AUDITING OR WITHDRAWING FROM CLASSES
As you already know, in order for you to maintain your status, you must enroll in classes FULL-TIME (12 semester hours). If you are having academic problems, you MUST contact the Office of International Admissions before you attempt to withdraw from classes.
ACCEPTING EMPLOYMENT
International students are advised not to accept employment without authorization from the Office of International Admissions or the US Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USBCIS). Please do not depend on advice from friends or others working illegally. It may affect future immigration benefits, should you apply for another visa or residency. PLEASE DO NOT WORK WITHOUT PERMISSION.
MAINTAINING YOUR F-1 STATUS
As an international student attending PBCC in the F-1 status, you must meet the following obligations in order to maintain your status with the US Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USBCIS) and PBCC:
- Have a passport valid for 6 months or more into the future.
- Attend the school that authorized your I-20 form.
- Enroll for a full course of study (full-time) and make acceptable academic progress (maintain above a 2.0 GPA).
- Have an Extension-of-stay approved by USBCIS, if you must stay longer than specified for your educational program.
- Follow the required procedures to transfer from one educational level or institution to another.
- Report any change of residence to the International Admissions Office within 10 days.
- You must NOT accept employment or work for pay without specific authorization from USBCIS.
STUDENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING (SIU)
The Students for International Understanding (SIU) Club is primarily comprised of international students at Palm Beach Community College. The club is also open to all PBCC students with an interest in foreign cultures.
One of the club's main objectives is to unify students of many different nations and to promote understanding and good will within the club. S.I.U. also gives students the opportunity to meet people from their own country as well as other countries and to assist each other in adapting to the American culture.
The S.I.U. club strives to improve the quality of life at PBCC for international students in offering a wide variety of cultural and social activities. School-wide picnics and parties are also organized at on and off-campus locations. For more information about S.I.U, please contact Dr. Victor Aikhionbare (club advisor) at (561) 868-3336 or aikhionv@pbcc.edu .
LEAVING THE UNITED STATES?
If you want to leave the United States for any reason, please remember to bring your passport, I-20, and I-94 at least two weeks in advance to the Office of International Admissions for endorsement BEFORE you leave the country. Serious consequences may result if this is not done. Bob Schweriner, acting dean of student services at the Boca Raton Location, can endorse I-20's for international students who are in-status. Please make an appointment with Mr. Schweriner by calling (561) 862-4313. If you are out-of-status or if you have changed your status here in the US, it is important that you contact our Office before you attempt to leave the country.
OUT-OF-STATE TUITION EXEMPTION PROGRAM
Florida Linkage Institutes-- The Office of International Education, a unit under the Florida Department of Education, announces the availability of out-of-state tuition exemption program to eligible international students. International students attending any of Florida's state universities/community colleges may be eligible to apply to be considered as residents for tuition purposes only.
Who is eligible? In order to qualify, the international student must be from one of the countries with whom Florida Linkage Institutes are established. A very important condition that students need to meet is that they are required to return home after their tenure of graduate or undergraduate study for a length of time equal to their exemption period. The institutes have set criteria for the selection of such students.
Countries/Regions with whom Florida Linkage Institutes are established:
Brazil, Canada, The Caribbean, People's Republic of China, Costa Rica, Eastern Europe, France, Israel, Japan, Mexico and West Africa.
What are Linkage Institutes? The Linkage Institutes were created by the Florida Legislature to assist in the development of stronger economic and social ties between Florida and strategic foreign countries. Linkage is developed through the promotion of expanded public/private dialogue on cooperative research and technical assistance activities, cultural exchange, the enhancement of language training and student/faculty exchange programs.
How Do I Apply? To apply for the out-of-state tuition exemption, a student must contact the Linkage Institute Director for his/her country of origin. Please note that Linkage Institutes are established with selected countries only.
For more information of the different Linkage Institutes, please use the following link: http://www.pbcc.edu/international.xml
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