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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>USCIS recently sent out the information to provide guidance to student’s who will travel outside the U.S. during the break. Please review and contact the ISSO with any questions. The University and the ISSO will close at 5pm on Friday, December 20 and reopen at 8am on Thursday, January 2. Students with any emergency (port of entry issues) may contact the University Police Department at 903-886-5868 who may contact an ISSO staff member in an emergency. Please only utilize this phone number for emergencies. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=Default><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=Default><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>As the holiday season approaches, many students are preparing to leave the United States for vacation and return to their home countries. As their designated school official, you can help them prepare for their return to the United States when they go through inspection with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the U.S. port of entry. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=Default><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=Default><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>It is important that your students hand-carry (instead of packing in checked luggage) the following documents: <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=Default style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:14.2pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Valid passport with valid F or M visa (if applicable) <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=Default style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:14.2pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Signed Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=Default style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:14.2pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Proof of financial support <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=Default style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Your contact information, including a 24-hour emergency phone number, if necessary <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=Default><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=Default><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>They also should consider bringing the following: <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=Default style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:14.35pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Evidence of acceptance to your school, like a recent tuition payment receipt or acceptance letter <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=Default style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Proof of paying the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=Default><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=Default><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>You also can help your students prepare for arrival to the United States by explaining what happens at the port of entry. Helpful topics include the possibility of being directed to secondary inspection and either denial of entry or receiving a Form I-515A, “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor,” for failure to have all necessary documents. Students should be prepared with what to expect, know what to do and understand how you can help them through these processes. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>You can direct them to find more information about returning to the United States in Travel Tuesday posts on the <span style='color:blue'>Study in the States </span><span style='color:blue'>blog</span>.</span><o:p></o:p></i></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>(P) 903-886-5097 (F) 903-468-3200<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.tamuc.edu/isso">www.tamuc.edu/isso</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>