July 22, 2008

U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services
California Service Center
P.O. Box 10539
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-1053

To whom it may concern:

This letter is to accompany application form I-539 enclosed. I am applying for a change in visa status, from J-1 to F-1.

I have been accepted by San Diego Mesa College to pursue an associate degree in Digital Communications and Media/Multimedia. The I-20 form issued by San Diego Mesa College is enclosed to this application. This choice of career will advance my knowledge of digital communications and qualify me to seek better employment in my native country, Mexico.

I was a visiting research associate at the San Diego State University Foundation from August 2003 to April 2006. I collaborated on research projects funded by the Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy (SCERP), which channels Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funds to university researchers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The work consisted of environmental work in the Alamar and Tecate rivers, which straddle the border. A working knowledge of both Spanish and English were essential for the completion of the field work, and measurements were performed in river locations on both sides of the border. Also, digital animation was used in these projects. In the past two years (2006-08), I have collaborated with the Visualab at San Diego State University on technical translations and internet support.

After this experience, I developed an interest in digital communications technology, to gain better skills in computer animation, which is a very marketable field at the present time. I researched on the web where I could get this education, and I found that San Diego Mesa College, which is local, offers this program. Therefore, I decided to apply to this college, and I was accepted.

A degree obtained in the U.S. at Mesa College will allow me to seek better employment opportunities in my native country.

Sincerely yours,


Flor Perez