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September ISSO Newsletter

Welcome or welcome “back” to a new semester! We in the ISSO wish you both a productive and an enjoyable semester. As always, our staff is available to provide information, services and programs that help international students to be successful and to have positive experiences here in the U.S. In addition, we are your first source for accurate and up-to-date immigration & employment information, so we hope that you will come to us with any questions you may have. Also, please remember to check out our website for all the latest information. www.isso.uncc.edu

The ISSO Staff
Marian Beane, Director
mebeane@uncc.edu

Denise Medeiros, Assistant Director
dvmedei@uncc.edu

Debbie Wilson, Administrative Assistant

Chau Tran, SEVIS Coordinator

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· Immunizations due Sept. 19

· Health Insurance Waivers due Sept. 19

· OPT Information Sessions for Students Wishing to Apply for OPT (F-1 students)

· Reminder to update your LOCAL address in 49er Express

· International Coffee Hour Sept. 6

· Be a Cultural Ambassador!

· Letters of Invitation or Enrollment

· Ifest 2007 – Represent Your Country!

· Reminder: Monday, Sept. 3 is a holiday and UNC Charlotte is closed on this day.

· 5th Annual Baptist Campus Ministries Labor Day Cookout

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Immunizations Due by Sept. 19

Remember, if the Student Health Center does not have records of your immunizations (shots) by September 19^th your classes will be canceled. If you still need immunizations done or you’re not sure if they received your records it’s critical that you call the health center to schedule an appointment 704-687-4619. For more information go to http://www.studenthealth.uncc.edu/immunizations%20information%20for%20new%20students.htm

Health Insurance Waivers due Sept. 19

Don’t forget – submit your health insurance waiver by the end of the day on Sept. 19^th if you DO NOT wish to purchase the UNC Charlotte health insurance plan. If you do not submit a waiver by this date, you will automatically be billed for the full amount of the health insurance. Go to http://www.healthsvcs.uncc.edu/ for more information.

OPT Information Sessions for Students Wishing to Apply for OPT (F-1 students)

Information Sessions will be held for any December graduate or student in the thesis only portion of their program who is interested in applying for Optional Practical Training (work authorization in your field of study). Please plan to attend one of the following sessions, so that we can answer all of your questions in a group! Remember, you must apply for OPT prior to completion of your degree program.

· Wednesday, September 5^th at 4pm in CHHS room 281

· Friday, September 7^th at 4pm in CHHS room 281

· Thursday, September 13^th at 4pm in CHHS room 281

Reminder to update your LOCAL address in 49er Express

New students, if you haven’t done so already, please update your LOCAL address in 49er Express. Without this information, we can’t report to USCIS that you are here and enrolled fulltime! This address needs to be where you are currently residing in the Charlotte area.

International Coffee Hour Sept. 6

Fall semester has begun and that means International Coffee Hour is back! It is a great place to come, meet other students and relax with coffee, snacks and good conversation! It is always held the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of each month, and the first one of the semester is next Thursday, September 6^th! Take a friend with you or meet one there.

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

Be a Cultural Ambassador!

The Cultural Ambassador program provides international students with an opportunity to educate UNC Charlotte students, faculty and staff about their culture and experience as international students in the US.

How does it work? When the ISSO staff is contacted by a professor or staff member we will notify a small group of international students who have signed-up for this program and organize a panel with discussion questions. The panel discussion will be facilitated by an ISSO staff member and the audience may ask questions at the end. If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an email to dvmedei@uncc.edu .

Letters of Invitation or Enrollment

Are you thinking about inviting your family or friends for a visit to Charlotte? If so, the ISSO can issue a letter of invitation if you make a request at http://www.isso.uncc.edu/forms.htm . Requests for letters of enrollment are also available at the same site.

Ifest 2007 – Represent Your Country!

UNC Charlotte’s 32^nd Annual International Festival (Ifest) will be held on Saturday, September 29th. This event is attended by nearly 10,000 people in Charlotte and beyond, and over 50 countries are represented each year! For more information on how to participate, send an email to Marian Beane, Chair of the Ifest Committee at mebeane@uncc.edu .

Reminder: Monday, Sept. 3 is a holiday and UNC Charlotte is closed on this day.

5th Annual Baptist Campus Ministries Labor Day Cookout

Join the Baptist Campus Ministries for an American-style cook-out on the Front Field (near the Highrises), on Monday Labor Day (Sept. 3) from 6:00pm until dark. There will be food, games, and fun.