WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER THE HOLIDAY BREAK?
WE HAVE FREE TICKETS TO FOUR BASKETBALL GAMES. The Office of International Programs has obtained free tickets to the follwing basketball games:
December 18, 2000 7:00pm Tad Smith Coliseum [Men's game]; December 30, 2000 2:00pm Tad Smith Coliseum [Men's game]; December 31, 2000 2:00pm Tad Smith Coliseum [Women's game]; January 21, 2001 2:00pm Tad Smith Coliseum [Women's game]. If you would like to go to any of these games, please meet Susanne Young, International Student Advisor, 30 minutes before each game begins outside the Coliseum and in front of Gate 7. Or, contact Susanne at 915-7404 or sbyoung1@olemiss.edu for more information. HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US!!!!
International Student Scholarships, Grants and Other Financial Aid Sources
To all international students: Go to the following web address for information on scholarships, grants and other financial aid sources for international sources: www.isoa.org
International Students and Scholars Orientation
January 4, 2001 Barnard Observatory
AGENDA
I. Welcome [8:30am]
II. Meet the Staff
III. Cultural Pursuit a. Game/ Ice-breaker
IV. Health Insurance a. Enrollment b. Terminology
V. Immigration a. Transfers b. Basics
VI. Guest Speakers
VII. Break Exhibits/Food (International Student Organizations can set up tables in the Union, providing information for new international students)
VIII. Employment
IX. Planet Partners
X. Question and Answer
XI. Lunch Johnson Commons Cafeteria
XII. English Placement Exam [1:00pm]
Intensive English Move
The Intensive English Program will be moving its offices to Hill Hall sometime in January. The move has been implemented in order to put the classroom and administrative spaces under one roof. The instructors and the coordinator will then be in a position to be more involved with the students outside of class time and be able to address questions and concerns much more efficiently. Coordination of the Conversation Partner program and administration of the SPEAK test for international teaching assistants will also move to Hill Hall at that time.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year will be January 24, 2001. This will be the first day in the Year of the Snake. For more information check out these web sites:
Martin Luther King Day Holiday
Each year on the third Monday of January schools, federal offices, post office and banks across America close for Martin Luther King Day. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is noted for his pursuit of the freedom, equality, and dignity of all races and peoples through nonviolence. Dr. King believed that poverty caused much of the unrest in America. Not only poverty for blacks, but poor whites, Hispanics and Asians. Dr. King believed that the United States involvement in Vietnam was also a factor and that the war poisoned the atmosphere of the whole country and made the solution of local problems of human relations unrealistic. Dr. King was shot and killed on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, TN.
Health Insurance Claim(s) and Question(s)
Many of your questions and / or problems regarding your health insurance claim(s) may be answered and / or resolved with a telephone contact to Susanne Young, International Student Advisor at 915-7404, email: sbyoung1@olemiss.edu. Insurance For Your Dependents Enrollment forms are available for dependent health insurance coverage. Eligible dependents include your husband/ wife and children who are under age 21. Medical bills can be very expensive in the United States. It is strongly recommended that your dependents have health insurance. It is required if they are here in J-2 status. Come to the Office of International Programs to get forms or to ask questions. For questions about the International Student & Scholar Health Insurance Plan contact: Susanne Young, International Student Advisor at 915-7404, email: sbyoung1@olemiss.edu
New Legislation H-1B changes
On October 17, 2000, President Clinton signed into law legislation that affects H-1B workers. Some of the important changes include increased quota for new H-1B petitions to 195,000 per year for fiscal years 2001, 2002 and 2003. Workers hired by higher education institutions and related/affiliated nonprofit entities and nonprofit and governmental research institutions will be exempt from the annual H-1B limit. Some workers will be able to extend H-1B status beyond the normal six year limit. Persons in valid H-1B status who wish to change employers will no longer have to wait until the second petition is approved before beginning work with the second employer, but will only need to wait until the second petition is filed.
Permanent Residency Change
In the same legislation that affected H-1B workers, is a change that applies to those who have filed an adjustment of status application. If the adjustment of status application has been pending for 180 days or more, a person can change jobs and/or employers if the new job is in the same or a similar occupational classification as the one for which the petition was originally filed.
To view the complete text, see this website:
http://www.shusterman.com/s2045txt.html
Optional Practical Training (OPT) Application Process
Any students graduating by the end of the Fall 2000 semester and wishing to apply for optional practical training are encouraged to visit the Office of International Programs to receive an OPT application and watch the mandatory video. Please gather all OPT application materials listed on page one (1) of the "Optional Practical Training" application packet (i.e., photos, recommendation from advisor, transcripts, $100 money order, etc.) before scheduling an in-person appointment with Susanne Young, International Student Advisor at 915-7404, email: sbyoung1@olemiss.edu.
INS Hotline
The INS has a hotline, 1-800-375-5283, for information on immigration benefits and services. The centralized telphone information service, part of the INS's National Customer Service Center (NCSC) initiative, is intended to help people avoid visits to INS offices, and it is also expected to allow local offices to focus on and improve services that can only be provided locally. The menu of options provides basic eligibility and how-to information and the ability to order forms. People requiring additional information are transferred to customer service representatives, and more complex inquires are then forwarded to INS information officers. The INS plans to add, during the next two years, 800 services such as checking the status of pending applications, reporting address changes and rescheduling fingerprinting and interview appointments.
Social Security Card Application Process
Applications are available in the Office of International Programs. Representatives from the Social Security Administration will be at the Oxford City Hall on the Oxford Square every 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month. You need to bring a complete application form, your I-20 or IAP-66, and your passport. Application forms are available in the office. A lot of your social security problems can be solved over the phone. Please contact the Social Security Administration office in Tupelo, Mississippi with any questions and/or concerns by phone (662) 842-6582 or fax (662) 841 2895.
Sports!!! Click on the links below to see schedules.
Planet Partners-A CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM
The Office of International Programs is offering you a chance to become involved in Planet Partners, formerly World Without Borders. By participating in Planet Partners you will be able to join an American family or student in various fun activities [football games, dinner or lunch, shopping, movies, theater, trips to Memphis, and much more] at least once a month. Planet Partners also gives Americans a chance to learn about your culture. There are many American families wanting to get involved with the international community. We think this will be a fun way to get to know more about American culture. Let Susanne Young, the International Student Advisor, know soon if you are interested or if you know of someone else who is interested in becoming a part of Planet Partners.
You can call Susanne at 915-7404 or email her at sbyoung1@olemiss.edu.
International Student and Scholar Listserv Subscribe/Unsubscribe
This list serv will help you stay informed of special programs and key issues specific to the international student and scholar community at the University of Mississippi. The Office of International Programs strongly urges you to subscribe. If you have any questions, please contact Shannon Sumrall at 915-7404 or ssumrall@olemiss.edu
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the international listserv
send an email to: md@listserv.olemiss.edu
leave the SUBJECT field blank
in the BODY of the message type:
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This site designed and maintained by Shannon Sumrall.
Site updated December 15, 2000.
