International Center

May International Student Bulletin

Important updates for F and J student visa holders

May 15, 2012

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

• International student news
• International student workshops
• MU and Community Announcements

International student news

Congratulations! On behalf of the International Center, we want to wish all the May 2012 graduates congratulations and the best of luck! We hope that you will keep in touch with us as you begin your new journeys from here.

If you are completing your program, please make sure that you consider the following items:

• Complete an Exit Form to let us know your forwarding address and what you plan to do. Remember that F-1 students have a 60 day grace period and J-1 students have a 30 day grace period after completing their academic programs.
• If you plan to transfer to a new school for a new academic program, you should fill out and submit the Transfer Request Form to the International Center, along with a copy of your acceptance letter.
• If you would like to start OPT this summer, you can apply now! 
  • Check out the OPT section of the International Center website.
  • Attend a mandatory OPT workshop (schedule included below)
  • Once you have completed both of these steps, you may schedule an appointment with an international student adviser to discuss OPT.

Summer Employment. If you are an F-1 or J-1 student and are planning to work in the U.S. this summer, please review the information provided below.

• On-campus - If you intend to enroll in the fall 2012 semester, you may work over 20 hours per week on-campus during the summer break if you’d like. If you are an F-1 student, you do not need special authorization for on-campus employment.  If you are a J-1 student, please contact an adviser for more information about on-campus work authorization (learn more)
• Off-campus - You may apply for authorization to work (paid or unpaid) off-campus in your field of study during the summer break if you have been enrolled for at least one academic year.  You must apply for work authorization prior to beginning employment.
  F visa holders: Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
  J visa holders: Academic Training

Orientation Volunteers – Fall 2012. Orientation for new international students is coming up on August 13, and we would love to invite you to join us in welcoming the new students to campus! Volunteers can help with a variety of things during Orientation to make the transition for new students easier, and you can get involved by signing up online. Contact Callie Fleming (FlemingCJ@missouri.edu) with questions.

Travel Signatures.  If you plan to travel outside the U.S. during summer break, remember that Customs and Border Protection requires students to present an I-20 or DS-2019 with a current travel signature upon their return to the U.S.  The signature is considered current if it has been signed within the past 6 months of your return to the U.S.  We know this is a busy time of year for you, so we wanted to send out a reminder and ask you to come during our walk-in advising hours to get the signature:

• Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m.–noon, 1:30–4 p.m.
• Friday: 1:30-3:30 p.m. 

Summer Cultural Excursion. We invite you to join us for a cultural excursion to Hannibal, Missouri during the summer semester. On Friday, June 8th, the International Center will take a group of international students to Hannibal for an all-day excursion. Come with us as we visit two of Missouri’s National Landmarks: The Mark Twain Cave Complex and Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home and Museum. Become more acclimated and familiar with American culture, attractions, and life. This event includes meeting other international students from Washington University for a fun joint excursion! Transportation is provided. Total cost is $22 per student. How do you sign up? Come to the International Center, bring your $22, and put your name on the “Hannibal Excursion" list. Only the first 20 students to sign up will be eligible to go!

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 3-4 p.m. (May 17, May 31)
• Wednesdays, from 10–11 a.m. (May 23)

MU and community announcements

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 11:00 am and will be shuttling back and forth until 2:00pm, starting Sunday March 11th. 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.

Experience Amazing Thailand! – Become a Global Ambassador.  Brighter Thailand Foundation is forming a team of 6 Global Ambassadors, who will be paired with 6 Thai Ambassadors, to work at youth leadership camps in Thailand for one month in October 2012 (Oct 4 - Nov 5). In addition to the amazing time spent working with kids during the camps, there will be professional development opportunities, home stay visits, and cultural excursions for the team – providing the chance to experience Thailand in a way that most visitors never imagine. This is the perfect opportunity for recent graduates or students with a flexible schedule who want to gain valuable experience abroad.  http://gap.brighterthailand.org.