IMMIGRATION UPDATE

BUREOU OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES
Immigration and Naturalization Service as an agency of the U.S. government no longer exist as of March 1, 2003. Now, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken over INS. The new Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services branch of the DHS, can be accessed via the internet at http://www.immigration.gov/.

FILING FEES PRICES GO BACK-UP
Although the filing fees for many INS forms, including the I-765 for OPT were recently decreased, ALL filing fees went back-up in price to what they used to be. If you are planning on applying for OPT, expect to pay $120 for your application. To see all the filing fees, click here.

SPRING BREAK TRAVEL
Are you traveling outside the USA for Spring Break? If so, you MUST have your I-20 singed before you leave the U.S. At this point, if you are leaving the U.S. for spring break and do not have any changes in your I-20, you will not need a new SEVIS I-20. However, if there are any changes, you need to get a new SEVIS I-20. You might also want to check the Department of State web site for travel warnings if you are planning on visiting other countries.

GRADUATION PLANS
Graduating in June? If so, please remember that you have 60 days from June 13, 2003 to either a) go home, b) request a new I-20 for a new program at LSU, or c) get a new I-20 from a different institution if you are planning on transferring out.

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING
If you would like to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), you must apply BEFORE classes are over or June 13, 2003. Please contact our office as soon as possible if you would like to get more information about OPT. Currently, Immigration is taking a VERY LONG time to do the OPT cards, so you must apply as soon as possible if you like to get your card at the end of June.

GOT AN F IN A CLASS? YOU MIGHT BE "OUT-OF-STATUS"
According to the latest interpreation of the new regulations by the Los Angeles District Office, if you receive a letter grade of an "F" in any of your classes, you have not succesfully completed that course of study. Therefore, if you were taking 12 units and get an F in one 4-unit class, you are out-of-status! Even though we are still trying to determine if this will be the final interpretation, we highly encourage you not to get any F's!

OTHER STUFF

INCOME TAXES ARE DUE APRIL 15!
All students who have resided in the US during 2002 should file for taxes, whether they have worked or not all students who worked during 2002 MUST file for taxes before April 15, 2003. NO EXCEPTIONS! Because filing taxes is complicated, we recommend you use an accountant or a tax processing service. We recommend that stop by the OISS and pick up a "Tax Check List" to see what you need to file your taxes. We can also recommend someone to prepare them for you for only $25!

INSURANCE CARDS
Your insurance cards are here. Please stop by our office to pick up your card. You never know when you'll need to go to the hospital or emergency room!

fsaATLAS
The Office of International Student Services is pleased to announce that we are almost ready to fully implement fsaATLAS, our new state-of-the-art database for international student services. "With this new database, we will be able to better serve our students," said Natan Vigna, International Student Services Coordinator. "We'll be able to notify students when they visas and passports expire, when their I-20 are about to expire, keep appointments, and much more! The database is also SEVIS compliant and will be fully implemented shortly.

www.music-scores.com
If you play music, we are willing to bet that at least once you wanted to play something that you did not have the score for and did not know where to get it from. Guess what? Now you can find music scores fast and get them for free!

<< Go to the Web site>>

exchanges.state.gov
You are an international student, but how much do you know about the world? Take this quiz and find out!

<< Go to the Web site>>

www.nytimes.com/pages/books/review/
Reading is one of the best activities one can do--it allows you to explore new worlds, talk to famous people, be in the middle of the action of a war, or just fall in love with someone from the comfort of your house. The New York Times Books Reviews is the place to find that perfect book to read.

<< Go to the Web site>>

Registration for Spring Quarter Begins Mar. 3. Talk to your advisor and sign up for classes!

Dead Week : Mar. 10 - 14. Study hard. Get good grades. Enjoy life!

Finals Week : Mar. 17 - 20. Good Luck with all your finals. Free breakfast everyday from 7:30-9:30am in the Campus Mall.

Saint Patrick's Day: Mar. 17. Wear green or else… you'll get pinched! (See above)

Spring Break: Mar. 21 - 30. Have fun. Be safe, and don't travel outside the U.S. if at all possible!

Last Day to Register for Spring Quarter 2003: Mar. 28.

Classes Start: Monday, Mar. 31.

DO YOU KNOW THIS PERSON?


Dwight Barrett
Born in Jamaica almost 28 years ago, Dwight came to La Sierra University in 2000 to pursue a masters degree in Education. After successfully completing his master's in 2002, Dwight is now working towards his Ed.S. degree, also from the school of Education. He would like to be a school administrator.

Currently, Dwight works as a Graduate Dean in Gladwyn Hall, where he assists residents and makes sure that everyone is taken care of and enjoys their stay in the building.

Dwight enjoys playing tennis, driving cars, going to car shows, watching TV, and spending time with friends. Unfortunately, he's already taken–sorry girls. He's got a girlfriend already. He is a Lakers fan and would do anything to get a ticket. Don't believe us? Just ask him what he'll do to go to a Laker's game!

"Sky is the limit," he says with a big smile. And for him it is. If you would like to get to know him better or hear his story as an international student at LSU, you can find him in Gladwyn Hall. His campus extension is x2498.

You can email Dean Barrett!

LAST MINUTE ISSUES

SEVIS Biosheet:
If you have not fill out a SEVIS Biosheet yet, please do so as soon as possible. We need that information to submit it to SEVIS. To download the biosheet, click here.

Bear Mountain/Snow Summit Tickets:
If you'd like to go skiing or snowboarding, you can avoid the lines and save some money by buying your tickets in the office of Student Life. Tickets are good in both mountains and are only $38 ea. for an all-day pass. You can also now buy a season pass for this and next season for only $299!!
Bearmountainresorts.com

Disclaimer: You have received this email because you submitted your email address to the La Sierra University Office of International Student Services when you registered. If you are no longer a student at La Sierra University, you may be removed from this list by sending an email to oiss@lasierra.edu.