[Intl-stu] Traveling outside the U.S. over Thanksgiving and Christmas break

[International Students]

Are you traveling outside the U.S. during the Christmas break?  Are you
planning on returning by the start date of the spring semester (January
17, 2012)?  

 

If you are traveling outside the U.S. this Thanksgiving or Christmas
break and will miss class(s) because of your travels please be aware of
the following and plan to arrive back in the U.S. by the beginning of
the spring semester (January 17, 2012):

 

*        Over the past two semesters the ISSO has seen an increase in
students being detained at the port of entry when they return to the
U.S. after the start of the semester.  In some cases, the port of entry
has called the ISSO staff during non-business hours trying to verify the
status of a student so they can enter the U.S.  If a student chooses to
arrive after the start of the semester there is a chance the student
will be detained by port of entry.  If the port of entry officer is
unable to verify the student's status that student's entry into the U.S.
can be rejected and he/she can be sent home.  

 

*        Some academic departments are becoming less tolerant of
students who chose to arrive after the start of the semester and miss
class(s).  Earlier this semester we had instructors in one academic
major who seriously considered dropping students from their classes
because they arrived late for the start of the semester and missed
class(s).  If a student is dropped from a class for excessive absences
this may lead to visa status issues.  

 

*        Some of the College of Business majors are moving from 16-week
classes to 8-week classes this spring and this will mean that these
classes will not meet as often and attendance at each class meeting will
be that much more important.  The dean of the College of Business has
indicated there will be less tolerance for students who arrive late in
the U.S. dance and miss class(s) and the dean has also instructed the
instructors in Business majors to no longer write letters granting
permission to arrive late.   

 

If you plan on traveling outside the U.S. this Thanksgiving break and/or
over the Christmas break and will miss class(s) due to your travels
please note there is a greater risk of this jeopardizing your visa
status.  

 

PLAN TO ARRIVE BACK IN COMMERCE ON TIME TO BEGIN YOUR CLASSES TO AVOID
ANY PROBLEMS WITH YOUR ACADEMIC PROGRAM AND YOUR VISA STATUS. 

 

The ISSO has changed the travel signature process so we can be more
aware of student's traveling outside the U.S. and so we can also better
advise students of any consequences if their travels will cause them to
miss class(s).  The ISSO may request a travel itinerary from students
when a travel signature is requested and a letter from your
instructor(s) is required for a travel signature if a student will
arrive after the start of the semester and miss class(s).   

 

      

 

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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