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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:red'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Visa Renewal Letter<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>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.</span></b> 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 <a
href="http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/admissions/registrar/transcript/default.aspx">http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/admissions/registrar/transcript/default.aspx</a>.
For a list of other required documents for a visa renewal please visit <a
href="http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html">http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html</a>.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Family member letters
to attend graduation or visit<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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 <u>MAY</u> 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. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Given this new information, <b><span style='background:yellow;
mso-highlight:yellow'>the ISSO will continue to issue letters for family
members to attend graduation but we will <u>only</u> issue letters for
immediate family members (mother, father, brother, sister).</span></b>
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. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Reminder for
driver’s license<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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 (<a
href="http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/admissions/registrar/documents/verification.pdf">http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/admissions/registrar/documents/verification.pdf</a>)
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. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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 <a
href="http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/forms.asp">http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/forms.asp</a>.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>John Mark Jones, Director<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>International Student Services<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Texas A&M University-Commerce<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>PO Box 3011<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Commerce TX 75429<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>(P) 903-886-5097<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>(F) 903-468-3200<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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