International Student and Scholar Services at Penn

International Student and Scholar Services at Penn Capturing the world of international students and scholars at the University of Pennsylvania 🌎

Information on advising hours and how to make an appointment can be found here: https://global.upenn.edu/isss/advising

🪈 Jai Shri Krishna! Happy Krishna Janmashtami! Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lo...
09/04/2026

🪈 Jai Shri Krishna! Happy Krishna Janmashtami! Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu and one of the most beloved and revered deities in Hinduism. Born at midnight, Krishna's life and teachings — captured in the sacred Bhagavad Gita — continue to guide millions with timeless wisdom on love, duty, and devotion. The festival is marked with fasting, devotional singing, dramatic re-enactments of Krishna's life, and midnight celebrations as devotees await the auspicious hour of his birth.

🚨 CPT UPDATE FOR F-1 STUDENTSPenn is temporarily pausing decisions on new and pending Curricular Practical Training (CPT...
09/02/2026

🚨 CPT UPDATE FOR F-1 STUDENTS

Penn is temporarily pausing decisions on new and pending Curricular Practical Training (CPT) requests while the University conducts an expedited review following updated federal guidance issued on August 24, 2026.

What does this mean?

📌 Have current CPT authorization?
Your existing CPT authorization is not affected by the pause. Continue to follow the employer, location, dates, and other conditions listed on your current Form I-20. Do not work beyond your authorized dates or make changes without ISSS approval.

📌 Have a pending or upcoming CPT request?
Expect your CPT decision to remain paused while Penn reviews the applicable academic programs and documentation.

📌 Planning an internship or recruiting?
You may continue recruiting and interviewing, but do not begin work unless ISSS has authorized CPT and issued an updated Form I-20. Penn cannot guarantee that a future internship will qualify for CPT.

📌 What changed at the federal level?
Under the updated guidance, receiving academic credit alone is not sufficient for CPT eligibility. The practical training must meet specific curricular requirements, including being an integral and required part of an established curriculum and directly related to the student’s major.

⚠️ Most importantly: Do not engage in off-campus employment without proper authorization. Working without the required authorization can have serious consequences for your F-1 status and future immigration opportunities.

ISSS understands that this may affect internship plans, recruiting, and academic decisions. Penn is working to complete its review and will provide additional guidance as information becomes available.

👉 For the latest information, please visit the CPT webpage:
global.upenn.edu/isss/cpt

Please rely on official Penn communications for updates. Information may change as federal guidance develops.

🇺🇸 Please Note, Penn Community! 🇺🇸ISSS will be closing at 2pm on Friday, September 4th in observance of the Labor Day ho...
09/02/2026

🇺🇸 Please Note, Penn Community! 🇺🇸

ISSS will be closing at 2pm on Friday, September 4th in observance of the Labor Day holiday, and will remain closed until Tuesday, September 8th at 9:00am ET.

Please plan ahead and take care of any advising or immigration-related needs accordingly.

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing Labor Day! ❤️💙

🇲🇾 Selamat Hari Merdeka! Happy Malaysia Independence Day! Celebrated on August 31st, Hari Merdeka commemorates the day i...
08/31/2026

🇲🇾 Selamat Hari Merdeka! Happy Malaysia Independence Day! Celebrated on August 31st, Hari Merdeka commemorates the day in 1957 when Malaya declared independence from British colonial rule, marking the birth of a free and sovereign nation. Today, Malaysia stands as a vibrant, multicultural country of diverse ethnicities, languages, and traditions, a richness that is one of its greatest strengths and most celebrated qualities.
To all our Malaysian friends and scholars at Penn, your culture, warmth, and spirit make our community brighter. Malaysiaku, tanah tumpah darahku! 🌟✨

🌎 PGM 2026: Day 3! 💙And just like that, we wrapped up an unforgettable PGM 2026 experience!Day 3 was all about reflectio...
08/27/2026

🌎 PGM 2026: Day 3! 💙

And just like that, we wrapped up an unforgettable PGM 2026 experience!

Day 3 was all about reflection, connection, and celebrating everything our cohort experienced together. We put teamwork and trust to the test with Crossing the River, then came together for the Tunnel of Wisdom & Closing Ceremony—a meaningful moment to look back on the connections, lessons, and memories made throughout the program. ✨

We closed out the day with an International Student Picnic, bringing everyone together one more time to relax, share stories, and celebrate the global community we’re building at Penn. 🧺🌍

Thank you, PGM 2026, for making these days so special. Here’s to new friendships, unforgettable memories, and the beginning of an incredible journey at Penn! 🎉

🌎 PGM 2026: Day 2! 🎉Day 2 brought even more opportunities for our PGM 2026 cohort to connect, collaborate, and celebrate...
08/26/2026

🌎 PGM 2026: Day 2! 🎉

Day 2 brought even more opportunities for our PGM 2026 cohort to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the power of global perspectives!

The day began with a Culture & Leadership Conversation Walk, followed by some friendly competition during the Mosaic Olympics. 🏅 From Building a Global Landmark to Escape & Negotiate, our students put their teamwork, creativity, communication, and leadership skills to the test!

After dinner, it was time to prepare for the evening’s big event—Global Sing & Dance Off at the Laurelside Amphitheatre! 🎶💃🕺

With incredible performances, plenty of energy, and lots of cheering, Day 2 was the perfect reminder that our global community is strongest when we learn, laugh, and celebrate together. 🌍💙

🌎 PGM 2026: Day 1! 🎉What a way to kick off the PGM experience! Our new cohort jumped right in with a full day of connect...
08/25/2026

🌎 PGM 2026: Day 1! 🎉

What a way to kick off the PGM experience! Our new cohort jumped right in with a full day of connection, creativity, collaboration, and plenty of opportunities to learn from one another.

From Around the World Greetings and the Storytelling Relay to creating a World Village, tackling a Scavenger Hunt, and sharing favorite treats during Global Snacks & Tell, Day 1 was all about celebrating the cultures and perspectives that make our community so special. 🌍✨

We also got to showcase some serious energy with the introduction of our Global Sing & Dance Off, followed by dinner and an evening of Breaking the Culture Clash—ending an unforgettable first day on a high note!

Here’s to new friendships, new experiences, and an incredible PGM journey ahead. 💙

📄 Resume Ready? Let’s Get You Career Fair Ready!International students: Need a quick resume review or have questions abo...
08/24/2026

📄 Resume Ready? Let’s Get You Career Fair Ready!

International students: Need a quick resume review or have questions about your immigration status? Stop by this special drop-in session with Penn Career Services and ISSS!

📅 Tuesday, August 25, 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
📍 3935 Walnut St., 2nd Floor

What to expect:
• Get a quick, general resume review from Career Services
• Ask ISSS advisors your immigration-related questions
• Sessions are 15 minutes maximum and first-come, first-served
• Bring a printed copy of your resume — resumes on phones, tablets, or computers cannot be reviewed

⚠️ Registration does not guarantee your place in line. Please plan to arrive prepared and check out Career Services’ resume templates ahead of time if you need a starting point.

🔗 Scan the QR code on the flyer to register!

What a wonderful evening at our PGM Welcome Reception! 💙🌎It was such a pleasure to welcome the PGM Class of 2026 and off...
08/24/2026

What a wonderful evening at our PGM Welcome Reception! 💙🌎

It was such a pleasure to welcome the PGM Class of 2026 and officially kick off the year together. We loved meeting our newest cohort, hearing their stories, and celebrating this exciting new chapter at Penn.

A special thank-you to all the family members who joined us for the evening! Your presence made the celebration even more meaningful. We’re so grateful to everyone who helped make the night memorable—and we can’t wait to see what this incredible cohort accomplishes together!

Welcome to Penn, PGM Class of 2026! 🎉🦉

Looking back on a great PGM Student Leader Training Day 2026! 🎉We’re so grateful to this year’s incredible group of stud...
08/21/2026

Looking back on a great PGM Student Leader Training Day 2026! 🎉

We’re so grateful to this year’s incredible group of student leaders for bringing their energy, ideas, and enthusiasm to the day. Thank you for stepping up to support and welcome our international student community—you make such a meaningful difference! 💙

A huge thank-you to:

Alexander Tsekov • Andrew Park • Ayaan Khan • Christian Kim • Elias Nothacker • Jace Lee • Jacob Hutchison • Jay Adrian Lotivio • Jean Abongo • Joanna Kim • Keiichi Taketsuna • Kevin Modise • Mia Alvidrez-Barron • Rina Konishi • Tasmiah Haque • Zheng Kang Teo

We can’t wait to see all that you’ll accomplish this year! 🌎✨

Address

3935 Walnut Street, 5th Floor
Philadelphia, PA
19104

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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