ISSS WEEKLY UPDATE FOR 10/15/ 2002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

New Items

1. RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15
2. F-1 CURRICULAR/OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING WORKSHOP THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10
3. ETIQUETTE AND IMAGE DINNER, OCTOBER 23, 5:30-7:30 PM
4. CANADIAN IMMIGRATION INFORMATION WORKSHOP, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25
5. F-1 SAME-DAY TRAVEL SIGNATURES
6. NEW RULE FOR ENTRY VISA APPLICANTS
7. RESUME CRITIQUE SERVICES AVAILABLE AT ISSS
8. DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA LOTTERY PROGRAM
9. LATEST UPDATES ON GRAD 0999 REGISTRATION OPTION
10. INS ENFORCES REQUIREMENT FOR REPORTING A CHANGE OF ADDRESS
11. COPY YOUR EAD FOR POST-COMPLETION OPT TO ISSS
12. J-1 VISAHOLDERS: NEW NAME FOR YOUR IAP-66

Repeated Items

1. SPRING 2002 CAREER SERVICES SCHEDULES ARE ON THE ISSS WEBSITE

NEW ITEMS

1. RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15

Your resume and cover letter are your ticket to a job interview. Learn about format and content. Sample resumes will be available.

Detailed information about this workshop is available at isss Career Web Site.

2. F-1 CURRICULAR/OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10

Everything you need to know about Curricular and Optional Practical Training! For more detailed information, please visit this workshop and the whole career series on the ISSS web site.

3. ETIQUETTE AND IMAGE DINNER, OCTOBER 23, 5:30-7:30 PM

ISSS is co-sponsoring this dinner and fashion presentation to prepare you for formal dinning in U.S. job interviews and business situations that include meals.
An etiquette consultant will lead participants through a three-course meal, giving advice on proper etiquette for each step of the meal. A fashion consultant will discuss appropriate interview dress and how to build a work wardrobe. Registration deadline is October 16, 2002. The $12 fee includes both the meal and the presentation.

Go to online Registration.

Detailed information about the event is available from your college career service office.

4.CANADIAN IMMIGRATION INFORMATION WORKSHOP, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25

A representative from the Canadian Consulate in Detroit will discuss entry requirements for Canada and how to qualify to work or immigrate to Canada.

detailed information, please visit this workshop and the whole career series on the ISSS web site.

5.F-1 SAME-DAY TRAVEL SIGNATURES

If you will be traveling outside the U.S., you will need a valid travel signature on your
I-20. ISSS is offering travel signatures on a Same-Day basis. However, if you will need to apply for a new visa stamp, you are not eligible for a "Same-Day" travel signature.

Please visit ISSS web site for information on dates, what to bring, and other eligibility requirements

6. NEW RULE FOR ENTRY VISA APPLICANTS

If you plan to apply for a new entry visa, please read:

All F and J visa applications in U.S. consulates on or after September 11, 2002 require electronic confirmation by the institution that issued the visa document. This means that applicants for F-1, F-2, J-1, and J-2 visas (on I-20s or IAP-66/DS-2019s issued by the University of Minnesota) must notify the ISSS document specialist that they plan to apply for an entry visa. The ISSS document specialist will enter a record in the new electronic notification system for the applicant. This is a simple procedure for ISSS.

If you or your dependent already have an I-20 or IAP-66/DS-2019 to use for a visa application at a U.S. consulate, please contact the following ISSS staff: F-1 and F-2 visa holders - Contact Suzan Koroglu , J-1 and J-2 visa holders - Contact Antonella Corsi-Bunker In your e-mail, please state your: last name, first name, and date of birth, whether you are the primary visaholder or a dependent, and your intention to travel and apply for a new entry visa at a U.S. consulate.

If you or your dependent still need an I-20 or IAP-66/DS-2019 for a visa application, please apply during document specialist or advising walkins (see web for walk-in hours). ISSS will automatically confirm your status with the Department of State when we process your document. Please remember that it takes ISSS 2 days to process an I-20 request and 5 days to process an IAP-66 or DS-2019 request.

If you are on an IAP-66 or DS-2019 issued by another organization, please contact your J-1 sponsor if you plan to apply for a new entry visa.

7. RESUME CRITIQUE SERVICES AVAILABLE AT ISSS

An ISSS advisor can provide advice on the process of writing a resume or curriculum vitae . To schedule an appointment for a resume critique, call ISSS at 612-626-7100 or contact Sara Georgeson.

If possible, send Sara your resume and job announcement before your appointment.

8. DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA LOTTERY PROGRAM

The United States Department of State National Visa Center administers the Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery Program (DV-2004). Each year, people from qualifying countries around the world can apply for the 55,000 immigrant visas available.
If interested, please see their web site for more information.

9.LATEST UPDATES ON GRAD 0999 REGISTRATION OPTION

As of Fall 2002, the Graduate School requires all graduate students to register for both Fall and Spring semesters in order to remain in active status. For this purpose, a new enrollment option was created, GRAD 0999. Students who choose to register for Grad 0999 will maintain their status as active students with the Graduate School only. International students who enroll in Grad 0999 must be eligible to file an Exception Form and submit the form to ISSS before the beginning of the semester in order to maintain their legal status. Usually, this option will be available to advanced graduate students who have completed all registration requirements. For details, please visit the Graduate School web site.

Graduate students who hold an assistantship cannot maintain their employment eligibility by registering for Grad 0999.

Graduate assistants will need to enroll for at least 6 credits or file the Special Graduate Assistant Registration Status Request Form and receive authorization to register for a minimum of 1 credit. This form is in addition to the ISSS Exception Form.
Graduate students with non assistantship on-campus employment can register for Grad 0999 and maintain their employment eligibility if they submit a copy of the ISSS Exception Form to Lauren McKay at the Student Job Center after it was approved by an ISSS adviser.

10. INS ENFORCES REQUIREMENT FOR REPORTING A CHANGE OF ADDRESS

If you have a new address, you MUST notify BOTH the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and the University of Minnesota within 10 days:

For the INS, go to:INS WEb Site and click on INS Forms, Fees, Fingerprints, and
then on Forms. Download and complete the "AR-11 Change of Address Form." ISSS suggests that individuals send Form AR-11 by CERTIFIED MAIL and save your > receipt, so that you have proof of having complied with the requirement.

For the University of Minnesota, go to On stope Servise and click on Update Personal Information. Then click on Personal Addresses and make all the changes for the addresses affected. Follow and complete the instructions, and the information in your file at ISSS will automatically be updated.

11. COPY YOUR EAD FOR POST-COMPLETION OPT TO ISSS

Students who have their post-completion OPT approved by INS should drop off, mail, or fax (612-626-7366) a copy of your EAD card to ISSS. Be sure the copy is legible so your name and the OPT authorization period are readable. Upon receiving the copy of your EAD card, ISSS can enter into the system which is connected to INS to report that you are legally remaining in the U.S. on OPT after graduation.

12. J-1 VISAHOLDERS: NEW NAME FOR YOUR IAP-66

As of June 2002, the Department of State has issued a new document, which will replace the IAP-66 form. The name of the new document is DS-2019. The DS-2019 is now the official form used as certificate of eligibility for J status. However, IAP-66 forms that have been issued prior to September 2002, will continue to be accepted at consulates and ports of entry.
In the new form, the order of the pages has changed, so that the yellow copy, which previously appeared as page number 2, is now page number 1; however, the purpose of each copy remains unchanged, and can be found at the bottom of each page.

FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS STILL CURRENT, PLEASE GO TO THE ISSS WEBSITE:

UNIVERSITY EVENTS CALENDAR Click

on the University Events Calendar regularly for programs, films, concerts, and celebrations of special interest to you! Many events are free or affordable to University Community members and the public. http://events.umn.edu/

SUBSCRIBING TO THE INTL-L LISTSERVE