkin Carving (Sponsored Students Only)

October 2026: Scary Movie Night

November 2026: Halal Thanksgiving (Sponsored Students Only)

November 16–20, 2026 International Education Week (TBD on Events)

December 2026: Mall Trip & Airport Drop-off

Workshop Events

CPT Workshops 

  • August 5 (7 PM - 8:30 PM, Toomey Hall 199)
  • October 7 (7 PM - 8:30 PM, Toomey Hall 199)
  • December 2 (7 PM - 8:30 PM, Toomey Hall 199)
  • January 6
  • March 3
  • May 5

OPT Workshops 

  • August 12 (7 PM - 8:30 PM, Toomey Hall 199)
  • October 14 (7 PM - 8:30 PM, Toomey Hall 199)
  • December 9 (7 PM - 8:30 PM, Toomey Hall 199)
  • January 13
  • March 10
  • May 12

STEM OPT Workshops (Virtual Only)

  • August 19 
  • October 21
  • December 16
  • January 20
  • March 17
  • May 19

"How to Maintain Your Visa Status" Workshops

  • November 4 (7 PM - 8:30 PM, Toomey Hall 199)
  • April 7

Message from ISSS: ISSS continues to monitor updates to international student and scholar visa requirements or restrictions. Notices regarding official policy changes are provided as they are announced and notified to our office.

Important Highlights: 

Jan. 15, 2026 - U.S. Department of State announced that it will pause all visa issuance to immigrant visa applicants from certain countries. This announcement does not apply to nonimmigrant F-1, J-1 or H-1B visa applicants or their dependents. Nonimmigrant F-1, J-1 and H-1B visa holders and their dependents from certain countries are still subject to visa and travel restrictions outlined in Presidential Proclamation 10998. 

Dec. 16, 2025 - Travel restrictions and limits for individuals from certain countries. The new proclamation continues the suspension of entry for all nationals of the 12 countries established by Proclamation 10949 and adds seven additional countries. This includes students and scholars on F-1, J-1 and H-1B visas, along with any associated dependents, see more on our Visa Process page.

Sept. 6, 2025 - U.S. Department of State now requires all nonimmigrant visa applicants to schedule interview appointments in their country of residence. Applications in a third country will no longer be permitted unless the U.S. government does not conduct visa operations in your country of residence. If the United States does not operate visa services in your country of residence, you must apply at a designated location based on your nationality.

July 11, 2025 -  U.S. Department of State made several changes to the visa reciprocity schedule. This schedule outlines the fee, number of entries and validity period of a visa that is issued to citizens of a specific country to travel to the United States. The validity period refers to the length of time, from the date it is issued, a visa can be used for entry into the U.S. Several countries have been updated to a shorter validity period of three months and have had the number of entries reduced from multiple to single.

If you have questions regarding news or concerns, please contact our office at ISSS@mst.edu or by phone at 573-341-4208.

Office Closures:

  • December 24, 2025 - January 1, 2026 - Holiday Closure
  • January 19, 2026 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • May 25, 2026 - Memorial Day
  • June 19, 2026 - Juneteenth
  • July 4, 2026 - Independence Day
  • September 7, 2026 - Labor Day
  • November 11, 2026 - Veteran's Day
  • November 26-27, 2026 - Thanksgiving
  • December 25, 2026 - January 3, 2027