University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Following these six simple tips makes the process go much smoother and saves a lot of time in the end:

1. Wait 10 days after you arrive in the United States. You may want to apply for a driver’s license or SSN right away, but be patient. The 10-day wait allows time for all the government databases to update with your arrival information.
2. Know what you are applying for and if you are eligible. While you are waiting, talk with OIS to learn more about Arkansas’ driving rules and regulations. If you want an SSN, please come to OIS and confirm that you are eligible before you apply.
3. Make sure your record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is up-to-date and in Active status. OIS manages an F or J nonimmigrant’s SEVIS record. OIS will place your record in Active status after you completed the check-in process. Talk with OIS before you apply for a license or SSN to make sure your record is Active in SEVIS. If your record is not Active when you apply, your application will be rejected.
4. Check your forms. Check all your forms to make sure your information is correct. This is data integrity. Data integrity is very important because if you have different information on different forms, it will cause delays. Specifically, check your Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” for handwritten information. If the information on your Form I-94 is different than on your passport or Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” or Form DS-2019, “Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status,” please see the DMV Fact Sheet for more information.
5. Wait two days after OIS activates your record in SEVIS. After your DSO or RO/ARO activates your record in SEVIS, you should wait at least two federal business days before you apply for a driver’s license or SSN. This gives all the databases time to update with your new information.
6. Bring all your paperwork. When you go to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) – the common name for a state government office that issues driver’s licenses – or to the Social Security office, remember to bring all your paperwork. For most states, the paperwork includes these documents:
   • Form I-20 or Form DS-2019
   • Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record”
   • Passport (with visa, if applicable)
   • Proof of legal presence or residence

For an SSN, you must also bring a letter of employment and an endorsed Form I-20 (for F students). Exchange visitors should consult with OIS first to make sure the Social Security Administration requires a letter of employment for the J category.

These six tips should help you get your driver’s license or SSN without having any major problems. If you are interested in specific details about F-2 or J-2 dependents, please see page 8 of the DMV Fact Sheet. Always talk with OIS before you try to apply.

Learn More

Driving in the United States
http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/resources/driving/
Obtaining a Social Security Number (SSN)
http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/resources/social-security-number/
DMV Fact Sheet
http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/dmv_factsheet.pdf

Job Description

Description: The internship program allows the student to integrate traditional academic work with real world experience. Internships provide professional field experience related to the student’s major emphasis area. Internships are defined within the academic department. Admissions and other requirements are set by each department. For more information on the Campus Eco-Rep internship position, contact the UALR Sustainability Committee and we will work with the academic department through which the internship is desired.

Supervisor: Reports to Chair of Sustainability Committee or Committee representative (i.e., Chair of Student Engagement subcommittee, Chair of Curriculum & Research subcommittee). Also reports to departmental internship faculty advisor.

Hours: approximately 10 hours per week
Location: TBA
Salary: volunteer, unpaid; $750 scholarship to cover tuition and fees for a 3-hour undergraduate internship class

Duties:
1. Attend all Sustainability Committee meetings.
2. Assist the Graduate Assistant Eco-Rep in carrying out assignments and duties from the Sustainability Committee (i.e., Farm2Work or other programs).
3. Active participation and leadership role in the Student Engagement subcommittee and other subcommittees that interest you.
4. Project management of student competitions, student programs, and other student-focused activities of the Committee.
5. Lead and/or assist in peer-to-peer student sustainability education program (i.e., “Choices for Sustainable Living” discussion course for students).
6. Serve as a campus student leader and role model in sustainability.
7. Serve as liaison between Sustainability Committee, student body, Student Engagement subcommittee, and other sustainability-focused student activities or groups on campus (Campus Life, Housing, Net Impact, Global Issues, etc.).
8. Assist with social media sites (website, Facebook, blog, etc.).
9. Work with Communications on stories and press releases related to Committee activities and campus sustainability.
10. Work cooperatively with other Eco-Reps (graduate assistants and undergraduate interns).
11. Other duties as required by department internship.
12. Other duties as assigned by Sustainability Committee.

Requirements:
1. Undergraduate student at UALR.
2. Enroll in a department class for internship credit. We will work cooperatively with your chosen department to meet internship requirements. This is a full-semester internship. You may not drop the class, but you may request an incomplete and finish the internship in the next consecutive semester.

To apply:
Submit a resume and cover letter to sustainability@ualr.edu no later than December 15, 2011.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/25/opinion/wilkinson-jobs-immigration/index.html

There’s still time for you to enter the 2011 InternationalStudent.com Travel Video Contest, offering a $4,000 first prize. Video entries must be received by October 31, 2011.

This contest is a great opportunity to showcase their creativity and story-telling skills. In addition to the cash prize, the winner also gets a blog on InternationalStudent.com for the duration of their international education.

For full details, visit: http://www.internationalstudent.com/contest

To see past winners, visit: http://www.internationalstudent.com/contest/previous_winners

The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes available up to 55,000 diversity visas (DVs) annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

DV-2013 Registration Period

You may register for the DV program through this website from noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), October 4, 2011, until noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), November 5, 2011. See the Diversity Visa Program Instructions webpage for more information

Diversity Visa Scammers Sending Fraudulent Emails and Letters

The Department of State, Office of Visa Services, advises the public of a notable increase in fraudulent emails and letters sent to Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) program (Visa Lottery) applicants. The scammers behind these fraudulent emails and letters are posing as the U.S. government in an attempt to extract payment from DV applicants. Review the procedures for the DV program provided below, so that you know what to expect, when to expect it, and from whom.

source: Diversity Visa (DV) Program: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html