Are you traveling outside of the United States during summer?
If you plan to leave the U.S. during the summer semester you need a travel signature on your SEVIS I-20 record to get back in (along with your passport, visa, etc). You must be registered for the fall 2012 semester PRIOR to dropping off your I-20. Signatures of DSOs (international student advisors) are technically good for 1 year while you are a full time student but the ISSO likes to sign every semester to show the students good faith effort in reporting and sharing travel plans with the international student advisors.
Please drop off your new I-20 with a completed request form with all travel information and passport expiration date, etc. Also you should ensure that the I-20 is accurate (major, financial information, etc)
If you are traveling and do not have a travel signature please drop off your I-20 very soon with the completed form to give advisors adequate time to fulfill your request. A minimum of two week time to review and sign the I-20 is appropriate for students to drop off requests.
Summer 2012 completion DATE and post completion OPT
For those of you completing all degree requirements this summer, August 3 2012 will be your completion date. If you would like to start your post-completion OPT application advisors suggest doing so since processing can take between 30-90 days before you will get your EAD card from Immigration. You have between now (Immigration allows students to send completed post completion OPT applications 90 days before their expected completion date) and 60 days after you complete your degree requirements (10/02/2012) to send a complete OPT application if you will be applying for the OPT benefit. OPT is OPTIONAL and not mandatory but is one option students have after completing a degree.
Immigration must receive a completed application and issue you are receipt by the end of your grace period so the latest you should send an application is 09/10/2012.
Regardless of when you apply you can request a start date in this time period:
August 5 2012 to October 2, 2012. Please see an advisor during walk-ins if you have any questions and refer to our website materials:
There will be one off campus employment workshop this summer, if you are interested in attending please email visahelp@uah.edu so we can see how many students are attending and plan the workshop at a good time for all participants.
We hope all of you have a wonderful summer and safe travels if you are headed home - or on vacation!
