ISSO October Newsletter - go to www.isso.uncc.edu

This month's highlights include: 

1.      IFest 2008 Thank You!

2.      Optional Practical Training Information Session

3.      North Carolina International Leadership Conference

4.      International Club Trip to Washington, D.C.

5.      "Green Card" Diversity Lottery Begins

6.   International Coffee Hour Dates in October

7.      Christmas International House Information

8.            8.   Marian Beane and Denise Medeiros Attending Conference Oct. 27-28

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     1.  IFest 2008

This is a big THANK YOU to all who participated in UNC Charlotte’s 33^rd annual International Festival on September 27th!  It was a wonderful event, and you played a role in helping to teach thousands of people a little bit more about your area of the world.  We hope that you will do the same next year!

2.  Optional Practical Training (OPT) Information Session for December Graduates

The ISSO will hold its final information session for students graduating in December and interested in applying for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).  Please plan to attend, as lots of important information will be discussed.   

·          Friday, October 17^th at 3pm in CHHS 295 

3.  North Carolina International Leadership Conference

The North Carolina International Leadership Conference for Students is open to ALL international students, study abroad returnees, and those pursuing majors/careers in international relations.  It will be held at UNC Greensboro on November 1-2, 2008.   

Included are workshops, sessions, service projects, food, and fun, as well as keynote speaker, Katie Krueger, a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar in Dakar, Senegal in 2004 who co-founded a nonprofit organization that promotes education in Senegal: Project Japalé Gouné. More information about Katie can be found at her website  www.KatieKrueger.com

Deadline for registration is October 10, 2008.  Registration form and hotel information are located at http://ncaieorg.ipower.com/page6.html.  The ISSO will pay the $35 registration fee for up to 5 students who would like to attend this conference.  Please notify ISSO by Oct. 6 if you’d like to attend.   

4.  International Club Trip to Washington, D.C.

There may still be some openings for the annual International Club trip to Washington, D.C. during Fall Break, Oct. 10-13^th.  To sign-up come to the ISSO (CHHS 202) immediately with a personal check or money order for $210 (International Club members) or $240 (non-members).  This fee includes bus transportation to & from D.C. and hotel costs.  Don’t miss this great opportunity!! 

5.  “Green Card Diversity Lottery” Begins

The DV-2010 Lottery online entry begins at Noon EDT on October 2, 2008, and ends at Noon EST on December 1, 2008.  Information and instructions will appear at http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html  as soon as they are available.  

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.

6.  International Coffee Hour Dates in October

If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out International Coffee Hour yet perhaps October is your lucky month!  It is a great place to come, meet other students, faculty, staff, and relax with coffee, snacks, games and good conversation!  It is always held the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of each month, and the October dates are listed below!  Take a friend with you or meet one there. 

Thursday, October 2^nd & Thursday, October 16^th  

Where?        The Prospector Faculty/Staff Dining Room
When?         Anytime between 4 and 6pm

7.  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 26, 2008. 
 

8.            8. ISSO Staff Attending Conference Oct. 27-28

Due to a conference, no advising will be available on Monday, October 27^th and Tuesday, October 28^th.  Please plan any I-20 or other requests prior to or after those dates.