Dear Carleton International Student,
Please confirm that you have received this email AND follow-up with what is
requested in the email/attached letter.
My name is (Mr) Luyen Phan and I have heard from some of you. I look forward to
communicating with all of you, and meeting you on September 1, 2010, at the
required International Student Orientation.
As your international student advisor, we will be in close contact with each
other before and after your arrival at Carleton. I am assisted by Ms. Brisa
Zubia, [email protected], and one of our international office assistants, Ms.
Sara Hooker, [email protected], who is working with us for the summer. Sara
is also one of 16 International Student Orientation Leaders that will mentor you
throughout your first term and beyond. We are part of the Office of
Intercultural and International Life, and you will meet the rest of the OIIL
office soon, http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/intercultural/.
You may have many questions, so please read the attached letter for further
instructions (I have also included in the email body below in case some of you
are not able to open the attachment). For now, please send me, if you haven't:
1. Contact information, address, frequently used email address 2. Copy of your
passport page (we are still missing from many of you) 3. Certification of Finance
Form (we are still missing from many of you), and if you have sent one already,
we need updated one (please read instructions below and in attachment) 4. Please
also let me know if you would like to share your information with the rest of the
international students of the Class of 2014, and the current students. Many of
them are excited to meet you and would like to be in contact with you, especially
if they are near you during the summer break or even went to your high school.
For those students with the above information and confirmed financing (please see
the letter) on your I-20 or DS-2019, we hope to send your visa information at the
end of next week.
Have a great weekend and I look forward to hearing back from you.
your patience as I get through all your emails.
Thanks for
Luyen Phan
----- IMPORTANT LETTER PLEASE READ ----Dear international student of the class of 2014,
Welcome to Carleton College! We look forward to meeting you on September 1, 2010,
for the required International Student Orientation (ISO). Please confirm that you
received this letter.
You have and will receive information from various Carleton offices about your
upcoming arrival and what the College will need from you. PLEASE READ THROUGH
EVERYTHING.
As your International Student Advisor, I am writing to you specifically about ISO
and being an international student at Carleton. ISO is a required for all who
will be in the U.S. on a visa and is September 1-6. On September 7 you will join
New Student Week, orientation for all new first-year and transfer students to
Carleton. Both events will help you in your transition to the U.S. and Carleton.
This letter covers some initial questions you may have, with more detailed
information to arrive later via other emails and mail. You can learn more about
orientation and other matters on our website, http://apps.carleton.edu/intl/.
1.
Contact Information – Please confirm with us your permanent mailing
address, and if you will be at a different address during June-August, provide us
that with mailing address as well. We need an actual street address and local
telephone number (including country code) to mail your visa and matriculation
package. Federal Express and other courier services will not deliver to post
office boxes. Please also provide me with an email address you will be checking
frequently, and if you have a preferred or nick name.
2.
Visa Application – In order for us to process your visa documentation, we
need you to send us these items, if you have not done so. You may email them to
[email protected]; fax to +1 507 222 7551 or mail them. For those who have
submitted the required documents we plan to send you your I-20 or DS-2019 in
early June.
a.
Passport photo page – Send us copy of this page. Your passport should be
valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry into the U.S. If you have
not applied for a passport, do so now.
b.
Certification of Finance Form – In order for Carleton to issue your I-20
for F-1 students or DS-2019 for J-1 visa exchange students/scholars, you must
submit this form. Please note that the Total Cost of Attendance at Carleton for
2010-11 is $56,665. Some of you have not submitted this form or an updated one
since you have been accepted. NOTE: if you previously submitted the
Certification of Finance Form to Carleton College, your family’s contribution
plus any other source of funding, including any Carleton financial aid awarded to
you, must be equal to or greater than $56,665 in order for us to issue your I-20
or DS-2019. Download the form at
http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/afford/international_scholarships/. (Note:
Canadian students do not need a visa, but they still need an I-20 or DS-2019 to
enter the U.S.)
c.
Visa interview appointment – It is recommended you make your appointment
for after June 15, as you should receive your I-20 or DS-2019 by then. However,
if you have not submitted the Certification of Finance Form or updated one, you
will not get your I-20 or DS-2019 until after June 15. The international student
website has information on how to apply for your visa. The matriculation package
you will receive will also include detailed instructions and documentation on how
to apply for your student visa.
d.
SEVIS Fee – It is fee that all international visitors must pay before the
interview appointment. You are responsible for paying this fee. If you are a
named scholar, e.g. Starr, Kellogg, Herman, etc., you will be reimbursed for the
SEVIS fee after you arrive on-campus and submit the receipt.
e.
Currently in U.S. on F or J Visa – If you are currently in the U.S. on an
F or J visa, you need to have your school official complete a Carleton TransferIn Request and have your school release your SEVIS record to Carleton. Please
contact me for the form and Carleton will need to issue you a new I-20 or DS2019.
3.
Health Insurance – All international students are required to enroll in
the Carleton Health insurance plan that will cover you from Aug 15, 2010-Aug 14,
2011.
The Wellness Center will send you instructions on how to purchase the
required health insurance. If you are named scholar, i.e., Starr, Kellogg,
Herman, etc., you will be reimbursed for the health insurance after you arrive at
Carleton with the receipt. Learn more about heath requirements at
http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/wellness/newstudents/.
4.
Orientation and Arrival – All international students are expected to
arrive at Carleton College on Sep 1, 2010, to begin the required International
Student Orientation. Transportation will be arranged from the Minneapolis/St.
Paul airport on that day only for those who complete the Arrival Form, on the
international student website. If you are coming with a family member or friend,
they will have to make their own arrangements. If you arrive in Minnesota or at
Carleton earlier than that date, you cannot check-in to the residence halls or
dormitories. You will be responsible for arranging your own accommodations
before Sep 1. You can visit this site for hotel and other visitor information,
http://apps.carleton.edu/visitors/.
5.
Arranging Your Flights and Carleton Academic Calendar – If possible, we
suggest you reserve or book your flights to/from the United States for now.
Also, if possible pay for your flight AFTER you have received your visa. If you
and your family need to reserve your return flight, visit the Carleton calendar,
http://apps.carleton.edu/calendar/academic/. As you will not know your
examination dates until after the term starts, we suggest you reserve a flight on
“Packing Day” as that is the last date after exams and when you have to leave the
dorms.
We strongly encourage you to explore the Carleton College website, especially the
international students site, http://apps.carleton.edu/intl/, for your questions.
If you have further questions after reading the information, please contact me.
If you have not, please send your passport page and (updated) Certification of
Finance Form. Again, if you have sent us the form, please make sure you have a
total of more than $56,665 from all your funding sources, including any Carleton
financial aid you have received.
I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, September 1, for International Student
Orientation.
Yours,
(Mr) Luyen Dinh Phan
-Luyen Dinh Phan
Associate Director
Office of Intercultural and International Life (OIIL)
1 North College Street
Northfield, MN 55057
[email protected]
1.507.222.4451 (phone) 1.507.222.7551 (fax)
www.carleton.edu/intl