Immigration News April 2025
April 16, 2025
International Student Events
ISSO Listening Session
The ISSO wants to hear from YOU! Join our office’s Listening Session on April 15 from 4-5 pm in FA-OGE 2.206 and give us feedback on your experiences working with and utilizing student services on campus. What resources have helped you? Which haven’t been helpful? Do you have suggestions for improving UTD’s services for international students? We would love to hear your opinions in a face-to-face discussion. We hope to see you there!
Interview Strategies to Help Your Confidence
Getting ready for an interview? Not sure what to expect or how to prepare? The NSM CSC is hosting an interview strategies session to help you prepare before, during, and after your interview. Learn about essential interview prep, how to answer common questions, and how to practice your answers to perfection. Register and join the NSM CSC April 11 at 10am in FO 1.202, click here to register.
Comets Giving Days: International Student Emergency Fund
The International Student Emergency Fund was created to help international students who face unforeseen financial hardships—whether due to unexpected medical expenses, housing issues, or even emergency travel back home. Donations 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. If you want to directly help UT Dallas international students, you can donate to UTD ISEF through Comet Giving Days, April 9-10. For every 25 donations of any amount, an additional $2,500 is added to the fund!
ISSO Employment Workshops Spring 2025
Have questions about your employment options as an F-1 student? Come to one of the ISSO employment workshops!
Register through the links above. Note that while completing the CPT and OPT workshops is required to apply for each benefit, you are NOT required to attend these workshops in-person. You may also complete these workshops online in iComet for your application requirements.
Breaking News
ISSO Expands Walk-in Advising Availability
Beginning in April, ISSO will now have walk-in advising available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A limited number of students can be seen at the following times:
Mondays: 9am to 11am / 2pm to 4pm
Wednesdays: 9am to 11am
Fridays: 9am to 11am / 2pm to 4pm
Walk-In advising is first come, first serve. Please note that no new appointments will be seen for walk-in advising after 10:40 in the mornings, after 3:40 in the afternoons, or if the current walk-in queue has reached its maximum limit.
Proposed Social Media Review for Immigration Processes
USCIS has outlined a proposal to seek access and review social media accounts of individuals applying for citizenship, residency, or asylum in the U.S. USCIS is arguing that collecting this data is necessary to comply with Trump’s executive order: Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats. The proposal has been opened for public comments until May 5, 2025, at 11:59pm EDT.
USCIS Ombudsman Offices Eliminated by Administration
In the midst of the current administration’s downsizing of various U.S. federal agencies, three immigration support offices have been eliminated: DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, and Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman. The USCIS Ombudsman office was previously a common resource for non-immigrant international students dealing with tricky application cases. The affected offices have sued to have their jobs reinstated by federal judges, and are awaiting a decision.
Possible Rise in Visa Renewal Denials Resulting in Active Visa Revocation
When applying to renew a U.S. visa, consular officers have the discretion to deny renewal applications based on current immigration policies. Additionally, if the applicant’s current visa is still active and unexpired at the time, officers also have the discretion to revoke the current active visa upon denial of the renewal. It is unclear in what scenarios a visa renewal denial may also cause a revocation, but it is possible these instances may be increasing. If this occurs, an applicant would be unable to return to the U.S. until they are successfully granted a new visa. At this time, it may be safest to refrain from departing the U.S. to renew a visa unless absolutely necessary – especially in scenarios where the difficulty of renewal is already increased, such as during periods of F-1 OPT or J-1 AT.
Seasonal Reminders
Received income in 2024?
Deadline: April 15, 2025. All non-resident aliens who resided in the United States between January 1 and December 31 of 2024 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.
Prepare for Summer Travel & Fall 2025 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 face-to-face 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.
- ISSO requires all continuing F-1 students to complete “Current Student Check In” and 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. 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. The Current Student Check In form will be available in iComet 30 days before the start of classes, and must be completed no later than Census Day.
- Keep an eye on your UTD email for any updates or changes in U.S. immigration policy that may affect travel or re-entry to the U.S. Think carefully and prepare before you travel, especially if you are travelling internationally.
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.
Academic Probation
As we reach the midpoint of the semester, it’s important to remember the impact of your academic progress on both your academic goals and immigration status. If you anticipate challenges that may affect your ability to pass your classes and enroll in a future semester, it’s important to act immediately. Your F-1 immigration status is contingent on maintaining satisfactory academic progress. If you foresee any difficulties in meeting the academic requirements, we strongly advise you to reach out to your academic department/advisors and the ISSO.
Per Department of Homeland Security regulations, your F-1 status will be terminated upon notification from the registrar’s office that a dismissal/academic suspension was granted.
If you improve your GPA and no longer expect to be on academic probation for the upcoming semester, you can disregard this information. The ISSO strongly advises you to speak with your academic department regarding your academic standing and GPA to confirm if this applies to your unique situation.
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.
Updated Financial Figures for I-20s
The Estimated Expenses used to issue new I-20 documents and I-20 program extensions will be updated Spring 2025, final effective date TBA. If you plan to request a Change of Level I-20 or program extension in the upcoming semester, be sure to review the current financial requirements before submitting your request. Once the estimated expenses are updated, we will announce the change in the immigration newsletter and update the ISSO website.
J-1 On-Campus Employment
J-1 students are eligible for on-campus work authorization including employment related to a scholarships or assistantships. The student must be authorized for employment by their Program Sponsor, on form DS-2019, before beginning employment. Employment is limited to 20 hours a week during the fall and spring semesters and can be full-time during official school breaks. For the work authorization, you must submit the J-1 Student Service Request Form to the ISSO.
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!
