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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 International Student Services Office
(ISSO) will be hosting workshops on post-completion Optional Practical Training
for international students on Monday, February 9, 2009 from 3:30pm-5:00pm and
on Friday, February 13, 2009 from 10:30am-12pm in BA340 across from the
ISSO. After the Monday, February 9<sup>th</sup> workshop we will begin
scheduling OPT appointments that will start on Monday, February 16, 2009</span></font><font
size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'> </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>for students graduating
in the spring 2009 semester. For more information on OPT please
visit <a href="http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/faq.asp">http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/faq.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'>Students who began their academic program
at TAMU-C <b><u><span style='font-weight:bold'>Summer 2008 or before</span></u></b>
are not required to attend an OPT workshop before they can apply but <b><i><span
style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>they are strongly encouraged to
attend.</span></i></b><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=3 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Effective</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> the Spring 2009 semester, students who <b><u><span
style='font-weight:bold'>began</span></u></b> their academic program at TAMU-C
in the <b><u><span style='font-weight:bold'>fall 2008 semester or after</span></u></b>
will be <b><i><u><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>required</span></u></i></b>
to attend an OPT workshop <b><i><u><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:
italic'>before they can apply for OPT.</span></u></i></b> Students may
apply for post-completion in their last registered semester before graduation
no more than 90 days before their program end date. <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'>Students that will be graduating in the
2009 spring and summer semesters are <b><u><span style='font-weight:bold'>strongly
encouraged</span></u></b> to attend the OPT workshop as we will discuss the
application process and regulations. <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=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>We will be announcing OPT workshop dates in
March and April at a later date.<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'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>John Mark Jones, Director</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='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'>International Student Services</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Texas</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">A&M</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University-</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> Commerce</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>PO Box</span></font></st1:Street><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> 3011</span></font></st1:address><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Commerce</span></font></st1:City><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">TX</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">75429</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><font
color=navy><span style='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'>Phone: (903) 886-5097</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='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'>Fax: (903) 468-3200</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#7030A0'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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