Se acerca el momento

From Laurel Logue
Subject: AASU Pre Arrival Info
Dear Jose:

PLEASE PRINT AND READ THE FOLLOWING!!

Welcome, we're glad you have chosen to study at Armstrong Atlantic State University and we look forward to meeting you. While your admission’s application is being processed, please look through the following information. There are tips that may be helpful in planning your trip to the U.S. and Savannah.



DATE OF ARRIVAL:

Please plan to arrive NO LATER THAN AUGUST 6th, 2005. Classes begin on Monday, August 15, 2005. If you have reserved a room on campus at one of the residence halls Compass Point, University Crossing or University Terrace, check-in will begin Saturday, August 6, 2005. Check-in is from 12:00am-6:00pm. Please note on the Arrival Notification Form your arrival information in order for us to make arrangements for your check-in.



ORIENTATION:

ORIENTATION is REQUIRED for ALL STUDENTS. There are two sessions, you must attend both:

1. Monday, August 8, 2005, is a C.H.A.O.S. session for all students. THIS IS MANDATORY! Please bring your PASSPORT, I-20 or DS-2019, I-94 CARD, and PROOF of HEALTH INSURANCE to the CHAOS Session and a copy of the ID page of your passport, a copy of the visa page in your passport, a copy of your entire I-20 or DS-2019, a copy of the front and back of your I-94 card, and a copy of your insurance card front and back. You will not be able to register until you have submitted these documents to one of the International Education staff members.

2. Wednesday, August 10, 2005, is International Student Orientation. THIS IS MANDATORY! *

*You will be notified of the exact times and locations at a later date.



TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS:

We recommend that you make arrangements to fly into the Savannah International Airport. The airlines that fly into Savannah are American Airlines, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, and US Airways. As soon as you have made your travel arrangements, please return the enclosed Arrival Notification Form by fax: (912) 921-5914 or email loguelau@mail.armstrong.edu. . The deadline for submitting the Arrival Notification form is Friday, July 29, 2005. If you are not planning to attend AASU, please notify us immediately.



TRANSPORTATION TO AASU:

Taxi’s are available to AASU from the airport for approximately $35.00.



SHOPPING TRIP:

There will be one or two scheduled shopping trips to the local department/grocery store. We will provide transportation for international students to and from the store. We will notify you after your arrival of the shopping schedule.



IMMUNIZATIONS:

If you have not already completed the Certificate of Immunization, you must have the form completed immediately upon arrival.



MEDICAL INSURANCE:

You are required to have medical insurance. Upon arrival at AASU, you are required to show proof of health/medical insurance. If you do not have medical insurance, you may purchase it through AASU. You may purchase the AASU medical insurance at International Student Orientation on Wednesday, August 10, 2005.



IMMIGRATION:

You should carry your passport, I-20 or DS-2019, and I-94 with you at all times. Be sure that you read all pages of your I-20 or DS-2019 form. Please be aware that there are customs regulations concerning the types of goods you may bring into the U.S. If you have questions concerning U.S. Customs, please contact your travel agent or the nearest U.S. Embassy.



F-1 VISA INFO:

If you have not already, you should receive your I-20 in the mail shortly. To apply for an F-1 student visa: take your I-20 and supporting documents (Letter of Acceptance, valid passport, financial certification documents, academic records) to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please check with the embassy in advance, most require appointments. Also, check to see if any additional documents are required at the particular Embassy/Consulate you plan to visit. Be prepared for a short interview.

Once you have received your F-1 visa, you will be prepared to travel. You must travel with your official I-20. Please remember to sign and date your I-20 on the bottom of page 1 in BLUE INK. When you enter the U.S., the border official should take your I-20 and stamp it in the upper right hand corner with a date of entry. The I-20 will then be returned to you. DO NOT ENTER ON A TOURIST VISA. If you are unsure about the visa process, please contact your local U.S. Embassy, Consulate, or Jill Bell-Marriott at AASU (912) 927-5277.



J-1 VISA INFO:

If you have not already, you should receive your DS-2019 form in the mail shortly. To apply for a J-1 exchange visitor visa: Most likely you will need to make an appointment for an in person interview, take your DS-2019 and supporting documents (Letter of Acceptance, valid passport, academic records, evidence of financial support) to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the day of your interview. Check with the Embassy or Consulate to see if they require any additional documents. You are required to have both the DS-2019 and a valid J-1 visa in your passport to enter the United States. DO NOT ENTER ON A TOURIST VISA. If you are unsure about the visa process, please contact your local U.S. Embassy, Consulate, or Jill Bell-Marriott at AASU (912) 927-5277.

At the port of entry, the immigration official will stamp your passport and DS-2019. Please keep the DS-2019 with your passport; it is necessary for identification while you are in the U.S. We also recommend that you make a copy of this document and keep it in a safe place, in case the original document is lost or stolen.



I-94 CARD:

All F-1 and J-1 visa holders will complete a small white card on the airplane. This card is called an I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. This card displays the date of entry, place of entry, your student status (F-1 or J-1), an eleven-digit admission number, and your duration of stay. Please make certain that the immigration official staples the I-94 inside your passport. DO NOT LOSE THIS DOCUMENT, it is important and is expensive to replace.


US INCOME TAX RETURNS:
All F-1 and J-1 visa holders are required to file a US Income Tax Return each year postmarked by April 15th. Regardless of your income, you should file federal Form 8843. Additionally, if you have income (either a scholarship or from an on campus job), you should file federal Form 1040NR or 1040NREZ. You also need to file a Georgia State Income Tax Return. For state tax returns, you will use either GA Form 500 or GA Form 500EZ.

If you receive a scholarship and a portion of your scholarship covers housing and food, that portion is considered taxable income. You will receive a Form 1042-S in the mail at the beginning of each year, which is sent by the organization/institution who issues your scholarship. Form 1042-S shows the breakdown of your scholarship money. The form should be mailed with your federal income tax return.

If you have an on campus job, you will receive a Form W-2 in the mail by January 31 each year. This form shows the amount of money you made during the year and the amount of tax you paid, if any. One copy of the W-2 should be mailed with your federal income tax return and one copy should be mailed with your state income tax return.



CLOTHING:

The weather in Savannah is generally mild. During the summer it is hot and humid, while the winter is cool and generally mild. The average winter temperature is 50° F/ 10°C, while the average summer temperature is 80°F/ 27°C. In the summer, it is also very humid, and it is not uncommon for temperatures to hover around 100°F/ 38°C in July and August. Most students find blue jeans and shorts worn with tee shirts appropriate for attending class. You may also want to bring some formal clothing (suits for men/dresses for women) for social or religious functions you may choose to attend. You will need a medium-weight coat for the winter, but it is not necessary to bring heavy woolens. If you forget something or find you need to supplement your wardrobe once you arrive, there are many clothing stores in Savannah. An umbrella is also useful in Savannah. **You may also want to bring a traditional costume from your country for international events on campus.**



ITEMS FROM YOUR COUNTRY:

The International Student Organization and the Office of International Education sponsor many events throughout the year. In addition to bringing a traditional costume, you may also want to bring items native to your country such as jewelry, artwork, dolls, games, weavings, nic-nacs, books, maps, photographs, slides, etc.



HELPFUL HINTS ON SAFETY:

While traveling, do not carry items for anyone that you do not know. Do not leave your belongings unattended at any time. We recommend that you keep your money, passport, ID, travel documents, and any other important documents on your person at all times.



RESIDENCE HALLS: (If you have reserved a room for yourself prior to your arrival)

Payment for your room must be received the day you check-in.


Residence Halls will open Saturday, August 6, 2004 for move-in. You may check-in between 12:00am and 6:00pm. Payment can be made by semester or by month. The total for the year is $4980. Payments can be made by CHECK, MONEY ORDER or TRAVELERS CHEQUES ONLY. Each Apartment is equipped with furniture. The living room has a sofa, chair, tables, and an entertainment center. Most residence hall rooms have a dining table as well. Each bedroom has a bed, dresser, desk and chair. You will have your own private bedroom and you may share a bathroom with one other person. Some recommended items for your residence hall room (which can be purchased here after your arrival) are: <>

Extra long twin sheets, pillow, blanket
Hangers
Desk Lamp
Rug--although most rooms are carpeted
Small TV
Phone
Calling Card for long distance
Plate, cup, bowl, utensils
Pots & pans
Cooking utensils

MEAL PLANS:

Residence hall rooms are equipped with full kitchens or kitchenettes. If you live on campus you are required to purchase a minimum meal plan of $300 per semester. If you live off campus, you may also purchase a meal plan (declining balance account) through the cafeteria. Forms are available at the Cafeteria.



EXPENSES:

Fees for Fall semester MUST BE PAID during the week of August 8, 2005, the day you register for classes. There are absolutely NO EXCEPTIONS to this deadline. Tuition can be paid by cash, traveler's check, check, or credit card.
Traveler's checks are the easiest way to carry money since you can almost instantly convert a traveler's check into cash. If you do not prefer to carry traveler's checks, some students prefer to bring three checks for payment of fees: 1. Payable to AASU for tuition, 2. Payable to Compass Point for housing, 3. Personal check to open a bank account. DO NOT CARRY LARGE AMOUNTS OF CASH. If you bring a certified check, expect the bank to require several days before you receive cash for the check. To avoid lengthy delays in the processing of your check, please make sure the check has a bank routing number at the bottom of the check. Another option is to use your credit card; however, you may not pay for on campus housing at the residence halls with your credit card. Some credit cards will automatically convert your purchase in dollars to the currency of your home country at the current exchange rate of the day. Please check with your personal credit card company to insure this option. Savannah has an abundance of Automatic Teller Machines that dispense cash if you have a card from your bank, which allows you access to this type of machine.

If you have reserved a room on campus, you must pay for your housing on campus by semester or by month. Residence hall payments must be made via check, travelers check or money order.



PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

Within walking distance from AASU there are: restaurants, a mall, fast food, a supermarket, banks, a hospital, doctors, cinemas, pharmacies, dentists, and Places of Worship. If you would like to travel to downtown Savannah or other areas of the city, the CAT (Chatham Area Transit) bus system is available for transportation.



ACADEMIC INFORMATION:

For a list of courses and other academic information, please visit http://www.ship.armstrong.edu. You may also view the academic calendar at https://cove.armstrong.edu/cal_public/month.php?current=1&ts=1117827761 For other information regarding Armstrong Atlantic State University please visit http://www.armstrong.edu/. The Office of International Education can be located at http://www.intl.armstrong.edu/.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to email me loguelau@mail.armstrong.edu or call me at (912) 921-5671. We hope you have a safe trip to the U.S. and look forward to meeting you soon.
<> Best Wishes,
Laurel R. Logue
International Education Program Coordinator

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