1. Are You a Parent Who Travels With a Child?
2. Applying for a Canadian Visa to Visit Canada?  Be Sure Your I-20 Signature is Current
3. New Scholarship Opportunity for Undergraduate Students in Science and Technology

1. Are You a Parent Who Travels With a Child?

Do you have a child or children?  Are there times when you and your children travel without the other parent being with you?

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many countries have adopted policies that require a parent traveling with a child or children, but without the other parent, to carry a notarized letter with them, signed by the other parent, stating that there is no objection to the child’s travel.

The ISSS has an article about this topic on its website, at:http://isss.binghamton.edu/travel/parntchild.html

The ISSS has recently updated the article to include an actual sample letter in MS Word.  This letter has blank lines that can be completed by the parent, and then printed.  The letter should be signed in the presence of a notary.  Teresa Kozina of the ISSS provides notary services upon request at no charge.

2. Applying for a Canadian Visa to Visit Canada?  Be Sure Your I-20 Signature is Current

In the past few months, some BU international students applying for Canadian entry visas have been informed that the travel signature on page 3 of the I-20 is “too old” and that they need to obtain a new signature.  Students have found this surprising, because US federal regulations state that the signature on the I-20 is valid for up to one year.

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services recently learned that the Canadian Government now requires the I-20 signature on page 3 of the I-20 (or the bottom of page 1 of the DS-2019) to be no more than six months old.

You may read about the new requirement from the website of the Consulate of Canada in New York:
http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/new_york/rightnav/general_information-en.asp?

The relevant portion reads:
"Students with F1 or M1 status in the United States, must present a valid I-20 form, and should present any previous I-20 forms.

ALL valid I-20 forms MUST have the back page endorsed by a foreign student advisor WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS and all previous I-20's; current letter and transcripts from the educational institution."

So, while it is very problematic when a foreign country demands that the signature on a U.S. government-issued document be more recent than what the U.S. government requires, it is essential that BU students and dependents be aware of this requirement. Don’t risk having your visa application to Canada be delayed or denied.

3. New Scholarship Opportunity for Undergraduate Students in Science and Technology

The following information was provided by the Institute of International Education (IIE):

The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university. KAUST will have a merit-based application process and will recruit men and women from around the world.

KAUST will grant the KAUST Discovery Scholarship to highly talented students currently in their last or second-to-last year of first-level, bachelors or undergraduate degree study at public and private universities.

The scholarship benefits include:

• Full tuition to complete degree at the student’s current undergraduate institution
• Monthly living stipend
• Textbook and computer allowance
• Travel costs for participation in KAUST-sponsored enrichment activities in Saudi Arabia and regionally

Upon the completion of the undergraduate degree program, students will receive:

• Admission into a master's degree program upon meeting the program's admission requirements at the KAUST campus in Saudi Arabia
• Full scholarship at KAUST, including tuition, housing and travel costs

For more information on the KAUST Discovery Scholarship and to find the online application, visit the KAUST Web site at: http://www.kaust.edu.sa

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