The International Student Newsletter

The International Student Newsletter April 2003

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS University of Puget Sound (253) 879-3652

Best wishes to all those who are graduating or moving on from UPS! We always enjoy receiving news of your adventures through e-mail or regular mail, and remember, you’re always welcome at the Office of International Programs whenever you visit!! -Sally

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOODBYE INS/BCIS INFO CORNER As the end of the year approaches, it’s time to say adieu to those international students who are leaving Puget Sound at the end of SEVIS I-20s and Summer Travel: the year. We’ve issued new SEVIS I-20s for all International Students who will be continuing their studies at UPS beyond Congratulations to our graduating August 1, 2003. Please stop by the office to sign seniors: and pickup this form and keep it with your passport and visa. Lucie Cerna Edgar Lee Julia Sennikovski If you will be traveling within the U.S. or internationally, We also say goodbye to our exchange remember that you must carry your passport, SEVIS I-20, and students: have a valid visa in your passport. The SEVIS I-20 will be used to electronically verify your status. You should also carry Oliver Koeppen Passau proof of enrollment (available from the Registrar’s Office) with Catherine Kropp Griffith your passport to show that you are registered for classes for fall Graham Norman Aberystwyth semester 2003. If you have attended previous schools in the Julia Pfaffinger Passau U.S., you must also carry all previous I-20s issued to you. Ian Tipton Aberystwyth Tony Sanchez de la Torre Maastricht If you are renewing your visa this summer, contact Sally for a Rachel Smith Aberdeen list of the documents you need to bring with you.

We’ve enjoyed having all of you at Puget Sound, and wish you BCIS/INS: all the best! Keep in touch On the 1st of March, 2003, the Department of Immigration and with OIP – we’d love to Naturalization was reorganized into three new divisions under hear from you down the the Department of Homeland Security. The Bureau of road! Citizenship and Immigration Service (BCIS) will be the branch handling visas.

INTERNATIONAL CLUB The club has been busy this Spring with an eventful ski trip to Summer Work Snoqualamie Pass, and enjoyable international films and meals together. Other meetings have included decorating and hunting for Easter eggs and hula lessons in preparation for the Spring Family Weekend Lu’au. The final event for the year will be the If you’re an F-1 student who will be continuing at Puget Sound Diversity Center BBQ, Wednesday May 7 from 4:30 – 6:40. If in the fall, you can work up to 40 hours/week on campus at you would like to get involved with the International Club, UPS. As always, any work off campus requires authorization they’ll be meeting again in the fall semester. New officer from the Office of International Programs and/or from the elections will be held in September. BCIS/INS. Questions about employment? Contact Sally at x2871. This is not a service that International Programs can perform for you, so please don’t forget to do this before you leave!

OF SPECIAL INTEREST Leavin’ Town? Allison Mizushima, president of the International Club will be spending the summer immersed in a Chinese language training Intensive at Tunghai University in Taiwan. summer,

If you’re an F-1 student who is graduating, and not applying for Eri Sakai, has been having wonderful adventures on her Study OPT or graduate school, you have 60 days to depart the U.S. Abroad Semester in Taiwan. She then intends to study at Sophia after graduation. If you’re a J-1 student who will not be doing University in Tokyo during the summer. Academic Training, you have 30 days to depart the U.S. If you plan on traveling in the U.S. this summer for longer than 30 Catherine Kropp, will be welcoming her parents from days, please contact Sally at x2871. Australia for Parent’s Weekend then joining them on a tour of the US followed by stops in London and Spain before returning to Australia. EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES Spring and summer are perfect season for getting out and enjoying the great outdoors in the Pacific Northwest. If you’re sticking around this summer, take a ferry ride, go for a HAPPY BIRTHDAY day hike, walk along the beach, attend an outdoor concert, or The Office of International Programs sends out birthday wishes just relax and enjoy the sun! to the following students who will celebrate their birthdays in April, May or June: Web Link Oliver Koeppen April 13 For information on activities in the South Sound region, visit Ian Tipton April 16 http://www.entertainlinks.com. Pei-Ju Chien April 19 Edgar Lee May 9 The Great American Past-time Graham Norman June 2 No need to drive to Seattle to catch a ball game! Tacoma’s Yuri Miyamuri June 3 own Rainiers play right here in town at Cheney Stadium. For Chin-Lin Ku June 5 schedule information and tickets, call (253) 752-7700. Rachel Smith June 7 Hoshina Matsumoto June 22 Farmer’s Market Each Thursday from June 5-October 16, you can enjoy a farmer’s market in downtown Tacoma on Broadway, between 9th and 11th. Great food, crafts and entertainment! LENDING CLOSET Do you have any items that you borrowed from our lending Independence Day th closet? If so, please return them to the Office of International Celebrate America’s Independence Day on July 4 ! You can Programs before you leave campus. The Office is open Monday see a fantastic display of fireworks in Tacoma over – Friday, 8:30-12, 1-4:30. Do you have household items that Commencement Bay. Fireworks start at dusk – times are th you have accumulated while here but don’t want to take home printed in the paper nearer to the 4 of July. with you? If so, please donate them to our lending closet! Future exchange students will be grateful! Have a great summer! TRANSCRIPTS If you are an exchange student, remember to request an official copy of your Puget Sound transcript for your home university. Stop by the Office of the Registrar on the ground floor of Jones Hall to submit your request. It will cost you $3.00, and your request must be made in person or in writing. You might want to order an extra copy or two for yourself, as well. Make sure when you order your transcript that you request it be sent AFTER grades have been posted for spring semester 2001.