Navigating the F-1 Visa Process

It's a helpful little Clock, but sometimes like one of the other students, it's like it's in her racking my.

Awesome.

Hi, welcome to the web and are we are going just a few moments while we have people log in to join us today.

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summer in the chat, Waldrop just let us know where you're coming in Today, magazine Brad.

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Bring Heisey and glad to hear that one can hear me in the chat today. Thank you for joining.

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OK great, I'm glad you can hear me. Alright so everyone will take you so much for joining us for the web and R again at this is Anna Bradford. I will introduce myself a little bit more in the next slide, but this presentation is navigating the F1 visa process so thank you so much for joining us.

As mentioned before, using a Bradford I in the international admissions counselor here at the University of Springfield, I've been with the institution for about three years, and any of you have, I think all of you have actually heard from me at this point. But if any of you would join me for previous webinars or different immigrate to see some names I'm familiar with, again, here in the chat, so thanks for joining us. I'm going to pass it off to Jolene for her introduction.

Hello everyone, my name is Jolene Vollmer an I am one of the immigration advisors in the Office of International Student Services and I will be working with you more after you are admitted to UAS.

So before we get into the real content of the presentation today, I just want to give you a little bit of an overview. I know there are people joining us today who are from all of different stages of the application process. Some of you might have just been hearing about UAS for the first time since joining today or admitted students, so I'm great to be audio.

That articulation requiring a little bit of a wide range of territory. So in the beginning I'm just going to do a little bit of an introduction to you. I ask just to give everybody a common framework to understand a little bit about our institution before we really get into the nitty gritty of what the F1 visa process looks like. So the purpose of this webinar is really just to give you that overview. A general understanding of what is an F1 visa. How do I get one? And then really what that process looks like here at UAS?

So just starting with a little bit of an introduction to UAS, we are located in the Midwest region of the United of the continental United States. So if you're looking at that top map, you can see our state. We are right next to the Mississippi River and right next to the Lake Michigan. So actually we're experiencing all Four Seasons. Right now we're going through a little bit of a seasonal shift. It's quite pretty outside. We actually a lot of really beautiful trees changing colors, so if you wanted to just get a little bit of an idea where we're located, I what do I ask is also located in Springfield, IL. It's a state.

Capital of like it's a capital per state, so we do have many governmental offices as well as different opportunities associated with that as well. One thing I always love to highlight from this slide is a $7,000,000 in research funding and we are a liberal arts institution and is really focused addition. The resolution is to give students the skills to be able to move from a wide range of jobs throughout your time. Like right now you're going to have one particular job, but definitely markets are changing. I think this year more than ever. We're definitely realizing how important it is to have transferable skills.

So that is the purpose of our institution to equip you with that kind of education. But we still do have a lot of really great research opportunities, and being located here in the state capital is a huge part of it as well.

This slide here is just dedicated a little bit of the statistics about UAS numbers. What we look like as an institution. One thing I also love to highlight for students is that there are a lot of resources to learn about you. I love you too. Right now there are two 2 playlists in particular for US that are really helpful. One of them is leadership live. There's over 180 different student stories. You historically any major here Rica type really hear from a student about what the student experiences like. Numbers are great, but that student experience those stores are great.

Another series on YouTube that's great is getting to know you I guess, so there are different profiles for housing. There's a great video for housing to see what the residents like what residents life looks like with the residence halls look like inside, but the apartments look like on the inside. Different offices on campus had their own videos, so I encourage you to check those out as well.

This right here is just a little bit of a snapshot of what the academics at UAS look like. All of our majors are organized into four different colleges and they are the College of Business and Management Education and his services. Liberal Arts and Sciences and public affairs and administration. The most popular programs at you as our programs like especially for international students, programs like Computer Science, Management, Information Systems, Accountancy, Public Health for undergraduate students, psychology, political science, biology. We have a lot of students that come for premed, so those are some of the more popular programs.

I'm typically at Yasser classes or somewhere around 13 one, so 13 students to one professor, but in some of these were popular programs, you're going to see classes get a little bit larger, but we don't have lecture halls at UAS is, so you're really going to get that into MIT student to teacher experience.

The shifting gears a little bit. We're now going to be talking about the Wendy's process and so to be able to get an F1 visa at UAS during the application process, you do need to let UAS that. We know that we need to host one for you, so this is just a little bit of a screenshot from the applications for both the undergraduate application as well as the other styles. So the transfer graduate applications of where you would let you ask know that once you've been admitted, you do need US issue or 920. So here's where that. And then what is an F1 visa?

F1 video is I've user type by the United States is non immigrant visa type for which you could come to the United States to study a degree seeking program institutions within the United States do need to be certified to be able to host of those, and UAS does have the certification from the Department of Homeland Security through the Exchange visitor program. We actually talk you through all of a series of documentation and things that you ask needs from you to be able to give you the documentation for us to be able to help host your F1 visa for it. I'm here at things that allows you to come United States to study.

Program with us.

There are a series of different benefits that are associated with this. After completing a program in graduating at UAS. So one of them, the most common, is optical optional practical training like one year following your graduation. At that time would still be on your F1 visa hosted by USD options into work at a company here. And it's also there are other options so that the 24 months I'm extension is tide to certain programs. Here at UAS and that would be in an extra 24 months. I'm not sure two years extending from the option.

Optic, you typically get associated with your F1 visa programs here at UA S that are eligible for that would be computer science management, information systems, environmental public health and data analytics and also have curricular practical training. So CPT as it's otherwise known that is an option that's tide to courses, so it is available rotating basis just like any class you have to pay sister.

But the benefit associated with an F1 visa.

So the process of getting the documentation to be able to get the item into a little different fun visa starts after you've been admitted. So if you're joining this up like this webinar today and you're just exploring UAS, or if you're joining this owner today and haven't quite finished or guided decision on your application, you are. We need to wait for an email from you. I ask that says Decision released that takes you to your UAS application portal, so you're not going to be getting a letter in the Postal Mail. You're actually just going to be getting that email that will take you to what would be this application letter. Actually, at the top of the screen, you could see a little.

Blue link that says download PDF. That's where you can get a paper copy of your admission letter, but just know that this process starts after you've been issued admissions decision to our institution of emails that you get following your admission. One of them, the probably the first. We're going to get on the first one that you need to pay attention to so that you can log into all of our following systems would be the one claiming your net ID. That idea UAS is basically your name. It's the first part of the email that we would issue as the institution and you would use that as well as your uin. the University identification really regular on the system that you need to be able to work on obtaining, or 20 in the other items.

Allegedly will be talking about a little bit, so if you have any questions, I know that during these registration time for a number of years ahead questions that were looking at application type questions, I'm going to drop it of information right now and here in the chat. First one is having an appointment with you. Do scholarships. We do have opportunities here at UAS, but to be able to talk with you about what those options look like for you, I'm having one on one appointment. That way we can talk during that time. 'cause that's not really the purpose of this presentation. So next week you won't be having discovery. Yes session on that way you're going to be able to hear presentations on the application process on scholarships and things along those lines.

I'm here for the different departments you just are for that there. So that said, I'm going to pass this over to Jolene at the end of the presentation. Will get to some of your other questions.

OK, thank you Anna and hello again, this is Jolene. I am one of the immigration advisors in the Office of International Student Services.

And I know that when you are after, you are admitted to UAS. It can be a little bit overwhelming. All of the immigration documents and the process in order to obtain your F1 visa. So I am going to go through a brief overview and hopefully simplify the process a little bit for you.

At the three documents, the three main immigration documents that you need in order to enter the United States or your passport, which most of you already have your form I-20 and your F1 visa.

The form I-20 is the Certificate of Eligibility for nonimmigrant students. If you have never seen what an I-20 looks like, this is page one of the form I-20. It is 3 pages long and after you are admitted to UIS, you are automatically assigned an immigration advisor, so I am one advisor of for advisors in the Office of International Student Services.

And we will be there to help you through the process of obtaining your I-20 and ultimately your F1 visa.

In order to obtain your form I-20.

You will be using istart.

Anneitsistartuis.edu

after you are admitted, you will be receiving a detailed email from our office from your assigned immigration advisor and this will explain the process and documents that you need to submit in order to obtain your I-20. This information is also available on our website.

Another item I'd like to note on your form I-20 is your sevis ID number. This is a unique ID number that is given to you and you are assigned the sevis ID number. After your form, I-20 has been generated.

So your immigration advisor will actually be able to email you your sevis ID number before you even receive the paper I-20. The official for my 20 in the Mail.

Obtaining your form I-20.

Again, detailed instructions are available on our website and they will also be emailed to you after you are admitted to UIS.

You will log into istart.uas.edu and I will show you what this screen looks like here in just one moment.

You will use your net ID and password to log in. This is different from your application credentials. However, your net ID and password that you use to log into I start will also be your net ID and password that you use to log into UAS enterprise, your email and various other UAS. It'll be your official UIS login.

Once you log into, I start.

You will upload your passport as well as your funding.

Bank statement that must demonstrate that you have funding for at least 35,000 US dollars.

When you upload your bank statement or letter or any other approved financial documentation, there is a list of acceptable documents on our website.

It can be from a family, your own personal documents, or the government and the 35,000 US dollars does not have to be in one bank statement. It is OK to upload multiple bank statements as long as the funding is $35,000 or more and it is funding that you can access to use towards your tuition and cost of living in the United States.

We do not need the originals.

You will upload a copy.

Of your bank statement or letter, and the original will be what you use and take to your F1 visa interview.

Once we have approved.

Your documents and have generated your form I-20. You will be able to pay for shipping.

And the form paper for my 20 will be mailed directly to you again. You will receive your sevis ID number before receiving your I-20, so that you can go ahead and make your visa appointment.

This is what the login screen to I start looks like.

Again, you will log in with your UI S. Net ID and password.

Once you log in, you will see this screen in the center.

Is notifications?

And the left hand side is how you will navigate to the forms. The forms that you need to submit.

In the case of your for my 20, you will click on pre arrival.

Once you click on pre arrival you will see two different tabs. The first one is initial I-20 request form.

So this is the what you will click on in order to request your initial form I-20.

Once you have received your sevis ID number again, you will be working with an immigration advisor at UAS and the immigration advisor will be assisting you through this entire process.

But once you get your sevis ID number, the next step step is to pay for the Seabus I 901 fee.

I am not going to go through this in detail, however, this is what the screen will look like when you pay your $350.00 seebass I 901 fee. This fee must be paid before you make your F1 visa interview.

Appointment

this is what this is the page for.

Making your F1 visa.

Interview appointment

applying for your F1 visa, ultimately.

And again, I am not going to go through this in too much detail. However, keep in mind you are assigned an immigration advisor. We will work very closely with you and are happy to answer any of your questions once you get to this point in the process.

But I did want you to see what the screen will look like when you apply for your F1 visa.

During the visa interview.

It's a legal process to determine your intent when you're applying for the F1 student visa, it is a nonimmigrant visa, so your intent is to come to the United States to study.

And.

Possibly optional practical training may be included in that study, but ultimately, since it's a nonimmigrant visa.

Your intent would be to return to your home country.

This is a short two to three minute process. The visa interview is very short.

To prepare for your visa interview, we again have information on the International Student Service website to help you with potential questions that you may be asked.

But you do need to be prepared to answer general information about UAS about your admissions, what degree you applied for, why you are interested in studying in the United States, banking, finance questions, family questions and connections.

Again, they want to the ultimate goal of the Visa interview is.

They want to make sure that your intent is to study in the United States and return home after your studies, which may include optional practical training.

UAS does not have the ability to enter in the F1 visa process.

So.

This is something we are happy to assist you with. However, we are not able to intervene in the actual process.

If.

Or once you are awarded an F1 visa.

There will be a couple other items that you will need to do with our office.

The first being to confirm your attendance, we want to know that you have your F1 visa and we want to know that you are planning to attend UISI understand that we have students on this webinar that are applying for the spring 2021 semester and I understand we also have students that are applying for the fall 2021 semester.

If you are a student applying for the spring 2021.

It is very important if you have not already. Once you if you have not been admitted, please complete the admission process. But for spring 2021 you do want to.

Have your documents submitted for your I-20 as soon as possible because it is November 6th and you will need to make your visa appointment sooner than later.

However, once you have your F1 student visa, I will show you the pre Arrival tab and then you will be able to secure your flight and transportation to the United States.

UAS transports you from campus.

Two transports you to campus from either the airport or the train station. Typically many students will fly into Chicago O'Hare and then fly from Chicago to directly to Springfield, IL, and we will provide transportation to UAS from the airport.

As long as you confirm your attendance so again back on the pre Arrival tab you will be clicking on pre arrival. Confirm attendance and this is where you will tell us you will upload your F1 visa and you will also tell us when your flight is expected to arrive.

And whether or not you need transportation from the airport.

Next steps.

Secure housing

freshmen and sophomores must live on campus.

After you arrive.

In the United States at UAS, there will be orientation.

Currently orientation will be done on line via zoom due to kovid. However, students that are applying for the fall 2021 semester. Typically, the orientation is done in person.

Includes breakfast and lunch so we really hope that we are able to do it in person for the fall semester.

You will also need to complete immigration check-in after you arrive into the United States. Immigration check-in is done via I start as well and it is done on line.

There is a mandatory $175.

International fee

that all students will be automatically assessed to their tuition and fees.

Entering the USA.

You and your dependants may enter the United States up to 30 days before your official program start date.

Your program start date will be listed and on your form I-20.

And again, you will stay in close contact with your immigration advisor and we can advise you further on when you would be able to enter the United States. But it is 30 days before your program start date, which will be listed on your I-20.

Make sure you hand carry and present all required documents to the CBP officer when you arrive at AUS Port of entry.

So your immigration documents, again, passport form I-20 visa.

Any financial documents?

Have those easily accessible on your carry-on when you enter the United States.

And briefly, this is what we will go over with you at orientation.

But

I want to briefly go over.

Maintaining your visa status and what is expected of an F1 international student.

Since you are coming here to study full-time, you must be enrolled as a full time student.

For Masters level students, that is 9 credit hours.

For bachelors level students this is 12 credit hours that you must be enrolled in.

Full time.

You must keep your immigration documents up-to-date.

And you are only able to work if you are approved and authorized to work in the United States.

We do have on campus positions.

And there is also the GAGPSI program.

For those positions, you do not need authorization with our office.

You also need to make sure to keep your address up-to-date.

And carry immigration documents with you. So this is information we will go over in more detail once you get to UAS.

This is what the F1 Student Services tab looks like an eye start, so instead of pre arrival you would click on F1 student services and this is where you will do your immigration check in as well as any other forms that you will need during your time in the US.

Can be found under the F1 Student Services tab.

For contact information for Anna she is in the Office of Admissions and their email is admissions@uas.edu.

As you know, um admission Anna is in the chat box with you right now, so if you do have any questions for Anna or myself, please feel free to list those questions in the chat box.

Then again, I am in the Office of International Student Services.

We can be reached by email at ISS at uas.edu.

This is our phone number and I do encourage you when you have a chance to please check out our website.

Even if you haven't been admitted yet, you can still go ahead and check out the International Student Service website. We have a lot of really great resources on there just so you get familiar with those resources navigating our website prior to being assigned an immigration advisor.

And I believe that is all that I have Anna. I'll let you take over.

OK.

Sure there is a question that one of the students dropped in the chat that I let him let him know that you would be able to address at the end and the question was talking about documentation to demonstrate funding and it says can I use my employer organizations being statement?

So on our website we have a list of all acceptable documentation that you can submit. If your employer is paying for your tuition, yes, you may use your employer's bank statement. That is no problem. Any bank statement showing liquid assets such as cash deposits.

Certificates of deposits, savings, or any other funds that you can withdraw at anytime. You may need them so these can be from bank statements of your own of a family, members of the government of your employer. This is whoever intends to assist you with your tuition, fees and cost of living while you are in the United States.

Cortana you have stayed on the ISS website, so when you get to that part of the process you would want to be able to refer to that and I'll look it up in the chat filled up. If you want to be there.

Awesome, great. I know a number of the other.

I can, I already have it pulled up and I will go ahead and do that right now.

Oh yes, Emma's website.

Great, yeah, so it's right there in the chat and if you go through that link, there's a whole list outside. I'm definitely reach out to ISS. They'd be able to really get it to that, like it into the information with you. Something else to keep in mind is you don't have to give that information to the Office of Admissions, so it's not going to be collected during the application process. That's information that will be submitted to UAS looking at some of the other questions that have been dropped until there are additions related, like how do I apply to UAS? Some of the scholarship information at UAS definitely reach out to me directly.

On the curve, is this presentation really isn't to kind of get into that information, but I do once a month hold a UAS 101 kind of introduction to especific for international students. That's early in the morning, and if you are going to be an email about that, probably within the next week for the next one 'cause I'm doing the next one on November 19th, if you want to join that presentation, I can really talk with you more about that. And then there was another question talking about the Graduate Public Service internship or the graduate assistantships at you ask. Definitely both of those programs are great options for students seeking graduate studies at UAS.

Something to keep in mind for the public service internship would have already had to have completed this process that we detailed today to be able to obtain Visa in order to be able to be eligible to receive one of those programs and to my knowledge, that also puts a fellowship for the doctoral program. So this process will be complete before you can participate in the Graduate Public Service internship or the OR the Doctoral fellowship because it is with state agencies. But that program is is the opportunity to gain some work experience while getting some funding to type in.

Cover your studies. Do public agencies For more information definitely reach out to the crowd public service internship program directly or myself and we can kind of get into the weeds of what's available through those programs during that time. But for the graduate assistantship, some of those programs positions would be available for you. Going into this on process, but it really depends on the Department. OK, I'm looking through some of the other questions where there are no drilling. You had a chance to look through some of the questions that were submitted during the registration process. Were there any of those testicular?

That you saw that you wanted to dress. Let me look through the chat.

I did see another question about the financial documents that are can be approved to submit for obtaining your initial I 20. Again, I did put the link in the chat box that shows acceptable documentation and again family.

A family members, so any relative.

Would as long as they are planning to sponsor you while you are in the United States, their bank statement or bank letter would be perfectly fine. So just I I'm getting another question about.

At who your sponsor can be. It can be any family member yourself, your employer, the government, just whoever is planning to sponsor you while you are in the United States.

Great, there is another question that was dropped in the chat. It was talking about the next steps. Once your uses approve, what about in the case where a student visa appointment isn't approved? What are the steps for student following point?

Sure, so hopefully your visa is not denied so we don't like to do too many hypotheticals here. But of course, if your visa is denied.

You will be. You have already been assigned an immigration advisor at that point and we would want you to contact your immigration advisor and let him or her know you are able to apply for the F1 visa again. So it's not like if you're one visas denied. You can never apply again. Yes, you can definitely apply for the visa again, and we actually have a very very great.

Website and actually I'm going to go ahead and the link to this in our chat box as well. This is our page on obtaining your F1 visa and at the bottom of the page we do have information for visa denials.

And that the first thing it says is if your visa is denied, do not panic.

Mac.

Then the problem number. One reason why a visa is denied is because the they cannot determine sufficient ties to your home country. This is probably the number one reason why a visa would be denied, so make sure that you are prepared when you go to your first visa interview again. We have a lot of resources on this link that I just dropped in the chat box and you can also get sampled.

Questions and practice before you actually go to the interview.

Yeah, I'm something else to keep in mind 'cause I've actually spoken with something counselors is you don't want to memorize anything you don't want to train trip over a pair because they do have a lot of training and they're just trying to have a conversation with you to genuinely understand your motives and your intentions for the institution and your future goals. So just be yourself, be honest and go to the like president like. Go to the interview.

With the full intention of just giving them your future plans, and it's OK if there is always 100% detail out, as long as it's true to what your intentions are. Also something to keep in mind if you do need to reapply, I think someone just dropped a question there asking how many times you can apply for a visa. You probably don't want to do them, depending on your current situation, we don't want to get too much into the weeds of the hypothetical, but if you do need to defer your applicant or if you need to restart, like maybe specially this year, getting supplements is quite.

Competitive or maybe not even possible with everything happening. So if you do find that you have applied for maybe spring 2021 and it's not going to be possible just because of a number of circumstances out of your control, you know and we want to make sure that your admission to UAS is able to be deferred to either fall 2021. That would be the next term following spring spring term start in January and then the next term that a student seeking to come to UAS can come on if only the fall term and that would start in August. The end of August, there's only one gram were really able to offer you on campus Masters in athletic training knowledge.

I just kind of looked at everybody's names, but this nation I don't think there's anybody who really is admitted to that program. It happened to be interested in athletic training. That might be an option for you doing right. Definitely keep those two things in mind. We are going to be wrapping up the presentation a little bit soon here because it looks like the questions down at the end. Jolene, did you want us like answer that one about number of times for the visa appointment?

Yes, I see a couple more questions there that I can answer.

Again, regarding the bank statements for your 20, it can be an organization. It can be an employer, it can be the government. It can be your own bank, statement of family members, bank statement and it does not have to be one bank statement. As long as the total funds add up to 35,000 US dollars. So we don't expect the IT to be one bank statement that is OK.

To have multiple bank statements uploaded, I see another question about does that need to be the same bank statement that is brought to the submitted for the F1 visa interview? And ideally you yes. I mean you are submitting this bank statement as your proof of funding. So however we don't we have the amounts documented and we also have documented on your I-20.

Whether it is family or government. So as long as it falls within the same category as your I-20, if it happens to be a different bank statement, maybe if you have an updated one that you use for the Visa interview that is OK. But ideally when you are submitting your bank statements for your I-20, it should be the bank statements you use for the Visa interview.

However, if they are different, newer, updated, as long as they are from the same sponsor type, that is fine.

And I see a question about conditional admin and I actually meant to bring this up, so thank you. Forget for asking this question.

So, um.

In order to be issued a form I-20, you have to be fully admitted to that degree level.

So we do have students applying for Masters programs and maybe they need another course or two to be fully admitted to their Masters program.

We are not allowed and this is a federal government regulation. We are not allowed to list Masters level. For example in computer science. If you still have.

Bachelors level courses that you need to take so it will stay on your I-20. Bachelors in computer science and we will have a note that is listed on your 20 explaining the change of level process. Typically some students are maybe on their bachelors level I-20 for one semester, maybe 2 and then we do the change of level new I-20 here while you are in the United States, it's actually quite common.

And we will also send you an email that will explain the conditional admin. You can bring that to your visa interview with you if you would like. Again, the note is clearly listed on the Form I-20 and this is a federal regulation. This is not something that UAS made up.

He that.

Yeah.

Oh, you're thinking it may cause setbacks. We've actually had quite a few students that have been conditionally admitted to various Masters programs, and they have not had any issues getting their F1 visa. So if you foresee any issues, please contact your immigration advisor and we can assist you further with that.

Yes, yes.

I agree with Mr. 3 for switch. Only thing we do have a good number of students that come every year and that condition the most important things just to really understand what that means and how to be able to explain that when you're like if you were asked about that and it just definitely let your ISS immigration advisor know. Another question I saw in there that really to answer is for Florence. the F1 visa is actually for both. Did an undergraduate students. It's for degree single rooms at our institution, so UAS is able to issue one. If you're looking to come for bachelors.

First time freshman is the same documentation, just some of the information on the I-20 is different depending on the level that you're seeking.

OK, looking at some of the other information, I don't like how many banks, scenes of accounts and sponsor Guardian can someone present prevent present for the item?

I honestly don't know of a limit, however, I believe in I start we might be limited on the number that you can actually upload. So if you have more bank statements than you can upload into istar, just let your immigration advisor know.

OK great alot of other questions are just something about funding and the funding that's necessary for the 20. Definitely refer to that document for obtaining initially 20. See all of the different funding options. If you're having difficulties related to demonstrating that funding, please keep in mind that the retirement funding.

Is set by the US government. That is something that is required for all international students seeking an F1 visa to be able to demonstrate that something that UAS is able to help facilitate and clear from your questions with when you get to that point, just know that we do after that or good reason. So thank you again so much everybody for joining today. A lot of the questions.

Sorry, I just saw the one from Steven.

How many days does it take? OK, yeah, so a lot of the rest of questions I'm seeing are completely related to admissions, which is great. Definitely scroll back up in the chat to be able to do a one appointment with me. I'm Steven religiously Minster undergrad students. When your application said it usually takes between 2 weeks. Once we have all the required documentation two to three weeks have a decision released at the graduate level. I'll graduate level admissions decisions are issued by the Graduate Department, which is a committee of professors at all. Read through your documents so you can take a look. Time remains to be released at the graduate level.

Definitely thank you all so much for doing today. I will be concluding the event. So definitely reach out to myself or to ISS Jolene directly to be able to get some questions cleared up for you. We really appreciate your time and I hope you found this on for this haha. Big rest of your day.

Thanks jolene.

Thank you Anna.