ISSS WEEKLY UPDATE FOR 2/04/2003

TABLE OF CONTENTS

New Items

1. 1. SEVIS / NEW INS REGULATIONS SESSION
   
2. F-2 / J-2 DEPENDENT INFORMATION SESSION
   
3. SEVIS UPDATE
   
4. F-1 OPT APPLICATION WINDOW
   
5. ADDITIONAL SPECIAL REGISTRATION APPOINTMENTS
   
6. NEW INS FEES
   
7. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM 2003-2004
   
8. APPLY SOON FOR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
   
9. SMALL WORLD COFFEE HOUR THIS UPCOMING FRIDAY!!!
   
10. CROSS-CULTURAL DISCUSSION GROUP FOR SPRING 2003!

 

Repeated Items


These are announcements from previous ISSS Weekly Updates. They are current and relevant to this week. Click on the title of the announcement to view it.

1. GRADUATION / COMMENCEMENT
2. TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE SPRING 2003
3. E-MAILS FOR CROSS-CULTURAL DISCUSSION GROUP
4. SPECIAL REGISTRATION UPDATE: NEW COUNTRIES ADDED AND DATES EXTENDED FOR EARLIER GROUP
5. DEPENDENT STUDY: F-2s AND J-2s
6. F-1 and J-1 VISA HOLDERS: LIMITED DOCUMENT PROCESSING BEGINNING JANUARY 25
7. EXCEPTION FROM FULL-COURSE-OF-STUDY FORM
8. ON-CAMPUS WORK PERMIT ENDS ON GRADUATION DAY
9. MAINTAINING YOUR LEGAL STATUS IS VERY IMPORTANT!
10. REMINDER: NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC FUNDING (MN ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM)
11. USING THE GRAD 999 REGISTRATION OPTION
12. CAREER RESOURCE GUIDE FOR GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS
13. NEW RULE FOR ENTRY VISA APPLICANTS
14. COPY YOUR EAD FOR POST-COMPLETION OPT TO ISSS

NEW ITEMS

1. MORE SEVIS / NEW INS REGULATIONS SESSIONS

The Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) has published the new F and J visa regulations. In order to provide better service, ISSS needs to take time to update our web site and publications, train staff, and revise our systems to comply with SEVIS. We realize this means there are fewer appointment times available. We urge you to attend one of the following information sessions that will provide more up to date information on the regulations:

The next sessions will be,
Friday, February 7
Blegen Hall, room 5 (Minneapolis, West Bank campus)
2:30 p.m.

Watch the ISSS Weekly Update for additional information sessions dates and times.

New SEVIS information will be added very often to our web site. Please check it frequently SEVIS Information Sessions.

2. F-2 / J-2 DEPENDENT INFORMATION SESSION

Individuals on F-2 and J-2 visas are invited to attend a special information session on new Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) regulations which affect enrollment in classes. At this session we will discuss visa and study options and provide additional information about resources available to F-2 and J-2 dependents. F-1/J-1 visa holders with F-2/J-2 dependents are also welcome to attend the session. No reservation is necessary.
Friday, February 7
Blegen Hall, room 5 (Minneapolis, West Bank campus)
3:45 p.m.
This session will follow the SEVIS/New INS regulations session, which will start at 2:30 p.m. on the same day in the same room. Please see the announcement above for details.

3. SEVIS UPDATE

The Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) has issued a SEVIS grace period until February 15, 2003. The grace period was issued as a result of the extreme delays/difficulties schools were having in accessing and staying in the SEVIS system to process documents. The grace period allows schools to refrain from using SEVIS until February 15. Consequently, ISSS will resume business as usual in terms of processing document requests..

4. F-1 OPT APPLICATION WINDOW

F-1 students can apply for Optional Practical Training 120 days before their date of completion. However, Immigration & Naturalization Services (INS) regulations state that the application window for students who will complete a program of study after their first academic year (i.e. LLM, Non-degree seeking students) is 90 days before the date of completion.

5. ADDITIONAL SPECIAL REGISTRATION APPOINTMENTS

ISSS has arranged more fixed appointment times for Special Registration with Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS). These additional appointments will be on Thursday, February 6 for individuals in Group One, Two, and Three, who meet the reporting requirements for Special Registration. Please see the ISSS web site if you are unsure if you need to report.

To make an appointment, please call Hanae Tsukada at ISSS at 612-626-7194. Call as soon as possible because INS has set aside only a limited number of appointments.
Please Note: The deadlines for Group One and Two have passed, but INS will still allow you to register. Group Four can not register until February 24

6. NEW INS FEES

The Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) implemented new fees effective January 24, 2003. Applications submitted with old fees will be accepted and INS is working out a refund policy.

Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization: $88.00
Form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status: $102.00
Form I-102 Application to Replace I-94: $73.00
Form I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (H-1B): $96.00

7. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM 2003-2004

International students interested in applying for financial aid should attend one of the following meetings. Applications will be distributed at the meetings. All meetings will be held in the Carlson School of Management, on the West Bank of the Minneapolis campus.

Monday, March 3 at 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. in CSOM 1-127
Thursday, March 6 at 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. in CSOM 2-228
Wednesday, March 12 at 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. in CSOM 2-233
Thursday, March 13 at 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. in CSOM 2-228

After Thursday, March 13, the 2003-2004 financial aid applications will be available at the ISSS front desk in the Humphrey Center, room 190..

8. APPLY SOON FOR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Starting August 1, 2003, the Social Security Administration will require students holding an F or M visa to have received a job offer before they will issue a social security number. In addition to all the documents currently required for social security applications, the student will also be required to show a job offer letter from the employer.

We would like to encourage students to go and apply for a social security number as soon as possible, if you have not done so already, so as to avoid this new requirement. Please see the first repeated announcement below for information about the social security authorization letter that F and J visa students will need from ISSS for their application. inquiries.

9. SMALL WORLD COFFEE HOUR THIS UPCOMING FRIDAY!!!

WHEN: FRIDAY, February 7
TIME: 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Heller Hall, room 110 (Minneapolis, West Bank campus)

Come and join the fun! Small World Coffee Hour is a great way to relax after a long week of studying - a great opportunity to see your friends and to meet new ones! At Coffee Hour this week our theme will be Iranian Coffee Shops, and we will have Iranian snacks, decorations, and prizes. Also, there will be a presentation about the history and characteristics of Iranian music, followed by a performance/demonstration by Dan Rein. Dan has studied and performed Persian traditional music for the past eleven years, and the music he will perform is based upon the Iranian traditional repertoire called the Radif. See you there!

For more information about Small World Coffee Hour, contact Antonella Corsi-Bunker

10. CROSS-CULTURAL DISCUSSION GROUP FOR SPRING 2003!

The opportunity to join the Cross-cultural Discussion Group is still available. In the group, you will share cross-cultural experiences, personal thoughts, and feelings in a relaxed small group atmosphere. The group members will meet every Wednesday 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (February 12-April 30). To join the group, please contact ISSS (612-626-7100) to schedule a pre-group meeting with one of the group leaders as soon as possible.

For more information, check out the Cross-cultural Discussion Group web site.
You can also e-mail Sara Georgeson or Sohee Park

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