Immigration News October 2023
October 6, 2023
Time Sensitive Reminders for F-1 Students
F-1 Optional Practical Training
If you plan to graduate in the fall 2023 semester, you are now within the valid period to apply for Post Completion OPT. 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.
I-20 Program Extensions
F-1 students are required to complete their academic programs within the time listed on their I-20s. If your I-20 will expire this year, and you are not able to complete your program within this period of time, you may apply for a program extension. You may apply for your extension during the semester that your I-20 is set to expire.
- NOTE: If your I-20 expires on 12/31/2023, the ISSO must receive your I-20 extension request before 12/13/ 2023 in order to process your extension before the university closes for winter break.
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.
Cap Gap Extension Expired September 30
For F-1 students who received cap gap extensions of their OPT authorization, the cap gap employment authorization lasted only through September 30, 2023. If you have not received approval for your H-1B petition yet, you should not work past September 30, 2023 without some type of valid work authorization. If you have received your H-1B approval, you should submit a final OPT reporting form and a copy of your approval notice to the ISSO. If you have questions about your H-1B petition, please refer to your company or immigration attorney for more information.
USCIS Exempts Biometric Services Fee for all Form I-539 (Change of Status/ Reinstatement) Applicants
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is exempting the biometric services fee for Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. Beginning Oct. 1, USCIS is exempting the $85 biometric services fee as part of the application process for Form I-539. You do not need to pay the fee if your application is postmarked Oct. 1 or later. However, if you file Form I-539 prior to Oct. 1, certain filers will still be scheduled for an ASC appointment and should still attend that appointment as scheduled. In most cases, after Oct. 1 applicants will not be scheduled to attend a biometric services appointment. However, if USCIS determines that biometrics are required, the applicant will receive a notice with information about appearing for their biometric services appointment. See the USCIS Alert for more information.
STEM OPT Workshop Required for STEM I-20 Applicants
Beginning Oct. 1, all alumni requesting a STEM I-20 from the ISSO must first complete the STEM OPT Workshop in iComet in order to receive ISSO approval for your request. The STEM OPT Workshop can be found under the “Workshops” section of iComet. Failing to complete the workshop before submitting your STEM I-20 request will result in processing delays.
DHS Federal Register Notice Extending and Redesignating Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status
The Department of Homeland Security is previewing a Federal Register notice for an 18-month extension of Venezuela’s 2021 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation and a separate redesignation of Venezuela for TPS. The notice explains how to register for TPS under Venezuela’s redesignation and how to re-register for the extension. Applicants for TPS are eligible to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) during the duration of the TPS designation. See the Federal Register page and the Secretary of Homeland Security’s announcement for more information.
DHS Extends Special Student Relief Employment Benefits to Sudanese and Ukrainian Students Experiencing Severe Economic Hardship
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted Federal Register notices announcing the suspension of certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students from Sudan and Ukraine who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a result of the current crisis in Sudan and the current armed conflict in Ukraine. This notice extends Special Student Relief (SSR) for eligible Sudanese and Ukrainian students from Oct. 20, 2023, until April 19, 2025. These notices temporarily suspend applicable on-campus and off-campus employment regulations for eligible Sudanese and Ukrainian students. Please refer to the Sudan Federal Register notice and Ukraine Federal Register notice for more information.
Drop-in ISSO Appointments Available in JSOM CMC for October
Through the month of October, ISSO advising will also be available in the JSOM Career Management Center on Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm. Available appointments will be on a first-come-first-serve basis, only a limited number of students can be seen per advising window. Timely arrive to the CMC and sign in at the front desk if you wish to see an ISSO advisor for drop-in advising.
Live CPT and OPT Workshops to Resume in October
While students may complete the CPT and OPT workshops online at any time in iComet, the ISSO also offers in-person and live virtual sessions of these workshops each semester. The available workshops for fall 2023 can be found on the Comet Calendar:
F-1 CPT Workshop (Live Virtual)
F-1 OPT Workshop (Live Virtual)
Please note that the earliest you may register for a live virtual workshop is 30 days in advance.
Participating in Labor Strikes May Affect F-1 Employment Authorization
International student/alumni employment authorization may be suspended during a strike or other labor dispute involving a work stoppage at the place of employment. Additionally, employers are prohibited from transferring F-1 students working at other facilities to the facility where a strike or work stoppage is occurring. Do not accept employment at a company dealing with labor strikes or work stoppages without understanding how it may impact your immigration status. Speak with an immigration attorney or ISSO advisor prior to engaging in any strikes or other work stoppages.
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
Report Visa Fraud and Unauthorized Employment
If you are aware of visa fraud or international students working unlawfully in the U.S., report it here: Email or Call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE. The ISSO will only initiate unauthorized employment investigations that are reported by campus stakeholders, or where there is a student admission of their own unauthorized employment.
Seek out Resources for Transnational Repression
Some countries’ governments harass and intimidate their own citizens living in the U.S. These may also target naturalized or U.S.-born citizens who have family overseas or other foreign connections. Governments use transnational repression tactics to silence their voices of citizens abroad, get information from them, or coerce them to return home. This violates U.S. law. For more information, including how to report, visit Transnational Repression resources.
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 and safe. 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.
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 or Instagram. 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!
