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  >>  2018 Region VII Conference Updates  << 

  EA:  Education Abroad
IEM:  Int'l Enrollment Mgmt.
TLS: Teaching, Learning, Scholarship
REGBUD: Regulatory Ombudsperson
KC: Knowledge Community
MIG: Member Interest Group
SIG: Special Interest Group  
 
Next Newsletter:
Friday, August 3, 2018
 
Contents:  
  • 4 Major Immigration Updates
  • Keeping on Top of the Changes
  • Newcomers Orientation at Region VII Conference
  • NAFSA: Int'l Education Virtual Career & College Fair
  • NAFSA: Updated Privacy Policy
  • Region VII Awards Nominations 
  • Resume Reviews & Free Headshots Are Back
  • Region VII Leadership Team Positions Open (5)
  • English USA 2019 Professional Development Conference  
  • Region VII: State Updates
  • Jobs
  • Connect / Subscribe 
4 MAJOR IMMIGRATION UPDATES

I.   Proposed SEVIS Fee Increases :  
NAFSA has provided a summary explanation and chart of the proposed changes. Please review, especially if you work with an international population on your campus. The proposal was published in the Federal register on July 17th, 2018. The public has 60 days to comment until September 17, 2018.  Highlights include:
Proposed Fee Increases:
  • SEVP school certification petition fee for initial certification from $1,700 to $3,000.
  • I-901 SEVIS Fee for F and M international students from $200 to $350.
  • I-901 SEVIS Fee for most J exchange visitors from $180 to $220.
  • DHS will maintain the $35 I-901 SEVIS Fee for J exchange visitors in the au pair, camp counselor, and summer work or travel program participant categories.
Proposed New Fees
  • $1,250 fee for SEVP-certified schools filing a petition for recertification.
  • $675 fee when schools file the Form I-290B, "Notice of Appeal or Motion."
  • DHS will maintain the $655 fee for an initial school site visit but proposes also applying this fee when an SEVP-certified school changes its physical location or adds a new physical location to its Form I-17, "Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student."
II. New Form I-765: 
USCIS has released its new Form I-765 . It is now seven (7) pages and requests more information from the applicant. Please have your students and DSO's look over it carefully prior to submitting the petition. Only this new form will be accepted beginning 9/17/2018. Until then, the 1/17/2017 edition may be used. 


III. USCIS Policy on Denials without option to submit RFE or NOID
The USCIS policy of issuing Requests for Evidence(RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs), scheduled to take effect on September 11, 2018 with full details here.  
 
Essentially: changes  could mean that, if a piece of information is not included or is incorrect in a petition / application, a USCIS adjudicator could simply deny it without providing the applicant an opportunity to correct the issue via an RFE. This replaces a 2013 policy memorandum, which instructed adjudicators to send an RFE / NOID unless there was "no possibility" of approval. In conjunction with the new USCIS policy on issuing Notices to Appear (NTAs) to those who appear to be out of status (thereby initiating deportation proceedings), the situation could further complicated if the adjudicator feels the student / scholar is out of status and issues a denial and NTA, without giving the applicant a chance to respond or provide documentation otherwise.
 
This could also lead to petitioners / applicants having to pay another fee for a new petition / application so that they can submit the form with corrected information. USCIS could, in effect, collect duplicate fees for the same benefit, instead of allowing applicants to submit corrections.

OPT applicants should be cautioned to make sure their applications are airtight. Those applying for employment-based or green card petitions should seek secondary reviews by someone who knows the material or is qualified to do so.

Submitted by:  
Drew Webster, Asst. Director for Scholar Services at Georgia State University / [email protected] 


IV. USCIS Policy Change on Accrual of Unlawful Presence
USCIS announced 5/11/18 a significant policy change affecting individuals in F and J status, expected to go into effect on August 9, 2018. 

Any student or scholar in F or J status who fails to maintain their immigration status before or after August 9, 2018 will now begin accruing unlawful presence on the earliest of any of the following:
  • The day after they no longer pursue the course of study or the authorized activity, or the day after they engage in an unauthorized activity;
  • The day after completing the course of study or program, including any authorized practical training plus any authorized grace period;
  • The day after the I-94 expires; or
  • The day after an immigration judge, or in certain cases, the Board of Immigration Appeals, orders them excluded, deported, or removed (whether or not the decision is appealed).
Traditionally individuals in F and J immigration status had been granted entry to the U.S. in "D/S" status or "duration of status." This was interpreted such that unlawful presence would not accrue without a formal finding of a status violation by a DHS officer or an immigration judge in the course of removal proceedings. 

Now, students will begin accruing unlawful presence at the time they violate their F or J status or their SEVIS record is terminated. When  more than 180 days of unlawful presence has accrued, a student or scholar in F or J status could be barred from the U.S. for 3 to 10 years. Those that accrue more than one year of unlawful presence could incur a permanent bar from the U.S.

KEEPING ON TOP OF THE CHANGES

With so much immigration news and changes, it's hard to keep up. If you are feeling  perplexed about how to keep up with all the USCIS and DHS changes, y ou're in good company. Thanks to Connie Childs ( UT Health Science Center) , Erin Hillis (Rhodes College), and David Fosnocht (Director, Immigration Practice Resources at NAFSA) for a concise reminders about these important regulatory and professional resources.
 
1. NAFSA ADVISOR MANUAL: It's more important than ever for schools to support the cost of a NAFSA Advisor's Manual subscription, at the very least.  From the Advisor's Manual home page, subscribe to the NAFSA Advisor's Manual RSS.  See below. 
 
2. RSS NEWS FEED
RSS (Rich Site Summary aka Really Simply Syndication) allow for easy distribution of a list of headlines, update notices, and sometimes content to a wide number of people.

RSS feeds will create a new folder in your Outlook inbox and, as new information is posted, it will appear like a new message in that folder. This means the news is just there in your inbox whenever new information is posted. Here is the URL you'll need to subscribe to the RSS Feed in Outlook:  www.nafsa.org/_/File/_/amresource/amnews.xml 

If you don't use Outlook, search your "help" section in your email provider to see how you can subscribe to an RSS Newsfeed via email.
 
Or, these are ways to get the news by remembering to go and check:
  1. Advisor's Manual Home Page: https://am.nafsa.org/ . On the right side of the page, you'll see a heading called AM News: that is the RSS News Feed.
  2. NAFSA's Regulatory Practice Home Page: www.nafsa.org/reginfo . On the right side of the page, you'll see a heading called "NAFSA Regulatory Resources" - it's the second one.
  3. The AM RSS News Feed at its source: www.nafsa.org/_/File/_/amresource/amnews.xml:  If you click the "subscribe now" button, it shows up as a link on your browser's bookmarks.  
3. STUDENT & SCHOLAR ADVISING FORUMS
Additionally all practitioners should subscribe to the free NAFSA International Student & scholar Advising Forums. These are in high use by educators all over the country asking and answering questions for each other. SOLID GOLD.
Submitted by:  
Marissa Atencio, Regulatory Ombudsperson, Region VII / [email protected] 


NEWCOMERS ORIENTATION AT NAFSA REGION VII 

  
When: Monday, November 12, 11:10am - 12noon
Where: Venetian Ballroom of the Peabody Hotel

All newcomers to NAFSA and / or to the field of international education are invited to convene for this a great opportunity to learn how to navigate our conference. You'll get a useful overview of NAFSA as a professional organization and resource; learn about involvement and leadership opportunities; and meet the current Region VII team. There will be an interactive and fun networking activity also. 

Everyone is welcome and no registration is required!

NAFSA INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION VIRTUAL
CAREER AND COLLEGE FAIR

When: August 9, 2018 
11:00 am - 3:00 pm Eastern
  • Looking for your next job opportunity within the field of international education?
  • Thinking about pursuing a degree in international education or higher ed?
  • Curious about professional development that will help you advance your career?
The NAFSA Career Center is excited to host the International Education Virtual Career & College Fair!  Register today to find your next job, degree program, or professional development opportunity all from the comfort of your computer. From early-career professionals to experienced international officers, the Career and College Fair offers international educators the opportunity to take the next step by visiting virtual booths where you can engage in real-time conversations. This event is open to NAFSA members and non-members. Employers and Recruiters welcome, learn how you can be involved and host a booth! Details are provided at the same link above. 

NAFSA UPDATED PRIVACY POLICY

7/12/2018

NAFSA has improved how we collect and safeguard your personal data along with honoring your communication preferences. NAFSA is compliant with privacy regulations including CAN-SPAM, CASL, and GDPR. Please review NAFSA's updated Privacy Policy  and update your Communication Preferences to receive communications that matter to you.  We invite you to update your communication preferences. By updating your preferences, you also consent to continue receiving communications from NAFSA.  You may need to login to your MY NAFSA account at www.nafsa.org using your unique log-in to complete the process.

NAFSA REGION VII AWARD NOMINATIONS 2018

Closing Sept. 28th
Applications for the 2018 NAFSA Region VII awards are now open.  Region VII is now accpeting nominations for the following awards:
  • New Professional Award
  • International Excellence Award
  • Community Volunteer Award

Criteria and procedures for each award are here.


 

Submit nominations  here by 11:59 pm, September 28, 2018. 

 

Supporting letters can be emailed as scanned documents to Past Chair, Fred von Schmeling. 
RESUME REVIEWS & HEADSHOTS AT REGION VII CONFERENCE
 

 
Once again your Region VII Leadership Team is organizing its popular "Resume Review" at our annual conference in Memphis this November. You may also have your headshot updated on the spot if you wish. To pull it off, we need your participation in 2 ways.

1. Resume Review ers
 
Seeking experienced international educators to review resumes and share career advice with fellow IE professionals who are new to the field or interested in updating their resumes with yur feedback. 

Sign up to review now! Confirmations and rubrics will be sent out prior to the conference.
 
2. Resume Reviewees

Want to have your resume reviewed? Whether you are new to the field or a seasoned professional, sign up for a resume review session and be paired with an experienced NAFSA member who is willing to provide feedback on your resume, guidance and encouragement in your job hunt.
Sign up for a review (link opens Oct. 1 - 26th) 


Apply Now! REGION VII LEADERSHIP TEAM POSITIONS
 
Region VII currently has several leadership team member positions open. To view individual job descriptions, please visit the Get Involved page of the Region VII Website. The open positions are:
  1. New Position! Development Coordinator
  2. Chair Elect-Elect (email Fred VonSchmeling directly: [email protected])
  3. Regulatory Ombudsperson for Student Issues
  4. KCEA (Knowledge Community Education Abroad) Liaison
  5. LAC (Local Arrangements Chair / Co-Chairs) for Orlando

To Apply: email the current team member* for the position in which you are interested. Their contact information is here. Then:

  1. Complete this form which includes your statement of interest
  2. Send your curriculum vitae/resume to the current team member*
  3. Send a letter of support from your supervisor to the current team member*
2019 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
 
Do you have  innovative ideas and strategies to share with your fellow English language program colleagues throughout the country?  
 
Consider submitting a proposal for a poster or session at English USA's  2019 Annual Professional Development Conference (PDC) in San Francisco, CA! Deadline: Friday, September 7, 2018.
 
Proposals can be submitted at this link. Registration for the conference will open in early October.
We know that this will be a challenging year for programs to send faculty and staff to multiple conferences.  The EnglishUSA PDC is a great option because the focus is 100% on issues related to language programs, which also enriches the opportunities to network with colleagues during meals, between sessions, and at the reception.   
 
More information is available on our  website.  NOTE: Priority will be given to proposals submitted by EnglishUSA member programs.  If you are not sure whether your program is a member, please check out our Find a Program or contact us directly.

REGION VII STATE UPDATES
 
Please note: The following state updates from within Region VII derive from our 7 state associations, which are not associated with NAFSA.
 
GEORGIA 



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Georgia Lessons From Abroad  

We will be moving this year from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA to the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, GA. We are also looking for a few awesome people to help fill vacant positions! Also if you know anyone that might be interested in getting involved, please pass this along! If you are interested in serving in a role, please let me know! I've attached descriptions of each position for clarification, and feel free to let me know if you have any questions!
For positions we need to fill:
  •         Finance Chair
  •         Content Chair (can be co-chairs)
  •         Exhibitors/Sponsorships/Donations Chair (can be co-chairs)
  •         Marketing (we didn't have this position last year and this fell under School Liaisons
  •         Alabama State Liaison
  •         SC State Liaison
  •         School Liaison Chair
  •         Photo Contest Coordinator
For all details, please contact: Jessica Renard / [email protected] / T: 678-839-2726

Be sure to save September 30th on your calendar for this year's Lessons from Abroad!!
  
POSITION OPENINGS
The vacancies below are listed free as a courtesy but are not associated with paid listings in the NAFSA Career Center.  To add a position, email the Region VII communications coordinator with your request.   Additional vacancies in Region VII are posted in the  NAFSA Career Center . 
Your  state level associations may also post openings not  advertised through NAFSA.

Wofford College
Spartanburg, SC

North Carolina State University
Prague, Czech Republic (proficiency in Czech language required)

Check HR site for listing to go live, date TBD
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA

University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL     
 
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
 
CONNECT WITH REGION VII / SUBSCRIBE
Region VII Chairperson:  Erin Hillis 
 Region VII on  Facebook # likes:  1066 (+6)
Region VII Leadership Team
 Region VII on Instagram  #followers: 150
Region VII  Website 
 Region VII on Twitter  #followers: 365 (+1)
Region VII  Free Newsletter 
NAFSA membership not required.     # recipients:  2007 (+5)

Region VII Communications Coordinator: Brett Reichert.  Please submit newsletter updates to Brett by 5pm each Thursday.