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<p class=MsoNormal>Are you traveling outside the U.S. during the Christmas
break? <b><i><u>Are you planning on returning by the start date of the
spring semester (January 17, 2012)?</u></i></b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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):<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]>Over the past two semesters the ISSO has seen an
increase in <b><i><u><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>students
being detained at the port of entry when they return to the U.S. after the
start of the semester</span></u></i></b><span style='background:yellow;
mso-highlight:yellow'>.</span> 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<span style='color:black'>. 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 </span><b><i><span
style='color:red'>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</span></i></b><span style='color:red'>. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]>Some <b><i><u><span style='background:yellow;
mso-highlight:yellow'>academic departments are becoming less tolerant of
students who chose to arrive after the start of the semester and miss class(s)</span></u></i></b>.
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).<span style='color:black'> </span><b><i><span
style='color:red'>If a student is dropped from a class for excessive absences
this may lead to visa status issues</span>.</i></b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='font-family:Symbol;color:red'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]>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. <span style='color:black'>The </span><b><i><u><span
style='color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>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)</span></u></i></b><span
style='color:black'> and the dean has also instructed the instructors in
Business majors to no longer write letters granting permission to arrive
late. </span><b><i><u><span style='color:red'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><u><span style='color:red'><o:p><span
style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><u><span style='color:black'>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.</span></u></i></b><span style='color:black'>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:
yellow'>PLAN TO ARRIVE BACK IN COMMERCE ON TIME TO BEGIN YOUR CLASSES TO AVOID
ANY PROBLEMS WITH YOUR ACADEMIC PROGRAM AND YOUR VISA STATUS</span><span
style='color:black;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>.</span><span
style='color:black'> </span></i></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>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). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> <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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