GENERAL UPDATES & REMINDERS

14 September 2007

Attention F & J Visa Holders:   We had a situation recently where a student had misunderstood the address updating requirements and came VERY close to having to deal with Immigration because of it.  To ensure you are complying with your visa status requirements, please carefully read the VERY IMPORTANT points below and, if you still have questions, contact your ISSS advisor:

1. IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO UPDATE JUST YOUR "PERMANENT" ADDRESS ON LEOONLINE.   
2. YOU MUST ALSO FILL OUT THE SEVIS DOMESTIC ADDRESS (your U.S. address) FORM OR THE SEVIS PERMANENT FOREIGN ADDRESS (your family's overseas address) FORM--DEPENDING ON WHICH INFORMATION YOU NEED TO UPDATE.
3. WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS ON LEOONLINE, WE DO NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF THE CHANGE.  IF WE DO NOT KNOW, IMMIGRATION DOES NOT KNOW.  IF IMMIGRATION DOES NOT KNOW, YOU ARE VIOLATING YOUR VISA STATUS. 
4. UPDATING YOUR "CAMPUS", "CURRENT", "MAILING", ETC., ADDRESS DOES NOT REPLACE AN UPDATE OF YOUR SEVIS ADDRESSES. 

We recommend you visit your address information in LeoOnline to be sure your THREE addresses are current...remember:

1. SEVIS Permanent Foreign address = home address overseas, update with ISSS
2. SEVIS Domestic address = physical address in the U.S., update with ISSS
3. ODU Permanent address = preferred mailing address (often the same as your SEVIS Domestic address), update with LeoOnline

ISSS Office Move:  Our move has been confirmed for Thursday, 20 September, which means we must close the office that day.  On Friday, 21 September, we will be open, but service will be limited as we will still be unpacking.  The new location will be in Powhatan Village, near Whitehurst Hall and the intersection of 48th Street and Powhatan Avenue. 

Leadership Opportunities:  Take advantage of these FREE opportunities to strengthen and develop your leadership skills.  Note:  You must pre-register for each one.

1. Friday, 21 September:  Leadership Technical Lab
2. Saturday & Sunday, 22 & 23 September:  Big Leadership Training (BLT) Weekend
3. Throughout Fall 2007 semester:  Leadership Lecture Series

FREE Spouse English Class-Fall 2007:  It's time for the Spouse English Class to begin again.  This semester's classes will be on Wednesdays from 12 until 2:30 in Education 154.  See the flyer for more information.

FREE Conversational English Practice:  The Baptist Collegiate Ministry, located across 49th Street from Diehn Hall, will again offer free conversational English practice on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m.  No registration is needed.  For more information, they can be contacted via e-mail.

Optional Practical Training (OPT):  If you are an F-1 visa holder graduating in December 2007, now is the time to start planning for post-graduation employment.  Sign up for an OPT workshop (workshop link found on the OPT information page) to make yourself aware of the policies and procedures involved in obtaining this 12-month work permission from Immigration.