The Vietnam Education Foundation 2011 Annual Report

Page 132 Annual Report 2011
B. ACADEMIC PROGRAM
University:
School/College:
Department/Program:
Level of Study (master’s/doctorate):
Major Field of Study:
J-1 immigration regulations require that you only attend the school that you have been authorized to attend and that you only
pursue the degree program (major field of study and level of study) in which you have been authorized to study. Hence,
please note that no changes can be made to the above academic program of study without prior approval from VEF. This
includes any changes to the following: major field of study, department, degree program (level of study), and university.
Thus, if changes to your program of study are required for legitimate reasons, any transfer to another degree program or field
of study, to a different department, or to a different university must be approved in advance by VEF. You must obtain written
approval from VEF prior to initiating any changes at your academic institution. VEF will consider authorizing such changes
only if they are in keeping with the original objective of your VEF Fellowship.
If you are provided a VEF Fellowship grant for a master's degree program and you are admitted to continue on to a doctoral
program, VEF will consider extending its visa sponsorship for your doctoral program, provided that you are fully funded by
your University for your doctoral degree program. In this case, you are still considered a VEF Fellow and must abide by all
the rules and regulations herein. However, under these circumstances, the financial support from VEF is limited to your
attending the annual conference and to VEF providing your return economy air ticket to Vietnam upon completion of your
program. Regarding the conference, you would receive the same support that other VEF Fellows receive to attend the VEF
Annual Fellows and Scholars Conference in the United States for the duration of your degree program.
Sign here to acknowledge your agreement with Section B. ______________________
C. ACADEMIC STATUS AND MAINTAINING ACADEMIC PROGRESS
As an international graduate student in J-1 status in the United States, you are required by law to enroll for a full course load
of graduate level classes for each academic term at the institution you have been authorized to attend. You are responsible to
consult with your Department as well as the University’s International Office or Registrar’s Office to ascertain what
constitutes full-time enrollment for international students at your University and to comply with this requirement each term.
Please note that not enrolling continuously for a full course load has serious negative implications on your immigration status
and on your ability to continue in your program of study or remain in the United States. While you are not required for
immigration purposes to enroll in classes during your school’s vacation period (typically the summer term), your University
or Department may require enrollment during vacation periods or you may choose to enroll part-time or full-time during
vacation periods.
J-1 immigration regulations allow for a reduction in your course load (less than full-time) only under very special
circumstances. Therefore, part-time enrollment can only be authorized by VEF if it meets the immigration regulations and
must be approved by VEF in writing before you can enroll in less than a full course of study.
In addition to enrolling for a full course load, immigration regulations also require that you make satisfactory progress in
your authorized program of study by maintaining at least a B grade-point average (GPA) in all of your classes. If you have
any academic difficulty, you must seek assistance immediately from your academic advisor and determine how to overcome
your deficiencies, and you must also communicate right away with VEF about these difficulties.
5 | Page VEF Fellowship Grant Letter – Cohort 2011