Immigration News January 2024

Time Sensitive Reminders for F-1 Students

Graduation and Beyond

Before February 13, 2024. 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.

Current Student Check-In

Before Census Day January 31, 2024. All continuing students who will be enrolling in Spring 2024 must complete Current Student Check-In in iComet and complete the ‘To do task’ called ‘Review Home Address’ in Galaxy to show you are meeting the physical presence requirements of F-1 status. The iComet form and ‘To do task’ will be available for spring beginning December 18. Check-In must be completed from within the U.S., so plan your travel times accordingly.

Change of Level 

Before Census Day, January 31, 2024. Students who will complete an academic program or end OPT in the Fall 2023 semester and will continue or begin another degree program in the Spring 2024 semester, must obtain a Change of Level I-20  to maintain their F-1 status.

Graduation Application

Before Census Day, January 31, 2024. Students who will complete their academic program in Spring 2024 semester will need to apply for graduation by Census Day to receive Reduced Course Load authorization if they are enrolled less than full-time in their final term. Failure to timely apply for graduation can have severe immigration consequences, such as termination of your F-1 status. While your department may have a different academic deadline to apply for graduation, the application deadline for all F-1 Spring 24 graduates is January 31, 2024.

Change of Major

Census Day, January 31, 2024. Students whose primary major will change to a different Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code for the Spring 2024 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.

USCIS Adjusts Premium Processing Fees

USCIS announced a final rule to increase the filing fee of Premium Processing in order to adjust for ongoing inflation. The increases vary depending on the type of application and the current status of the applicant. Please see the chart in the full USCIS Alert to see the details of the fee increases.

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance for International Students

USCIS is issuing updated policy guidance for F and M nonimmigrant classifications. This guidance consolidates existing policy, and is meant to provide clarity on certain topics for DSOs and F/M students. The updated policy manual can be found on the USCIS website. ISSO will send out further announcements if any notable policy clarifications have occurred.

ISSO will be closed MLK Day

The University of Texas at Dallas, and the ISSO, will be closed Monday, 1/15 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Please plan accordingly.

Ensure your Home Address in Galaxy is up to date for Spring 2024 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.

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 2024 graduates on February 10, 2024. USCIS must receive your OPT application no later than July 9, 2024. 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.

Do Not Delay Your Graduation

Postponing graduation when you have completed all the courses required to earn your degree is a violation of the immigration regulations. For more information visit the Graduation and Beyond webpage.

Don’t “Volunteer” without Work Authorization!

The types of employment allowed under the F-1 visa are limited by specific requirements. Before engaging in any type of work (paid or unpaid), F-1 students should verify they are eligible to work and have the proper authorization. Working without authorization is a serious violation of F-1 status. This is true whether the work is paid or unpaid. Review information regarding on campus and off campus work employment and safeguard your status.

Received income in 2023?

All non-resident aliens who resided in the United States between January 1 and December 31 of 2023 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.

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.

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!