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May 22, 2013

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Aug. 12, 2013

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Home / News & Features / News & Announcements / March International Student Bulletin

March International Student Bulletin

Important updates for F and J student visa holders

March 8, 2012

Please take a few minutes to read the updates and announcements below for F and J student visa holders. 

International student news

Student Services Progress Report. The MU International Center is pleased to make a progress report of key student service enhancements as a result of the new international student services fee which went into effect last summer 2011 semester. With MU's international student enrollment climbing 33% over the past five years and a 13% increase in the last year alone, these enhancements are critical to meeting the demands of institutional compliance with federal regulations while ensuring professional immigration advising and document services to over 2,196 international students at MU. We continue to welcome your input, comments and ideas on our services and programs!

Fall 2012 Grant-in-Aid. Information and applications for the fall 2012 MU Curator's Grant-in-Aid (GIA) Scholarship program are now available. The GIA scholarship is an award program that provides partial waivers of educational fees for eligible undergraduate and graduate international students pursuing degrees at MU. The award is based both on academic merit and financial need. MU international students must have completed two regular semesters at the time of the application deadline. The deadline for the fall 2012 award is 5 p.m. on Monday, April 2.

Deadline for Taxes is April 17. Please visit the Non-resident Alien Taxation website to learn information about filing your tax return forms and for Non-resident Alien Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (NRA VITA) coming up this spring. All those who receive U.S. income are usually required to file tax returns. If you need help preparing your returns, you may be eligible to receive free tax return preparation through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (NRA VITA) Program. This service is available on a walk-in basis and is open from Monday-Friday the weeks of March 19-23 and April 9-13 in the Arts and Science Building computer lab (room 10) from 1-6 p.m.

SPRING BREAK! If you are making plans for spring and summer travel outside the U.S., please make sure you have a current travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019. We suggest a travel signature every six months. Please feel free to stop in during one of our advising times to have your I-20 signed. Visit our website for additional tips on travel.

  • U.S. visas - Some countries are experiencing longer processing times for U.S. visas. If you need to renew your visa while you are abroad, please make sure to plan ahead by obtaining your appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate as early as possible.

Reminder about Residential Halls and Dining Services. We would like to remind students living in the on-campus residence halls that some of the halls close over spring break (March 24-March 31, 2012). Defoe-Graham, Dogwood, Galena, Hawthorn, South, True Scholars House, and Tiger Diggs remain open through the break. If you live on-campus and do not live in one of the halls that remain open over the break, please start making arrangements as soon as possible. All students living on-campus should also be reminded that the dining halls will close after dinner on Friday, March 23 and meals will resume in the morning of Monday, April 2.  Please plan ahead for these closures.

Tornado Awareness. Be ready for and aware of tornadoes during this season by watching the weather and listening to the radio. Know the difference between a tornado WATCH (when tornadoes are possible in the area) and a tornado WARNING (when a tornado has been sighted in the area). Find out more about tornadoes and what to do in the event of a tornado by visiting the City of Columbia’s website.  You can also learn more by completing the online training module from MU Environmental Health and Safety.

International student workshops

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Workshops. All F-1 students interested in applying for OPT work authorization are required to attend one of the upcoming mandatory OPT workshops. Workshops are scheduled once a week and will take place at the International Center. Participants will learn about the benefits of OPT and how to apply.
  • Thursdays, from 4-5 p.m. (March 8, March 22, April 5, April 19, May 3, May 17, May 31)
  • Wednesdays, from 10–11 a.m. (March 14, March 28, April 11, April 25, May 9, May 23)

MU and community announcements

Multicultural Hour (MCH). Hosted by the Asian Affairs Center, this is a weekly informal discussion where international students and visiting scholars are invited to interact with Americans.  Join us every Thursday in Memorial Union S204 from 4-5 p.m. Find us on Facebook at Multicultural Hour. The MCH event Schedule for March:

3/8 - International Business: Opportunity & Threat
3/15 - St. Patrick’s Day
3/22 - Risk Management: about Insurance

Need a ride to Wal-Mart? We are Missio Dei, a newly established campus ministry at Mizzou. We have been discussing different ways to do community outreach and have decided to assist the needs of international students on the campus! We will be providing free rides for international students to Wal-Mart on Sundays. We will depart from Memorial Union at 11 a.m. and will be shuttling back and forth until 2 p.m., starting Sunday, March 11. We are looking forward to assisting you and getting to know you better! If you have any questions please email Jacob Pollard at jwprh7@mail.missouri.edu.