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Administrative NewsNew Visa FeesSeveral years ago Congress mandated a SEVIS fee and it looks like it is certain to happen this year, as of June 1, 2004. Here is the pertinent text from the Federal Register: . . . the rule proposes a fee of $100, although applicants for certain J-1 exchange programs will pay a reduced fee of $35, and certain other aliens will be exempt from the fee altogether. This proposed rule explains which aliens will be required to pay the fee, describes the consequences that an alien seeking an F, J, or M nonimmigrant visa faces upon failure to pay the fee, and specifies which aliens are exempt from the fee. This fee is levied on students applying for F, J, or M nonimmigrant visas to cover the costs of administering and maintaining the SEVIS system and ensuring compliance by individuals, schools, and organizations with the system's requirements. The fee imposed under this proposed rule will pay for the continued operation of the SEVIS program and will also include the funds to hire SEVIS Liaison Officers and other ICE officers to ensure compliance with the SEVIS requirements. Unfortunately, we are among the group whose visitors will need to pay the $100. Exempt aliens are those coming on a U.S. Government-sponsored visit, and we don't want that, as those aliens will all be subject to the 2-year home rule based on government funding. Those who will be subject to the lower fee of $35 are visitors in categories that we don't host at UCAR. Still being worked out is the method of fee collection. The $100 is to be U.S. funds, drawn on a U.S. bank. However, it is possible that on-line payment with a credit card may be allowed. Another option will be to have a check or money order sent from a U.S. bank. This part is still in development. Once a visitor has paid the fee, they won't need to pay again to extend their visa. I don't know if current J visa holders will need to pay if they renew after June 1, but I am assuming that they will. Also, the fee is to be reviewed by the powers that be every two years and adjusted either up or down, depending on the amount of funds received. If you would like to read the entire text of the rule, it's here. Travel UpdatesAirports have been installing extensive new security measures - here's the most recent batch of changes for our well-traveled staff. AIRPORT CHANGES:The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has begun implementing two changes at airports nation-wide: 1.) screening 100% of all checked bags and 2.) moving secondary screening from the gate to the lobby check point. With the changes, you will need to check-in and receive your boarding pass prior to going through security. The new bag screening machines in the lobby area of many airports may damage film, so pack your film with your carry-on luggage. Planning to check a heavy bag? United has eliminated the current $80 fee for overweight checked baggage on domestic flights and replaced it with a new fee of $25 per checked baggage item weighing 50 pounds or more. To help minimize the impact of these new policies, United has placed self service check-in kiosks at key airports across the country for domestic travel. You can also use the kiosks to standby for an earlier flight on the same day, or confirm a different flight on the same day (applies to tickets that allow standby and changes without an additional fee). UCAR CHANGES:Authorization and Reimbursement - Miscellaneous Expenses - Dependent Care Actual daily receipted expenses, not to exceed the allowable amount, for provision of essential care for dependent persons (using the same definition as for Family Sick Leave). Such care is eligible when it is 1.) provided outside the employee's normal working hours, 2.) when the traveler is the regular caregiver, and 3.) when other family members are unavailable to provide such services while the employee is away from home on UCAR business. When both parents are employed by UCAR, and on travel status for UCAR at the same time, only one dependent care eligibility exists for that period of time. Subsistence - Meals and Incidentals (Per Diem)Domestic and international travelers are reimbursed for meals and incidental expenses (such as tips) incurred during authorized business travel according to the following policy: Review Approval Processes. Reimbursement is based on per diem rates specified by the U.S. Department of State or on reasonable, actual costs. Individuals with appropriate travel authority may elect to provide per diem at a reduced rate in situations where meals are furnished by UCAR. Actual costs must be itemized with supporting receipts, original if possible, and may require justification. If reimbursement of actual costs exceeds 150% of the State Department per diem rate, the excess is taxed as income to the traveler. An employee may not claim both partial per diem and actual expenses during the same trip. From Finance & AdministrationProgram Change / Reprogramming Guideline, and a Cost Sharing GuidelineThe Program Change and Reprogramming Guideline was designed to assist The Cost Sharing Guideline was designed to assist divisions and
programs in Questions regarding either guideline may be directed to Anita Monk-Ryan Unethical SolictorsIn response to a previous Heads Up! which warned of unethical tactics by some solicitors, we have received a request to identify companies that have issued fraudulent or misleading invoices, or misrepresented themselves via phone calls. Though we don't have names of all that have contacted UCAR, following are the few we can identify: MDSC Publishing, Pinacle, and Trademark Information Corp. If you have additional names to add to this list, please let Angie Garcia know to include in future Heads Up! announcements (e-mail ). From the Contracts OfficeKyocera Phone Battery RecallKyocera Wireless Corp. has announced a recall of the battery used with the Kyocera 7135 smartphone due to a possible risk hazard. The battery in question is identified by a product code ending in "-05" which is found on the underside of the battery. If you have such a battery, please stop using the battery and call the toll free number 1-800-349-4478 from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time to arrange for the return and replacement of the battery at no charge. Staff NewsWelcome to Liz Zhang!
Liz came to the US five years ago to complete her Master's thesis at Florida State University. Though loves the scenery around their home in Longmont, she misses her family back in Wuhan, especially her niece, and got a special treat a few years ago when her mother and father moved in with them for about a year after the birth of her son, Alan. "It was great," she said, smiling. "It was so nice having them around." While not busy getting to know her new environs in ATD she and her husband practice Tai Chi Petter Weibring
Petter received his doctorate from the Lund Institute of Technology in Physics, concentrating on Multi-Spectral Lidar Techniques. When not at work Petter and his wife Carolina enjoy all things Boulder: snowboarding, hiking, biking. "It's really quite a nice fit, and we enjoy it very much," says Petter. |
Hailing
from Wuhan in Hubei Province, China, Liz, our newest Associate Scientist
I, is working with June Wang to derive perceptible water from GPS
data.
After she
completed
her bachelor's of science in meterology, she worked for three years
in Wuhan and three years in Beijing before finally moving to the
States with her husband (who now works as a software engineer in
CGD.)
Petter
comes from the southern Swedish city of Lund. He was 'discovered'
by Alan Fried and Dirk Richter after he had applied for the ASP program.
He is working with the APOL team to develop different types of detection
schemes and data processing for a miniature instrument that measures
formaldehyde. 