International Student Handbook - Office of International Affairs ...

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VISA ISSUES Upon arriving at your new campus, you must: obtain a new I-20 form enroll at PSU in the next possible term check in with ISSS (present your immigration documentation, current address, phone number and email address) complete the section 11 of your new I-20 form and submit it to ISSS within 15 days of the start of classes If you are a J-1 visa holder: obtain a new DS-2019 form from Portland State University be sure that the international student advisors at both the old and new schools are taking the necessary steps to complete the transfer take your new DS-2019, passport and your I-94 to ISSS to check in Please note, unless you follow the above steps, you are not authorized to attend the new school and may be considered to be in violation of your immigration status. Transfer away from Portland State University If you decide that you wish to transfer away from Portland State, you must visit the office of International Student and Scholar Services. Our office may need to complete a transfer clearance form for your new college or university indicating that you have maintained your immigration status. Once you have been admitted to the new school you wish to attend, have given us proof of your admission and have completed PSU’s Transfer Release Form, we will transfer your SEVIS record to the new institution. Once we have released your SEVIS record, we no longer have access to it and cannot retrieve it from the new institution. Please note: Your new school cannot issue a new I-20 to you or complete your transfer process until they have access to your SEVIS record. Nearby Hotels HOUSING PSU University Place Hotel 310 SW Lincoln Street Portland, OR 97201 Tel: 1-866-845-4647 http://www.pdx.edu/cegs/university-place-hotel-conference-center Nightly rate: Ask about special PSU rate The Mark Spencer Hotel 409 SW 11th Ave Portland, OR 97205 Tel: 1-800-548-3293 http://www.markspencer.com/ Nightly rate: Ask about special PSU rate You can also visit the Portland, Oregon Visitors Association http://www.travelportland.com/ for links to other accommodations in Portland Youth Hostels Hostelling International, Portland Hawthorne District 3031 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Portland, OR 97214 USA Tel: 503-236-3380 http://www.portlandhostel.org/ Northwest Portland International Hostel & Guesthouse 425 NW 18th Ave. Portland, OR 97209 Tel: 503-241-2783 http://www.nwportlandhostel.com/ Hostelling International, Oregon Council http://www.oregonhostels.org/
HOUSING PSU has partnered with https://www.places4students.com, a company that specializes in providing Off-Campus Housing solutions for post-secondary students. This service is free for all PSU students to use as an effective method of finding a place to live off-campus. Landlords can list properties at rates that are very competitive and less than most other mediums of advertising. Several websites you might find helpful for off-campus housing information are: The Willamette Week (a free paper published every Wednesday) at http://portland.wweek.com/rentals The daily Oregonian at http://realestate.oregonlive.com/ Portland Roommate Referral Service, (800) 224-4939, (503) 224-4939 Craigslist list at http://portland.craigslist.org/apa/ Host Family (Short-term and Long-term) You can also request to stay with a Portland family in their home. To arrange a short or long-term homestay you can contact Friends of Overseas Citizens and University Students before you arrive in Portland. Please see their website for more information: http://fs.elpidzo.com Please note that FOCUS is a Christian organization. Another homestay organization is: ANDEO-International Studentstays (ISS), a non-profit organization that specializes in providing host families for international students living in Portland. Please see their website for more information: http://www.andeo.org Short-term, Temporary, or Emergency Housing The following is a list of resources for finding short-term, temporary or emergency housing. Stay with a family for a short time: FOCUS: Friends for Overseas Citizens & University Students: http://fs.elpidzo.com FOCUS has many providers who are happy to take in students for a few days or weeks when they first arrive and need time to look for an apartment. Please contact the FOCUS Homestay Coordinator at least 1 week before your planned arrival. 2. Travel & Special Registration Students with F-1 and J-1 Visa Status If you leave the U.S. at any time during your studies and intend to re-enter, you must be in possession of a valid I-20 or DS-2019 to present to immigration officials upon your return to the U.S border. If you have substantial changes to any of the above-mentioned items, you should obtain a new I-20 or DS-2019 from ISSS reflecting the new information. To travel outside the U.S., you need: A valid I-20 or DS-2019 form, signed by an authorized advisor in ISSS This signature notifies USCIS that you are maintaining your immigration status at Portland State University. The signature, located on page three of your I-20 or in the bottom-right corner of your DS-2019, is valid for 12 months. It is advisable to get a new signature if the most recent travel endorsement is older than 6 months. You must also have in your possession: IMMIGRATION ISSUES & TRAVEL A valid passport (with a validity period extending at least six months into the future) A valid visa (unless you are traveling to Canada or Mexico - see below) A valid I-94 Note: You will surrender your I-94 card to the border officials when leaving the U.S. and receive a new one upon re-entry except when you travel to Canada or Mexico. SPECIAL REGISTRANTS: See next section IMPORTANT NOTE: Those students who have entered into the U.S. as Special Registrants have very specific obligations when they leave the United States. You must notify the US Customs and Border Patrol of your intention to leave a few days before your flight is scheduled. You will then be told what the procedure is at the airport from which you will finally depart the United States. If you have questions about the procedures for Special Registrants, please speak with one of the International Student Advisors before planning your trip outside the United States. Note as well, that if you fail to participate in this exit interview with CBP, you will probably be prevented from entering the United States again.
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