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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The staff of the (International Student
Services Office) ISSO would like to welcome all of our new international
students and welcome back our current students. We hope that you have had
a great start to the spring 2009 semester and we look forward to serving
you. Below is very important information regarding your immigration
status, OPT applicants, and the multicultural festival. If you have any
questions regarding immigration rules or other on-campus policies please
contact the ISSO. <b><u><span style='font-weight:bold'>Do not rely on the
advice of well-meaning friends as these rules and policies change!</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><u><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p><span
style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Full-time
course of study requirement:<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>All international students are required by
USCIS (immigration) to be enrolled for full-time course of study for the fall
and spring semester. Full-time course of study for undergraduates is 12
semester credit hours and 9 semester credit hours for graduates. <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>Please remember that only one online course counts
toward your full-time requirement.</span></b> Web enhanced
“E” courses count as face to face. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red;font-weight:bold'>There are very few
exceptions to the full-time course of study requirement and you may visit our
website at <a href="http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/maintain_f1.asp"><font
color=red><span style='color:red'>http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/maintain_f1.asp</span></font></a>
for more information. If you have a full-time 20 hour a week
assistantship then you may enroll for 6 hours. If spring is your last
semester before graduation then you may register for less than full-time.
However, you will need to complete the Report Less than Required Hours form at <a
href="http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/forms.asp"><font color=red><span
style='color:red'>http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/forms.asp</span></font></a>
immediately. You must have the permission or the ISSO before you enroll
less than full-time or drop below full-time during the semester. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Employment:<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>International students are not allowed to
work off-campus without permission from an international advisor and/or USCIS
in certain instances. If you are caught working off-campus without
permission you will be in violation of your visa status and immigration rules
state that you will not be eligible to apply for reinstatement to F-1 visa
status. For more information regarding on-campus and off-campus
employment please visit <a
href="http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/employment_cpt_opt.asp">http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/employment_cpt_opt.asp</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>If you are interested in on-campus
employment please go to <a
href="http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/hreeo/employment.html">http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/hreeo/employment.html</a>
for available student worker positions (international students ARE NOT eligible
for work-study positions). For information on available assistantships
please go to <a
href="http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/gradschool/GraduateAssistantship/asist.asp">http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/gradschool/GraduateAssistantship/asist.asp</a>.
We encourage you to visit the Career Services office in the Halladay
Student Services Building Rm. 104 or visit <a
href="http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/careerservices/Default.htm">http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/careerservices/Default.htm</a>
for information on resumes and other job search tools. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Multicultural
Festival:<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Make plans now to participate in the Multicultural
Festival on April 10<sup>th</sup> this semester. The festival is a great
opportunity for international students to share their culture through music,
dance, exhibits, and food with the university and surrounding community. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><u><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The ISSO would like to
create a student committee to assist with the planning of and working the day
of the festival this year. If you are interested in joining our festival committee
please email the ISSO director at <a href="mailto:john_jones@tamu-commerce.edu"><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>john_jones@tamu-commerce.edu</span></font></a>
as soon as possible<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'><o:p><span
style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>John Mark Jones, Director</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>International Student Services</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Texas</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">A&M</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University-</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Commerce</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>PO Box</span></font></st1:Street><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> 3011</span></font></st1:address><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Commerce</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">TX</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">75429</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Phone: (903) 886-5097</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Fax: (903) 468-3200</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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