Morning Session presentations - ISSS Home - University of Minnesota

Welcome!
International Student Orientation
Program (ISOP)
Fall 2014

Welcome!
ISSS Services to Students
Barbara Kappler, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean
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Minnesota is home to …
The Mississippi River
over 10,000 lakes
18 Fortune 500
companies
3

Twin Cities - Minneapolis
• Historical flour capital of the world
• Rich cultural center
Pillsbury Doughboy
4

Twin Cities – St Paul
Center of State
Government
5

Welcome to the U of MN!
• Founded in 1851
• Inventions at U of M
– Seat belt
– Black box flight recorder
– First Successful Open Heart Surgery
– 80 new crop varieties
• Creativity connections
– Gortex
– Post-It Notes
– Improved CPR
6

International Students
The University of
Minnesota is
committed to
international
education and
international
students!
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ISSS
Center for
Advanced
Research in
Language
Acquisition
(CARLA)
Global
Programs &
Strategy
Alliance
China Center
& Confucius
Institute
Learning
Abroad Center
Interdisciplinary
Center for the
Study of Global
Change
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ISSS Vision
An inclusive and engaged
international learning community.
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ISSS Staff
• Creative!
• Nationally recognized!
• We come from, have
lived, worked, studied,
and/or conducted
research throughout the
world.
10

ISSS Mission
We are international educators committed
to the U of M’s efforts to be a world class
university and to develop global citizens.
We advocate for the importance of the
international population in achieving the
University’s goals. We serve all
international students, researchers,
faculty, and staff and collaborate
campuswide to enable all to succeed.

ISSS Services
Your place to start for information,
guidance, and help.
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ISSS Services
• Visa Advising
• Programs
• Counseling
• Advice on academics in the U.S.
13

Engagement Programs
• International Student Ambassadors
• Small World Coffee Hour
• Cross-Cultural Discussion Groups
• International Buddy Program
• Culture Corps
• Leadership Retreats
• Career Services
14

Personal Counseling and
Academic Advising
• Counselors will work with you individually in a
confidential environment to help you with
personal and academic issues you want to
talk about.
15

Personal Counseling
We have helped students with the
following:
– Family crisis at home
– Culture shock and problems adjusting to
life in the U.S.
– Victim of crime
– Problems with landlords
– Identity questions about coming out in the
U.S. as gay, lesbian, transgender
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Academic Advising
We have helped students:
– Understand the U.S. academic system
– Choose a new major
– Prepare for a Ph.D. oral exam
– Develop time management skills
– Understand plagiarism
– If accused of academic dishonesty
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It’s critical to use your
University email
• University uses this to provide key
information
• You are responsible to know the
information sent to you
• If you want to use another account (i.e.
gmail, hotmail), then forward University
email to that account
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Understanding your
immigration status
Gabriele Schmiegel, M.A.

How Do I maintain my status?
• Maintaining your immigration status is
your responsibility
• There are many resources available for
you to use
– ISSS advisers (appointments, walk-ins)
– ISSS web site
– ISSS information on MyU Portal
– ISSS weekly update

IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS

• Passport
• Must be valid at all times while in the U.S.
• Contact your home country consulate or embassy
in the U.S. for renewal information

• Can expire while in the
U.S. without affecting
legal status (F/J visa)
• Must be valid when
entering the U.S. from
overseas
Visa Stamp

I-94 Number
(Arrival and Departure Record)
• Proof of lawful admission into
U.S.
• D/S = Duration of Status, no
specific end date
• Grace period after program
completion (60 days for F-s, 30
days for J-s)
• As of April 30 th , 2013 I-94s are
now electronic. You can print
yours from
http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/i
d_visa/i-94_instructions/

I-20 (F-1 students)
• Pay attention to
expiration date
• I-20 must reflect current
financial and academic
information
• Name on I-20 must
match name in your
passport

I-20 page 3
• Off-campus
employment
authorization
• Reentry signature

DS-2019 (J-1 students)
• Program Number
• Pay attention to
expiration date
• DS-2019 must reflect
current financial and
academic information
(funding source, amount,
degree program, major)
• Name on DS-2019 must
match name in your
passport
• Travel validation

Maintain Accurate Documents
• You are required to be a full-time student at the
school that issued your I-20 or DS-2019
• Transferring your SEVIS record
• Follow the instructions in the Arrival Guide on pp. 9-10
• Update “Current Mailing Address” in Onestop
• ISSS processes “transfer completed” I-20 or UMN DS-2019
• Visa stamp

ADDRESS UPDATE

– You are required to provide your address to
the U.S. Government and the University
• www.onestop.umn.edu
• “Quick links”, select “personal information”
• Select “personal addresses” from pull down menu
• Select “mailing address” (second option from top)
• University electronically updates your information
with US Government
– In addition, update your address with J-1
program sponsor if DS-2019 not issued by
UMN

Goldy Gopher
Goldy
Gopher
1234567

1Stadium Road
Room 35
Minneapolis
55455

FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT

Full-time Enrollment
• Minimum Number of Credits
(according to Immigration
regulations):
– Undergraduate Students, Non-degree
Seeking Students: 12 credits
– Graduate Students: 6 credits
– Professional School Students: 6+ credits,
ask your program

Not all credits count…
• For F-1 students
– Only 3 credits of Distance Learning/online
classes count toward full-time

What if …?
• …You can’t be a full-time student?

• ANSWER:
– The US Government allows some
exceptions
– ISSS must approve your request to be
less than full-time even if your
College/Program already approved it.
You must be aware of both College and
Immigration implications.
– If you are under-enrolled without ISSS
approval you will lose your immigration
status

Examples of “Illegal” Reasons:
• “I can’t pay for my tuition” because I
bought a new car/lost money
gambling…
• “I have to take care of my children”
• “I spent too much time on Facebook
and am now failing my course/s”
• “Candy Crush has taken over my time”

DEPENDENTS

Dependents
• Not everyone can be a dependent
– Unmarried children under 21
– Spouse (recognized marriage)
– You (F-1/J-1) must maintain your
immigration status so that they maintain
theirs

IMPORTANT:
• Please provide copies of Dependent
documents to ISSS after arrival
• Inform ISSS of any changes (departure,
change of status, …)
• You must enroll your F-2/J-2 dependents in
the University’s Health Insurance

F-2 Dependents:
• Enrollment for F-2 spouses is limited to
one of the following:
• Part-time ESL classes
OR
• short-term study to pursue a hobby (not available
at the U of MN)
OR
• a course that is occasional, casual, or
recreational in nature (not available at the U of
MN)

• Employment of F-2s is prohibited
by law under any circumstances!
• F-2s cannot work in the U.S.

J-2 Dependents
• J-2s may enroll for courses
• J-2s may work only after receiving
employment authorization from USCIS

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TRAVEL

Before you travel …
Documents
Travel without Dependents

Travel within the U.S.
• ISSS strongly recommends that you carry with you
the original documents:
• passport
• I-20/DS-2019
• Important if you are traveling along the U.S. border
with Canada or Mexico
• When asked, you must be able to document that you
have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. and that you
maintained your legal status at all times

Travel overseas
• Passport, valid visa stamp
• I-20/DS-2019 with valid reentry
signature
– Check with ISSS/J-1 program sponsor
• Transcript
• Proof of health insurance

Travel to Canada, Mexico and
the Caribbean (except Cuba)
• Automatic revalidation
– If stay is for < 30 days
– If not applying for a US visa
– If not citizen of Iran, Syria, North Korea,
Cuba
Allowed to enter the U.S. with an
expired visa

F-1/J-1 Travel without
Dependents
• F-2/J-2 visa holders are in status only as long
as the F-1/J-1 holder maintains their status
• Consult with ISSS if planning long trip abroad
without your family

WORKING IN THE U.S.
(LEGALLY)

Employment options
✓On-Campus Work
✓Off-Campus Work

• On-campus Employment:
• Paid by the U of M
• Off-campus Employment:
• Paycheck not from U of M
• Must be related to field of study

Rules of Thumb
• Read the information about employment on the ISSS
web site
• Off campus employment must be authorized
• Employment is limited to ≤ 20 hours per week during
the semester
• J-1 students must always have permission to be
employed (both on and off campus)

• Unauthorized employment is a reason for
deportation from U.S.
• If working off-campus, your employer may not
know the rules but you have to check with
ISSS (or your J-1 program sponsor)

ADDITIONAL
GOVERNMENT RULES

Public Welfare
• Not allowed to participate in public welfare
programs, any programs that supplement
your income (housing assistance, food
stamps)
• Friends and social workers may tell you that
you are eligible but federal law prohibits it!
• Only U.S. citizens, permanent residents are
eligible for public assistance
• Consequences: repayment of benefits, loss of
legal status, refusal of visa/entry to U.S.

Taxes
• You must file a Federal Income Tax
return by April 15 each year. (You may
even get money back if you paid taxes.)
• Watch the ISSS Listserv
announcements.
• ISSS does NOT provide any tax advice.

UNIVERSITY RULES

Health Insurance Requirement
• The U of M requires that all international
students and their dependents enroll in one
of these insurance options:
– the Student Health Benefit Plan
– a U.S. based employer-sponsored insurance
– the Graduate Assistant Insurance Plan

Use your UMN email
• The University uses your student@umn.edu
email account as official means of notification.
• You are held responsible for knowing the
information in those emails: Student
Conduct Code, University Policies

No Smoking on Campus
• Smoking is not allowed in University
buildings
• Smoking is not allowed outside while you are
on campus

Release of Information
• ISSS keeps your file confidential
• ISSS does not release information from your
file without your written permission
• Signature on I-20/DS-2019, entry to U.S.
provides permission to release information to
USCIS

Tuition and Fees
• You are responsible for paying your tuition and
fees, non-payment will result in registration hold
for future semesters
• If you are a “non-degree” student, your
registration will be cancelled if your tuition and
fees are not paid in full by the first due date
(September 13)

Sponsored Students
• Financial support from government or other
organization and/or
• DS-2019 not issued by ISSS and/or
• University sends bill to sponsor
• You must fulfill sponsorship agreement,
monitor your student account
• Assigned ISSS adviser: Gabriele Schmiegel

Can’t remember it all? It’s okay
• Immigration Regulations:
– ISSS web site
– ISSS Listserv: weekly email
– Statement of Responsibilities
• University Policies:
– www.onestop.umn.edu
– University email

What you should remember
• Your immigration status is your responsibility
• Update current mailing address
• Full-time study requirement
• Travel documents
• Employment authorization needed for any offcampus
job
• ISSS has information and resources for you
to use
• Immigration regulations are serious but we
are here to help you, not to deport you

All students have
access to Boynton.

Boynton Health Service
Dental Clinic
Eye Clinic
Gopher Quick Clinic
Massage Therapy
Mental Health Clinic
Nutrition Services
Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
Primary Care Clinic
Travel Immunizations
Urgent Care
Women’s Clinic
Flu Clinics
Held Each Fall

Locations and Hours
East Bank—Main Clinic
Open Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00
Open Saturday 9:00-1:00
St. Paul Clinic—Satellite Clinic
Open Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00

PEER HEALTH PROMOTION

Health Advocates are students
appointed as health resources in their
residence halls, apartment communities,
fraternities and sororities.

• First aid- and CPR-certified
• Respond to common health-related issues
• Share info and prevention strategies
• Refer to other campus health resources
• Distribute over-the-counter medications,
band-aids, condoms, pregnancy tests, and more

Peer Health Promotion
• Sexual Health Awareness
and Disease Education
(SHADE)
• Student Nutrition
Advocacy Collaborative
(SNAC)
• Students off Booze
Enjoying Recovery
(SOBER)

Gopher Chauffeur
• FREE transportation
service for students
• 4 vans and 1 SUV operate
on Thursday, Friday,
Saturday nights
• Rides home to residences
in any neighborhood near
campus
• 612-388-6911

All students are required to
complete the online
immunization form before
the start of classes.
www.bhs.umn.edu/immunizations

Required Immunizations
• All students born after 1956 are required to have
the following immunizations:
– Diphtheria/Tetanus
– Measles
– Mumps
– Rubella
Distributed as single MMR vaccination

Recommended Immunizations
Meningitis
HPV
Hepatitis B
Annual Flu Shot

Smoke- and Tobacco-free Campus
• Twin Cities, Duluth, Crookston
and Rochester, campuses are
now smoke and tobacco free
• Enhances the health of
students, faculty, staff
and visitors
• Encourages healthy lifestyles
• Limits exposure to secondhand
smoke

University-Sponsored
Student Health
Benefit Plan

Office of Student Health Benefits
• Dedicated to meeting healthcare needs of the entire
student, graduate assistant and resident population on
all University of Minnesota campuses.
• Offers affordable and convenient health plans that
support the University’s health insurance requirement.
• Provides education, resources, and one-on-one
customer service to help ensure that University
students make the best health care decisions.

All international students and their
dependents are required to enroll in
the University-sponsored Student
Health Benefit Plan.
International students may request a
waiver from this plan if they are
covered by
the University’s GA Health Plan or
a United States-based employersponsored
group health plan

Student Health Benefit Plan
Year round coverage
Access to the BCBS worldwide
network
Convenient access on campus

No deductible
80% coverage of eligible expenses
Pharmacy benefit at Boynton Health
Service
Emergency travel assistance via
FrontierMEDEX

Cost for International
Students
Average cost if enrolled both
fall and spring semester $175
per month ($1,049 per
semester)
You will see a charge on your
University bill once at the
beginning of each fall and
spring semester.

Cost for Dependents
Spouse/SSDP $1,476/semester
One Child $1,086/semester
2+ Children $1,554/semester
Dependent coverage can be billed
to your University account.
For more information:
www.shb.umn.edu

Graduate Assistants
There is a different health plan for
eligible Graduate Assistants called
the Graduate Assistant Health Plan.
See www.shb.umn.edu for details.

Available for download
www.shb.umn.edu

The University-Sponsored
Voluntary Student Dental Plan
High quality, affordable dental plan
option for students

All international
students are eligible
to enroll in the
Voluntary Student
Dental Plan

Year round coverage
Preventive care covered 100% at
participating MetLife providers
Benefit of up to $1,000/year
International Dental Travel Assistance

Convenient access to
high quality on campus
dental care
Boynton Health Service Dental Clinic
University of Minnesota Faculty Dentists
Students may choose to receive care
anywhere in the MetLife network.

$193.00 per semester
Plan members will see a charge
of $193.00 (cost for half year) on
their University bill once at the
beginning of fall semester and
once at the beginning of spring
semester.
$386.00 per year

Voluntary Student Dental
Plan Coverage Period for
2014-2015
September 1, 2014-August 31, 2015

Enrollment is on a yearly basis
and must be completed before
the enrollment deadline
September 15, 2014.
For more information or to
enroll in the Voluntary
Student Dental Plan, visit
www.shb.umn.edu

From the staff at Boynton Health
Service and the Office of Student
Health Benefits, thank you for
choosing the University of Minnesota!

Diversity at the University
Duane Rohovit, J.D.
103

“The university shall seek to establish and
nurture an environment that actively
acknowledges and values diversity…”
- Board of Regents Policy
104

Equal Opportunity
• Race
• Color
• Creed
• Religion
• National origin
• Sex
• Age
• Marital status
• Disability
• Public assistance
status
• Veteran status
• Sexual orientation
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ISSS Resources

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108

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Barbara Kappler, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean
“Uffdah”

What is the best piece of
advice you received about
coming to study in the U.S.?

What might make U of M –
Twin Cities unique for you?

Common challenges first semester at U of M
Academics
Coursework expectations
Developing study skills needed
Social
Meeting new people
Connecting with advisers and faculty
Overcoming cultural differences in interacting with others
Interaction with the New Environment
Participating in a second language
Finding a job on campus
Staying healthy
Managing time

Small Groups
Connect
with Others
Share
Tips
Ask
Questions
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