[Intl-stu] updates regarding letter requests

[International Students]

Brenda and I recently attended a conference for international advisors
and the Department of State conducted a workshop to update us on recent
changes.  Please see below.  

 

Visa Renewal Letter

Students who travel outside the U.S. and need to renew their visa are no
longer required to have a letter from the ISSO or the university
confirming their current enrollment.  The Department of State has
advised that a copy of an official or unofficial transcript is
sufficient.  For more information on how to receive a copy of your
official or unofficial transcript please go to
http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/admissions/registrar/transcript/default.asp
x.  For a list of other required documents for a visa renewal please
visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html.  

 

Family member letters to attend graduation or visit

This semester we have had a very high volume of request for letters for
family members to attend graduation.  Recently I contacted the U.S.
Consulates in a number of countries to confirm the necessity of a letter
from an international student advisor or university official.  Some
consulates replied back that a letter was not necessary and others
replied that a letter MAY be necessary but it can be from the F-1
student and does not have to be from a university official.  I confirmed
this information at our recent conference.  

 

Given this new information, the ISSO will continue to issue letters for
family members to attend graduation but we will only issue letters for
immediate family members (mother, father, brother, sister).   If
students wish to invite other family members (aunt, uncle, cousin) or
friends then they are encouraged to issue a letter for the visa
interview inviting these family members or friends.  

 

Reminder for driver's license

Just a reminder that most driver's licenses offices in Texas will
require a verification of enrollment letter from the university to renew
or be issued a driver's license or state ID.  The ISSO or the
Registrar's office
(http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/admissions/registrar/documents/verificatio
n.pdf) will issue these letters.  Greenville, TX driver's license office
(Department of Public Safety) only requires your student ID along with
all of your immigration documents.  

 

Also, most driver's license are issued in one year increments and your
I-20 must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you are
applying for a driver's license/renewal or you will be denied.  Students
on OPT or who have applied for OPT will be required to provide their EAD
card or they may be denied.  

 

To make a request to the ISSO for a letter, to update your change of
address for immigration, or for any other type of request you may use
our online request form at
http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/forms.asp.    

 

John Mark Jones, Director

International Student Services

Texas A&M University-Commerce

PO Box 3011

Commerce TX 75429

(P) 903-886-5097

(F) 903-468-3200

 

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