Foothill I-News

In the Spotlight...

International Student Coffee Hour with an American Politics Theme

Join us for the first coffee hour of the Spring Quarter on Friday, April 25th!

Where: Student Lounge (Room 2313, across from the bookstore)
When: Friday, April 25th from 12:00pm - 1:30 pm.

During this coffee hour we will have an informal discussion about American politics (no previous knowledge is necessary). In case you didn't already know, 2008 is a big election year in the U.S.! It's exciting as we already have a Republican nominee (John McCain), and the Democratic candidate will be either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, which will be the first time a presidential nominee is not a Caucasian male!

Share your thoughts on American politics and on how these candidates are viewed in your country. An informal student panel will be followed by a politics trivia quiz with some cool prizes.

This is a great chance to catch up with friends, meet new people, chat with staff, and enjoy free drinks and refreshments! International student alumni who graduated last year will also be in attendance.

Immigration & Administration

June 15, 2007 Deadline for Filing From 8843 if You Were Present in the U.S. in 2007

In order to comply with U.S. regulations, EVERY nonimmigrant who was physically present (whether you worked OR NOT) in the U.S. in 2007 should file some type of form with the Internal Revenue Service. This applies to every nonimmigrant in F-1/ F-2, and J-1/ J-2 status.

If you did not earn any income but were PRESENT in the US in 2007 (EVEN FOR 1 DAY), you are REQUIRED to file a federal Form 8843 with the Internal Revenue Service by June 15, 2008

IMPORTANT: This rule is also applicable to your dependents, spouses and children in F-2 and J-2 immigration status.

Note: If you are considered a resident for tax purposes, you do not have to fill out Form 8843. For more information about tax residency, please check the special Tax Edition of I-NEWS.

Note that June 15, 2008 deadline is not applicable to those individuals who already filed their 2007 tax returns by April 15, 2008.

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Form 8843 Instructions

This form is not an income tax return. Form 8843 is merely an informational statement required by the U.S. government for certain nonresident aliens (including spouses and dependents of nonresident aliens) who were present in the US in 2007.Form 8843 is a rather simple one-page document that requires you to answer some immigration questions and provide information about your program.

A sample filled-out form is attached for your convenience.

CINTAX PASSWORDS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE! You must fill out the form yourself.

Specific instructions:

No special postage is needed: the envelope with the form simply needs to be postmarked "June 15" and mailed to:
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301 - 0215
Download the form
A sample filled-out form is attached for your convenience.
Students should simply fill out information above Part I, Part I itself, Part III, sign and date at the back.
Question 4 b: put the same number as you put for 2007 in 4 a (count the actual number of days).
Every person (your spouse and children) should mail the form in a separate envelope.

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Deadline to Petition for Spring Quarter Graduation

Moving? Update Your Insurance Address Online!

Did you know that when you move, you MUST give the insurance company your new address? You can now go online to update your address - follow the instructions below:

Go to http://www.renstudent.com/, and click on "Contact Us" in the upper-right corner
Look below the horizontal line, and click on "Customer Service" below Email
Complete the form, and click the "Submit" button
- I am a (select "student" from the dropdown box)
- A question regarding (select "change of address" from the dropdown box)
- In the comments box, write "please update my mailing address"
- Enter your personal information
Your Name (as it appears on your passport)
Email Address
School Name: enter "Foothill College"
Your new mailing address
Your new City, State, and Zip Code
Your current phone number

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Have you moved? Don't Forget to Notify the ISO!

Whenever you move, you must notify the International Student Office within ten days of moving and you must inform the insurance company. If you work on campus, you must also notify the Financial Aid Office. Updating your information through the online registration system is not sufficient, as it does not inform the ISO or update the immigration database.

Follow these steps:

Fill out a Change of Record card in the International Student Office within ten days of moving.
Notify the insurance company (you can do this online - see above).
If you work on campus, give the Financial Aid Office your new address and they will update payroll.

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Programs & Events

Club Day and Indian Fashion Show: Wednesday, April 23

Wednesday, April 23rd
11:00am - 1:00pm
Library Quad

Spring Quarter Club Day is coming soon! Each quarter, the clubs on campus have information tables set up to tell you about their clubs and recruit members, and you can also find out how to start your own club. This quarter Club Day is particularly exciting, as it will feature an Indian Fashion Show as part of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. You can meet club members, enjoy some free refreshments, and vote for your favorite model.

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International Night Celebration on May 22, 2008

International Night is coming in May! This is a huge, annual celebration of cultures from around the world through music, dance, fashion shows, and food. Let's celebrate the cultural climate of Foothill College! Discover the world at Foothill - and share yours with us!

Tickets will cost $8.00 in advance, $10.00 at the door, $6.00 each for groups of 5 or more, or $5.00 each for groups of 10 or more. Admission is free for performers and organizers.

International Night on Thursday, May 22
6:00p.m. - Multicultural feast in the Campus Center Dining Room
7:30 - 9:30p.m. - Fashion show and performances in the Smithwick Theater

For more information, please contact Tammy at long_lastinglove@hotmail.com or Allison at LargentAllison@fhda.edu

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Performers and Fashion Models/Costumes Needed for International Night on May 22

Contribute your talent and ideas to the biggest multicultural celebration on the Foothill campus - the International Night that will be held on Thursday, May 22. The purpose of this event is to celebrate the myriad of different cultures present on our campus, so if you can express, demonstrate or present your unique cultural heritage in any way, sign up now!

Every performer and fashion show model will receive a complimentary dinner ticket with free admission, a certificate of recognition from Foothill College and a special gift.

The planning committee is looking for participants and volunteers in the following areas:

Performers:
If you can participate in any type of multicultural performance activity (music, song, dance, drums, martial arts, other), please contact the Performance Committee Coordinator or Cathy Denver at denvercathy@foothill.edu.

Fashion Models/Costumes:
If you would like to act as a model and join our international fashion runway, contact the Fashion Committee or Kim Lane at lanekimberly@foothill.edu. By the way, we are still looking for a Fashion Committee Coordinator!

Costumes will be arranged for models based on availability. If you have a traditional dress/costume/unique piece of clothing from your country that you would like to lend to our models for the International Night, please contact us as well.

MC (Master of Ceremony):
If you are very outspoken and have a positive attitude, you might be the perfect person leading the fashion show and performance part of the evening. If you are interested, please contact Tammy at tamm_fan@yahoo.com.hk.

The International Night Committee meets every week:

When: Wednesdays at 4:30p.m starting on April 9th
Where: The Altos Room (next to the Student Council Chambers and ASFC Smart Shop)

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Discounted Soccer Tickets to San Jose Earthquakes vs. FC Dallas Game

Professional soccer match on Saturday, May 3!

The San Jose Earthquakes are playing FC Dallas at the Buck Shaw Stadium at Santa Clara University on Saturday, May 3 at 7:00pm. De Anza International Student Programs is sponsoring this exciting event by offering discounted tickets to international students.

Tickets cost $10.00 each ($18.00 value) and are available in the De Anza International Programs Office, located in Building OTI-3. There are a limited number available so be sure to buy them soon.

For more information or to check ticket availability, please call the De Anza International Programs Office at 408-864-8826.

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Free Tickets to Upcoming Celebrity Forums

Inside the International Student Office (ISO)

New International Student Office Employee: Hirmalina Binti Mohd Padil

New International Student Office Employee: Hassan Sarfraz

Transfer & Career Corner

Transfer Center Events for International Students: Meet with a University Rep

San Francisco State University
We have a new representative from the International Admissions Office at SFSU: Donna Anne Farran. She will be here to answer your questions about admission to the university.

Wednesday, April 30
10:00am - 2:00pm in the Transfer Center (Room 8329)

California State University, Northridge Leslie Landey from the International Admissions Office at CSUN will be here this spring to meet with interested international students.

Thursday, April 24
10:00am - 1:00pm in the Transfer Center (Room 8329)
1:30 - 3:00pm in the Library Quad

Thursday, May 22
10:00am - 1:00pm in the Transfer Center (Room 8329)
1:30 - 3:00pm in the Library Quad

Binghamton University, New York
This excellent university will present a workshop on admission to the university for international students. This is an excellent opportunity to find out how to apply to private universities out of state!

Friday, April 25 in Room 8330 (next to the Transfer Center)
Workshop 1: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Workshop 2: 12:00 - 1:00pm

To discover other opportunities offered through the Transfer Center and meet representatives from other universities, visit the Transfer Center.

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Around Foothill & Beyond

April is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Foothill College Debuts Business Plan Competition

If you see yourself in a leadership role, excel in collaborative situations, have a unique business idea or want to get hands-on experience as a rainmaker in the Silicon Valley business community, Foothill wants you to compete in its debut Business Plan Competition. With scholarships up to $1,000 per category, awards will be presented to out-of-the-box competitors from retail, art, science and service industries as well as non-profit groups. Individuals and teams of up to four members are invited to participate in the contest.

To participate in the contest, you must attend the information workshop either on Friday, April 11 at 12:00 pm in Room 3015 or on Friday, April 18 at 12:00 pm in Room 3015. The workshop will give you the opportunity to review competition guidelines with Foothill Business Instructor Glenn Violett, (650) 949-7577. Get more information.

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ASFC Spring 2008 Elections Are Coming!

Elections for ASFC officers and Foothill College trustee are approaching. If you're interested in advocating for students, developing leadership skills and participating in the governance of Foothill College, consider running for a 2008 - 2009 elected office. International students are encouraged to run for office! The deadline to apply for election consideration is Monday, April 21. For information, call (650) 949-7218 or email smalldaphne@foothill.edu. Get more information about the Spring 2008 elections.

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Foothill Authors Series

Firoozeh Dumas - Thursday, April 24 at 3:00pm in the Campus Center Lounge
Author of Funny in Farsi and the upcoming Laughing Without an Accent, Firoozeh Dumas is a witty and talented writer who has focused on the trials and tribulations of growing up Iranian in America. She was born in Abadan, Iran and moved to Whittier, California at the age of seven. After moving back to Iran for two years and returning to the U.S., she attended UC Berkeley where she met her French husband.

Funny in Farsi was on the SF Chronicle and L.A. Times bestseller lists and also a finalist for various awards such as the Thurber Prize for American Humor, the PEN/USA award in 2004, and the Audie Award for best audio book. The Persian version of Funny in Farsi is currently one of the bestselling books in Iran, and its English version is now on the California Recommended Reading List and is used in many junior highs, high schools, and universities.

T.C. Boyle - May 14 at 3:00pm in Appreciation Hall (Room 1501)
Author of The Tortilla Curtain, Tooth and Claw, and The Inner Circle, T. Coraghessan Boyle is a U.S. novelist and short story writer. Since the late 1970s, he has published eleven novels and more than 60 short stories. In 1988 he won the PEN/Faulkner award for his third novel, World's End. Boyle has been a Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Southern California since 1978, when he founded the school's undergraduate creative writing program.

Come listen to T.C. Boyle discuss his novel The Tortilla Curtain (1995) which highlights current issues such as illegal immigration, xenophobia, middle-class values, poverty, and environmental destruction. This book has been selected as part of the Foothill College One Book, One College, One Community Initiative, which encourages students, faculty, staff and community members to read the same book and participate in discussions and events related to the work.

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Student-Directed One-Act Play Festival: April 11-20

Students enrolled in the Foothill Theatre Conservatory Program will present I Only Have Ives for You, six one-act vignettes by David Ives, April 11-20 in the new Lohman Theatre at Foothill College. Evening performances are April 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. A matinee is set for Sunday, April 20 at 2 p.m. Get more information

Tickets are $14 (general) and $12 (student/senior). Rush tickets for Foothill students with an OwlCard are $7 and are sold 10 minutes before the performance begins. Purchase tickets in advance by calling (650) 949-7360, order tickets online or buy tickets at the door.

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Study Abroad in London, England: October 25 - December 7, 2008

London is an exciting place to live and study in. Seat of the British government and the longest surviving monarchy, London has over 40 theatres and four major symphony orchestras. No day goes by without a choice of concerts, recitals and theatre.

Join professors Keith Lee and Marrietta Reber in London, England this Fall. Explore theatres, monuments, churches, museums, and galleries as London becomes an extension of your classroom.

-Accommodations in homestays within a residential neighborhood in London -British Life and Culture Program focusing on historical, political, economic, and cultural aspects of contemporary Britain, including six weekly lectures and three local field trips. - Cultural program including two full-day excursions.

For more information, please contact Art Turmelle, Coordinator of Campus Abroad Programs, at (650) 949-7614 or at Turmelle@foothill.edu.

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Advisor's Corner

Tips for Transferring from Foothill

Plan ahead! The most successful transfer is the one that you prepare for.

If possible, visit the university prior to applying. Consider the new college's physical environment as well as its academic offerings.

Applying on time is necessary if you want to graduate on time.

Never send your only copy of any document; you may need it again much later.

Consult with your major department at your new college often. In addition, speak to a transfer advisor or someone in the school's transfer center (if there is one). They can help you best prepare for transfer.

A thorough preparation for your major is more important than fast action.

Check the transferability of courses before you take them. If you have questions, visit Assist.org or talk to your academic counselor.

Pay attention to required course sequencing and GPA requirements for your program.

Check the websites of universities that interest you. Many have sections on transferring.

Attend transfer and career fairs. These will help you choose a university and plan for your career.

Check out Assist.org. It's a great resource for students who are planning to transfer!

Get involved! One way to ease the transition from a community college to a university is to get involved in extra-curricular activities. In addition, universities look favorably on students who are involved in campus life when considering their applications.

Ask for help! If you are confused or have questions, please ask! Staff and faculty are here to help you. For help at Foothill, your academic counselors and Transfer Center staff are great resources for many of your transfer questions. Another good resource is the Transfer Center's buddy system that allows students to email Foothill alumni. Get more information.

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