GENERAL REMINDERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

9 August 2006

New Student Check-In:  Although it is hard to believe, it is time for new student check-in.  We will do our best to process any requests you submit as quickly as possible, but please keep this hectic time (through Friday, 8 September) in mind.  Approximate processing times are as follows for complete applications with no holds:
*OPT & CPT:  10 business days
*I-20/DS-2019 Requests:  10 business days
*Letters of Enrollment Verification:  7 business days
*Reduced Courseload Requests:  5 business days (be sure to register before submitting)
*Letters Certifying Full-Time Status for On-Campus Employment:  3 business days
*Insurance Hold Removal:  2 business days

CPT Policy Update:  A few minor changes have been made to CPT policies; these changes are effective immediately.  (The forms will be updated this week, but the information on the CPT web site is correct.)  These changes and some reminders about frequently asked CPT questions are as follows:
*You can only apply for full-time CPT during the summer semesters and your graduating semester.
*No CPT will be granted after your graduating semester (in the event you do not graduate as planned).
*You must have been in the U.S. as a full-time student for at least six months in order to attend the CPT workshop. 
*If you have been out of the country for more than five months and wish to do CPT, please make an appointment with an ISSS advisor to verify your eligibility for practical training.
*You must register for CPT credit through your CMC advisor before your CPT application can be processed.
*If you are working on your Master's project or dissertaion while interning, you must be registered for both CPT and project/dissertation credit.

GRAD999: Immigration does not permit audit-grade courses to count towards required courseloads.  Therefore, if you are graduating in the fall or spring and only need to register for graduation purposes, you will need to consult your department for an alternate course that has a pass/fail or letter grade.  Students graduating in August need not worry about this as summer enrollment is not required by Immigration.