Immigration News September 2022

Time Sensitive Reminders for F-1 Students

Change of Level 

Students who have completed an academic program or ended OPT in summer 2022 and who will continue or begin another degree program in the fall 2022 semester, must obtain a Change of Level I-20 to maintain their F-1 status. You must request your Change of Level I-20 in a timely fashion in order to maintain your F-1 status. See the ISSO Change of Level webpage for more details.

F-1 Optional Practical Training

If you graduated in the summer 2022 semester, you may still have time to apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).  If you plan to graduate in the fall 2022 semester, the first day to apply for Post-Completion OPT is September 17, 2022. Please keep in mind that prior to requesting your OPT I-20, you must do the following:

• Attend the OPT workshop
• Apply for graduation

For more information attend an OPT workshop on iComet, attend an in-person OPT workshop, or visit the ISSO Optional Practical Training webpage.

Graduation Application Deadline for Fall Graduates

The university priority deadline to apply for graduation is August 30, 2022. Fall 2022 F-1 graduates must apply for graduation earlier, by 11:59pm on September 20, 2022 in order to maintain their immigration status. For more information about how to apply for graduation visit the Registrar Office.

USCIS Extends COVID-19-related Flexibilities

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending certain COVID-19-related flexibilities through Oct. 23, 2022, to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors. Under these flexibilities, USCIS considers a response received within 60 calendar days after the due date set forth on specific requests or notices before taking any action, if the request or notice was issued between March 1, 2020, and Oct. 23, 2022. Considerations of appeals, motions, and hearings are also being granted certain flexibilities within this time period. Please see the USCIS website for the full list of eligible application, petition, and request types:

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-extends-covid-19-related-flexibilities

In-Person CPT and OPT Workshops

The ISSO will begin offering in-person fall CPT and OPT workshops beginning in September. Registration is required. Please see the Comet Calendar for event details:

CPT Workshop Event: https://calendar.utdallas.edu/event/f-1_cpt_workshop_8250#.Yw9p2nbMIdU

OPT Workshop Event: https://calendar.utdallas.edu/event/f-1_opt_workshop_8531#.Yw9q43bMIdU

If you prefer to attend the workshops virtually, the online CPT and OPT workshops can be found in iComet under the Workshops section.

Fall 2022 Enrollment Requirements

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program has extended temporary COVID enrollment guidance for the 2022 – 2023 academic year. If you were in active F-1 status on or before March 9, 2020 and have continually maintained your status, you may enroll in completely online courses (if available). Regardless of whether online courses are offered for your program of study, you must enroll in at least 9 credit hours as a graduate student or 12 credit hours as an undergraduate unless approved by ISSO for a reduced course load.

If you gained F-1 status after March 9, 2020, you are required to enroll in at least one course with in-person components each semester and you should be prepared to participate in-person. You must enroll in at least 9 credit hours as a graduate student or 12 credit hours as an undergraduate unless approved by ISSO for a reduced course load.

Enrollment requirements may be subject to change in spring 2023.

Update Addresses in Orion

F and J students are required to update their current local address in Orion within 10 days of the change. Remember to check your current local address in Orion and update if necessary. You may also change your foreign address in Orion.

Planning for Winter Break Travel

Current students who are returning to the U.S. after travel abroad do not need a late arrival letter from the ISSO or their academic department if returning after the start of spring 2023 classes. You will need a travel endorsed I-20 to re-enter the U.S. Check your current I-20 for a travel endorsement on page 2. If your travel endorsement was issued within 12 months (for current students) or 6 months (for OPT students), then you may use the I-20 you already have for travel. The travel endorsement must be valid on the date you re-enter the U.S.  If the endorsement is expired, or you do not have an endorsement on your I-20, submit a Travel Signature Request in iComet to request a new I-20. The ISSO will send your new I-20 with travel endorsement by email. You will print and sign it to use for travel.

Don’t Risk your F-1 Status by Working Without Valid Work Authorization

The types of employment allowed under the F-1 visa are limited by specific requirements. Work off campus requires specific authorization on your I-20. F-1 students may work on campus, employed by UT Dallas or by on-campus commercial firms that directly serve the UT Dallas student population. Just because an employer recruits on campus, doesn’t mean that you are authorized to work for that employer! Unauthorized work, paid or unpaid, will result in a termination of your immigration status. Refer to information on the F-1 Student Employment page for more information.

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. You can also check us out on Facebook. 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!

Submit Processing Requests to ISSO Early

ISSO receives a high volume of student and alumni requests. Don’t wait until the last minute! Submit requests to ISSO 3-4 weeks in advance of when you need them.

Help Keep our Campus Safe and Welcoming

All members of our University community share in a collective responsibility to make our campus peers feel welcome, safe and comfortable. Stand up and step in by recognizing potentially harmful situations (physical, mental, social or emotional)  affecting individuals or groups, and respond in a way that could positively influence the outcome.  For more information, visit Comet Voice.

Tornado Season

While tornados are rare, the International Center would like you to be prepared.  Review the Tornadoes and Watch vs. Warning information on the UT Dallas Emergency Preparedness Information webpage, under the “Know Your Hazards” section. In the event that International Center staff are unavailable due to an emergency, call the UT Dallas Police Department at 972-883-2222. If the UT Dallas Police are unavailable, and you need critical immigration assistance or evacuation, contact the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at SEVP@ice.dhs.gov, or call 703-603-34

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.