March highlights include:

1. March International Coffee Hours
2. Spring Break travel outside the U.S.
3. Change Clocks on March 9^th!
4. International Women’s Day Celebration!
5. One more OPT workshop on March 14^th for May Graduates
6. Reminder to maintain fulltime status!
7. Tax Filing deadline is April 15^th
8. Participate in a Voluntary Online Survey

1.  March International Coffee Hours

There will be no International Coffee Hour on Thursday, March 6^th due to Spring Break.

The next event will be on Thursday, March 20^th.  Come anytime between 4-6pm in the Prospector Faculty/Staff Dining Room and join us for refreshments, games, music & great conversations! 

2.  Spring Break Travel outside the U.S. 

If you are traveling outside the U.S. for Spring Break (yes, this includes Canada & Mexico) please remember…

• Get your I-20 or DS-2019 signed in the ISSO if it’s been more than 1 year since your last signature! 
• Take valid passport, visa, UNC Charlotte transcript and financial documentation.

Have a happy and safe Spring Break!!

 
3. Change Clocks on March 9^th!

Don’t forget to change your clocks, watches, cell phones, palm pilots, etc. on Sunday, March 9^th at 2:00am.  Since it’s now Spring, we “spring” ahead 1 hour and gain more light.  For more information, see http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving.b.html

4.  International Women’s Day Celebration

March 8^th is International Women’s Day.  As you may know in your country, this day is designated as a day to come together and celebrate the accomplishments of women around the world as well as to acknowledge their economic, political, cultural and social struggles for equality, justice, peace, and development.   

UNC Charlotte will celebrate International Women’s Day on Thursday, March 13^th  from 3:30-5:00pm in Storrs Gallery in the College of Architecture.   

You are all welcome (both men and women) and encouraged to join us for a reception with refreshments, performances, and a special recognition ceremony!  Please wear your native dress to this event so that we can recognize you and your cultures!

You are also invited to nominate someone who has made an impact on the lives of women locally and globally to be recognized and celebrated on this special day.  No accomplishment is too small, no experience is insignificant!

• For more information on who can be nominated, submission guidelines, and an application visit www.uncc.edu/oip/intwomenday.htm  or contact dvmedei@uncc.edu
• Please submit nominations by Sunday, March 9, 2008.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!  This event is open to all faculty, staff and students at UNC Charlotte.

5.  One more OPT workshop on March 14^th for May Graduates

The ISSO will hold one more workshop for students graduating in May and interested in applying for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), work authorization in your field of study.  Please plan to attend, as much information will be discussed.   

·         Friday, March 14^th from 2-3pm in CHHS 278

 6. Reminder to maintain fulltime status!

Mid-terms are upon us and we hope you all do wonderfully.  But we also want to remind you that dropping below a fulltime course of study without prior authorization is a violation of your immigration status.  If you are having difficulty with a class and are thinking of dropping it, please talk first with Marian or Denise in the ISSO so that we can discuss the potential immigration implications or other possible options.

 Again, fulltime is defined as the following:
Undergraduate = at least 12 credits
Graduate = at least 9 credits
Graduate with approved assistantship = at least 6 credits
Graduate who has completed coursework and working on thesis or project only = no minimum required but must be registered for “thesis”, “project”, or “dissertation”.

 7.  Tax Filing Deadline is April 15^th

All international students (F-1 & J-1) who resided in the US during 2007 are required to complete federal tax forms by April 15^th.   

If you were employed in the US in 2007, you must file both federal and state tax forms.  These forms, instructions and passwords to CINTAX, a special non-immigrant tax software program are available in the ISSO, College of Health & Human Services Building, Room 202.  Passwords are $3.25 and available to any F1 or J1 student. 

If you were NOT employed in 2007, you must file only the form 8843.  Tips on how to complete this form, along with a link to the 8843 can be found at http://www.isso.uncc.edu/employment.htm#Taxes

8. Participate in a Voluntary Online Survey

An international graduate student from Germany, Julia Conrath, studying at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale invites you to be part of her research project and fill out an on-line questionnaire.

This study is about stress and stress-related health outcomes for international students. These results can be used to increase the awareness and understanding about international students' experiences of studying and living in the United States.

If you hold a F-1 or J-1 visa, please complete the survey by going to the link below: http://131.230.59.192/surveys/index.php?sid=5

The survey should take you about 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Four participants will also have the chance to win a $25 gift certificate!