December Newsletter 

·          Final International Coffee Hour For the Fall Semester

·          Important Travel Advice for the Holidays!

·          Optional Practical Training for December Graduates

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

·          Christmas International House

·          International Club Welcome Party

·          University Holiday Closings & Emergency Contacts

·          GOOD LUCK, CONGRATULATIONS & GOOD HOLIDAYS! 
 

Final International Coffee Hour For the Fall Semester

If time allows, do drop-by the Prospector Faculty/Staff Dining Room on Thursday, December 4^th for the final International Coffee Hour of the fall semester.  As usual, there will be opportunities for socializing over refreshments, games and music. 

International Coffee Hour begins again in the Spring semester on Thursday, January 15^th and follows 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays throughout the semester. 

Important Travel Advice for the Holidays!

The holidays are approaching and if you are traveling outside the U.S. please 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 and a letter of temporary employment. 

Note: If you need a signature on your I-20, please bring it to us BEFORE December 19^th, and allow 2 days for processing prior to your departure.  The ISSO and the university will be closed from December 24 through January 1^st. 

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 2 days in advance and can be found at http://www.isso.uncc.edu/forms.htm  or in the ISSO.                                                                                                  
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.      NSEERS Registration:  NSEERS Registrants, please remember that you MUST exit and re-enter through one of the designated ports and be registered.  If you have any questions, it is very important that you go to an information booth at the airport and find an appropriate officer to conduct the registration.  

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 changing 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, passport and I-94 card 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 let us know of your departure date and 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

If you haven’t already applied for Optional Practical Training, you may still do so until 60 days following graduation, which will be February 20^th, 2009.  However, please keep in mind processing time and remember that the ISSO will be closed from December 23-January 1^st.   

You MUST be ‘recommended’ for OPT by the ISSO – you cannot apply to USCIS without first getting this recommendation.  

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!  If you do not, your F1 status will be terminated. 

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>

University Holiday Closings & Emergency Contacts

The university will be closed from December 24 through January 1.  If you have an urgent request or immigration emergency, you can call 704-687-7781 and leave a clear message with your phone number.  An ISSO staff member will be checking messages during that time period and will return your call.  If you have an emergency, you should call Campus Police at 704-687-2200. 

International Club January Welcome Party

The International Club will hold its “Welcome Party” on Friday, January 16^th at 7:30pm in Cone Center “Afterhours”.  Come to welcome new international students, meet some people 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, please send us an email indicating your departure date so that we can update your immigration record.  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!