November Newsletter

1.      International Coffee Hour November 6^th and 20^th!

2.      Change your clocks on Nov. 2^nd!

3.      The ‘African Gala’ at UNC Charlotte

4.      Early Registration for Spring 2009

5.      OPT for December Graduates - Don't Forget!

6.      EAD Processing Delays – what to do…

7.      Discover the Outdoors!

8.      Orientation Volunteers Needed

9.      Thanksgiving Holiday and ISSO Office Hours

10.    Women’s Basketball Game Wednesday, November 26^th at 12 pm

11.    Christmas International House Sign-Up

12.    International Education Week is Nov. 17-21

13.    Check the End Date on your Immigration Documents

14.    Planning Dec/Jan. Travel Outside the U.S. - Important Reminders!

15.    Diversity “Green Card” Lottery

1. International Coffee Hour Dates in November
Thursday, November 6^th, 4-6pm.
Thursday, November 20^th, 4-6pm (celebrating International Education Week!). 
 

2. Change your clocks on Nov. 2^nd!
Don’t forget to change your clocks, watches, etc. Sunday, November 2^nd at 2:00am. 
Since it’s now Fall, we “fall” behind 1 hour and sadly lose more light.  For more information, see
http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/b.html
 

3. The ‘African Gala’ at UNC Charlotte
Celebrate the richness of African culture by attending the African Gala, Nov. 7^th at 7pm in Cone Center Afterhours.  Free admission with student ID, the program includes a play, a fashion show, poetry, music, dance performances and much more! Sponsored by the Organization of African Students.


4.  Early Registration for Spring 2009
Spring 2009 registration begins in November.  Make sure to register for classes as soon as possible and schedule an appointment with your academic advisor if necessary!  If you have any registration holds please read them carefully and take care of them as soon as possible.


5. OPT for December Graduates
Don’t wait until the last minute to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT).  Processing time has increased so the sooner, the better for you!  Please read the full set of application instructions including a detailed ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section at http://www.isso.uncc.edu/optcpt.htm  then send email to intlsso@uncc.edu to schedule your appointment in the ISSO.  Don’t forget to take your unofficial transcript and completed I-765 with you at the time of your appointment!
 

6. EAD Processing Delays – What to do…
Pursuant to 8 CFR § 274a.13, USCIS must adjudicate EAD applications within 90 days from the date of USCIS receipt of the application.
If your EAD application is pending more than 90 days, see the suggestions below:

Step 1: Call USCIS National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-(800) 375-5283 and record the time/date of the call and the name/number of the customer service representative:

1. Explain to the customer service representative that your EAD has been pending more than 90 days and ask for a “service request.” You should receive a response to your service request within a week.

OR

• Ask the customer service representative to request an interim card for you.  You should receive an EAD or response within a week.

Step 2: If you choose to visit a local USCIS office, schedule an INFOPASS appointment to visit that office on www.infopass.uscis.gov . At the appointment, ask to apply for an interim EAD. Note that USCIS local offices no longer issue interim EADs. The local office can review your case and determine eligibility. The local office will forward your request to the USCIS service centers. You should receive an EAD or response within a week.

Step 3: If you have tried both Step 1 and Step 2 and have still not received your EAD or an interim card, please email our office at cisombudsman.publicaffairs@dhs.gov with the details of your efforts.  Please include the date and time of your call to the NCSC and the name of the customer service representative.  If you visited a USCIS office, please provide that information. We will look into your case and review how we may be of assistance.

7.  Discover the Outdoors!
UNC Charlotte Venture sponsors lots of exciting programs and trips like backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing and caving. For details on these and other events, go to http://venture.uncc.edu 


8.  Orientation Volunteers Needed
New international students will soon be arriving and the ISSO will hold orientation programs on Tuesday, January 6^th (undergraduate and exchange students) and Thursday, January 8^th (graduate students).  Your help is critical in providing new and important information to them plus it’s a lot of fun!  If you are interested and will be available at these times and throughout the week, please contact Denise at dvmedei@uncc.edu .  Also, we will need van drivers to make airport pick-ups.


9.  Thanksgiving Holiday and Office Hours
As you may or may not know, there are no classes from Wednesday, Nov. 26^th through Sunday, Nov. 30^th and the ISSO will be closed on Thursday and Friday of that week.   

The actual Thanksgiving holiday is on Thursday, Nov. 27.  For more information about this and other U.S. holidays, you can visit www.holidays.net

10.  Women’s Basketball Game Wednesday, November 26^th at 12 pm
Not going anywhere for the Thanksgiving break?  Check out the action and come support your home team as the Charlotte 49ers take-on Wake Forest in women’s basketball on Wed. Nov. 26^th at 12pm!

11.  Christmas International House Information
If you are 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    http://www.christmasih.org
Applications will be accepted from October 1^st through November 22, 2008.
 

12.  “International Education Week”:  November 17-21
Preparations are underway nationwide for the 8^th Annual International Education Week, November 17-21, part of the implementation of former President Clinton’s directive calling for an International education policy for the United States.  Your being here in the United States is an important part of this commitment to the mutual exchange of ideas, leading toward intercultural understanding and more peaceful relations in the world.  For more information, go to http://iew.state.gov 

Interesting events happening at UNC Charlotte that week include… 

Fifth Biennial Persian Cultural Program
Rowe Recital Hall
Sat. Nov. 15 at 7:00 PM 

Special Screenings of “Breaking Barriers with Study Abroad”
CHHS 207
Mon. Nov. 17 at 10:15 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:00 PM 

Digging in South America: How Reed Boats Shaped a Civilization
CHHS 221
Mon. Nov. 17 at 3:30-4:30 PM

International Speaker Series: Dr. Marshall Goldman
CHHS 281
Tues. Nov. 18 at 3:30-4:30 PM

Japan Film Series II: “Grave of the Fireflies”
CHHS 155
Tues. Nov. 18 at 5:00-7:00 PM

The Pacific Rim in the Atlantic World: Imagining Brazil’s “Japanese”
Lecture by Dr. Jeffrey Lesser, Emory University
Fretwell 100
Wed. Nov. 19 at 11:00 AM

International Coffee Hour (Celebrating International Children’s Day)
Prospector Cafe
Thurs. Nov. 20 at 4:00-6:00 PM

Brown Bag Lunch: Visit to Pakistan
CHHS 207
Fri. Nov. 21 at 12:00-1:00 PM


13.  Check the End Date on your Immigration Documents
Just a reminder to take a look at the ending date on your I-20 (item #5) or DS-2019 (item #3).  If you still need more time to finish your program and are making adequate progress toward your degree, you MUST fill out a Program Extension Form from the ISSO prior to the end date on your document so that we can produce a new document for you.  Remember, this is your responsibility.

14.  Planning International Travel?
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.  Is your passport valid?  Is your visa valid?  Is your I-20 or DS-2019 valid?  Has it been signed on p.3 (I-20s) or p.1 (DS-2019s) by either Marian or Denise in the last year?  If you need a signature, please bring it to the ISSO in early December and leave 2-3 days processing time rather than waiting until the LAST MINUTE to get this done!

15. “Green Card Diversity Lottery” Begins
The Diversity Visa (DV) 2009 Lottery online entry begins at Noon EDT on October 2, 2008, and ends at Noon EST on December 1, 2008. 

Each year, the Diversity Lottery Program makes 55,000 immigrant visas available through a lottery to people who come from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. The State Department holds the lottery every year, and randomly selects approximately 110,000 applicants from all qualified entries.  For more information and to apply, to go http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html