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In This Issue
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Information for students completing studies Spring 2007
· International Students are
invited to participate in OISS search for new Assistant Director
Important Information
·
Apply for OPT before May 18 if you
are graduating in May
·
Summer Options
for F-1 and J-1 Students
·
USCIS Reaches FY 2008 H-1B Cap
Upcoming Events
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Apr 24 - You are invited
to attend the CultureLink Tea!
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Apr 24-29 - Spring Fling Week
events
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Apr 28 - GMSA's 18th
International Dinner
Interesting Articles
·
April Life/Work
Center Newsletter
·
It's National Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Personal Ads
·
House for Rent
(Word Doc)
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For students who are
completing a course of
study at the end of Spring Semester 2007, you
have the following options under current Immigration Rules and
Regulations:
- You may return back to your
home country and you have 60 days after graduation or until
July 18,
2007 to depart the United States.
- You may continue your
studies by applying for and being accepted for a higher level of
study or the possibility of changing your program within the
same level you are in now. You need to talk with an advisor in
OISS to make sure you qualify for this opportunity and to start
the process of obtaining a new SEVIS I-20. In both cases you
would need to be accepted either here at St. Thomas or in a
different U.S.
university within the 60 days following the completion of your
program. You would be expected to be a full time student beginning
in the Fall Semester of 2007.
- You may change your visa if
you qualify e.g. H-1, J-1, or Permanent Resident. If you qualify
you need to apply for this visa change within the 60 days
following the completion of your program (before July 18,
2007).
- You might be eligible for
one year of Optional Practical Training (OPT), which means you
may stay in the United States and work in a field related to
your major course of study listed on your I-20. To follow this
program you need to set up an appointment with an advisor in
OISS to begin the paperwork for the Immigration Department. You
do not need to have a job in hand to apply. You need to be sure
that you are going to complete your studies by May 19. We
recommend that you apply NOW since
the Immigration Department must receive your OPT
application before May 18, 2007 and it has been taking about 3
to 4 months to receive the EAD card, which is required to work
during OPT. A student completing a course of study at the end of
Spring semester 2007 may not apply for OPT after May 18, 2007.
Please see an OISS advisor if you have any questions or
concerns.
- Once you are done with your degree program, you are no longer elligible to work on-campus. You will not be able to print a summer work contract.
Congratulations to students who
are completing their degree/certificate program at St. Thomas!
International Students are invited to participate in OISS search
for new Assistant Director
As you know, OISS is the middle
of a search process for the Assistant Director position and we
will be bringing three candidates to campus on the following
dates: April 30, May 2 and May 4 and possibly another additional date to be determined soon.
We are looking for students
to join the candidates for lunch on each of these dates from 12
(noon) to 1 pm in the O'Donnell Dining Room (2nd floor MHC -
near the Faculty/Staff Dining room on the south side of the
building). We will be providing you with lunch, but we need you
to RSVP ahead of time so we have enough space for
everyone. You can do so by emailing
oiss@stthomas.edu before
Friday, April 27th.
Your input and feedback is very important as this position
works very closely with students. Resumes will be available at
each session.
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