Spring Break
International students learn new rules
Falguni Bhuta, Daily Staff Writer
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One workshop took place last month, the second last week and a third one is slated for the first week of May, said Louis Gecenok international student adviser at international programs and services. The May workshop will be the last one until Fall 2003.
"SJSU has 1,400 international students, and many of them don't know about the new regulations," Gecenok said. "I encourage them to attend our last workshop for the semester sometime in the first week of May."
Gecenok said he was still not sure about the date and time of the workshop but asked students to look out for it. He said all international students were sent postcards and letters informing them of past workshops.
The news regulations took effect Jan. 1 under the recently formed Student Exchange and Visitor Information System.
In last week's workshop, Gecenok exhorted students to log into the international programs and services Web site and feed in their updated personal information into the online SEVIS form.
He added that any student who is in violation of status regulations should first consult an international student adviser before entering the information on the Web site.
According to international programs and services, this Internet-based system allows schools and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a part of the former Immigration and Naturalization Services, to exchange data on the visa status of international students.
"The INS is now replaced by three different bureaus under the Department of Homeland Security, one of which is the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement," Gecenok said. "The new student information system comes under this bureau."
As part of this new system, all students and dependents will be issued new "SEVIS" I-20s prior to Aug. 1, Gecenok said. SEVIS applies to all continuing and new F-1 students and their dependents.
The SEVIS I-20 looks almost the same as the I-20s that were issued prior to the introduction of the new system, according to international programs and services. However, it contains a bar code and a SEVIS identification number that is personal to the student.
Barcodes on the new I-20 forms will enable embassies and immigration officials to instantly access information about students by swiping the barcode into the new electronic information system, Gecenok said.
Khim Lok, office manager at international programs and services, said students should make sure they get their new I-20s before they travel out of the country in the summer.
"Also, it's very important that students keep checking if their passport is still valid, which is what many students don't do on a regular basis," Lok said.
Passports must be valid for a minimum of six months into the future at all times, according to international programs and services. If not, students may be denied entry to the United States, and/or denied any benefits for which they apply such as employment or change of status.
Lok advised students to talk to an international student adviser if they were out of status any time in previous semesters.
According to international programs and services, maintaining an F-1 status means studying full time (undergraduate - 12 units, graduate - 9 units), working only with authorization and having a passport that will be valid for at least six months.
Also, international students must not drop below full-time study or enroll at other institutions (concurrent enrollment) without prior approval by international programs and services, Gecenok said at last Thursday's workshop.
Chakravarthy Madaboosi, a graduate student in electrical engineering, said the new rules are very stringent and a drastic change from last semester.
"(Immigration authorities) are kind of precautionary about things," Madaboosi said. "They know what is best for their country and foreign students have to abide by it."
The new system also prevents F-2 visa holders, who are spouses or dependents of F-1 students, from enrolling in full or part-time study toward a degree, Gecenok said. They must change to F-1 status to study.
Susie Wang, who also attended the workshop, said she already knew about most of the rules.
"(International programs and services) has sent out newsletters," Wang said. "I also read Chinese newspapers - they give all the information about new rules."
Wang, who is a graduate student in theater arts, said she also found the information while online.
Gecenok said international programs and services had received one or two out-of-status cases this semester out of the 1,400 international students at SJSU.
"Starting Fall 2003, immigration authorities will become extremely strict about rules and regulations with international students," Gecenok said.
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