International Student Services
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The office assists international students in clarifying and attaining their personal and academic goals while complying the regulations pertaining to their immigration status. The International Student Services Office serves as an interface between UH Hilo and international students in order to facilitate communication, understanding and appreciation between them. Ultimately the goals of international education are to advance learning and scholarship, and to increase intercultural understanding and respect in a global community. Admissions information for international students may be found at the Admissions Office site. |
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International Student Activities
Information for All International Students
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Orientation and Workshops
We hold an orientation for new international students at the beginning of each semester. The orientation is specifically designed to give international students the information they need for a successful beginning at UH Hilo. The orientation is required for new and transfer international students.
The International Student Services Office provides workshops to help students with two complex issues: employment and taxes. We offer an Employment after Graduation workshop for students with F-1 visas. We offer tax workshops for both F-1 and Pacific students.
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Appointments
You are welcome to come to the office without an appointment, especially if you just have a quick question. We have someone to answer your questions during most hours of the week. However, we cannot always be available and if you want to make sure the International Student Advisor will be available when you come in, please make an appointment ahead of time.
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Cultural Adjustments
Adjusting to a new culture and being away from home for an extended period is a difficult transition for anyone. It means facing many new challenges and learning about a community which may be very different from your own. Each person responds differently to these changes. If you have a question about life in this new culture, or if you want to talk about a problem or concern, please come to see us. We are here to help.
Through the International Student Association, we sponsor many activities which provide opportunities for you to meet other students and visit places of interest on the Big Island. Joining these activities is a great way to help make the adjustment to your new life at UH Hilo.
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Personal Concerns
You may find that a personal problem is interfering with your ability to study or to eat and sleep. You should feel comfortable about explaining your problem to the International Student Advisor; anything you say will be confidential. We can assist you in getting help from other professional staff at UH Hilo, if that seems appropriate to you.
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Academic Questions
While the International Student Services staff do not provide specific academic advising related to your major, we can answer questions about academic policies and procedures, and about your rights and responsibilities as a student at UH Hilo. Your academic advisor can answer questions about selecting courses and meeting degree requirements.
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Releasing Information
The International Student Services Office receives requests from people in the Hilo community and from other students to contact students from specific countries. Under US law UH Hilo is allowed to release the following bits of information about a student because they are considered “Directory Information”:
- Name
- Local address
- Local telephone number
- Major
- Dates of attendance
- Educational level
- Degrees and awards received
- Campus-issued e-mail address
If you do not want any or all of this information released when there is such a request, go to the Records Office window and complete a “Request to Keep Directory Information Confidential” form. Also available here.
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TB Tests
All international students are required to have a tuberculosis (TB) test at UH Hilo, even if you have already had a test at home. The Student Health Office in Campus Center, room 212, will provide these tests during orientation week. Phone 974-7636 for further information.
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Information For Students in F-1 Status
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Immigration
The International Student Services Office will help you understand Immigration regulations and avoid Immigration problems. The US government agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws is now called the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); it used to be called the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). We have copies of Immigration regulations and we can contact Immigration officials when necessary to help answer your questions.
Though we work closely with Immigration, we are not enforcers of Immigration law. It is our job to explain the regulations to you and help you understand what your legal options are in any situation. The International Student Advisor serves as the “Designated School Official” at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, meaning that Immigration has granted her the authority to sign Immigration forms such as the I-20. We release information to Immigration only as required by US law. See your I-20, page 2, for more details on your F-1 status.
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F1 Requirements
You are required to enroll full-time during every fall and spring semester. Full-time is a minimum of 12 credit hours. After the first semester we recommend that you enroll in an additional class in case you need to drop one of your classes for some reason.
Summer school is optional except for students who are admitted to UH Hilo for the first time during the summer session. If the summer session is your first term, you must be enrolled full-time for 6 credit hours.
If for some reason you are thinking about dropping below full-time status, you MUST see the International Student Advisor prior to doing so or you will be out of status with immigration.
Please note that making satisfactory progress toward your degree is a condition of maintaining your F-1 status.
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Reinstatement
If you fall out of status with Immigration because you have not complied with the rules for F-1 status, you will need to apply for reinstatement with Immigration. This application costs $300 and reinstatement is NOT guaranteed. If reinstatement is denied, a person must leave the US. Thus it is best to comply with the rules and avoid falling out of status. If you have any questions about the rules of F-1 status, please talk with the International Student Advisor
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Employment
The purpose of an F-1 visa is to admit a person to the US as a student. Because it is not a work visa, employment opportunities while you are in F-1 status are quite limited. During your first academic year you can only work on campus. However, you must have the authorization of the International Student Advisor to do so. Later there are other possibilities for employment which are listed below.
If you would like to work on campus, see the Career Center for more details
Curricular Practical Training
After you have been in the US in F-1 status for one academic year you are eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). CPT usually takes the form of an internship in your major field of study where you are earning credits for your experience and may earn money as well. Make an appointment to see the International Student Advisor if you are interested in applying for CPT.
Optional Practical Training
After you have been in the US in F-1 status for one academic year you are also eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT). OPT is paid work off-campus in your field of study. You may work 20 hours per week while classes are in session and 40 hours per week during vacation periods. However, most students decide to save their OPT until they have completed their studies and graduate. You are eligible to apply to Immigration for up to 12 months of full-time OPT. You should apply four months before you would like your OPT to begin. The application fee is $340. You can apply for OPT up to 90 days before you graduate and up to 60 days after you graduate. Make an appointment to talk with the International Student Advisor if you are interested in applying for OPT.
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Extension of Stay
As an F-1 student, you are authorized to stay in the US until the date you complete your program or until the date in section 5 of your I-20. If you allow the end date on your I-20 to pass without extending it, you will be out of status with Immigration. If you believe you may need more time to graduate, please make an appointment to see the International Student Advisor 4-8 weeks before the I-20 will expire. A copy of the form is provided here. Please take the form to your academic advisor and have him or her fill it out.
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Transferring to Another School
If you decide to transfer to another college or university, you will need to ask the International Student Advisor to help you transfer. The International Student Advisor will have to transfer you out of UH Hilo in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), so that the next school will be able to transfer you in.
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Leaving the US for Vacation
If you are planning to leave the US for a short while (less than 5 months) and return to school at UH Hilo, you will need to have the signature of the International Student Advisor on your I-20 to certify that you have been properly maintaining your F-1 status. The signature for re-entry purposes is valid for 6 months. Please come to the office at least 3 days before you are planning to leave Hilo and complete a “Vacation Request Form.” Leave the form with your I-20 to be signed. If you will need to renew your visa while you are away, please see us for information.
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Financial Difficulties
All F-1 students are required to show sufficient funding to meet the costs of attending UH Hilo before we can issue an I-20 for admission. However, we understand that sometimes circumstances change. Perhaps the currency back home has been devalued or your original source of funding is not available. Unfortunately, only limited financial assistance is available for international students at UH Hilo. Some partial tuition waivers and other scholarships based on excellent academic performance are available after your first year. If you have a financial problem, schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible so we can advise you and suggest possible solutions.
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Medical Insurance
The University of Hawaii requires that all F-1 international students have medical insurance while they are enrolled. Adequate medical insurance is essential because the US government does not pay for medical expenses and medical care in the US is expensive. The International Student Services Office is responsible for verifying that you have insurance to cover expenses of at least US $100,000 for any one accident and $100, 00 for any one illness. The University of Hawaii arranges for medical insurance for students. If you do not already have adequate medical insurance please request an application form.
- Scholarship Information
Information for Students From Palau, FSM & Marshall Islands
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Scholarships
The International Student Services Office has copies of your home state or country scholarship applications. It is our responsibility to verify that the information on your application is correct by signing and sealing it. We are also able to send and receive Faxes for you that are related to your scholarships or US federal financial aid. For the most updated requirements and information about these scholarships please visit the scholarship's web site.
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Immigration
Your immigration status if you are from the Republic of Palau is CFA/PAL (Compact of Free Association with Palau); if you are from Federated States of Micronesia, CFA/FSM (Compact of Free Association with FSM); if you are from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, CFA/MIS (Compact of Free Association with the Marshall Islands).
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Employment
Students from Palau, FSM, and RMI are, by virtue of immigration status, permitted to work on or off-campus. However, students from Palau must obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), done by completing the form I-765 and mailing it along with a photocopy of your passport to the INS office in Laguna Niguel, California. There is no fee for this process. Application forms and instructions are available from the International Student Office.
Students from FSM and the Marshall Islands who are in CFA/FSM and CFA/MIS immigration status respectively, are no longer required to obtain the EAD in order to work in the US. According to the amended Compacts of Free Association with the US, you merely need to show your employer your passport and I-94, the small white card stapled in your passport.
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Health Insurance
If you intend to reside in Hawaii, you are eligible for Med-Quest. Applications are available from the International Student Office.
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Tuition
As a part of this program, the rate of tuition charged to incoming Pacific Islander students will increase from 100% of resident tuition to 150% of resident tuition in Fall 2007. For more information, please view the attached links.
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Clubs
Some of the many student organizations on campus include the following:
- Palau – Ngelekel Palau
- Marshall Islands – Marshallese Iakwe Club
- Kosrae – Kosrae Hilo Organization
- Pohnpei – Pohnpei Kaselelia Club
- Chuuk – Chuukese Student Organization
For contact information, visit http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/uhhsa/0809Risocontacts.php
For more information, visit http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/campuscenter/riso/index.php