IESC CONTACT INFORMATION
Address: 18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8445
Telephone: (818) 677-3053
Fax: (818) 677-4191
Website: www.csun.edu/international
Email: [email protected]
Location: University Student Union (USU),
Building C
IESC HOURS OF OPERATION
Office Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
(Students may pick-up/drop-off documents during these hours.
Please call ahead to check on the status of your request.)
Advising By Appointment Only
Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm
(Please make an appointment to meet with Besnike Saitoski for
advising [email protected])
It is your one-stop shop to:
view and manage your academic, financial and personal information
pay fees and charges (i.e. housing and parking)
add and drop classes
view and print class schedule
view grades and print an unofficial transcript
WHAT IS THE SOLAR STUDENT CENTER?
In the Finances section you can:
See if you owe
money
Purchase
Parking Permits
What can I do on SOLAR?
MAKING NORMAL ACADEMIC
PROGRESS
CSUN requires that all students pass their classes and
maintain a certain grade point average throughout their
academic program.
See next slide for the minimum requirements.
Know the Process!
• UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS MUST MAINTAIN A MINIMUM
GPA OF 2.0 EVERY SEMESTER.
• SECOND BACHELOR’S DEGREE STUDENTS MUST MAINTAIN A
MINIMUM GPA OF 2.5 EVERY SEMESTER.
• GRADUATE STUDENTS MUST MAINTAIN A MINIMUM GPA OF
AT LEAST 3.0 EVERY SEMESTER.
Know the Process!
GPA = Grade Point Average
TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS AND
UNIVERSITY POLICES, J1 STUDENTS MUST ENROLL IN FULL-TIME
UNITS EVERY SEMESTER. PLEASE REFER TO CHART BELOW.
Full-Course of Study
PROGRAM LEVEL MINIMUM NUMBER OF UNITS
NEEDED EACH SEMESTER
BACHELOR’S DEGREE 12
2ND BACHELOR’S DEGREE 12
MASTER’S DEGREE 8
DOCTORATE 6* *DEPENDS ON SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS
STUDENTS WHO FAIL TO ENROLL IN FULL-TIME UNITS BY THE
LAST ADD/DROP DATE OF EACH SEMESTER WILL FALL OUT OF
STATUS AND WILL NEED TO CORRECT THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
ATTENTION! (that means write this down)
The last day to Add/Drop classes online
is Friday, February 7, 2014 .
Know the Process!
• Get to know your Professors – visit them in
their office hours.
• Develop connections with classmates.
• Come to International Coffee Hour from
2:00-4:00pm on Fridays in IESC lobby
• Volunteer in the office – it’s a great way to meet
people. Email [email protected] for
more information on this opportunity.
Become Involved •Join a Club and/or Organization.
•Join the Student Recreation Center – it’s free!
•Attend Associated Students Events.
All new CSUN students must purchase a Photo ID card.
To obtain your Photo ID, you must bring $6.00 and additional
identification (e.g. valid California Driver's License, A DMV ID, or a
passport) to University Cash Services in Bayramian Hall.
Your student ID card is required:
• for all transactions at CSUN
• to obtain campus services from the Library
• for the Student Health Center
• for the University Student Union
• to Vote in Associated Student elections
• to obtain tickets from the Associated Student Ticket Office at
reduced rates and to attend CSUN athletic events and selected
other campus programs free of charge.
CSUN STUDENT ID CARD
Klotz Student Health Center
Phone: (818) 677-3666
E-mail: [email protected]
Hours:
Mon – Wed: 8:00am-5:00pm
Thur: 9:00am–5:00pm
Urgent Care Only:
Fri: 8:00am–5:00pm
Services:
-Basic -Alternative -
Immunizations
-Lab, X-Ray & Pharmacy
-Sexual & Reproductive Health
-Specialists & Specialties
-Campus & Community
-Health Promotion/ Education
If you are ill, injured or have an
urgent medical need, you may
walk in to the Klotz Student
Health Center without an
appointment.
Office is open between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM
Monday through Friday. The office is in Room 520, Bayramian Hall
Why Seek Services at University Counseling:
• The services are confidential and convenient.
• The services are free to regularly enrolled students.
• The staff are experienced clinicians: psychologists, counselors and
social workers.
Making an Appointment:
• Please call 818-677-2366 between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM
Monday through Friday.
Services Offered:
• Individual Counseling
• Group Counseling
• Psychiatric Consultation
• Urgent Care Assistance
For information visit http://www.csun.edu/counseling/services/
University Counseling Services
WHAT IS SEVIS?
Student and
Exchange
Visitor
Information
System
SEVIS is online database
that allows United States
Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) and the
Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) to track all
international students. IESC
communicates with
immigration through SEVIS.
Form DS-2019
A DS-2019 is the official immigration document that
is issued to the exchange student once s/he has been
formally admitted to a university.
Student must have a DS-2019 from the school they
wish to attend for the J1 visa interview.
Student may enter the U.S. up to 30 days prior to
the program start date that is printed on ITEM #3
(see ‘from date’) of DS-2019.
Must have a valid DS-2019 at all times when
studying in the U.S. as an J1 student.
Expires on the date that is printed on ITEM #3 (see
‘To date’) of DS-2019.
If your DS-2019 gets lost, stolen or damaged, you
must request a replacement DS-2019 by filling out
the Request for New DS-2019 form.
PASSPORT
Maintain a valid passport at all
times.
Renew your passport at least six
months prior to the expiration date.
Your passport can be renewed
within the United States at your
country’s consulate office or
embassy. (Please contact your
country’s consulate office for
instructions on how to renew your
passport.)
Submit a copy of the passport ID
and expiration page to IESC.
Smith
Joe
I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
Process
Effective April 30, 2013, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) will
no longer issue paper versions of the Form I-94 upon your entry to the
U.S. Instead, the Port of Entry Officer will place an admission stamp in
your passport marked with the visa status (F1, J1, etc.) and the letters
"D/S" to indicate you have properly entered the U.S. Your arrival and
departure information will be recorded electronically in the CBP's
database.
International students may access their electronic Form I-94 online
within approximately 24 hours of their arrival to the U.S. All students
should keep a printed Form I-94 with their passport in case they apply
for future benefits such as work authorizations, social security
numbers, or driver's licenses.
For more information about the new Form I-94 process, please visit
www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/i94_rollout.xml
J1 Visa
A visa is a stamp or sticker that
is placed in your passport at a
U.S. consulate or embassy
outside the U.S. Students need
a valid J1 visa to enter the
United States.
You may remain in the U.S.
with an expired visa, as long
as you have a valid DS-2019
and you are otherwise
maintaining your J1 status.
If you travel outside the U.S.,
you must make sure that your
J1 visa is valid for your entry
or re-entry to the U.S.
You MUST enter your U.S. Address in
SOLAR and email it to us
Exchange students must update their U.S. address, telephone
number and emergency contact by updating the Student
Portal and emailing [email protected]
with subject title “ J-1 Student – Reporting U.S. Address”.
Once you email your new address, we will report the
changes in SEVIS.
Please note: IESC cannot check you in properly if we do not have a U.S.
address for you. Please make sure you update your U.S. address upon
your arrival to the U.S.
MAINTAINING YOUR J-1 STATUS
In the Personal
Information
section you can:
• Update your
emergency
contact
• Update your
U.S. Address
• Update your
U.S. Phone
Number
You MUST enter your U.S.
Address & Emergency Contact
Information in SOLAR
MAINTAINING YOUR J-1 STATUS
To maintain your exchange student status, you must comply
with immigration regulations and university policies by:
1) Reporting to the IESC within 30 days of the DS-2019
start date;
2) Keeping your immigration documents VALID and
CURRENT;
3) Updating your U.S. address within 10 days of moving;
4) Maintaining the Health Insurance required for J1
exchange students;
5) Registering in a full course of study;
6) NEVER working without PRIOR authorization;
7) Making SURE to have the proper re-entry
documentation when travelling outside the U.S.
8) Notifying an FSA when you leave the U.S. permanently.
Always consult with the J-1 designated Advisor about the
implications on your immigration status. Feel free to contact
her at [email protected]
MINIMUM HEALTH
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
(ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE)
Student’s first and last name must be clearly stated on the
proof of coverage;
Students should be covered for the entire academic year
or at the very least, the entire semester. The effective
coverage start and end dates must be clearly indicated on
the proof of coverage;
Students are required to show minimum coverage of
Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness
Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500
Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the
exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount
of $10,000
A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
Policies purchased in countries other than the United
States must be officially translated in English;
All relevant amounts must be shown in U.S. dollars.
MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE
Medical attention is quite costly in the U.S. To prevent major medical
expenses, the Department of State requires all international students to have
health insurance coverage while studying at CSUN.
The Department of State require that all J-1 exchange students and their J-1
dependents maintain a specified level of health and accident insurance.
Students may purchase health insurance at www.csuhealthlink.com
Traveling Outside the U.S.
Exchange Students must obtain a travel signature on their DS-2019 from the IESC when traveling outside the borders of the U.S. Travel signatures are granted to students who are eligible to continue
in their program upon their return to the U.S. Each travel signature is valid for one year provided the student
continues to maintain legal immigration status. Students who need to travel during the semester will need to notify
all of their professors to inform them of their absences. Students are responsible for making arrangements with their professors for any missed assignments/exams.
For travel signature information, please visit IESC:
Please check this website for any country specific travel warnings:
http://travel.state.gov
Traveling Outside the U.S. con’t
To re-enter the U.S., you need to have the following documents:
Valid passport.
Valid J-1 visa stamp and J-2 visa stamp for any dependent.
Current DS-2019 with a valid signature (see DS-2019 endorsement)
Proof of Health Insurance
Students who need to travel during the semester will need to notify all of their professors to inform them of their absences. Students are responsible for making arrangements with their professors for any missed assignments/exams.
Two-year home country physical
presence requirement
• Also known as 212(e)
• The intent of the requirement is to have the home country
benefit from the exchange visitor’s experience in the
United States.
What does subject to 212(e) mean?
Not eligible to change status from J to any
other nonimmigrant status within the U.S.,
except A (Diplomatic) or G (Employee of an
International Organization) status.
Not eligible for lawful permanent resident
status.
Not eligible to obtain an H (Temporary worker)
or L (Intra-company Transferee) until the two-
year home residency requirement has been
completed or a waiver is granted.
Employment for J-1 Students
• A J-1 student is eligible for on-campus employment as long as he or she meets the following conditions:
Remain in good academic standing
Continues to engage in a full course of study
Limits total employment to no more than 20 hours per week while in school, 40 hours per week during vacations (i.e.. Winter)
Has approval in writing from an FSA at IESC
• The student will need SSN, Verification of international student
status form, and I-9.
• If your DS-2019 was produced by another agency, that agency
must give you permission to work on the CSUN campus.
Parking Information
STUDENT SEMESTER PARKING PERMIT: $ 180.00
YOU MUST PURCHASE ONLINE! MyNorthridge Portal Student Tab “My Financial Obligations” “Parking Permits” Purchase Parking Permits Online
STUDENT DAILY PARKING PERMIT: $ 6.00 for Lots B1, B3 & B5 Parking Structures,
lots B6, E6, G3 structure, G4, G10,
UPA Parking Structure G9, lots F10 and G12.
Students with residential parking permits (R) may park in any student parking -
the UPA parking structure (G9), and Lot F10, located north of Lassen Street.
Do:
• Register your bicycle with CSUN's Bicycle Registration
Program.
• Use a quality, hardened "U" type lock, securing the main
(largest) portion of the frame and the front tire.
• Secure your bicycle to a bicycle rack. (University regulations
do not allow bicycles in campus buildings or securing your
bicycle to trees, sign posts, hand railings, etc.)
• Record the make, model, and serial number of your bicycle
and keep it in a safe place.
Don't:
• Leave your unlocked bicycle unattended "just for a minute".
Use a cable or chain lock, no matter how large as they are
easily defeated with bolt cutters.
Bicycle Theft Prevention
CSUN Tram
Tram Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00 am to 5:30 pm . Signs will be
posted at the designated tram stops announcing service
interruptions.
Tram Stop locations are:
Tram stop #1: west of UPA #4
Tram stop #2: south side F8 parking lot by UPA #9
Tram Stop #3: east of the soccer fields by the restrooms
Tram Stop #4: South of Redwood Hall
A bus continues the service during the hours of darkness Monday -
Thursday from
5:30 pm to 10:30 pm. The bus stops locations are located as follows:
Parking Lot F10
Same as tram stop #1: west of UPA #4
Same as tram Stop #4: South of Redwood Hall
The Metro transit station which is located off of Vincennes Street,
in the west side of the campus, just north of University Hall. The
Transit center offers a convenient on-campus location to be
dropped off or picked-up on weekdays (no weekend service).
The following bus services operate from the Transit Center:
Metro Bus Line 167 (Plummer Street)
Metro Bus Line 741 (Reseda Rapid)
AVTA 787 Express (Antelope Valley)
Check www.metro.net for bus timetable information
Local Transportation
www.metro.net
• The Meal Plan Office is located on the third floor of the
Sierra Center inside The University Corporation,
between Sierra Hall and Jerome Richfield Hall
• Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm
Phone Number: (818) 677-2655 Email:
Mailing Address (Please copy exactly as is):
The University Corporation
Meal Plan Office
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8309
http://www.csun.edu/universitycorporation/residential.htm
Meal Plan Information
EMERGENCY: 911
From Cell Phones: (818) 677-2111
24 hr Police Dispatch: 677-2111
Main campus location: Corner of Darby Avenue & Prairie Street.
Main police headquarters are open 24/7.
Substation is located in the G7 parking lot, south of UPA 14 in the
housing complex.
•Receptionist: 677-2266
•Parking 677-2157
•Crime Prevention & Community Relations: 677-7922
•Administration: 677-2201
•"We Tip" Hotline: 677-TIPS (8477)
All numbers are area code 818.
Dial the last four digits if using a campus phone.
• The Matador Patrol's primary mission is to provide the
university community with nighttime personal safety escorts
during the fall and spring academic sessions, Monday through
Thursday - from dusk until 11:00pm. To request this
valuable personal safety service, please call (818) 677-
5042/5048.
• Incidents of computer theft, particularly laptops, are frequent on college campuses nationwide. (S.T.O.P.- Security Tracking of Office Property) for computer equipment and other electronic valuables such as cameras, PDA's (personal desktop assisstants), projectors, iPods, etc.
• THE FACTS:
• 97% of them are never recovered, according to the FBI.
• Data stored on the devices-financial data, personal documents, student records, etc - is critical.
• The equipment itself - notebooks, Blackberry's, PDA's, iPods, cell phones-are expensive.
• The S.T.O.P. (Security Tracking of Office Property) program incorporates a security plate and warning label which are applied to the equipment being protected. This highly visible warning label and security plate (registered with S.T.O.P headquarters) warns would-be thieves by clearly marking the property ("Warning Police Identifiable") - making it difficult to resell the item.
• If the security plate is tampered with, a chemically bonded "tattoo" stating "Stolen Property, Call 800-488-STOP" will be left behind on the surface of the property underneath the S.T.O.P security plate.
• Cost: $10. Contact [email protected]
S.T.O.P.
Emergency Evacuation Tips for International Students:
• Remember to take important documents with you. These include: Passport,
visa, SEVIS issued I-20 or DS-2019, I-94, social security card, financial
records and plane tickets, checks and credit cards.
• Contact us at [email protected]. Inform us of your location and how we can
contact you. Our telephone numbers are: the International & Exchange
Student Center (IESC) at 818-677-3053 or the Campus line at 818-677-
1200.
• Should you be unable to contact the IESC at CSUN, please contact the
Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at [email protected]
• Also, contact your local embassy or consulate office for country specific
updates.
Additional detailed information regarding emergency contact information and
resources can be found at http://www-admn.csun.edu/publicsafety/emergency/
.
Tips for Emergency Evacuations