New International Student Orientation

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New International Student Orientation

• International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

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Acronyms to Know

• I-20 F-1 Eligibility Document
• F-1 A student immigration status
• F-2 Dependent of F-1 student
• DS-2019 J-1 Eligibility Document
• J-1 An exchange visitor status that can include
  students
• J-2 Dependent of a J-1
• I-94 Admission/Departure Record
• D/S Duration of Status
• Visa Stamp in passport that allows a one to
  enter the U.S.

• ISSS International Student Scholar Services
• DSO Designated School Official
• RO/ARO Responsible Officer/Alternate RO
• USCIS U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services
• DHS Department of Homeland Security
• DOS Department of State
• POE Port of Entry
• SEVIS Student Exchange Visitor Information
  System

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SEVIS

• SEVIS Student and Exchange Visitor Information
  System.
• SEVIS is an internet based system that allows
  schools and the USICS to exchange information on
  international students and scholars in the U.S.

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What is Reported to SEVIS?

• Student enrollment each semester
• Change of name or address
• Any student who graduates earlier than
  I-20/DS-2019 ending date
• Program extensions
• Requests for employment authorization and
  reinstatements
• Transfers, Withdrawal, Academic Dismissal
• Failing to maintain status

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Important Documents

• What are the documents to prove I have F-1 or J-1
  status?
• Passport
• Visa
• I-94 Card
• I-20 or DS-2019
• Keep all documents in a safe place! Do not lose
  them!
• You should keep all I-20/DS-2019 originals
  together because they show your immigration
  history.

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Passport
Expiration Date
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Visa
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I-94 Card
Admission (I-94 )
Port of Entry (POE)
Immigration Status
Date of entry
Expiration of status
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I-94 with 30 day Admission
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Visa vs. Status

• Visa is a stamp in the passport that allows one
  to enter the U.S., can expire while you are in
  the U.S. maintaining legal status.
• Visa can only be renewed outside the U.S.
• Status is your classification. See your I-94
  card.

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F-1 I-20 pg.1
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Top I-20 Page 1
SEVIS
Student Info
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Middle I-20 Page 1
Level
Major
Start date
Expected end date
Expected length of stay
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F-1 I-20 pg. 2
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F-1 I-20 pg. 3
Employment Section
Travel Section
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DS-2019
SEVIS
Expiration Date
2-Year Home Residency Requirement Section
Travel Section
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What should I do to keep legal F-1 or J-1 status?

• Maintain a valid I-20/DS-2019
• Always be aware of the expiration date on your
  I-20 or DS-2019
• Any changes to your I-20 or DS-2019 must be
  reported to an International Student Adviser
  (ISA) in ISSS change of major, educational
  level, funding.
• Student I-20/DS-2019 Extension Form
• Maintain full-time enrollment each required
  semester and make normal progress towards
  completing your degree
• Undergraduate minimum of 12 credits per semester
• Graduate minimum of 9 credits per semester or
  according to your program
• Graduate students working on thesis enrolled in 0
  credit dissertation hours is considered full-time
  enrollment
• Non-Degree Exchange Student

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Exceptions to Full-Time Enrollment Requirement

• Academic Difficulty (limit 1 use per degree
  level)
• Initial difficulty with English
• Difficulty with reading requirements
• Unfamiliar with American teaching
  methods/Bonafide Academic Reason
• Improper course level placement
• Illness or medical condition (12 months total)
• Final semester
• Reduced course load Authorization Form

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What should I do to keep legal F-1 or J-1
status? Continued

• Do not work without proper employment
  authorization
• On-campus 20 hours per week while school is in
  session
• Off-campus must obtain authorization before
  engaged in employment
• F-1
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• J-1
• Academic Training (AT)
• Volunteering
• Keep passport valid at least 6 months into future
• Inform ISSS of address changes within 10 days of
  any move
• Maintain adequate health insurance

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Grace Periods

• Within 60 days for F-1 and 30 days for J-1
  students after completing program, must do one of
  the following
• Depart the U.S.
• Transfer to another program
• Apply for change of status
• Within 15 days after authorized withdrawals by an
  ISA, you must
• Depart the U.S. (no employment, no transfer
  allowed)
• Unauthorized Withdrawal or Termination
• No grace period
• Depart the U.S. immediately
• NOTE
• No employment allowed during any grace period.
• No travel outside the U.S. and U.S. reentry on
  the same I-20 or DS-2019.

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Travel

• You must have your I-20 (page 3) or DS-2019
  signed for travel before traveling outside the
  U.S.
• Signature is not required for travel within the
  U.S.
• Travel signature is valid for 6 months
• You must have a valid Visa and passport to
  reenter the U.S.

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Other Topics

• Consequences of not keeping legal status?
  Reinstatement
• If you fail to maintain legal F-1 or J-1 status,
  you are advised to apply for reinstatement.
• Consult an ISSS Adviser for details on how to
  apply.
• Dependents
• F-1 Dependents (F-2) cannot be degree seeking
  students or apply for employment
• J-1 Dependents (J-2) can be degree seeking
  students and apply for employment through USCIS
• I-20/DS-2019 must be signed for travel outside
  the U.S.
• J-1 2-year Home Residency Requirement
• Also applies to J-1 Dependents
• Health Insurance Waiver due 09/11/2010
• fsaATLAS Automatic e-mails
• ISSS e-mails

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Your Requirements

• Maintain a valid passport and I-20/DS-2019
• Obtain proper employment authorization before
  beginning any off-campus employment
• Do not work more than 20 hours on-campus while
  classes are in session.
• Maintain required medical insurance coverage
• Follow transfer procedures
• Obtain travel signature from ISSS before leaving
  the U.S.
• Inform ISSS of Change of Address within 10 days
  of any move.
• Special Registrants must adhere to exit reporting
• Your Status, Your Responsibility
• You are required to file Income Taxes (April)

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ISSS Information

• Office Hours Monday Friday 800-500
• Walk-In Hours Monday Friday 1000 1200
• 130 330
• Student Life Center
• 310 25th Avenue South, International Suite 103
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail isss_at_vanderbilt.edu
• Website www.vanderbilt.edu/isss

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ISSS Jeopardy
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FINAL JEOPARDY

• Name the documents neededfor reentry to the U.S.?

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• YOUR ANSWER PLEASE

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CORRECT ANSWER

• Valid Passport,
• Valid Visa,
• I-20 or DS-2019 signed for travel.

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U.S. Culture and Academics Agenda

• Its Okay to Say No
• Aspects of U.S. Culture
• U.S. Academics
• Safety On Campus

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Its Okay To Say No!

• Americans are direct! We do not consider it rude
  to be direct! Disagreement is not rude either!
• Telemarketers - www.donotcall.gov
• Do not give anyone your SSN or Credit Card number
  by telephone or email.
• Religion
• Begging
• Dating
• Drugs

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U.S. Culture - Friendship

• Busy, Busy!
• Many friends (who you might consider only an
  acquaintance)!
• Many activities!
• Americans are friendly! We smile a lot.
• Superficial?
• Hi, how are you?
• Meeting Americans
• There may be students in your classes who have
  never left the United States. They may be shy
  about talking to someone who speaks with an
  accent.
• You may need to approach them if you want to be
  friends.

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U.S. Culture - Independence

• The individual vs. The group
• We are responsible for our own futures.
• Self reliance is valued here.
• An adult is an 18 year old. Should be able to
  make ones own decisions, information is private.

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U.S. Culture - The American Work Ethic

• Americans value hard work and being busy.
• We walk fast and may be in too much of a hurry to
  chat.
• Most of the time we dont mean to be rude, were
  just really busy!!

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Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

• Many inequalities still exist in the U.S.
  regarding race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual
  orientation.
• HOWEVER efforts are being made by some to be more
  tolerant of all diversity in our country.
• Thus, sexist or racist remarks are considered
  intolerable in business and social settings. Even
  jokes! Be careful about what you say!
• On Vanderbilts campus, there is currently a big
  campaign to make our campus gay-friendly. Please
  be sensitive to this group of students and
  people. Dont be surprised is someone is open
  with you about their sexual orientation.

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U.S. Academics

• Syllabus
• Most important document in American classroom
• Due dates, professors name and contact
  information, grading policies
• Classroom Behavior
• Informal
• Discussion and debate
• Style of dress

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U.S. Academics

• Academic Misconduct (Cheating)
• Vanderbilts Student Handbook and Honor Code -
  http//www.vanderbilt.edu/student_handbook/
• Plagiarism
• Incorporating into one's own work the work or
  ideas of another without properly indicating that
  source (from the Vanderbilt Student Handbook)
• See examples in the Student Handbook
• Penalties can include academic dismissal

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U.S. Academics

• Missing Class
• Ask professor for policies may require a
  doctors note
• Often better to be late than skip class
• Participation
• May be included in your grade
• Answer questions when called on even to say I
  dont know
• Raise your hand and ask questions
• Grades
• 4.0 scale to calculate Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Graduate students maintain 3.0
• Undergraduate students maintain 2.0
• OAK system - http//www.vanderbilt.edu/oak/

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Feeling Stressed?

• Continue to go to class
• Talk to your professor
• Hire a tutor
• Schedule appointment with Writing Studio
• Make an appointment with the Psychological and
  Counseling Center
• Take time to enjoy your life and new experiences
  here

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Safety at Vanderbilt

• Vanderbilt and Nashville is generally a safe
  place to live, work and study. However, it never
  hurts to be cautious and aware of your
  surroundings.
• Safety at Home
• Safety on the Phone
• Safety when Walking
• Safety in your Car
• TN state law requires seatbelts to be worn at all
  times and that you have auto insurance.
• Texting while driving is illegal in TN
• Safety in Dating
• Safety in Drinking
• Legal drinking age in the U.S. is age 21

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Proper Use of 911

• Call 911 only for life threatening emergencies
• If you accidently dial 911 do not hang up. If
  you hang up the 911 operator is required to call
  you back. Instead stay on the line and tell the
  operator that you dialed the number by mistake.
• Locking your keys in your car is not a life
  threatening emergency instead you should call the
  police on their non-emergency line, 322-2745 or
  2-2745 if on campus.
• Emergency Posts are for emergencies only. Do not
  push the emergency button to ask the police a
  question or to ask for the walking escort
  service.

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Campus Partners Agenda

• International Tax Office
• Vanderbilt Police Department
• Psychological and Counseling Center
• Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity

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International Tax

• Vanderbilt International Services International
  Tax (VISIT) is responsible for providing
  immigration services and international tax
  services to Vanderbilts employees and
  non-employees receiving any type of payment. If
  you receive payment of any type from Vanderbilt
  --- fellowship, scholarship, stipend, wages or
  salary --- you will need to contact the
  International Tax Advisors on our International
  Tax Team.

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International Tax

• VISIT International Tax Team
• Location 1 2525 West End Ave, Suite 500,
  Nashville, TN
• Location 2 103 25th Ave., S., Nashville, TN
  (Student Life Center, International Suite)
• Ph [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-Mail nratax_at_vanderbilt.edu
•  
• Walk-In Hours (All Other Times by Appointment
  Only)
• Monday 930am - 1030am (Student Life Center
  only)
• Tuesday 130pm - 330pm (both locations)
• Wednesday 930am 1130am (both locations)