December Newsletter 

·          Last International Coffee Hour for the semester!

·          Important Travel Advice for the Holidays!

·          Optional Practical Training for December Graduates

·          Program Extensions on I-20s or DS-2019s

·          Health Insurance Requirement for Spring 2006

·          Christmas International House Sign-Up

·          International Student Satisfaction Survey

·          University Holiday Closings & Emergency Contacts

·          Orientation Volunteers Needed

·          International Club Welcome Party

·          GOOD LUCK, CONGRATULATIONS & GOOD HOLIDAYS!

Last International Coffee Hour for the semester!

Just a reminder that this Thursday, December 1^st will be the final International Coffee Hour for the fall semester.  Please join us in the Faculty/Staff Dining Room of Prospector anytime between 4 & 6pm for refreshments and relaxing conversation.

International Coffee Hour begins again for the Spring semester on Jan. 12 and 26^th, then first and third Thursdays thereafter.

Important Travel Advice for the Holidays!

The holidays are approaching and if you are traveling outside the U.S. you should take a look at your immigration documents to make sure everything is in order for your re-entry.   

1. For travel outside the U.S. take your valid passport and visa, your I-20 (signed by Marian or Denise on p.3 within the last 12 months/6 months for OPT) or DS-2019, a copy of your transcript or course schedule, and a copy of your financial documents.  If you are on Optional Practical Training, you must also have your EAD card.

Note: If you need a signature on your I-20, please bring it to us BEFORE December 17, and allow 2 days for processing prior to your departure.  The ISSO will be closed from December 23 to January 1^st and all staff will be out of town. 

2. If you will be applying for a new re-entry visa, you should also have a letter of enrollment from the ISSO and a copy of your spring schedule if you have already registered.  Requests of letters of enrollment must be requested in the ISSO at least 3 days in advance.

Also, if the source of your funding has changed, this will need to be reflected on a new I-20 and you should carry proof of the funding (i.e. an assistantship letter) to the visa interview.  

3. “U.S. Visit” & NSEERS Registration:  During your next exit and entry into the U.S. you may encounter little kiosks with the name “US-Visit” on them.  This is a government program being phased-in at various airports across the country and is a way to record the entry and exit of non-US citizens into and out of the U.S.  It includes collecting digital fingerprints and a digital photograph and should be a relatively quick process.  If you see the U.S. Visit kiosks during your travels, you must stop and register there. 

NSEERS Registrants, your “Special Registration” may take place at the U.S. Visit kiosk, or it may take place elsewhere at the airport as this new program is still being phased-in.  If you have any questions, go to an information booth at any airport.  

4. Transit Visa Requirements:  Students “transiting” through a third country to get to their home country may need to obtain a transit visa from that particular country.  For example, if you need to transit through England on your way to India, you should find out about any visa requirements by checking with the British government’s immigration section.  If you need help with this, please see the ISSO.
    

5. If you are moving from a Bachelor to a Master, Master to PhD, or PhD to Master in the spring semester, it is critical that your immigration record reflect this change and a new I-20 or DS-2019 be created for you.  Please pick up your new document at the beginning of the spring semester in the ISSO, or if you are traveling outside the U.S. during the winter break, pick it up prior to your departure, as you MUST use this new document to re-enter the U.S.
    

6. For travel within the U.S. take your I-20 and photocopies of your I-94 card, passport and visa page with you when you travel.
    

7. If you are leaving UNC Charlotte (graduating, returning to your home country, or transferring to another US university) please be sure to update your local & permanent address in 49er Express or for those who live on-campus, update your address at the post office on campus.

Optional Practical Training for December Graduates

December 5 will be the last day to apply for Optional Practical Training for December graduates.  The ISSO cannot guarantee that applications submitted thereafter will be considered for approval by USCIS.

Program Extensions on I-20s or DS-2019s

PLEASE look at the expiration date on your I-20 or DS-2019 if you are a continuing student.  If you still need more time to complete your program, you MUST submit a Program Extension form to the ISSO prior to your expiration date!

Health Insurance Requirement for Spring 2006

As you may already know, November 7, 2005 - January 7, 2006 is the open enrollment/waiver period for the University student health insurance plan for Spring 2006 semester.  All students must either waive or enroll in the University student health insurance plan each semester. Follow the instructions below to either enroll in or waive the University student health insurance plan for January 10 - August 10, 2006 coverage:

Visit www.pearceandpearce.com/PearceSite/Schools/UNCC/uncc.asp

To waive the plan...
a.  If you submitted an online waiver for Fall semester and you wish to
     waive the plan for Spring semester, you can simply select "Waive/Renewal"
     on the left hand side of the page to enter your email address and PIN
b.  If this is your first time submitting an online waiver, select "Waive/New"
     on the left hand side of the page to enter your health insurance information

To enroll in the plan...
Select "Enrollment/New Application" or "Enrollment/Renewal" (if you were enrolled last semester) on the left hand side of the page

If you have any questions about the enrollment or waiver process, please call the insurance office at 704-687-6070.

 

Christmas International House

Are you interested in spending the Christmas holiday with an American family in another part of the U.S.?  Consider applying for Christmas International House, an ecumenical program started in 1965 by the Presbyterian Church (USA). For more information and an application, visit www.christmasih.org/host   http://www.christmasih.org/host

International Student Satisfaction Survey

Thank you to those of you who responded to the International Student Satisfaction Survey, sent by email earlier this month.  For those who did not yet submit and would like to, the deadline is Dec. 5.  Go to http://www.isso.uncc.edu/survey.htm

University Holiday Closings & Emergency Contact

The university will be closed from December 24 – January 2.  If you have an urgent request or immigration emergency, you can call 704-687-2410 and leave a clear message with a phone number.  An ISSO staff member will respond to any urgent messages after December 28^th.

Orientation Volunteers Needed

New international students will soon be arriving!  We will hold orientation programs on January 4^th (graduate students) and 5^th (undergraduate students) and we could use your help in welcoming and orienting them.  If you are interested and will be available please contact Denise at dvmedei@email.uncc.edu.

Also, we are in need of 2 people to drive large vans to pick up students from the airport on Jan. 4^th, 5^th, and possibly the 6^th and bring them to campus.  Should be van-certified and have had experience driving 15-passenger vans.

 

International Club Welcome Party

The International Club will hold its “Welcome Party” on Friday, January 13, at 7:30pm in Cone Center Afterhours.  Come to welcome new international students and enjoy a good time!

 

GOOD LUCK, CONGRATULATIONS & GOOD HOLIDAYS!

Good luck on your exams, congratulations to those graduating, and good holidays.  Travel safely and see you when you return.  If you will not be returning to UNC Charlotte, we wish you well and hope that you will come back to visit from time to time.  If time permits, do drop-by the office to say farewell!