Newsletter
THE OFFICE OF GLOBAL EDUCATION
FALL
2007 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT NEWSLETTER
California State University , Sacramento
The
fall semester will be ending on December 21, 2007 and finals
will be held from December 17-21, 2007.
We
hope that the following information addresses a few of the
issues of importance to you and answers many of the routine
questions that you may have at this time of the academic year.
As usual, we encourage you to visit us to discuss your future
plans, and to ask any questions that you may have. We wish
you a most successful end of the semester.
CONTENTS (listed in order of appearance):
- OGE News
- Remedial English / Math Courses (Undergraduate Students only)
- Information for Students Graduating in May 2007
- SPRING 2008 REGISTRATION: Spring Semester Classes begin January 28, 2008
- VACATION TRAVEL IN THE US
- VACATION TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE US
- SEVIS REMINDERS
1.
OGE News
The
campus will be closed for winter vacation from December
22 through January 1, 2008 . Our normal office hours 8-12
and 1-5 will be in effect before and after this vacation
period. As usual, some OGE staff may elect to take a few
additional days off during the winter break. Please contact
the OGE for vacation availability. You should also be aware
that the campus will be closed on Monday, January 21, 2008
for the Martin Luther King holiday.
OGE Tax Workshops: ALL F and J visa students who are non-residents for tax purposes will be required to file a US tax return early in 2008 (even if they do not have any US source income). We will offer several international student tax workshops in February and March to prepare you for your tax obligations. Additional information concerning your tax filing requirements, workshop availability, and CINTAX will be forwarded to you by our office via our email service in February 2008 after we have assisted new and continuing students to get a good start for the spring term.
2.
REMEDIAL ENGLISH AND MATH COURSES (Undergraduate Students
Only)
Undergraduate
international students placed in remedial English (LS 86–87)
and/or Math (LS 7A–10B) courses
must remember that the CSU Chancellor’s Office requires
completion of all such courses during the student’s first
academic year at California State University, Sacramento. Failure
to successfully complete this remedial work during the first
academic year will lead to disenrollment from the university.
3.
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS GRADUATING IN DECEMBER 2007
We extend
our sincere congratulations on your achievements and best wishes
for future success to students who will be graduating in December.
Here is some additional information that will be helpful for
you:
Fall Commencement Ceremonies: Ceremonies will be held on at various times on Thursday, December 20 through Saturday, December 22 at ARCO Arena. Please access the university’s commencement web page at www.csus.edu/commence/ for complete details concerning the scheduled commencement programs. Caps and gowns are available at the ASI Business Office (278-7916) on the third floor of the University Union.
Verification of Graduation: Do not plan to leave the United States until after you have received your final grades and have had the opportunity to meet with an evaluator to confirm your graduation. Those of you who need a verification of your graduation prior to your departure from the United States should contact the OGE after final grades are posted in early January 2008.
Final Transcripts: Before departing the United States (or the Sacramento area), please order a few copies of your final transcript (with degree posted). It may prove useful to you when you seek employment, or when you apply for another academic program. Transcripts are more difficult to obtain when you cannot apply in person.
Diploma: Before leaving the Sacramento area, it is critical that you notify the Admissions and Records office as to the location where you wish your diploma to be mailed (if it is different from the address you listed on your graduation contract). It is advisable, if at all possible, that your diploma be mailed initially to an US address. It can then be repackaged and mailed to your overseas address. Diplomas mailed directly overseas sometimes do not reach their destination.
Notify OGE of Planned Date of Departure from the US: Those of you who plan to return to your home country after completion of your degree requirements (and do not intend to return to the US to resume studies at another level) should notify OGE staff of their expected date of departure from the US . OGE staff must update your SEVIS record accordingly. We would greatly appreciate your leaving a forwarding address with us prior to your departure from Sacramento .
Optional Practical Training (December completion): Students planning to work on OPT after completion of all degree requirements and who have not already applied for OPT should visit the OGE immediately. OPT applications must reach the USCIS California Service Center prior to completion of course of study (before 12/21/2007 for fall 2007 graduates). It is taking about 90 days for the USCIS office in Laguna Niguel , California to process applications for OPT. Students are not permitted to begin practical training until after USCIS approval has been granted. (OPT applications for students completing in Spring 2008 will be accepted beginning late February 2008).
It is important for students applying for OPT to remember the following: |
|
| a. | Applicants should receive a receipt from the USCIS within 3-4 weeks of submitting an application. Applicants who do not receive this receipt should contact their advisor at the OGE for instructions. |
| b. | Please do not change addresses while your OPT is being processed. The postal service may not forward USCIS correspondence thereby creating problems and delays. Furthermore, even a properly submitted change of address (see OGE for details) is not always recorded by the USCIS. |
| c. | USCIS has been taking 80-90 days to process OPT applications. Plan accordingly. |
| d. | Traveling outside the US after approval of your OPT requires additional documentation. Please refer to the section of this newsletter entitled “Vacation Travel Outside of the United States – Traveling while on OPT” for details. |
| e. | You cannot apply for any additional work benefits such as CPT while OPT is pending. |
J Visa Students and Training Options: Non-degree J-visa students whose program ends in December 2007 must discuss academic training options with Dr. Monica Freeman.
| Looking for Employment After Graduation: As those of you who have been seeking work / practical training opportunities are fully aware, locating a suitable position can prove challenging. The following tips may prove useful: |
|
| a. | Prepare yourself for an aggressive, multi-pronged, and possibly lengthy job search. Stay positive! Do not expect employers to come looking for you, and do not limit your efforts to web searches. Expect rejections but stay confident, and keep working at it. Define your goals carefully, and tailor your searches accordingly. |
| b. | Start early –searching for the “right” employment opportunity can take longer than expected. It is generally not advisable to wait until after graduation to begin the job search. |
| c. | Attend one or more of the workshops/training sessions offered by the OGE and the Career Center (Lassen Hall 2000). If eligible, interview with visiting employers. |
| d. | Register with appropriate job web sites. |
| e. | Meet with your OGE advisor to discuss your future plans and make certain that you are on the right track. |
| f. | Activate your “network” of colleagues, friends, family, and professional acquaintances. |
| g. | Assess your skills (educational, cultural, language etc…). |
| h. | Research companies and job opportunities by attending career fairs and visiting web sites on international career opportunities. |
| i. | Faculty – share your work related goals with faculty members and seek their advice. |
| j. | First impressions are important. This is true for phone / email conversations as well as contacts in person. |
| k. | Finally, please remember that immigration regulations require international students to apply for Optional Practical Training during the 90 day period PRIOR to program completion. |
4. SPRING 2008 REGISTRATION: Spring Semester Classes begin January 28, 2008.
Registration and Fee Deadlines: |
|
| Register November 19 – December 7 | Fees Due 12/14/07 |
| Register December 8 – December 21 | Fees Due 1/4/08 |
Registration is Closed between December 22 – January 8 |
|
| Register January 9 – January 23 | Fees Due 1/24/08 |
| Register January 24 – February 7 | Fees Due 2/8/08 |
The following are a few helpful notes regarding spring 2008 registration. |
|
- Maximum Non- Resident Tuition Charged per Academic Year: Non-resident students (international or others) are not required to pay fees for more than 30 units per academic year (fall and spring semesters only). Any student whose total fall and spring registration will exceed 30 units should contact the Student Financial Services Center for spring 2008 payment details.
Full-time enrollment: International students must maintain full-time enrollment (12 units for undergraduates/9 units for graduates). Less than full-time enrollment may be acceptable if the student has fewer units remaining to complete the degree. Students intending to register for less than a full-time loadmust visit their advisor in the OGE.
Graduate Students: Graduate students who have enrolled for all degree requirements (including the thesis, project, or exam) but who have not completed one of these culminating requirements must enroll in at least 1 unit (for credit) through regular enrollment (not through Continuous Enrollment) in order to maintain full-time status. It is also important to remember that graduate students must obtain department permission to register for courses whose numbers are 299, 500, or 502 among others.
5.
VACATION TRAVEL IN THE US
If
your winter plans include travel within the US (especially
by air) please plan to take your immigration documents with
you (passport, I-94, SEVIS I-20 or SEVIS DS 2019). You do
not need to obtain a signature on your SEVIS I-20 for travel
within the US . Please remember that travel to Canada and
Mexico is considered “foreign” travel. Please
refer to the next section for details.
6. VACATION TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE US
We recommend that you plan
to return to Sacramento prior to the start of the spring semester
(January 28, 2008).
Passport: Please check your passport to make certain that it is still valid. If it is not valid, or if it will expire within the next few months, please contact your home country’s consulate (or embassy) in order to obtain the necessary extension application forms and procedures.
NSEERS (National Security Entry Exit Registration System): Just a reminder that any student subject to NSEERS requirements (registered in the US government’s NSEERS database) must report his actual departure from the US to a CBP Inspector at a Designated Port of Departure on the day of departure.
Travel Signatures: Please remember to bring your SEVIS I-20 / DS 2019 to your advisor at the OGE to obtain the necessary travel signature and supporting documents. Please do not wait until the day before your scheduled travel to visit your advisor at OGE.
F-1 and J-1 Visa Stamps: Inorder to reenter the US after your trip, you will need a valid F-1 or J-1 visa. Please check your visa to see if it will be valid upon reentry and whether or not you have a visa for multiple entries. US visa stamps cannot be extended within the US . This procedure must be completed at a US embassy or consulate abroad.
Students Whose F-1/J-1 Visas Have Expired: Students who need to extend their F-1 / J-1 visas should carefully plan their travel (time in home country and proper assembly of supporting documentation). US law mandates US embassies / consulates to subject all visa applicants to a personal interview and rarely offer expedited application service. In addition students from a number of countries are required to undergo a “background check” before visa issuance (which can take 30 days or more). We urge every student intending to apply for a new visa to visit the web page of the US embassy/consulate they plan to visit to obtain accurate information on visa application procedures and processing times. Please keep in mind that winter break is a short vacation.
Traveling Outside of the US while on Optional Practical Training: Staff members of the OGE are often asked by students whether or not they can travel outside of the US during their period of authorized Optional Practical Training (OPT). The answer is yes, however there are a few additional requirements. In order to re-enter the US, a student authorized to undergo a period of OPT must present the following:
| a. | Valid passport |
| b. | Valid F-1 visa |
| c. | Recently endorsed SEVIS I-20 (by authorized OGE staff) |
| d. | Valid OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD) |
| e. | Letter from employer confirming suitable employment has been offered or is being maintained. |
If all documents are valid and properly endorsed and the individual is able to present a letter from his/her employer few problems are expected. However, students whose visas are no longer valid must understand that the renewal process is not automatic. It is not unusual for consular officers at US embassies or consulates to deny requests for visa extensions when the intent is to return to “work” (even though the work is authorized). In addition, a letter from the "employer” is mandatory. Please keep in mind that the immigration officer is allowing the student to return to the US to “resume his/her practical training”.
7. SEVIS REMINDERS
In the
SEVIS electronic reporting environment, it continues to be important
to pay attention to the “details” of
immigration status maintenance. Please review the following
reminders carefully:
| a. | Maintain full-time enrollment at all times (12 units for undergraduates and 9 units for graduate students); |
| b. | No more than one course (3 units) per semester of online or distance education classes may be counted towards the full course of study requirement. |
| c. | Do not drop or withdraw from one or more classes at any time during the semester if this drop or withdrawal will result in your enrollment in less than a full-time academic load. |
| d. | Although concurrent enrollment (part-time registration at another local academic institution while enrolled at California State University , Sacramento ) is permissible, pre-authorization by your OGE advisor is mandatory. In addition, official proof of enrollment at the “concurrent” institution must be provided to OGE before the SEVIS registration process can be completed. |
| e. | Notify the OGE of any change of address within 10 days of moving. The advisor in the OGE will submit this information electronically to SEVIS |
| f. | Students planning to transfer to another US institution should let their advisor in the OGE know. We must release your SEVIS record to the transfer school before its international officer can issue you a new SEVIS I-20 or clear you for on-campus work |
The Entire Staff of the Office of Global Education extends its best wishes to each of you for a successful end of the fall of 2007.
Office
of Global Education Staff:
Ms.
Tracey Culbertson, International Student Advisor
Dr.
Monica Freeman, Coordinator, International Programs
Dr.
Jack Godwin, Director
Ms.
Lori Harrison, Administrative Assistant
Mr.
Eric Merchant, Coordinator, International Students/Programs
Ms.
Jennifer Narodzonek, International Admissions Specialist
Ms.
Janis Silvers, Study Abroad Advisor
Ms.
Mlima Wells, Coordinator of International Admissions
Global
Education Student Assistants
