UPDATEINTERNATIONAL

CENTERMedford Campus

STAFF

Jane Etish-AndrewsDirector

Janie E. BessAssistant Director for

Students

Maria M. ConleyAssistant Director forFaculty & Research

Scholars

' Monica S. RodriguezInternational Student

Advisor Assistant

Lois HutchingsStaff Assistant

Terin HolbrookUndergraduate Student

Assistant

Caridad PonceUndergraduate Student

Assistant

Rodolfo AlborelliInternational

Orientation Coordinator

WELCOME! 2002

A s the 2002-2003 school year begins,the staff at the International Center

would like to welcome all new students,faculty and research scholars! Tufts is aninstitution that offers a warm andwelcoming environment for all! We hopethat this will be your experience as well.

If you do not already know, there are threeseparate campuses at Tufts: Medford,Boston and Grafton. The InternationalCenter is located in Medford but servicesthe international community on all threecampuses.

The International Center, also known as theI-Center, can provide you with immigrationinformation regarding your legal statuswhile at Tufts. You should never feeluncomfortable in approaching the Center forimmigration advice. This is our role. Weare here to help you understand your legalobligations in the U.S., but it is also YOURresponsibility to keep informed! The staffat the International Center works for Tufts,we do NOT work for the Immigration &Naturalization Service (INS). Ask theInternational Center any questions regardingyour immigration status before approachingthe INS. And finally, we know that many ofyou will seek advice from friends andcolleagues who have been in the U.S. for awhile. Although you can certainly receivegood advice from colleagues, we remindyou that you will get the most current and

accurate information from the InternationalCenter. INS regulations change and they maybe quite different from the time your colleagueremembers!

In addition to the immigration services offeredby the I-Center, we are available for advising/counseling in the area of cultural adjustmentand settling-in to life in the U.S. We are usedto answering questions on all topics.

Communicating with the I-Center: Thereare several ways in which you can reach thestaff at the I-Center. The first way is to comeby in person. We are located at 20 SawyerAve on the Medford campus. You arewelcome to drop by to ask a question. If it isdetermined that your question needs a more in-depth response, we will recommend that youset up an appointment with an appropriateI-Center staff person. You can reach us byeither walking in, phoning or e-mailing us atinternationalcenter@tufts.edu. The I-Centerwebsite, at http://ase.tufts.edu/icenter, isanother source of information.

We hope that your first year at Tufts is awonderful one, and that the InternationalCenter will be a valuable resource in makingyour year a success! On behalf of the staff, welook forward to meeting you!

Sincerely,Jane, Ztiah-Director

—To All Incoming StudentsThe International Center requires copies of all your immigration documents (visa stamp, Form 1-20 or IAP-66,1-94 card, passport with identity and expiration date page) as well as your current address for our files. If youmiss the Immigration Meeting at International Orientation or International Graduate Student Orientation, youmust attend a session on Tuesday, September 10th, from 3:30PM-4:OOPM, or 4:OOPM-4:30PM. Please contactthe I-Center for location and sign up.

20 Sawyer Ave. • Medford, MA 02155 • (617) 627-3458 • internationalcenter@tufts.eduhttp: //ase.tufts.edu/icenter

Page 2 FALL 2002 UPDATE

he International Club (I-Club)

very active cultural and socialAriose primary goal is to promote

Banding and exchange throughout theIt also works to raise financial aid

aduate international students. The/plans such events as barbecues, semi-formal

cultural evenings, foreign films and the annual(cultural Festival. Watch for notes in "The Daily" and

around campus for information about upcomingevents! For additional information you may contact thei-Club President, Jose J. Vicens at jose.vicens@tufts.edu.

/I-Club elections are held in the fall.

Student Organizations Fair

Monday, September 9th, from 11 amuntil 4 pm at the Mayer Campus Center.If/you're interested in joining a studentorganization, this is the time to do it! Forfurther information, call the StudentActivities Office at 627-3212.

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE

The International House, located at13 Sawyer Avenue, is a residence i

made up of undergraduate students fromi around the globe, including the U.S.\I-House members often sponsor'international dinners, lectures, and.sarties.

e philosophy of the I-House supportsan equal balance of both U.S. andinternational student participants and'«ncourages intercultural exchange.

year, the I-House celebr.jmversary. Look for specific event)lanned by the House residents honorii;

occasion! V

Graduate Student Council

The Graduate Student Council (GSC) was formed toaddress the many issues all graduate students face,

regardless of discipline. The GSC serves as liaison to theadministration and faculty of the Graduate School.Additionally, the GSC organizes numerous social events/and publishes a newsletter called "The Grad Rag". Toshare your concerns or to become involved, stop by theGraduate Student Council Office at West Hall, basementlevel or contact the GSC's President, Kellie A. Donovan,at 617/627-3576. For additional information about the GSCand how to get on the mailing list, check out their websiteat: http://ase.tufts.edu/gsc. I

Chinese Students and Scholars Association

Since 1992, the Tufts Chinese Students and ScholAssociation's mission has been to help fos

communication and interaction among Tufts Chinesestudents and scholars, their families and friends,between the Chinese and other students at Tufts. TCS!has organized many social events, such as a celebrationof the Chinese Spring Festival, Karaoke, potluck partieChinese movies, soccer and volleyball games.

If you have questions regarding TCSSA or would like tbe updated about events, please contact TCSSA'President Xinxian Deng by e-mail atxdeng01@emerald.tufts.edu. Check out the TCSSAwebsite at http://ase.tufts.edu/tcssa

Indian Society at Tufts

The mission of the Indian Student Association at Tufts(ISAT) is to to foster greater interaction among graduatestudents of Indian origin; to provide all possible help andsupport to incoming graduate students of Indian origin; toenable them to transition comfortably into theirronment; to provide a convenient forum for ththeir experiences and discuss pertinent issues^/topromote and protect the interests of the gradx

Indian origin at the University level; andness among the Indian student commugrams, environment and educational oppoFor more information about ISAevents contact: Lakshmi

; webn at

page at

UPDATE FALL 2002 Page 3

YOU MUST INFORM INS OF YOUR U.S. ADDRESSThe Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) requires that you notify them of your U.S. address. Youmust do this within 10 days of your arrival in the U.S. as well as within 10 days of any subsequent addresschange while in the U.S. Please inform INS of your address change by completing Form AR-11. The ad-dress to mail the form to is listed at the bottom of the form. Be sure to keep a copy of the completed formfor your files. Failure to comply with this law could result in serious penalties. You can download this formfrom, http://ase.tufts.edu/icenter/update-law.asp You can also obtain this form at the International Center.

APPLYING FOR A SOCIALSECURITY CARD

http://wYrw.ssa.govNon-immigrant International Students, Faculty &Research Scholars, and their dependents who arelegally eligible to work, as per their immigration status,are required to apply for a U.S. Social Security card.To obtain a Social Security card, you must visit aSocial Security Administration office. The telephonedumber for all Social Security offices is 1-800-772-1213. They are all open 9:00am - 4:00pm, Mondaythrough Friday.

If you are on the Medford Campus, the closest So-cial Security office is located at 240 Elm Street, inDavis Square, Somerville. You may also visit the Mai-den Social Security office. They are located at MaidenCity Hall, 200 Pleasant Street, Room 215 (across fromthe Maiden "T" station - on the orange line).

If you are on the Grafton Campus, you may visit theSocial Security office at 51 Murdle Street in MadisonPlace Plaza in Worcester.

If you are on the Boston Campus, you may visit theSocial Security office located at the O'Neil FederalBuilding, 10 Causeway Street, Boston.

When you visit the Social Security office, you willneed to present the following;

A Social Security Application form, which youcan download from http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html;a valid passport;1-94 card (small white card usually stapled toyour passport);

a valid visa document (Form IAP-66, Form1-20, Form 1-797, Employment AuthorizationDocument, etc.);Students will also need a work authorizationletter from the International Center;*Faculty or Research Scholars may need to pre-sent their contract, invitation or form letterissued to them by their Tufts sponsoring depart-ment.

*NewIy-arrived students will not be able to obtain awork authorization letter until they have been in theU.S. for a one-month period. All questions regard-ing your work eligibility should be addressed to ouroffice.

It is advisable that you wait a couple ofweeks after your arrival in the U.S. beforeapplying for a Social Security card. Thereason is that the Social Security office will need to verifyyour immigration status on the Immigration & Naturaliza-tion Service's (INS) database system. It takes at least acouple of weeks after your arrival before this informationcan be accessed electronically by the Social Security of-fice. If, when you visit the Social Security office, you'renot yet listed on the INS database system, the Social Se-curity office will request verification from the local Immi-gration office in Boston. This is done by mail and couldtake 6-8 weeks. The Social Security office can only ap-prove you for a Social Security Number after they haveverified your immigration status. Once the Social Secu-rity office has cleared you for a number, it will take anadditional 2-3 weeks for you to receive the SocialSecurity card. Please notify the International Center ofyour Number. You will not be able to be paid by theTufts Payroll office until you have obtained a SocialSecurity Number.

Page 4 FALL 2002 UPDATE

How do I make sure that my F-l visa status i:maintained?

Answer: There/are several things that you need to do to maintain your visa status.You must:• Keep your passport valid at all times.• Pursue a full course of study (3 or more credits for undergrads and graduates, or 2

credits plus a TA or RA for graduate students).• Keep 1-20 valid at all times (Do not let it expire). For reference on the expiration

date, see Item #5 in your 1-20: "complete studies no later than (date) ."• Follow specific procedures if you transfer, change your degree level, or extend the

duration of your program.• Work no more than 20 hours per week ON CAMPUS during the academic year.• Do not work off-campus without proper authorization.

If you have any questions about your visa status, contact the International Center.

Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

As of January 30, 2003, all international students and scholars who are studying orworking in the U.S. on the F-l student non-immigrant visa or the J-l ExchangeVisitor visa will become a part of the Immigration & Naturalization (INS) SEVIStracking system. This is an electronic reporting system which will connect Tuftsinformation systems to the INS. This is a federal law and Tufts will need to be incompliance. Currently many departments at Tufts are working together to create sys-tems that will allow Tufts to be ready for SEVIS.

Most important for students and exchange visitors (students and scholars) is to beaware of the end date of the visa document, (Form 1-20 or Form IAP-66/DS-2019)and to pursue a full-time program. Any questions should be directed to the Interna-tional Center. Finally, there are more delays for foreign nationals from certaincountries in securing visa stamps when applying for admission to the U.S. This com-plication may affect travel decisions. Again, consult the I-Center staff with questions.We will keep you posted of all updates pertaining to your legal status in the U.S. viaour website or through a direct mailing.

UPDATE FALL 2002 Page 5

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WHO IS THE INTERNATIONALCOMMUNITY AT TUFTS?

are presently a member of our growingP JL international community at , Tufts

University! During the 2001-2002 academic yearthere were:

.Undergraduate InternationalStudentsGraduate International •StudentsInternational Faculty/ 1ResearchersExchange, Special Students, %Practical Trainees, and Englishas a Second Language Students

344

277

206

238

1065 f Total InternationalPopulation

Last year there 'were 100 countriesrepresented^ The 10 countries with thelargest number of international students,faculty and scholars £ at Tufts were (indescending order):

ChinaIndiaCanada^KoreaJapanTurkeyUnited KingdomGermanyGreeceFrance

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^ INTERCULTURALA CONVERSATION PROGRAM °

For those graduate students on the Medfordcampus who are interested in improving

their English and learning more about Americanculture, the International Center offers studentsan opportunity to meet one hour per week witha "conversation partner" who is a; Tufts staffperson, faculty member or student-; This is agreat way in which to meet Americans outsideof your academic, studies as well as to have achance to develop a friendship with anAmerican.", ; J c- - - i C5"

Some •comments fromypast participants mightprovide a ^better understanding of what theprogram is .really all about: •

"•* £_

"At first, I expected a-conversation partner asan English teacher.^:sYet'I realized it is moreinteresting forfme to share my culture withsomeone who is interested in it. Since we arefriends now, we'll keep in tpuch... Thank you...Itwas fun!" -International student from Japan

• f \ have had;a wonderful experience from the

Conversation^Program... We are both veryinterested-in other cultures^ and both willing toshare'both the 'positives and negatives of ourrespective cultures."-American partner A

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«r^ Advisor Assistant, at the International Center <TJ>o (x7-3458) or by e-mail at monica. 0

^ rodriguez@tufts.edu and/or sign up at *y*° International Graduate Student Orientation. °

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Page 6 FALL 2002 UPDATE

LAILA MOSHIRIYAZDIMEMORIAL FUND

This fund was established in memory of aformer Tufts international student, Laila

Moshiri Yazdi. Laila, who was from Iran, was asenior majoring in History at the time she passedaway in 1982. She was well-known and well-likedon campus. Her father donated her spring tuition toestablish a loan fund for foreign students in needof short-term help. Since its inception, the fundhas been used often and is truly appreciated bystudents in need.

Small, short-term emergency loans ($500 orK less) are available to all Medford international

students (except Fletcher international students)through this fund. Applications are available at theInternational Center.

OLIVER CHAPMAN MEMORIALEMERGENCY LOAN FUND

In the spring of 1993, the InternationalScholarship Committee established this loan

fund. The fund is named in honor of OliverChapman, an international student from Panamawho passed away in 1992. He was an InternationalOrientation Host Advisor and was very active inthe international community. The fund is intendedto assist undergraduate international studentswith tuition payments during times of hardship intheir home country. The amount of the loan rangesfrom $1,000-53,000. Students in need must applyone month in advance.

If you would like more information regarding thisloan, please contact the International Center orStudent Services at Dowling.

"Spiritualities Today"

CHAPLAIN'S TABLE, Fall 2002

Beginning September 19, join us every Thursday, 5-7pm at the MacPhie Conference Room for goodconversation over dinner. Speakers will address topics such as: "The Mystical and Prayer," "ChineseHealing," "Finding Time for Sabbath at Tufts," "Conscientious Objection to War," and "Lessons ofTolerance from an Islamic Society".

Stop by the International Center or the Chaplain's Office for more detailed information. All are welcome.Reservations are required. Please call Goddard at x73427.

Co-sponsored by Tufts' Chaplain's Office x73427, International Center x73458, and Fletcher School x73700.

This program is an excellent way for internationalstudents to interact with Americans over dinner andthrough conversation!