Immigration News August 2024

Time Sensitive Reminders for F-1 Students

Change of Level 

Students who have completed an academic program or end OPT in summer 2024 and who will continue or begin another degree program in the fall 2024 semester, must obtain a Change of Level I-20 to maintain their F-1 status. You must request for your Change of Level I-20 in a timely fashion in order to maintain your F-1 status. See the ISSO Change of Level webpage for more details.

F-1 Optional Practical Training

If you will graduate in the summer 2024 semester, you may be eligible for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information attend an OPT workshop on iComet or visit the ISSO Optional Practical Training webpage.

If you plan to graduate in the fall 2024 semester, the first day to apply for Post-Completion OPT is September 14, 2024. Please keep in mind that prior to requesting your OPT I-20, you must do the following:

• Apply for graduation
• Attend the OPT workshop
• Pay the ISSO Practical Training Fee

Graduation Application Deadline for Fall Graduates

Fall 2024 F-1 graduates must apply for graduation by 11:59pm on September 4, 2024 in order to maintain their immigration status. Please note that the immigration deadline is earlier than the university deadline. For more information about how to apply for graduation visit the Registrar Office.

Walk-in ISSO Appointments Now Available in OGE Offices

Starting this Wednesday (Aug 7), ISSO advising will be available in the Office of Graduate Education on Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm in Founders Annex (FA) 2.202. 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 OGE offices and sign in on the sheet near the advising room if you wish to see an ISSO advisor for walk-in advising.

Fall 2024 Current Student Check In and Enrollment Reminders

The Current Student Check In eForm is now live in iComet. All continuing F-1 students who enroll in fall must complete the Check In before Census Day (September 4) to verify that you are physically present to attend the in-person components of our courses. See our Travel web page for more information.

In addition, you must be meeting your F-1 enrollment requirements or be authorized for Reduced Course Load by the Census Day deadline to maintain your status for fall. Review the F-1 Enrollment Requirements to ensure that you are correctly enrolled.

Need an SSN letter?

As we approach the fall semester, many students are starting on-campus employment at UT Dallas for the first time. When you get your first job in the U.S., you will need to get a SSN letter from the ISSO so you can apply for a Social Security Number. You can find detailed instructions on the ISSO website – isso.utdallas.edu/ssn/. Keep in mind, you do not need the SSN to start working, but your employer will need your SSN in order to pay you. 

Not All On-Campus Employment is Allowed for F-1 Students

On-campus employment options depend on where the work is physically located and who the employer is. F-1 students may work on campus, employed by UT Dallas, or by on-campus commercial firms that directly serve the UT Dallas student population (Chartwells, University Bookstore, etc.). Positions with third parties not providing services directly to students (alumni call center) or personal services for faculty or staff (housekeeping, lawn care) is not allowed. Refer to information on the F-1 Student Employment page for more information.

USCIS  Completes Second Random Selection for FY 2025 H-1B Regular Cap

USCIS recently announced that they would need to select additional registrations for unique beneficiaries to reach the fiscal year 2025 H-1B regular cap numerical allocation. Projections indicate USCIS has now randomly selected a sufficient number of registrations for unique beneficiaries as needed to reach the regular cap from the remaining properly submitted FY 2025 registrations. Only petitioners with selected registrations may file H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2025, and only for the beneficiary named in the applicable selected registration notice. USCIS did not conduct a second selection for the advanced degree exemption (the master’s cap), as enough masters cap registrations had already been selected and sufficient petitions were received based on these registrations as projected to meet the masters cap numerical allocation.

DHS STEM Designated Degree List Updated

On July 22, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a Federal Register notice announcing the amendment of the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List by adding one qualifying field of study and a corresponding U.S. Department of Education Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code for that field. The field of study being added to the STEM list is Environmental/Natural Resource Economics (03.0204).

DHS Extends Special Student Relief Employment Benefits to Somali Students Experiencing Severe Economic Hardship
On July 19, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a Federal Register Notice announcing the suspension of certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students from Somalia who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a result of the current crisis in Somalia. This notice extends Special Student Relief (SSR) for eligible students from Sept. 18, 2024, until March 17, 2026. This Notice temporarily suspend applicable on-campus and off-campus employment regulations for eligible Somali students. DHS will continue to monitor the situation in Somalia and will announce any additional modifications or extensions in the Federal Register.

Ensure your Home Address in Galaxy is Up to Date

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.

Electronic Devices and Social Media Searches

Travelers returning after travel abroad should remember that U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers have the authority to search any and all electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops brought into the U.S. at a port of entry. In addition, CBP also has the authority to search the social media accounts of individuals entering the U.S. if deemed necessary.

New Process to Submit Form I-515A Documentation

Beginning June 26, 2024, F, M and J nonimmigrants who receive a Form I-515A, “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor,” from a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer will be instructed to email their required documentation to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Form I-515A Processing Team at SEVIS.I-515@ice.dhs.gov  instead of mailing the documents to SEVP. A nonimmigrant student or exchange visitor who receives a Form I-515A has 30 calendar days from their date of entry into the United States to email their documents to SEVP. This change to the Form I-515A process will expedite the Form I-515A processing times while eliminating the costs and risks associated with mailing original documents. For more information about the Form I-515A process, please visit the Form I-515A Overview on Study in the States.

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/

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!