南加大 (university of southern california)每年招收最多的台灣學生
南加大 (university of southern california)國際學生辦公室卻如此無禮的一而再再而三的誤導國際識聽

上次南加大 (university of southern california)國際學生辦公室
道歉了

這次南加大 (university of southern california)國際學生辦公室的無禮再次令台灣學生忿怒

以下是南加大國際學生辦公室的聯絡方式

Office of International Services
STU 300

USC
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0899
(213)740-2666
(213)740-5194
[email protected]

................................................................................................

以下是信中有關sars的部份 台灣被放在中國之內

SARS NEWS

Update on cases and countries re: SARS Cases and Deaths attributed to SARS

According to the World Health Organization, as of May 16, 2003, a cumulative total of 7739 probable SARS cases and 611 deaths have been reported from 29 countries. This represents an increase of 54 new cases and 13 deaths compared with yesterday. The new deaths occurred in China (4), Hong Kong SAR (4), and Taiwan, China (5). WHO experts interpret the decrease in case numbers as encouraging, but have cautioned against concluding that the city’s SARS cases were on a downward trend. They warned that misdiagnosis of cases could have contributed to the lower numbers of probable cases in recent days.

WHO officials fear that patients with milder symptoms of SARS are being excluded as probable cases.

Students from affected nations are encouraged by OIS to carefully discuss overseas travel plans with family members to determine whether you should travel home for the summer. There is no information available now that determines whether SARS would affect healthy students return to the U.S.

Students who are adverse to any risk at all from SARS or travel problems will probably choose to stay in the U.S. over the summer. Students who do not mind taking some risk on both counts may choose to travel. OIS would prefer that you make such an important decision in careful consultation with your parents and other family members.

Students who would like to discuss this matter with OIS after discussing this with family members may call (213)740-2666 to make an appointment with an OIS counselor.

*******************************************************

以下是信全文

The International Update is a weekly service provided by the Office of
International Services.

Email questions or comments to [email protected].

Office of International Services
STU 300
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0899
phone: (213) 740-2666
fax: (213) 740-5194
[email protected]

Tuesday, May 20, 2003

Contents:

A WORD FROM THE WISE:

*OIS Closed on Wednesdays Until Further Notice
* Recent Important Change Regarding Travel to Mexico
*SARS News
* An Update on I-20 Processing Status
*EAD Card Update

1. Native Speakers of Bulgarian Needed for A Linguistic Study
2. Optional Practical Training (OPT) Workshops for F-1 Students
3. Thank you for Updating your Addresses via OASIS
4. Information Update from National Customer Service Center (NCSC)
5. Take an On-Line Survey and get a chance to win a lottery
6. DHS Announces New U.S. VISIT System for Travelers as the Department Marks
Its First 100 Days
7. Department of Homeland Security Provides New Guidance on Curricular and
Optional Practical Training Concerns
8. DISCO International Chinese Career Forum
9. Career/Internship Opportunities for Japanese Speakers
10. Asymtek is seeking an Application Field Service Engineer
11. OIS and USC Closed on Monday for Memorial Day

***************************

A WORD FROM THE WISE:

OIS CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Due to continuing difficulties with the SEVIS system, OIS has decided that the staff
needs additional time to process documents and add students into the SEVIS system.
OIS is not alone in making this temporary modification of office hours. Many other
institutions with much smaller international populations have had to cut back on their
office hours siginificantly while they process documents without interruption.

Therefore each Wednesday for the foreseeable future, our office will be closed while
we process SEVIS documents from within. April, our information specialist and our
student assistants will be able to take your telephone calls each Wednesday
but the doors will remain closed for the full day each Wednesday. We encourage
students to pick up their documents on Tuesday or Thursday to avoid disappointment.
Please do not come to OIS and knock on our door on Wednesdays as we will be unable
to assist you at that time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we
cannot achieve essential government deadlines without such modifications.

************

RECENT IMPORTANT CHANGE REGARDING TRAVEL TO MEXICO

Dear International Students,

OIS has just received important information from the US Bureau of Customs and
Border Protection (BCBP) formerly the US Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Students returning from Mexico with an unstamped SEVIS I-20 must have a VALID
F-1 VISA or they will be denied entry to the US. An unstamped SEVIS I-20 is one
that was issued to you by the ISC, but has not been processed and stamped by the
BCBP.

Students with a valid F-1 visa for multiple entries have two choices:
1) Use the SEVIS I-20 to re-enter the US. You will be required to pay $6.00 to
obtain a new I-94 form, and will be sent to Secondary Inspection. This process could
take only a few minutes or several hours.
2) Use the old I-20 as long as it is still valid. You will not be issued a new I-94 form.

Students with an expired F-1 visa have one choice:
1) Use the old I-20 as long as it is still valid. You will not be issued a new I-94 form

After August 1, 2003 using the old I-20 will no longer be an option, and students must use
the SEVIS I-20 at all times. If the SEVIS I-20 is unstamped, students must have a valid
F-1 visa to return from Mexico. Automatic Visa Revalidation is no longer an option for
students with unstamped I-20s.

If your visa will expire in the near future, and you plan to visit Mexico, we advise you to go
to Mexico before your visa expires to have your SEVIS I-20 stamped.

If you wish to avoid any possible problems, do not travel to Mexico during this time of transition.
We will keep you posted on any further changes.

**********

SARS NEWS

Update on cases and countries re: SARS Cases and Deaths attributed to SARS

According to the World Health Organization, as of May 16, 2003, a cumulative
total of 7739 probable SARS cases and 611 deaths have been reported from
29 countries. This represents an increase of 54 new cases and 13 deaths
compared with yesterday. The new deaths occurred in China (4), Hong Kong
SAR (4), and Taiwan, China (5). WHO experts interpret the decrease in case
numbers as encouraging, but have cautioned against concluding that the city’s
SARS cases were on a downward trend. They warned that misdiagnosis of cases
could have contributed to the lower numbers of probable cases in recent days.
WHO officials fear that patients with milder symptoms of SARS are being excluded
as probable cases.

Students from affected nations are encouraged by OIS to carefully discuss overseas
travel plans with family members to determine whether you should travel home for
the summer. There is no information available now that determines whether SARS
would affect healthy students return to the U.S.

Students who are adverse to any risk at all from SARS or travel problems will probably
choose to stay in the U.S. over the summer. Students who do not mind taking some
risk on both counts may choose to travel. OIS would prefer that you make such an
important decision in careful consultation with your parents and other family members.

Students who would like to discuss this matter with OIS after discussing this with family
members may call (213)740-2666 to make an appointment with an OIS counselor.

************

AN UPDATE ON I-20 PROCESSING STATUS

If you are leaving the country and reentering the U.S. prior to August 1,
2003 (and your visa is still valid) you do not need to apply for a new SEVIS
I-20 at this time. We can simply sign the back of your current I-20.

If you are leaving the U.S. prior to June 4 and returning on or after August
1, and you have not submitted your request for a new I-20, we may have a
difficult situation to resolve.

Please bring a self-addressed stamped envelope (Airmail stamps) with you to
OIS as we may need to mail your new SEVIS I-20 to you. Please come to OIS
immediatelywith your request. If we are just signing the back of your old I-20 for
travel if you are returning prior to Aug. 1, this is not a problem.

If you are leaving the US on June 4 and returning on or after August 1, you
must hand your new I-20 request in no later than Wednesday, May 14 (tomorrow).

If you are leaving the U.S. on June 25, you must hand in your I-20 request, no
later than June 4. etc, etc.

Important: Please bring a copy of your visa and proof of funding if you are
an RA or TA or getting a scholarship when you apply for a new I-20.

If your funding is personal, we do not require updated funding but we still need a copy
of your visa.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. As we have been trying
to advise you all semester, that this is a very challenging time for OIS and we are
working very long days to meet the requirements of SEVIS. Thank you for your
patience and understanding.

************

EAD CARD UPDATE

It has come to our attention that the California Service Center BCIS is now mailing
12 month EAD cards to people who submitted applications to them in January 2003.

This is terrific news that students can currently receive their EAD cards within
4 months of submission. Let’s hope this continues.

However, this means that if you go to BCIS LA or Santa Ana and they determine
that your card has just been mailed to you, they will not assist you in getting an
8 month interim card.

Therefore students should check the status of their application on line.

Finding the Status of Your Case
If you have an application receipt number, you can check the status of your case online.

https://egov.immigration.gov/graphics/cris/jsps/caseStat.jsp;jsessionid=aqBx_QyeXdMb

**************

1. NATIVE SPEAKERS OF BULGARIAN NEEDED FOR A LINGUISTIC STUDY

Native speakers of Bulgarian needed for a linguistics study
I am a PhD student of linguistics studying second language acquisition. For my preliminary
thesis research I need to collect college papers on any subject written by Bulgarian students
in order to design a linguistic study. My faculty supervisor is Professor Zubizarreta.

If you are interested in participating, please email Milena
Thanks!

************

2. OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT) WORKSHOPS FOR F-1 STUDENTS

August 2003 graduates should now be attending OPT workshops and are eligible to apply
for OPT. Do not delay-there is no advantage to you to do so.

Please be sure to bring your student ID, paper to take notes on, a pencil and
a black ink pen to the OPT workshop.

May 2003 Workshop Schedule

Date Time Location

Thur, May 22 11 am VKC 102
Tue, May 27 10am VKC 102

Although we have other dates for Summer OPT workshops we are finalizing the locations,
please check the International Update next week for these workshops.

Please do not attend the OPT workshop without pre-registering by phone.
Please call (213)740-2666 to reserve your space. This schedule is subject to
change. For the latest information, contact OIS.

************

3. THANK YOU FOR UPDATING YOUR ADDRESSES VIA OASIS

As we alerted all of you last week in a special International Update addendum:
Effective immediately, all students on F and J visas will need to maintain 3 correct
addresses in the Universitys database. This requirement is also required for USC students
graduating in May 2003 and planning to work on OPT or taking a higher degree program
at USC. Only students who return to their home country permanently after May 2003
graduation do not need to update these three addresses.

Necessary steps to correct/update your address information:

1) Go to the link https://camel.usc.edu/updtaddr/ to access OASIS address update page

2) Follow the instruction to log on your USC online account.

Local Address:
This is the physical location in the United States at which you currently live. Under
BCIS regulations, this cannot be a post office box or a campus office address.
It must be your actual residence address.

Permanent Address:
This is the address used for all official correspondence by the University. Tuition bills
and other similar information are sent to this address. There are no BCIS policies on
this address, but each student must maintain a valid permanent address.

Foreign Address:
This is a new address type required of every F and J visa holder. The SEVIS
Permanent Foreign Address needs to be your permanent address outside of
the United States.

We require you to update these addresses by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 23rd,
2003. Failure to do this in a timely manner will impede OIS in changing over
to the more efficient batch processing system and slows us down in processing
essential documents for you.

If you are not familiar with using OASIS, this is a good time to familiarize yourself
with this web-based process. Go to the Universitys home page, www.usc.edu
and click on the link for OASIS. You will find excellent instructions on how to
use the system.

A very tiny fraction of our students reported that they received error messages.
In this case it is probably one of two problems: either everyone was trying to
change the info at the same time and there was an overload or you have a
problem with your account. Try one or two more times and if you are still not
successful, you may have a problem with your account that needs to be fixed.
In that case please contact Oasis by email at [email protected]
or
visit the Registration Office in person or call them at (213)740-8500.

Please do not call OIS for problems with the OASIS account as we do not have the
necessary access or expertise to assist you.

After May 23rd, 2003, you will continue to be able to update your Local, Permanent,
and Foreign addresses through OASIS.

Please continue to help us with all we need to do during this time of change in BCIS
processing by promptly and correctly updating your addresses.

We are delighted that so many international students have helped us by updating their
addresses. The sooner the rest of our students provide us with address updates, the
sooner we can switch to the more efficient batch processing of I-20s and the faster
we can process your documents.

Thank you very much,
Office of International Services
University of Southern California

************

4. INFORMATION UPDATE FROM THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE
CENTER (NCSC)

Through the NCSC, BCIS provides nationwide assistance by telephone to customers
calling from within the United States about immigration services and benefits.
Service is available in English and Spanish. Most often USC students would call
the NCSC to request information regarding their pending OPT application. Students
could also contact NCSC for information regarding pending change of status and H-1
applications or just to seek general information.

Numbers to Call
You can call the BCIS toll-free for automated information and live assistance
concerning immigration services and benefits.

Telephone number: 1-800-375-5283
TTY number is: 1-800-767-1833

Hours of Operation:

Customers can access automated information through a menu of automated options
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During regular business hours, customers who need
more information or general assistance can be transferred to a customer service representative.

Live assistance is available Monday through Friday as follows:
Customers calling from California: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time.

The best days to call the NCSC for personal assistance are Tuesday through Friday.

Telephone Assistance on Pending Applications.

In addition to general information and assistance, customers with pending
applications for immigration benefits can simply call the NCSC. When you call,
please have your A-number, any receipt number issued by INS, and the last notice
you received relating to your case.

************

5. TAKE AN ON-LINE SURVEY GET A CHANCE TO WIN A LOTTERY

Participate in an online survey research and get a chance to win a lottery. This online
survey will form a part of an academic research project undertaken by Prof. Valerie
Folkes and a doctoral student, Shashi Matta, at the Marshall School of Business
(USC UPIRB # 03-03-079). The objective of this survey is to construct a scale on
perceptions of groups, which will then be used in other studies in the same research
project.

The online survey will take approx 20 minutes and you can take this survey at:
http://www.survey.consumerthink.com

Participation is voluntary. You will be entered into a lottery with three prizes of $100,
$50 and $25. If you volunteer to be in this study, you may withdraw at any time without
consequences of any kind.

Completion and return of the questionnaire or response to the survey questions will
constitute consent to participate in this research project. Any information that is
obtained in connection with this study will remain completely anonymous.

If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please feel free to
contact Shashi Matta at [email protected]

************

6. DHS ANNOUNCES NEW U.S. VISIT SYSTEM FOR TRAVELERS AS THE
DEPARTMENT MARKS ITS FIRST 100 DAYS

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Office of the Press Secretary
April 29, 2003
For Immediate Release

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced the launch of the new U.S. VISIT
system as he discussed the Departments first 100 days. In a speech in Washington,
the Secretary outlined the Departments plan to create a new entry-exit system backed
by 21st century technology. The U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indication Technology
system (U.S. VISIT) is designed to make entering the U.S. easier for legitimate tourists,
students and business travelers, while making it more difficult to enter the U.S. illegally
through the implementation of biometrically authenticated documents.

Drawing heavily on developing technologies and scientific capabilities, the system will
utilize a minimum of two biometric identifiers, such as photographs, fingerprints or iris
scans, to build an electronic check in/check out system for people coming to the U.S.
to work, study or visit. The U.S. VISIT system will replace the currently existing
NSEERS program, integrate the SEVIS program, and encompass the Congressional
requirements of the automated entry exit system.

The U.S. VISIT System is a critical new border security and enforcement tool that will
capture point of entry and exit information on visitors. The system will be in its first
phase of operation at international air and sea ports of entry by the end of 2003.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

***********

7. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PROVIDES UPDATE ON CURRICULAR
OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING CONCERNS

As mentioned in last week’s International Update, BCIS and NAFSA were debating regarding
the use of part time curricular practical training and under SEVIS it is very difficult now for a
student to request just a portion of their twelve months of OPT and then go back later to
request the additional OPT.

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued its opinion on
both these matters.

In the case of the effect of excessive part-time curricular practical
training on eligibility for optional practical training, the DHS confirmed
that only more than twelve months of full-time curricular practical
training, not part-time curricular practical training, is counted towards
the restriction on availability of optional practical training.

In the matter of requesting an extension of post-completion optional
practical training if only a portion of the twelve-month allotment had
been requested before, The DHS confirmed that students may still engage in
this practice, but that SEVIS would need to be modified to accommodate it.
The problem arises if the students completion date on the I-20 used to
authorize the first portion of OPT has passed.

Until the modifications are put in place, students seeking to extend their
OPT but whose I-20 completion dates have already passed will need to seek
the assistance of the OIS staff. Such an application will require the OIS
staff to contact the SEVIS administrators for a record adjustment.

************

8. DISCO INTERNATIONAL CHINESE CAREER FORUM

About DISCO and our Career Forums:
Disco International, Inc. was established in 1989 as a human resources firm
specializing in Japanese-English bilingual recruitment. For over a decade, we
have built our expertise by connecting 100,000 plus candidates with cutting-
edge companies. Attending our Career Forum, the worlds largest Japanese-
English bilingual job fair, has become a tradition for bilingual students
seeking career opportunities worldwide.

As a continuation of our relentless effort in developing and cultivating a
bilingual community, we have launched a new market expansion to providing the
Chinese Career Forum for Chinese-English bilingual students.

This event is planned for July 12 - 13, 2003, at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel.

The Chinese Career Forum is an event for Chinese-English bilinguals who have
earned Master degrees by 2004 and are interested in returning to China to
work. This includes Master degrees students as well as mid-career professionals.

30 companies, mostly Fortune 500 companies with subsidiaries in China and/or
international companies, will be participating.

The Career Forum is different from conventional job fairs. Some companies will have
representatives coming directly from China to hire. Interviews will be held at the career
forum and some companies will be making on-site offers.

For more information, please visit: www.chinesecareerforum.net.

Registration is free and on-line registration has already begun.

DISCO International, Inc.

If you have any questions regarding the Chinese Career Forum,
please email us at [email protected].

************

9. CAREER/INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR JAPANESE SPEAKERS

A brand new recruiting event is coming soon. Meet forward-thinking global
companies who are eager to hire highly educated bilingual/bicultural students like you.

Go to www.deFactoNY.com/flashecard.html and find out how you can determine
your future now.

Also, enter to win one-of-five free roundtrip tickets to Japan.

deFacto New York, Inc.

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

10. ASYMTEK IS SEEKING AN APPLICATION/FIELD ENGINEER

WHO ARE WE?
Asymtek®, a world leader in automated fluid dispensing, designs and manufactures
a full line of equipment for semiconductor package assembly, printed circuit board
assembly, opto-electronics assembly, and precision industrial manufacturing. Our
mission is to maintain a leading role in dispensing technology by consistently providing
innovative, quality solutions that exceed our customers needs and expectations.

Our customers use our dispensing products for semiconductor package and printed
circuit board assembly as well as automotive, medical, aerospace, appliance and other
industrial manufacturing. We also supply motion control systems for use in other
automation equipment. Asymtek equipment dispenses fluids on familiar products from
companies such as Advanced Micro Devices, Amkor, ASE, Black & Decker, Bose,
Breed Automotive, Celestica, Delco-Delphi, Denso Manufacturing, Ericsson, Flextronics,
Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Lucent, Medtronics, Motorola, Murata, Nokia, Philips, Radisys,
Regina, Seagate Technology, Scientific Atlanta, Siemens, Solectron, SPIL, Standard
Motor Products, and Stratasys. Materials dispensed include adhesives, epoxies, pastes,
and sealants in the assembly process. To learn more about Asymtek, please visit our
website at www.asymtek.com.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Application/Field Service Engineer
We are seeking a highly motivated, customer driven, and independent individual to work
out of our sales and service office in Japan. This position supports Asymtek products
in all aspects of its use. Also, performs demonstrations and provides application support
for customers.

Job Summary:
· Onsite repair of products to module level
· Installation of equipment
· Support customer buy off activities
· Travel to trade shows and customer sites
· Provide Customer training on existing and new products
· Hosts customer visits, assess customers technical requirements, and make sure that
quotes and orders meet those requirements.
· Serves as liaison between Japanese customer base and main factory; works to ensure
customer needs are satisfied.
· Troubleshoots customer equipment issues; uses a variety of resources to ensure problem
resolution to the customers satisfaction.

The ideal candidate will meet the following qualifications:

· Engineering degree or equivalent from four-year college or university; or one to
two years related experience and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
· Computer literacy; experience with Microsoft Office products.
· A Japanese National fluent in English and Japanese; strong Japanese business/technical
communications skills.
· Must be willing to travel up to 50% of the time.
· Live and work in Japan.

HOW TO APPLY!
For immediate consideration to join our dynamic team, please submit your resume
with salary history (in plain text format) via email to [email protected]. No agencies
please. EOE

**************

11. OIS AND USC CLOSED MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY

Memorial Day, which is Monday May 26 is a U.S. federal holiday. All University
offices, including the Office of International Services, will be closed that day.

A Little History:
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those
who have died in our nations service. Memorial Day was first observed on May 30,
1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at
Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was
New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The
South did not acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until
after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died
fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war).

The holiday is traditionally marked by parades, memorial speeches and ceremonies,
and the decoration of graves with flowers and flags. It is now celebrated in almost
every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday
Act, P.L. 90 - 363, in 1971 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays),
though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the
Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis birthday) in
Louisiana and Tennessee.

Memorial Day is much more than a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of
summer. To many people, especially the nations thousands of combat veterans,
this day, which has a history stretching back all the way to the Civil War, is an
important reminder of those who died in the service of their country.

To help Americans re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of
Memorial Day, the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed on
Dec. 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans To voluntarily and
informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing
from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to “Taps”.

************

Office of International Services
STU 300
USC
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0899
(213)740-2666
(213)740-5194
[email protected]