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ARCHIVES
May 17, 2011
IN THIS ISSUE
•F-1 and J-1 students: Full Course of Study Requirements
•Driver's License Letters
•Summer Work Hours for International Students
•NSEERS No Longer Operational
•Optional Practical Training/ Curricular Practical Training sessions
•Maintaining Immigration Status
•Reminders for Foreign Nationals
•ISSS front desk relocated
F-1 and J-1 students: Full Course of Study Requirements
F-1 and J-1 students who plan to drop below a full course load (below 9 credit hours for graduate students and below 12 credit hours for undergraduate students) for Fall 2011 must turn in a
Full Course
of Study Form to the OIE before the first day of classes (Aug. 17, 2011). This form is not required for Summer
semester. Failing to turn in a Full Course of Study (Gold) Form can seriously disrupt a student's academic
progress. Please submit the form on time. Permission to drop below full time status cannot be granted if the
form is turned in late.
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Driver's License Letters
International students and scholars desiring a driver’s license are in need of a letter from the International Student & Scholar Services prior to visiting the driving center in Opelika.
Requests for a letter may be submitted electronically from
this
link. A hard copy may also be submitted at the front
desk inside the Foy Hall lobby area. A few key points to
remember:
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All information on the form is required.
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There must be a minimum of 6 months remaining on
the I-20 or DS-2019 from the day the form is submitted. This is an Alabama state law and is not negotiable.
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There must be a minimum of 6
months remaining on the passport from the
submission date. Again, this is an Alabama
law.
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Individuals who have traveled outside the U.S.
must complete a ‘Return from Travel’ form prior to submitting
a letter for processing. Bring all immigration documents to the ISSS office. The I-94 number on
the I-94 card must match our records or there will be a delay in processing.
As summer time approaches, please remember to exercise extreme caution to ensure the safety of all students and residents of Auburn. Please exercise patience waiting for
any letter(s) to be completed. The
wait time for letter processing may be as
long as 30 days so please plan accordingly.
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Summer Work Hours for International Students
All F-1 and J-1 students, who are in at least their second semester at AU, are allowed to begin working more than 20 hours per week in the Summer Semester starting 05/09/2011. These students are required to resume working for 20 hours per week or less beginning on the first day of classes for Fall Semester (08/17/2011). If a student’s work hours are not changed back to 20 hours or below on the first day of classes, they could be subject to having their SEVIS record and immigration status terminated.
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NSEERS No Longer Operational
Effective April 28, 2011, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through a notice in the Federal Register (FR), eliminated the requirement that nationals from the following countries register in the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS):
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen
Upon publication of this notice 76 FR 23830 (April 28, 2011), DHS removed all countries designated for participation in NSEERS. The regulation remains in place; however, DHS does not currently designate any country, nor does it require any foreign national to participate in the system. Nonimmigrant aliens previously required by NSEERS to submit to special registration procedures and depart from specified parts are relieved of these obligations.
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Optional Practical Training/ Curricular Practical Training sessions
The summer semester schedule for OPT/CPT sessions is given below:
| Date |
Time |
Location |
| May 31, 2011 |
10:00 am |
242 Foy Hall |
| June 16, 2011 |
1:00 pm |
242 Foy Hall |
| June 28, 2011 |
10:00 am |
242 Foy Hall |
| July 12, 2011 |
2:00 pm |
242 Foy Hall |
| July 28, 2011 |
10:00 am |
242 Foy Hall |
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Maintaining Immigration Status
The majority of foreign national students and visiting scholars at Auburn University are in the U.S. on F-1 or J-1 visas. Unlike those foreign nationals who might come to the U.S. with the intent to establish permanent residency and are considered “immigrants,” individuals coming to the U.S. in the F and J visa categories are considered “non-immigrants.” As such, they are subject to very specific rules making it essential that F and J students and scholars alike “maintain lawful presence.” This means they must be aware of and follow the particular regulations pertaining to their visa category. One of the main functions of the Office of International Education is to assist foreign national students and scholars in maintaining their immigration status at Auburn University. The OIE has obligations to the student, the University, and the U.S. government to ensure that the regulations are followed. To learn more about what it takes for an F-1 or J-1 student to maintain
immigration status, go to the online
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Reminders for Foreign Nationals
All travel requests should be submitted at least 30 days in advance of travel.
Renew passports early as processing times for passport renewals vary greatly from one country to another.
Insurance cards should be carried at all times--especially when traveling outside of Auburn. Lost insurance cards should be reported to
insurance@auburn.edu. J scholar insurance fees are due by the 15th of each
month.
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ISSS front desk relocated
The front desk of International Student and Scholar Services
has moved from 228 Foy Hall to the main Foy Hall
information desk in the second floor lobby. Please check
in with this desk first.
ISSS also welcomes Ms. Audrey Grindle as the temporary
receptionist.
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