Immigration News May 2023

STEM OPT Workshop Now Available in iComet

Are you planning on applying for the STEM OPT extension? Are you already on the extension and need a review of your requirements? Take the online STEM OPT Workshop! This resource can now be found in the “Workshop” section of iComet, and  it covers eligibility & qualifications, application steps, reporting requirements and more. The STEM OPT workshop is not required for STEM applicants at this time, but we encourage eligible alumni to complete it to better understand your process and regulations. However, the STEM OPT workshop will become required for all applicants beginning in fall 2023. Any STEM I-20 requests submitted after October 1, 2023 must complete the STEM workshop in order to receive your I-20.

Prepare for Summer Travel & Fall 2023 Physical Presence

Visit the International Center webpages for Traveling Inside the U.S. and Traveling Outside the U.S for specific details on what immigration documents to carry when traveling. Remember that the law requires anyone who is not a U.S. citizen to carry evidence of status at all times.

While summer enrollment is not required for most continuing students, we would like to remind all current students of your post-COVID face-to-face enrollment and physical presence requirements for Fall 2023. To fulfill your F-1 status requirements, you must be physically present in the U.S. – on campus or at your designated educational site (such as a CPT internship) each fall and spring semester.

In order to verify the physical presence of current students going forward, the ISSO will require all continuing students to submit proof of their current presence in the U.S. before each fall and spring semester by submitting a copy of your most recent I-94 in iComet. A new form will be launched in the iComet portal for this purpose prior to Fall 2023. You should anticipate timely submitting your re-entry information to the ISSO and plan your summer travel accordingly to ensure that you return prior to the start of fall classes. Announcements will be sent out over the summer regarding when the form is launched and deadlines for submission.

Summer 2023 CPT Physical Presence

If you are working on a CPT internship during Summer 2023, you must be physically present in the U.S. for majority of the duration of CPT internship, even if you have been approved for a primarily remote internship experience. With remote CPT work authorization, you are eligible to work on a CPT internship anywhere within the United States. However, you would not be meeting your F-1 presence requirements if you work from abroad on a CPT for a prolonged period. If you have a summer CPT and plan to travel for Summer 2023 semester, you may need to adjust your travel plans to meet your status requirements of being physically present in the US for the duration of the Summer CPT internship.

Tuition Insurance Now Available to UTD Students

The Bursar’s Office now offers GradGuard tuition insurance as an option to all enrolled UTD students. Tuition insurance can help students and families overcome financial losses that may result from events which force students to completely withdraw from the semester due to a covered medical reason. Under certain conditions, tuition insurance coverage can reimburse up to 100% of your school expenses/payments (tuition, housing, and other educations expenses) after an unexpected complete withdrawal of all classes (at any time during the semester) for a covered illness, injury, mental health disorder and more.

Coverage is purchased per semester – you have until the start date of classes to opt in to receive insurance coverage for that term. See the Bursar office web page for more information: https://bursar.utdallas.edu/tuition/tuition-insurance/

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.

Not Graduating in Spring 2023?

If you applied for graduation this Spring, but find that you will not be eligible for graduation, notify the ISSO before May 12, 2023 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.

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.
• TA/RA students may have additional enrollment requirements as a condition of their employment.

For more information visit the International Student Enrollment webpage. 

Summer 2023 Student Health Insurance

If you are an international student enrolled in Summer 2023 classes, you are automatically assessed a student health insurance fee to cover the cost of the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).  If you choose to obtain alternative insurance you must request a waiver of the student health insurance fee if you want a waiver of the SHIP coverage. If you will be taken classes at UTD this summer while NOT residing in the United States, please email stuhealthinsurance@utdallas.edu for more information about health insurance requirements.

The waiver requests must be submitted online each semester. If you are not enrolled in summer classes, then you are not automatically enrolled in the SHIP. However, the Student Health Center recommends that you maintain health insurance coverage continuously while in the U.S. If you have any questions about the waiver or purchasing summer insurance coverage, email stuhealthinsurance@utdallas.edu, or visit the Student Health Center website.

Ensure your Home Address in Galaxy is up to date for Summer 2023

Check your Galaxy account to make sure your current physical address is listed as your home address. If you will be outside the U.S. during the summer, please ensure that within 10 days Galaxy reflects the accurate home address of where you will reside abroad. When you return to the U.S., update Galaxy again within 10 days of your arrival.

H-1B Cap Gap

Employers must complete an electronic registration process as a part of the H-1B petition process. Registration opened in March. H-1B electronic 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 paper receipt notice sent by mail can be used for Cap Gap Extension benefits.

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  Instagram, and LinkedIn. Watch the Comet Calendar for upcoming workshops and events!