Posts written by paprotta
Refrain from International Travel
February 2, 2021
It’s another blog post on international travel. We want to update and to reiterate to our community that future international travel within the next several months should be cancelled/delayed. The Office of International Services (OIS) truly sympathizes with you when it comes to desiring to visit family/friends/loved ones and/or to just plain get away. Traveling […]
Hold off on International Travel
January 25, 2021
The OIS wants to remind the international community that we discourage international travel at this time. This has been the case since last February 2020 due to the pandemic (see: Important Updates from OIS – Coronavirus and Travel Ban). The continued impacts of traveling internationally for our international visitors is still great, even though some […]
Negative COVID-19 Test Results Required for All International Air Passengers Entering the U.S.
January 13, 2021
Beginning January 26th, all inbound travel to the United States by air will now require passengers to obtain a negative COVID-19 test three days prior to flying to the U.S. Outside of international visitors traveling to the U.S., this condition is also applicable to passengers that are citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United […]
DHS Rule to Allocate H-1B Visas to Highest Paying Jobs takes Effect
January 11, 2021
This past January 8th, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is scheduled to publish in the Federal Register (see Final Rule) a final rule prioritizing allocation of H-1B visas according to the wage level of the offered position. How does this apply to UT Health SA’s ability to submit H-1B petitions to USCIS? Well, it […]
Scam Alert: Targeting Student and Exchange Visitors
December 11, 2020
We have received notice of a potential scam that is targeting F-1 students and J-1 Exchange Visitors. Scammers are using SEVP Response Center (SRC) phone numbers (703-603-3400 and 800-892-4829) and posing as SEVP representatives when calling their potential victims. They are asking questions about the Form I-94 and requesting that students send money. DO NOT […]
F-1 OPT and STEM OPT Work Authorization Here to Stay
December 3, 2020
A little more good news to share regarding Optional Practical Training, including STEM OPT, eligibility for F-1 students. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued an order on Monday, November 30, 2020 that backs the U.S. Department of Homeland Security rules as it relates to the F-1 work benefits. Further details of […]
Court Sets Aside DOL and DHS Interim Final Rules Impacting Prevailing Wages and H-1B Requirements
December 2, 2020
On December 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California set aside both the Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) interim final rules which had been published on October 8, 2020. This means that the rules cannot be enforced or implemented. Read the court’s order and judgement, […]
Premium Processing Fee Increases
October 19, 2020
On Wednesday, September 30, U.S. Congress passed, and the President signed into law the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act which provided for new and increased premium processing fees coupled with an authorized expansion of the case types eligible for premium processing. This past Friday, October 16, USCIS announced partial implementation of the law. As a […]
DHS Proposed Rule on Duration of Status
September 30, 2020
On Friday, September 25, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule to eliminate duration of status (D/S) for F-1 students, J-1 Exchange Visitors, and their dependents, as well as other provisions that could impact on our international visitors. This is still a proposed rule and not currently in effect, and OIS […]
Presidential Proclamation Issued: Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak
June 23, 2020
President Trump just issued a Presidential Proclamation, “Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak,” effective immediately and until December 31, 2020. You can find a summary of this proclamation here. As it relates to our institution, this will impact: Those currently outside the U.S. […]