**1. Deadlines:**

   - Applications Accepted: Year-round or specific intervals wrt semester?

     - Fall Matriculation Deadline: March 15 est

     - Spring Matriculation Deadline: August 15 est

     - Summer Admission Deadline:

   - Ensure Timely Submission of ALL Required Materials

**2. Application Requirements:**

   **A. Personal Information:**

      - Full Name

      - Date and Place of Birth

      - Permanent and Current Addresses

      - Names and Email Addresses of Recommenders

      - Criminal and Academic Misconduct History

      - Citizenship Proof

      - State residency history proof

   **B. Academic History:**

      - List of Schools, Colleges and Universities Attended

      - Official or Unofficial Transcripts from ALL Institutions

      - Transcripts Must Display Degrees Earned with Date of Conferral

   **C. For International Applicants:**

      - TOEFL or IELTS Score

      - SAT or GRE Score

   **D. Other Information:**

      - Ethnicity

      - Residency

      - U.S. Military Affiliation

      - Awards, Recognitions, Fellowships, Scholarships

      - Other Universities to you may be Applying to

**3. Application Review Process:**

   - Decisions Commence Approximately 2-12 Weeks After Deadline

   - Decisions Released 2-24 Weeks After Deadline

   - Avoid Inquiring About Decision Status, as It May Delay Review Process

   - Follow-up Email with Specific Timetable Sent to All Applicants After Deadline

**4. Recommendations:**

   - Select Recommenders Familiar with Your Scholarly Characteristics

   - Preferably Current or Former Teachers and Supervisors

Note: Ensure Compliance with All Application Requirements to Avoid Rejection or Indefinite 

**Documentation and Application Details:**

- Include transcripts from ALL schools/colleges/universities attended for academic credit.

- Answer all questions succinctly and directly.

- Upload supporting documents into the application.

- Submit a résumé, as it's required for evaluation.

- Ensure truthful responses to the "Yes/No" questions in the application.

**Referrals and References:**

**Exclusion of Irrelevant Information:**

- Avoid discussing motivations or experiences predating school for bachelors applications or predating college for graduate applications.

- Refrain from listing coursework already detailed in transcripts unless necessary to illustrate relevant concepts.

- For graduate school; exclude hobbies, personal interests, or non-related aspects of life from your application.

- Omit non-graded, non-academic-credit coursework.

- For graduate school; exclude pre-undergraduate background as it's irrelevant to graduate school.

**Common Application Problems and Solutions:**

- Avoid submitting out-of-date transcripts for in-progress school/degrees.

- Ensure transcripts are concise (less than 10 pages) and display the conferral date for completed degrees.

- Provide explanations for poor school, undergraduate and/or graduate GPAs if applicable.

**General Advice for Graduate School Applications:**

- Start early and organize all necessary documents well in advance of the application deadline.

- Research the program thoroughly to tailor your application to the specific requirements and expectations.

- Highlight any relevant experiences, achievements, or skills that demonstrate your readiness for graduate-level coursework.

- Seek feedback from mentors, advisors, or professionals in the field to strengthen your application materials.

- Double-check all application components for accuracy and completeness before submission.

- Follow any additional instructions or guidelines provided by the university or program.

**Additional Tips:**

- Attend information sessions or webinars hosted by the university to gain insights into the application process and program offerings.

- Connect with current students or alumni of the program to learn about their experiences and gain valuable insights.

- Consider reaching out to faculty members or potential advisors to express your interest in their research areas or academic interests.

- Be proactive in addressing any potential weaknesses in your application, such as low GPA or limited research experience, by providing context or evidence of growth and improvement.

- Stay organized and maintain clear communication with the admissions office or program coordinators throughout the application process.

**Researching Tuition and Fees:**

- Visit the university's website and navigate to the section on tuition costs.

- Locate the page titled "View Tuition Costs by Semester" or a similar resource.

- Identify the section for bahelor/graduate-level programs, which may include Rates for Local Campus, Online, Study Abroad, Specialty Programs, Executive Education Programs, etc.

- Find the specific degree and program you are interested in and look for the program's tuition and fees by credit hour.

**Determining Costs:**

- Determine the number of hours (or credits) you plan to take for all your semesters.

- Determine whether you will pay in-state or out-of-state tuition.

- Understand the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.

**Additional Advice for Applying to University:**

- Start the application process early to ensure you have enough time to gather all necessary documents and information.

- Research financial aid options, scholarships, and grants to help offset program costs.

- Consider the overall affordability of the program, including living expenses, textbooks, and other associated costs.

- Reach out to the university's financial aid office or admissions department if you have any questions or need clarification on tuition and fees.

- Explore opportunities for part-time work or assistantships within the university to help cover expenses.

- Keep track of important deadlines for submitting financial aid applications, scholarship applications, and the university's application for admission.

- Consider creating a budget to manage your expenses throughout your academic program and beyond.

- Seek advice from current students or alumni of the program to gain insights into their experiences with tuition costs and financial aid opportunities.

Here are all the details you need to know regarding getting free Rental Car Insurance through your credit card in the US:

- **Coverage Overview:**

  - Reimburses for:

    - Collision/Physical damage and theft of the rental vehicle.

    - Valid loss-of-use charges.

    - Reasonable towing charges.

    - Reasonable administrative fees.

  - No deductible.

  - Coverage could be primary or supplemental based on card type.

  - No coverage for personal liability, belongings, bodily injuries, etc.

  - Limited to rental periods within/outside country of residence.

  - **Claim Filing:**

  -  Report accidents/theft to Card Benefit Services promptly.

  - Submit claim form within 90 days.

  - Follow rental agency instructions.

  - Submit claim online at https://www.eclaimsline.com/

- **Required Documentation:**

  - Obtain from rental company immediately:

    - Accident/Police report (if applicable).

    - Rental agency's claim document.

    - Car rental agreements.

    - Repair estimate/bill.

    - Photos of the damaged vehicle.

  - Additional may include:

    - Billing statement.

    - Insurance carrier statement.

    - Copy of primary insurance policy's Declarations Page.

    - Any other requested by the Benefit Administrator.

- **Coverage Details:**

  - Covers most vehicles but excludes certain types like antique cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.

  - Exclusions: intentional acts, wear and tear, off-road operation, etc.

  - Certain territories and rental origins are excluded.

- **International Coverage:**

  - Applies outside country of residence, subject to conditions and exclusions.

  - Minimum collision damage waiver coverage mandated in some countries; benefit applies in excess.

- **Payment and Settlement:**

  - Payment to rental agency or cardholder.

  - Settlement usually takes 8-10 weeks after receiving all required documentation.

- **Who Is Covered:**

  - Cardholder who reserves, picks up, and pays for the rental.

  - Additional drivers covered.

- **Additional Information:**

  - Residents of certain states may have coverage under Property Damage Liability Law.

  - Coverage provided even without personal automobile insurance.

- **Considerations:**

  - Personal circumstances, insurance coverage may warrant additional rental insurance.

  - Personal effects coverage redundant if covered by renters/homeowners insurance.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) permits citizens of designated countries to apply for admission to the United States for short-term visits as nonimmigrant visitors for business or pleasure without the need to obtain a B-1 or B-2 nonimmigrant visa from a U.S. consulate.

• Nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries who, since March 1, 2011, have travelled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen or any other country of concern designated by the Department of Homeland Security, or since January 12, 2021, have traveled to Cuba; and
• Dual nationals of a VWP country and Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Syria or any other country of concern designated by the Department of Homeland Security.

B) Extending H1B work visa beyond initial 6 years during/after i140 approval:

1. If 365 days or more elapsed since an I-140 employment-based petition for permanent residence (PERM/LC) was filed on your behalf, your H-1B status may be extended in one-year increments until such time as your permanent residency application is approved.
2. If you have an approved I-140 employment-based petition but your priority date is not current, i.e. immigrant visa number is not available to you (as immigrant visas for your country of birth are oversubscribed) your H-1B status may be extended in three-year increments until your permanent residency application (PERM) is approved.
3. You can try to make the PERM applied/filing date to be 365 days before your H1B 6 year expiration by extending your 6year H1B period by the following 2 methods:
   A) Visit Canada or Mexico for a short term like 30days and use AVR to return to US before the start of the 7th year.
   B) Choose to spend more vacation or work from time outside the USA & then recapture it.
   
   
   

1. Basic Flexibility:
1. You can use the approved I-140 to maintain your priority date with the new position after promotion/transfer into same/different company by filing a new PERM and i140 through them. (new AC21 rule modification done in Jan 2017).
2. There is no expiry date mentioned on the I-140 approval. You can use it with as many employers as you want until your date of the green card gets current.
3. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements each time, you should be able to port your I-140 more than once. It is worth mentioning that frequent job changes may raise concerns of an adjudicator regarding the "permanency" of your job offers. Although you would have no choice when facing lay-offs or a company shut-down, you should be aware of the negative impacts of "job hopping." 
2. International Flexibility:
1. You can come back to the US anytime in the future by getting a H1B transfer/extension from a new employer using your already approved i140 from your older job/employer.
2. You will still need a new i140 preapproved for the new position with the new employer to file an i485 adjustment of status before your priority date becomes current.
3. Your new employment must be the "same or similar" occupational classification to the one described in initial Form I-140. There is no clear definition of what constitute "same or similar," but a USCIS adjudicator will consider the following factors:
1. Job Description: your job duties of the new employment will be compared with the job descriptions contained in your I-140 or labor certification (ETA 750A or new PERM).
2. DOT code and/or SOC code: Your DOT code or SOC code assigned to the I-140 based on your labor certification, or an appropriate code determined by the adjudicator if LC was not required, will be used to judge whether the new employment is the same or similar occupational classification.
3. Wage information: your new salary should not be significantly different from the previous one. However, it doesn't have to be exactly the same or necessarily higher.
4. Your new job doesn't need to fulfill any of the following conditions:
   
1. same geographic location: A May, 2006, USCIS Memo from Yates specifically stated that geographic location of the new employment does not have to be the same as specified in the approved Labor Certification and initial Form I-140, as long as it is the same or similar occupational classification.
   
2. pay the same or a higher salary: The Yates Memo (2005) explained that a difference in the wage offered on the approved labor certification, initial I-140 and the new employment cannot be used as a basis of a denial, as long as the case meets occupational classification requirement. However, a significant discrepancy in salary may be a factor in determining whether the new job is "same or similar."
   
3. Proof of "ability to pay": USCIS will not request proof of "ability to pay" from your new employer. However, they may issue RFE to verify the legitimacy of your new employer, as well as your job offer. While adjusting your I-485, USCIS will also evaluate the potential of you becoming a public charge. So it is essential that your new employer has relevant materials ready, which may include the same documents required as proof of "ability to pay."
4. new labor certification:  Your already approved LC remains valid even if you seek to adjust your status based on another employment opportunity.
5. exactly same job title: USCIS understands that different companies may use different titles for essentially the same position and will make a determination on a case-by-case basis. However, it makes everyone's life easier if you have identical job titles.
5. After your I-140 approval always notify USCIS that you have changed jobs:
   
1. You or your attorney should send a letter to the USCIS service center explaining that you have invoked AC-21 portability (job switching) provision. Decide what supporting documents to send with the letter, such as your job offer, to demonstrate your eligibility.
2. If an adjudicator has no knowledge of you switching jobs, and there is something wrong with your I-140 (revoked, for example), he or she is required to issue a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) your I-485. 
3. There have also been cases when applicants responded to NOID with necessary documents to prove their eligibility for AC21, but their cases were still denied. 
4. Although it is not difficult to reopen such a case with further explanation, it can be a real hassle and waste of time.

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