Immigration News April 2022

Spring Graduation OPT Dates

If you are completing your academic program this semester and plan to apply for post-completion OPT, the ISSO has begun to accepting OPT applications for Spring 2022 graduates. USCIS must receive your OPT application no later than July 12, 2022. F-1 students applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) are required to complete  the online OPT workshop in iComet before applying for post-completion OPT.

Not Graduating in Spring 2022?

If you applied for graduation this Spring, but find that you will not be eligible for graduation, notify the ISSO before May 13, 2022 and request an extension of your I-20. Failure to notify the ISSO in time may result in being ineligible for an extension and loss of your F-1 status. Submit your complete program extension request to ISSODocuments@utdallas.edu as soon as you know you will not graduate.

If you have already applied for Optional Practical Training and you find that you will not graduate this semester, you must notify the ISSO as soon as possible. Failure to notify the ISSO before your program end date on your I-20 could negatively affect your F-1 status.

Plan for Fall 2022 Enrollment

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued an FAQ,on November 1, 2021, clarifying enrollment requirements for F-1 students through the 2022 academic year. This guidance is based upon the March 9, 2020 Broadcast Message. This guidance is currently set to expire at the end of the Summer 2022 semester. We do not yet know when SEVP will announce if the F-1 COVID guidance will be extended to future semesters. At this time, the ISSO is anticipating that a return to pre-pandemic enrollment requirements for F-1 students in Fall 2022 is possible. Please review the standard F-1 enrollment requirements on our website as you plan your enrollment for Fall 2022: https://isso.utdallas.edu/immigration-status/enroll-req/#f1

Summer Enrollment Requirements

Enrolling in summer classes is optional unless you meet any one or more of the criteria below:

• It is your first semester at UT Dallas, or your first semester in F-1 status (Example: After being approved for a change of status to F-1), or your first semester with an I-20 for your current degree program (Example: After receiving a change of level I-20).
• It is your final semester at UT Dallas in F-1 or J-1 status (Example: You have filed for graduation for the summer semester). File for graduation by the Graduation Application deadline.

For more information visit the International Student Enrollment webpage. 

H-1B  Electronic Registration Process

Employers must complete an electronic registration process as a part of the H-1B petition process. Registration opens in March. If you need copies of your UT Dallas I-20 forms, complete the Immigration Document Copy Request through the iComet Portal. Please keep in mind, the ISSO can only provide copies of documents that we have on file. It is the your responsibility to maintain your immigration records.

H-1B registration DOES NOT provide Cap Gap Extension eligibility. Any Cap Gap Extension is based on the filing date (when the full application is sent to USCIS), not the registration date. You will receive both a registration notice after electronic registration and a receipt notice after filing the application. Only the receipt notice can be used for Cap Gap Extension benefits.

Deadline to file taxes is April 15. All non-resident aliens who resided in the United States between January 1 and December 31 of 2021 must file a U.S. tax form. Refer to the ISSO webpage for resources to help you file your taxes: https://www.utdallas.edu/isso/taxes/. If you have any additional questions about tax filing, contact the UT Dallas Tax Compliance Office at taxcompliance@utdallas.edu.

Use Your UT Dallas Email

ISSO advisors will only send communications to official UT Dallas emails. All current students and F-1 alumni on OPT should have access to their UT Dallas email account. If you are having trouble accessing your UT Dallas email, please contact the Office of Information Technology for assistance. Check your UT Dallas email regularly for updates from the ISSO.

ISSO is here for you

There are many ways to contact the ISSO. You can reach out through your iComet Portal, join us for a Live Chat online, or schedule an appointment. We offer virtual workshops for OPT and CPT in iComet, and we are making plans to resume some in-person workshops on-campus this spring. Watch the Comet Calendar for upcoming events!

Beware of Scams

International students are often targeted by scammers, who may pretend to be government officials or threaten legal action in order to get money from scam victims. Watch out for scams! Government officials will not call you and demand payment or information over the phone, and no legitimate organization will ask for payment in the form of gift cards. Learn more about scams from the UT Dallas Information Security Office and UT Dallas Police Department.