GENERAL UPDATES & REMINDERS

5 April 2007

The following items are extremely important for ALL international students but, mostly for F-1 and J-1 visa holders.  Please take 15 or so minutes to go over this information and feel free to ask ISSS if you have any questions.

AVOID STRESS AND HEADACHES LATER BY READING CAREFULLY NOW!!
TAKE 15 MINUTES TO GO OVER
THE FOLLOWING PIECES OF INFORMATION ONE BY ONE. 

I-20 or DS-2019 Expiration:  When does your I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) expire?  If it expires in May, request a new document now.  If it expires in August and you think you won't finish your degree before then, take a look at the Request Form so you know what documentation you'll need to submit (45-60 days before the program end date).  Remember that it's easy to extend BEFORE your paperwork expires.  [Note:  We have had lots of questions about this...it is not necessary to submit your old I-20(s) or  copies if you are requesting an extension.

Registration Holds:  Have you checked LeoOnline lately?  It's a good idea to check holds, etc., every few weeks, but now is extra important with registration for the summer and fall semesters just around the corner.

Health Insurance for F and J Visa Holders:   

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IT TAKES TWO BUSINESS DAYS
TO REMOVE THE INSURANCE HOLD ONCE WE HAVE THE RECEIPT
AND IF THE INSURANCE IS SUFFICIENT.  ISSS AUTOMATICALLY
GETS A RECEIPT FROM ISO AND ISIS. 

From the three following situations, please select the one that best fits your situation regarding health insurance so you know what steps you must take to be able to register:

• Not leaving the U.S. during the summer:  It is necessary to continue insurance for yourself and all dependents who are in the U.S.  Your coverage must be until 31 July 2007 for your hold to be moved so you can register.
• Leaving the U.S. during the summer:   There is a specific procedure for getting your hold moved if you will be out of the U.S.  The Summer Exemption form must be submitted and the directions on the form followed; one requirement is that your plane ticket should be brought to the office.  It may be necessary for you to add another month to your current insurance coverage if it expires before your departure.
• Dependents leaving the U.S. during the summer:  There is a specific procedure for getting your hold moved if any or all of your dependents will be out of the U.S.  The Summer Exemption form must be submitted and the directions on the form followed; one requirement is that the plane ticket must be brought to the office.  It may be necessary for you to add another month to their current coverage if it expires before their departure.

For the majority of you, it is not possible to have any coverage after 31 July because the companies make changes to policies and rates at that time, and they become effective on 1 August.  Therefore, most of you will have a hold that starts on 1 August 2007; in order to get this hold moved, you will need to buy coverage until 31 December 2007 when the insurance policies are available for purchase (usually late July).

Attention May 2007 Graduates:  We've created a checklist for students who are graduating; read over the information to be sure you've taken care of everything so your diploma will reach you without delay.  If you do have a problem with the diploma, please contact the Office of the Registrar for further assistance.

Visits from Family & Friends:  We get this question most frequently at this time of the year, so we have put together a web site about how to invite people from overseas.  The page can also be accessed from our FAQs linked from our main ISSS page.

Summer Courseload:  F-1 and J-1 students who have a full-time courseload (or an approved RCL for less than the required courseload) in Spring 2007 are not required to take any classes during the summer.  Students who are new to F-1 status (either by a recent arrival to the U.S. or by a change of status) should make an appointment with their ISSS advisor about how many classes they need to maintain their visa status.

Summer On-Campus Employment:  During the summer semester, students who are not on a graduate assistantship are able to work up to 40 hours per week on campus.  If you are a graduate assistant who has a question about having more than one assistantship over the summer, please come to ISSS during I-9 Hours.

Travel Signature Day for F and J Visa Holders:  This year's Travel Signature Day (TSD) will be on Wednesday, 25 April from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.  We will be open as usual for all services (unlike TSD in the fall when we also do employment paperwork and close the office for two days); however, students who come in for travel signatures will be given preference between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.  Please remember that there should be no registration holds.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Visa Holders:  Please read if you are graduating in Spring 2007 or Summer 2007.  Remember that there is a required workshop and that we cannot accept your application if you have not attended. 

• Spring 2007 Graduates:  The OPT application deadline is Friday, 27 April 2007 at 4 p.m.  Applications cannot be accepted after this date for May graduates.  Make a note that the last OPT workshop of the semester is Monday, 23 April at 3 p.m.
• Summer 2007 Graduates:  The OPT application deadline for August graduates is Friday, 3 August at 4 p.m.  The summer OPT workshop schedule will be posted soon.

Practical Training Workshops (for F-1 students):  Please keep an eye on our site...the summer workshop schedules will be posted soon.  Also, remember that to ensure you get the maximum information from the practical training workshops for CPT and OPT, be sure you arrive on time or before the published workshop hour.  This also helps to minimize disruptions for the presenters and other attendees.  Your cooperation is appreciated.

H-1B Visas for Fiscal Year 2008:  We have gotten word that the cap for the H-1B visas (65,000 plus the 20,000 for students who have received a higher degree from t he U.S.) was met on the first day of filing (Monday, 2 April 2007).  The booklet and handouts from the recent presentation on H-1Bs are available on the table in the lobby of Dragas...feel free to pick up one of these helpful resources.