Monday, March 27, 2017

PIER NEWSLETTER: MARCH 27, 2017

In This Issue:
·         PIER Announcements
·         Travel Grant
·         US Consulate Tour
·         SEVP Webinar
·         NAFSA Information              
·         PIER Meeting Dates

PIER Announcements

Dear PIER Members,

We hope you are doing well.  The PIER Board is pleased to announce that we will be offering a tour of the U.S. Consulate, Tijuana on April 27, 2017 and providing PIER Travel Grants for the upcoming NAFSA 2017 Annual Conference.  We hope you take advantage of this event and opportunity. Our next PIER meeting is Friday, April 21, 2017 from 2pm – 4pm at the University of San Diego.  The meeting agenda will be to follow.

Save the Date for the next PIER Meeting: Friday, April 21, 2017
Date: April 21, 2017
Location: University of San Diego
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110
Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

PIER Travel Grant Application is Now Open

PIER will award two $300.00 grants to attend the NAFSA 2017 Annual Conference in Los Angeles, California to support registration/travel/lodging/meals expenses. PIER is pleased to offer travel grants on a competitive basis for members to participate in NAFSA Conferences. These conferences provide an opportunity for international educators to acquire and exchange information and provide an excellent way to begin building a personal network of contacts in the field of international education.

Travel Grant Information
PIER will award two $300.00 grants to attend the NAFSA 2017 Annual Conference in Los Angeles, California to support registration/travel/lodging/meals expenses.

Eligibility
Applicants must be current members of PIER or become a member prior to the NAFSA 2017 Annual Conference.

Travel Grant Recipient Responsibilities
PIER requires each individual who accepts the PIER Travel Grant to present a 15-minute or longer presentation to the PIER members on Friday, June 23, 2017 at the PIER Meeting at Mira Costa College. The PIER Board will mail full presentation details and requirements to the award recipients.

Application Procedures and Award Timeline
Please complete the PIER Travel Grant application at: https://form.jotform.us/PIERSanDiego/70677739879178 and submit with your statement of objective and letter of recommendation no later than 11:59 p.m. April 21, 2017.

PIER will award Travel Grant funds no earlier than June 23, 2017. Recipients must submit receipts prior to fund distribution. The PIER Board will mail full details and requirements to the award recipients.

U.S. Consulate Tour, April 27, 2017: Application is Now Open

PIER is excited to invite you for a tour of the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, Mexico on Thursday, April 27, 2017.  Space is limited, so sign-up today.

• WHERE: We will depart as a group from the San Diego Old Town Transit Center (4005 Taylor Street, San Diego, CA 92110) public parking lot and travel by charter bus to the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, Mexico.

• WHAT: A two hour tour of the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, Mexico, including an informational presentation by a U.S. Consular Agent.

• WHEN: Thursday, April 27, 2017 from 8am – 4pm

• COST: $30. INCLUDES: Round trip bus transportation from San Diego Old Town Transit Center to the U.S. Consulate and back to the SD Old Town Transit Center.

• IMPORTANT: In order to participate, you must have a valid U.S. passport or permanent resident card (Form I-551). Documents will be required for entry to the U.S. Consulate and for re-entry through the port of entry). Those with a permanent resident card must also have either of the following: U.S. driver license; U.S. or foreign passport; Foreign national ID with photo; or U.S. Government issued photo ID (includes U.S. Military ID).

• HOW TO SIGN-UP: Submit the online application at: https://piersandiego.wufoo.com/forms/m1vm7trw01ujkda/ and application fee by no later than April 14, 2017. Registration closes April 14, 2017, but spaces will be reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. Space is limited, so sign-up today.

• HOW TO PAY FEE: After submitting your PIER Consulate Tour application, you will receive a statement and a separate email from PayPal requesting your payment of $30.00 to PIER. A PayPal account is not necessary to make a payment. If you choose not to use PayPal, you may pay by check: Mailing instructions to follow. Payment is due no later than April 14, 2017. Payment is non-refundable.

* All applicants must be current PIER members for the 2016-2017 membership year. If you are not currently a PIER member, please submit your complete PIER application and $15.00 dues prior to submission of this application. To access the current PIER Membership form, please go to: https://goo.gl/kx5MjV 

We look forward to having you join us.

SEVP InFocus Webinar: April 12, 2017, 2 to 3 p.m. EDT

Webinar overview:
This webinar will discuss the latest program news and updates affecting SEVP certified schools     
and international students, including information about planned SEVIS enhancements and new
resources on Study in the States.

Audience:
The webinar is designed for DSOs and those with an interest in SEVP news and information.

Access the webinar:
For more information please visit: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/stakeholder-webinars.
You can access the webinar using the following link—no registration required: http://sevp.adobeconnect.com/InFocus

Call for NAFSA Annual Conference Questions: DOS and Exchange Visitor Current Issues

The ISS-RP Exchange Visitor Program Subcommittee is currently seeking questions for the “U.S. Department of State and Exchange Visitors: Current Issues” session at the 2017 NAFSA Annual Conference, 11:45am – 12:45 pm on Wednesday, May 31. 

Presenters and officials from the U.S. Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will be present to discuss current issues, trends, and best practices related to hosting J-1 students and scholars at academic institutions.

Pre-submitted questions are always greatly appreciated!  Please send any questions you have relating to current issues, trends, or best practices for hosting J-1 students and scholars at academic institutions to the following email address no later than Friday, March 31: Carolyn.salter@colorado.edu  

NAFSA Practice Advisory: Review of Requirements to Carry Immigration Documents and
Report Address Changes

Nonimmigrants and lawful permanent residents must make sure to do these two things. The penalty for not doing so can be severe, under long-standing laws.

     Carry their immigration registration document - Nonimmigrants and lawful permanent
   residents must carry their "evidence of registration" document at all times. Usually, this is       
   Form I-94 for nonimmigrants, or Form I-551 (green card) for lawful permanent residents.
     Report address changes within 10 days - All aliens living in the United States must report any
   change of address within 10 days of the address change.

As the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intensifies its immigration compliance efforts, advisers should review these two important requirements with their students and scholars. For more information please visit the NAFSA at: http://www.nafsa.org/Professional_Resources/Browse_by_Interest/International_Students_and_Scholars/Requirements_to_Carry_Immigration_Registration_Document_and_Report_Change_of_Address/

Directing International Students and Scholars to Resources on their Rights in Encounters with Law Enforcement

NAFSA has posted some links to resources that might be useful to your students and scholars who have questions about their civil rights while in the U.S.: http://www.nafsa.org/Content.aspx?id=57748. 

For the latest updates and information, visit the 
Executive Order Travel Ban: NAFSA Resources portal at www.nafsa.org/EOentry

On March 15, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii issued a nationwide 
Temporary Restraining Order on sections 2 and 6 of the new Executive Order 13780 which was to take effect March 16, 2017. Sections 2 and 6 of the new EO barred entry for 90 days individuals without valid visas from particular countries of origin (Libya, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen) and entry for 120 days for refugees. Enforcement of these sections of the EO is currently prohibited in the U.S., at U.S. Borders and ports of entry, and in the issuance of visas pending further court orders.

Additionally, on March 16, 2017, the U.S. District Court in Maryland issued a nationwide 
preliminary injunction on section 2c of Executive Order 1378, also preventing the Government from enforcing the 90-day entry bar.

See 
NAFSA's EO Entry Ban Litigation Updates page for more information on all ongoing litigation and the Executive Order Travel Ban Resources for FAQs, travel advisories, summaries and more.

PIER Meeting Future Dates

Please save the date for our next regular” PIER meetings and visit our website www.piergroup.org for the most up to date information with locations, dates and agendas.

Date: April 21, 2017
Location: University of San Diego
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110
Time: 2:00 pm

Date: June 23, 2017
Location: Mira Costa College, San Elijo Campus
3333 Manchester Ave.
Cardiff, CA 92007
Time: 2:00 pm

Do you have an item or job posting you would like to post in the PIER newsletter that is valuable to PIER members? Please email piergroupsd@gmail.com with your inquiry. Thank you. The PIER Board reserves the right to edit content.

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PIER Board

Chair - Eric Abutin, National University
Chair-Elect Rhonaliza Reyes, University of San Diego
Treasurer Vanessa Fennell, Stafford House San Diego
Membership Coordinator Mia Scavone, Mira Costa College
Communications Coordinator John Akapito, National University