Immigration News May 2025

International Student Events

Pay it Forward

Support your fellow Comets by contributing to the UT Dallas International Student Emergency Fund! A donation of just $10 – $25 helps the ISSO provide critical aid to international students facing unexpected challenges that could disrupt their studies, immigration status, or graduation. Together, our contributions build a vital safety net for students with limited income options, helping them continue their academic journeys. Every dollar counts—your support makes a lasting difference! Donate here: https://giving.utdallas.edu/ic and designate your gift to the International Student Emergency Fund.

Breaking News

DHS-Terminated F-1 SEVIS Records Restored to Active Status

As many of you are already aware, in April a number of F-1 SEVIS records were terminated around the country by the Department of Homeland Security with little warning or explanation. As of now, likely in response to the number of litigations filed against the action, all F-1 SEVIS records terminated in this manner have been restored to Active status. However, there has not yet been any noted restoration of visa validity for individuals who simultaneously had their visa stamp revoked. As a reminder, while a nonimmigrant status holder is within the U.S., the expiration or cancellation of a visa does not affect one’s lawful status within the country. However after departing the U.S., a valid visa is required to re-enter. ISSO is continuing to work with affected students and actively monitoring SEVIS for any changes.

Seasonal Reminders

Prepare for Summer Travel & Fall 2025 Physical Presence

Visit the ISSO webpage for information on 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 enrollment and physical presence requirements for Fall 2025. 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, the ISSO requires 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 through the ‘Current Student Check In’ form in iComet. If you will be travelling, you should anticipate timely re-entering and submitting your updated I-94 to the ISSO. Plan your summer travel accordingly to ensure that you return prior to the start of fall classes. The ‘Current Student Check In’ form is available in iComet beginning 30 days before the start of fall classes, and must be completed no later than fall Census Day.

Summer 2025 CPT & Travel

If you are working on a CPT internship during Summer 2025, you must be physically present in the U.S. for majority of the duration of CPT authorization period as listed on page 2 of your I-20. Even if you have been approved for a primarily remote internship experience, you are only eligible to work on a CPT internship anywhere from within the United States. Generally, F-1 work authorizations like CPT should not be worked remotely if you are physically outside of the U.S.  You can read more about the regulatory reasons for this limitation on our Travel during CPT/OPT/STEM newsletter. If you have a summer CPT and plan to travel for Summer 2025 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.

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.

Ensure your Home Address in Galaxy is up to date for Summer 2025

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.

Not Graduating in Spring 2025?

If you applied for graduation this Spring, but find that you will not be eligible for graduation, notify the ISSO before May 24, 2025 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.

The ISSO strongly recommends that if you have any doubts that you may not complete your graduation requirements this term: do not request an OPT I-20 until you are certain that you will complete your program as planned. Applying for OPT and then failing to graduate can cause complications or endangerment of your F-1 status. Additionally, issuing your OPT I-20 shortens your I-20 program end date, which means there is much less time to make corrections to your immigration status if there is an issue with your graduation requirements later.

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 of the criteria below:

• If summer is your first semester at UT Dallas, your first semester in F-1 status (Example: After being approved for a change of status to F-1), or summer is the first semester of your I-20 Program Dates for a new/continuing program (Example: After receiving a change of level I-20).
• If 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.
• If you are a TA/RA student that may have additional enrollment requirements as a condition of their employment.

If any of the scenarios above apply to you, you are required to enroll for the summer semester. For more information visit the International Student Enrollment webpage. 

Summer 2025 Student Health Insurance

If you are an international student enrolled in Summer 2025 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.

Tuition Insurance Available to UTD Students

The Bursar’s Office 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/

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!