EMBASSY OF THE STATE OF KUWAIT

CULTURAL DIVISION

3500 International Drive, N.W., Washing= ton, D.C. 20008 Telephone: (202) 364-2100 Fax: (202) 363-8394/ (202) 362-4379

STUDENTS:

YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS REQUES= TED

REGARDING U.S. IMMIGRATION VIOLATIONS

In light of recent detentions of Kuwaiti student= s by U.S. Immigration Authorities, you are reminded that you must adhere to U.S. Immigration Law or face similar consequences. The majority of the detentio= ns are based on students being “Out of Status” due to under-enrollment, poor attendance, and failure to follow proper university transfer procedure= .

You are further reminded that if you intend to m= ake changes in your enrollment, registration or coursework, you must first check with t= he International Student Office to ascertain that these changes are in keeping with U.S. Immigration regulations.

With best wishes for a pleasant summer vacation and/or your summer school enrollment.

Hasan Nasrallah, Ph.D.

Cultural Counselor/Director

Further Details on Immigration Update

United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has recently detained a number of Kuwaiti students for violating U.S. Immigration Law. The Cultural Office in Washington, D.C. would like to remind students in the Un= ited States that they must abide by U.S. Immigration regulations or face adverse consequences including detention and possible deportation from the United States. The following are the most frequent violations that could lead to U= .S. Immigration action:

1. All students must complete a full = course of study each semester. A full course of student is defined as completion of 12 semester credits (15 quart= er credits) for undergraduate students and 9 semester credits (12 quarter cred= its) for graduate students.

2. Obtain U.S. Immigration Service ap= proval through the International Programs Office of your universities before transferring universities or changing degree programs. Students must obtain a new I-20 fo= r each university transfer or change in academic program level (bachelor’s to master’s).

3. Students must depart the United St= ates if they are not enrolled in a college or university e.g. students who are dismissed or suspended by the university must leave the U.S. immediately.

4. Students must depart the United St= ates within 60 days of completing their degree programs.

5. Students must inform the Internati= onal Programs Office of their universities of any change in their addresses in o= rder to update their SEVIS (Immigration database) record as required by USCIS.

6. Students’ passports must be = kept valid at all times.

Students are remind= ed that any action relating to their academic studies, such as dropping a cour= se or leaving the United States must be sanctioned by the International Progra= ms Office of their universities to make sure that they are in compliance with = U.S. Immigration Law.

The Cultural Office urges all students to make every effort to comply with the law. =