Attention all F-1 and J-1 students whose are completing their programs before in May or August, 2009.
(Look on #5 of your I-20 or #3 of your DS-2019) Some of this information may apply to students who were given more time than was needed for their programs and are completing their programs in May or August, 2009.
For F-1 students, more information is available below.
For J-1 students, more information is available below after the F-1 information. Contact your International Student Advisor for more information (Ursula Spitzer: Master’s and Doctoral level students in the Candler School of Theology and all undergraduate students, including those in the School of Nursing and the Goizueta Business School; Angela Guinyard: All Master’s and Doctoral level students in Emory’s professional schools, including Goizueta Business School, the School of Law, Rollins School of Public Health, School of Nursing, School of Medicine/Allied Health, and the Graduate School).
ALSO, if you are completing your program in May or August, but your I-20 (F-1s) or DS-2019 (J-1s) has a later completion date, we will need to “shorten” your program to reflect the correct end date. All of the program-ending information for F-1 or J-1 students in this article will then apply to you as well.
**F-1 STUDENTS: EXTREMELY IMPORTANT REMINDER!**
ATTENTION F-1 STUDENTS: If you are receiving this e-mail notification, it is because the end date of your current F-1 I-20/visa status will expire on May 15, 2009 or by August 31, 2009 (check the actual end date in #5 on your current I-20 for the exact date). We have no record that you have extended your program or applied for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Please respond to this e-mail as soon as possible so that we make sure that you do not fall out of status and/or be terminated in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SEVIS system. Please update your International Student Advisor as soon as possible and remember to take action *by April 15, 2009.*
>> Please respond to this e-mail and tell your advisor which of the following is your situation:
A) NO EXTENSION NEEDED. I am completing my program in May, or August 2009, and will return home, transfer to a new program or school or otherwise change my F-1 status.
**Remember that F-1 students have a 60-day grace period from the end date of the I-20 in which to vacate the United States, transfer or otherwise change their status.**
Please indicate whether you are 1. transferring to a new program at Emory or to a new school, 2. changing your immigration status or 3. exiting the U.S. within 60 days of the end date of your current I-20.
**Please also note that, even if you are completing your program and transferring, changing your status or exiting the U.S., if you are completing your program earlier than the end date on #5 of your I-20, you will need to do a “shorten program” procedure so that your record in SEVIS will be accurate. This involves bringing a letter from your academic advisor or DGS that states that you are completing your program including the new date of expected completion.**
B) PROGRAM EXTENSION NEEDED. I need to extend my program beyond the May, 2009 (or August 2009) end date in #5 of my I-20. Please visit the ISSP website for further instructions (http://www.emory.edu/ISSP/students/f1/extension.htm) on this procedure. You will need to complete the program extension BEFORE your current I-20 end date is reached. If you fail to do so, you will be out of status! This means that you cannot wait until the day before your I-20 expires to do an extension. After completing the paperwork required, please make an appointment with your advisor to finish the extension *before April 15, 2009*.
FINANCIALS FOR EXTENTIONS-- You will need to show how you will be funded for the period of time you are requesting an extension. Please show how you are funding your extended stay (which includes fees and living expenses), based on your extension situation. Please see your advisor for the exact amount you will need to show in order to process the program extension.
C) I WANT TO APPLY FOR OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT). I plan to apply for Optional Practical Training.
REMEMBER: Your application for OPT *must* be received by USCIS *before* the end date of your I-20 (Cost: $340). This means that the application must be mailed off at least by May 1st. You are not allowed to apply after that end date and will forfeit all of your OPT time. The purpose of OPT is to allow you to work in the United States for 12 months in your field of study. It also gives you a legal means of staying in the U.S. for 12 months.
You may read more about OPT at the following website:
http://www.emory.edu/ISSP/students/f1/opt.htm
Also, you must attend an OPT workshop (held weekly--consult ISSP calendar (http://www.emory.edu/ISSP/students/f1/optschedule.htm) before submitting your OPT application. You do not need to sign up for a workshop, you can just show up to the ISSP office at least 10 minutes before the slated workshop. (located in Suite 130 of the North Decatur Building at 1784 N. Decatur Road.)
Please respond immediately!! All extensions or applications for OPT should be completed by April 15, 2009!! If you have further questions regarding your status, please contact your advisor at ISSP at 404-727-3300 or via e-mail (Ursula.Spitzer@emory.edu; Angela.Guinyard@emory.edu;
**J-1 STUDENTS: EXTREMELY IMPORTANT REMINDER!**
ATTENTION J-1 STUDENTS: If you are receiving this e-mail notification, it is because the end date of your current J-1 DS-2019/visa status will expire on May 15, 2009 or by August 31, 2009 (check the actual end date in #3 on your current DS-2019 for the exact date). We have no record that you have extended your program or applied for post-completion AcademicTraining (AT).
Please respond to this e-mail as soon as possible so that we make sure that you do not fall out of status and/or be terminated in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SEVIS system. Please update your International Student Advisor as soon as possible and remember to take action *by April 15, 2009.*
>> Please respond to this e-mail and tell your advisor which of the following is your situation:
A) NO EXTENSION NEEDED. I am completing my program in May, or August 2009, and will return home, transfer to a new program or school or otherwise change my J-1 status.
**Remember that J-1 students have a 30-day grace period from the end date of the DS-2019 in which to vacate the United States, transfer or otherwise change their status.**
Please indicate whether you are 1. transferring to a new program at Emory or to a new school, 2. changing your immigration status or 3. exiting the U.S. within 30 days of the end date of your current DS-2019.
**Please also note that, even if you are completing your program and transferring, changing your status or exiting the U.S., if you are completing your program earlier than the end date on #3 of your DS-2019, you will need to do a “shorten program” procedure so that your record in SEVIS will be accurate. This involves bringing a letter from your academic advisor or DGS that states that you are completing your program including the new date of expected completion.**
B) PROGRAM EXTENSION NEEDED. I need to extend my program beyond the May, 2009 (or August 2009) end date in #3 of my DS-2019. Please visit the ISSP website for further instructions (http://www.emory.edu/ISSP/students/j1/extension.htm) on this procedure. You will need to complete the program extension BEFORE your current DS-2019 end date is reached. If you fail to do so, you will be out of status! This means that you cannot wait until the day before your DS-2019 expires to do an extension. After completing the paperwork required, please make an appointment with your advisor to finish the extension *before April 15, 2009*.
FINANCIALS FOR EXTENSTIONS--You will need to show how you will be funded for the period of time you are requesting an extension. Please show how you are funding your extended stay (which includes fees and living expenses), based on your extension situation. Please see your advisor for the exact amount you will need to show in order to process the program extension.
C) I WANT TO APPLY FOR ACADEMIC TRAINING (AT). I plan to apply for Academic Training.
REMEMBER: Your application for AT *must* be received an processed by ISSP *before* the end date of your DS-2019. You are not allowed to apply after that end date and will forfeit all of your AT time. The purpose of AT is to allow you to work in the United States for up to18 months (up to 36 months for post-doctoral students) in your field of study. It also gives you a legal means of staying in the U.S. for up to 18 (or 36) months.
You may read more about AT at the following website:
http://www.emory.edu/ISSP/students/j1/acad.htm
Please consult your ISSP International Student Advisor (Ursula Spitzer: All undergraduate students; Graduate Students in the Candler School of Theology; Angela Guinyard: All Graduate Professional School students; All students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences). Remember we are located in Suite 130 of the North Decatur Building at 1784 N. Decatur Road.
Please respond immediately!! All extensions or applications for AT should be completed by April 15, 2009!! If you have further questions regarding your status, please contact your advisor at ISSP at 404-727-3300 or via e-mail (Ursula.Spitzer@emory.edu; Angela.Guinyard@emory.edu)
