International Student Handbook - Office of International Affairs ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

VISA ISSUES Travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean (F-1 & J-1 visa holders): Travel to these countries requires different documentation for most students than travel anywhere else in the world. In order to enter these countries, you must make sure that your I-94 form (the small white card) is valid for longer than the period you expect to stay in that country. If your I-94 card says D/S, this is sufficient, as long as you are not nearing the completion date indicated on your Form I-20 or DS-2019. In addition to a valid I-94 form, you will need to take along a valid passport and your valid I-20 or DS-2019 form. It is advisable to take evidence of financial support, which could include a bank statement or scholarship letter from sponsor. A valid F-1 or J-1 visa is not necessary for re-entry into the United States from Canada, the Caribbean, or Mexico if your visit was for 30 days or fewer. Show the immigration officials your valid I-94 card when you enter Canada or Mexico (don’t let them take it) and you’ll present it again when you re-enter the U.S. Students from Iran, Syria, Sudan and Cuba are not eligible for automatic visa revalidation and must therefore have a valid F1 or J1 visa as well as the other immigration documents if they wish to re-enter the U.S. from Canada or Mexico. NOTE: Depending upon your country of citizenship, you may need a visa to enter Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. If you travel to these areas, you will need to contact the appropriate embassy in the U.S. Canadian and Mexican Embassies nearest to Portland State University: Canadian Consulate 1501 4th Avenue, Suite #600 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 443-1777 www.canadianembassy.org/ Mexican Consulate 1305 SW 12th Avenue Portland, OR 97201 (between SW Jefferson St and SW Columbia St) (503) 274-1450/1442 www.sre.gob.mx/portland 2. HOUSING OPTIONS IN PORTLAND HOUSING On-Campus Housing University Housing operates 10 on-campus buildings and houses approximately 2,000 resident students. On-campus housing is not guaranteed, so you are encouraged to research your housing options early. Some units in University Housing are in extremely high demand, especially most types of single, furnished rooms without roommates. This means it is very important that you submit your legally binding University Housing contract as soon as possible. The University Housing contract for the upcoming academic year generally opens in early March. Your priority during the housing assignment process is based on the date that the University Housing office receives your contract. To submit your housing contract, visit their website at http://www.pdx.edu/housing. The oncampus residence halls are convenient and provide support services and an active social atmosphere. Consider living on the Global Village floor which houses international students together with American students! All on-campus housing unit costs include the cost of utilities (electricity, water, gas, etc.). Off-Campus Housing Affordable housing in Portland is in demand and it may take you several weeks to find suitable permanent housing. The main campus is centrally located in downtown Portland. You may also want to consider living in nearby neighborhoods on both sides of the Willamette River which flows through downtown. The city is divided into four quadrants: southwest (SW), northwest (NW), southeast (SE), and northeast (NE), the Willamette River divides the east and west sides of the city and Burnside Street is the dividing line between north and south Portland. All of these areas are easily accessible to campus by public transportation. For more detailed information about housing in Portland visit the PSU Intensive English Language Program website at http://www.ielp.pdx.edu/housing.php
STUDENT RESOURCES VI. STUDENT RESOURCES 1. BANKING & MONEY MATTERS Most banks offer similar services, but there are differences in the fees they charge and the minimum balance they require in each account. For the best price, ask several banks for details about their services. Checking Accounts You deposit money in these accounts, then write checks to buy things so you do not have to carry a lot of cash with you. There are various kinds of checking accounts with different types of privileges and restrictions; therefore, you should ask many questions and make sure you understand what the person at the bank is telling you. Savings Accounts You can deposit any amount of money into a savings account, but the purpose is to keep it there to let it grow. You can make withdrawals but can’t write checks on most of these accounts. Some banks may require you to keep a minimum amount of money in these accounts to avoid a service charge, but they all pay interest. To open a bank account, you will need identification (I.D.). You will need both your passport and Portland State I.D. If you do not yet have your I.D., a second piece of photo identification will be required. Most banks open at either 9:00 AM or 10:00 AM and close at either 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM. For a complete listing of bank information, look in the Yellow Pages under Banks. Special Registration SPECIAL REGISTRATION & TRAVEL Who is a “special registrant?” Special Registration requirements can be applied to individuals from ANY country, however the requirements have primarily been applied to males ages 16-45 from the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. How Do I Know if I am Registered? During the special registration process, when you entered the U.S., the DHS inspector took fingerprints and photographs. The inspector will write a Fingerprint Identification Number (FIN#) on the I-94 card of the specially registered person. If your I-94 card has a FIN# written on it, or a notation of “NSEERS,” you are enrolled in the Special Registration program. Your enrollment remains "open" until you leave the United States after having an exit interview with a DHS officer. If you are not sure if you are a special registrant, check with your international student advisor. Departure Reporting / Interview Anyone enrolled in Special Registration must have an exit interview with an immigration officer at the airport BEFORE you leave the U.S. If you leave the US, including traveling out of the US even for only a short period of time, you must appear in person before an immigration inspecting officer at the airport from which you leave the US. (If you transfer planes within the U.S., you must report to the immigration officer at the LAST airport in the U.S.) For example, if you have a direct flight from Portland to Amsterdam, Netherlands you will have your exit interview in Portland. If you have a flight from Portland to Chicago to London, you will have your exit interview in Chicago. The airport from which you depart the U.S. must be one of the designated ports of departure, and you must leave the US from that port on the same day. If you have questions about an airport, go to East Hall 101 for additional information. If you do not go through the exit interview with a DHS officer, your Special Registration file will remain "open." You are likely to be denied a new entry visa for failure to go through the exit interview. You are also likely to be denied entry into the United States even if you have a valid visa, if the DHS records show you did not go through the exit interview. It is possible to request from DHS, in advance, an exception from the departure reporting requirement. Such exceptions require a showing of very unusual circumstances however. It is best to plan your flight times with the exit interview requirement in mind. It is important to go through the exit interview, even if it means missing a flight.
Page 1 and 2: CONTACT US: International Scholar &
Page 3 and 4: Clothing SHOPPING The city of Portl
Page 5 and 6: TRANSPORTATION 5. TRANSPORTATION Pu
Page 7 and 8: 4. TELECOMMUNICATIONS In this day a
Page 9 and 10: SAFETY 3. SAFETY ISSUES While Portl
Page 11: HOUSING PSU has partnered with http
Page 15 and 16: TEXT BOOKS & TUITION 3. TEXTBOOK &
Page 17 and 18: GRADES Grade Points A 4.00 A- 3.67
Page 19 and 20: ACADEMIC ISSUES Registration and Re
Page 21 and 22: REGISTRATION & RECORDS 2. REGISTRAT

International Student Handbook - Office of International Affairs ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?