Immigration News February 2023
March 9, 2023
Immigration News Spotlight – Watch ISSO News on YouTube!
Immigration News Spotlight – February 2023
University Announces Revision to Census Day
Due to the closure of the university from winter storms in the first week of February, UT Dallas has announced that Census Day will be adjusted from February 1 to Tuesday, February 7. Please ensure that your enrollment to meet your F-1 requirements for spring 2023 is finalized by this date, and that any other time sensitive immigration processes such as RCL, Change of Level, etc, are submitted to the ISSO by Feb 7.
Time Sensitive Reminders for F-1 Students
Graduation and Beyond
Before February 14, 2023. If you are an F-1 student, have completed your academic requirements and will remain in the U.S. after graduation, make appropriate preparations such as applying for OPT, starting another academic program or transferring out to another school.
Change of Level
Before Census Day, February 7, 2023. Students who will complete an academic program or end OPT in the Fall 2022 semester and will continue or begin another degree program in the Spring 2023 semester, must obtain a Change of Level I-20 to maintain their F-1 status.
Change of Major
Census Day, February 7, 2023. Students whose primary major will change to a different Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code for the Spring 2023 semester, will be issued a Change of Major I-20 by the International Center beginning Census Day of the Spring 2023 semester. These students will receive an e-mail notification when their new I-20 has been issued.
Report Your OPT Employment
All students on OPT must report changes in employment within 10 days. Exceeding the limits on unemployment can result in DHS terminating your F-1 record. You may not be eligible for reinstatement for a termination during OPT or STEM OPT. Students on Post-Completion OPT may accrue up to 90 days of unemployment, and students on the 24-month STEM OPT extension can accrue an additional 60 days of unemployment, for a total of 150 days. Although you can update some information in the SEVP Portal, you are still required to report directly to the ISSO through the iComet Portal.
The ISSO strongly recommends reviewing your reporting requirements for Post-Completion OPT and STEM OPT online to ensure you know how to maintain your F-1 status.
Understand the Immigration Impact of a Withdrawal from Classes
If you request an academic or non-academic withdrawal of your courses, and your enrollment drops below full-time as a result (12 credits for undergraduates, 9 credits for graduates), this can jeopardize your immigration status if you are not authorized for a Reduced Course Load by the ISSO prior to the withdrawal. This action could cause a termination of your F-1 record, regardless of whether the withdrawal occurs during the semester or at any point after the end of the semester. In order to maintain your F-1 immigration status, you must obtain RCL authorization from the ISSO first, before completing a withdrawal.
Spring Graduation OPT Dates
If you are completing your academic program this semester and plan to apply for post-completion OPT, the ISSO will begin accepting and processing OPT applications for Spring 2023 graduates on February 13, 2023. USCIS must receive your OPT application no later than July 11, 2023. 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.
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.
Received income in 2022? F-1 Taxes
All non-resident aliens who resided in the United States between January 1 and December 31 of 2022 must file a U.S. tax form. Refer to the ISSO webpage for resources to help you file your taxes: https://isso.utdallas.edu/employment-and-internships/taxes/. If you have any additional questions about tax filing, contact the UT Dallas Tax Compliance Office at taxcompliance@utdallas.edu.
Updated Financial Figures for I-20s
The Estimated Expenses used to issue new I-20 documents and I-20 program extensions will be updated by February 17, 2023. If you plan to request a Change of Level I-20 or program extension in the upcoming semester, be sure to review the current financial requirements before submitting your request. Once the estimated expenses are updated, we will announce the change in the immigration newsletter and update the ISSO website.
Inclement Weather Policy
As we approach the winter season, you should stay informed about potential weather related university suspensions or closings. Please see the Inclement Weather Policy web page for how to receive alerts from the university when there may be an interruption of classes or services due to severe weather.
Ensure your Home Address in Galaxy is up to date for Spring 2023 Study
F and J students are required to update their current address in Galaxy within 10 days of the change. Check your Galaxy account to make sure that current physical location is reflected in the ‘Home’ address. Remember to check your current local address and update if necessary. For instructions, visit the Address Reporting webpage.
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.
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.
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!
