Immigration

Premium Processing Fee Increase

January 5, 2024

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on December 28, 2023, that the premium processing fee would increase due to inflation. The new premium processing fee rates are effective February 26, 2024. Applications/Petitions that are filed on or after February 26th requesting premium processing will need to adhere to the new fee rate. The below […]


Electronic Signatures Now Acceptable on the Form I-983

October 18, 2023

As of September 18, 2023, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recently updated their instructions for the Form I-983, Training Plan for STEM OPT Students to permit electronic signatures by the student and their employer. Typed signatures are not allowed. The only acceptable signatures for the Form I-983 are any of the following: Wet […]


Potential Government Shutdown and the Impact on Immigration at UTHSA

September 27, 2023

If you have not been keeping up with the U.S. news recently, there is a potential government shutdown that may go into effect on October 1, 2023 if Congress is unable find common ground on a budget. So, what does this mean for our international students, scholars, and faculty members and to our hosting/hiring units […]


Good News for H-4 Dependents

February 21, 2023

Time to share a little positive news for H-4 dependents. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has returned to adjudicating dependent applications (Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization) that are filed concurrently with the Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker. What does this mean for our current […]


Tips and Tricks of Avoiding Filing Delays

January 12, 2023

We hope you all had a great holiday break and are ready to celebrate the start of this new year with a bang! With more of us embracing our electronic environment, electronic filing has become a great option for submitting many online applications. However, not everyone has fully transitioned from paper filing to electronic filing […]


Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes! Time to Update OIS

October 3, 2022

The OIS team wants to remind you that there are times when you need to update our office as it relates to your immigration status. Changing your status from your current visa to another visa category Email your OIS advisor regarding the update and they will let you know the appropriate next steps to take. […]


Healthcare Workers may Request that their Pending EADs be Expedited

December 29, 2021

On December 28, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued guidance that now permits healthcare workers to request an expedite of their pending Request for Employment Authorization application as long as the applicant’s current employment authorization document (EAD) card is set to expire within thirty days or has expired. Healthcare workers that need […]


Changing Your Address with USCIS? Check that Edition Date!

October 9, 2021

Starting December 7, 2021, USCIS will only accept the Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card with the edition date of 08/31/2021 for those that choose to complete the paper-based form versus filing the update online. This will only apply to the paper-based version. The form edition date can be found at the bottom left […]


Visa Appointment Cancellations in India

April 29, 2021

Due to increasing COVID-19 cases in India, the US Embassy and Consulates have issued a notice that they are cancelling visa appointments through May 15th in New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Cancelled appointments are not being rescheduled at this time. Emergency appointments will be conducted but will be reliant on available staff. The US […]


F-1 Students have Option to File I-765 Online

April 29, 2021

On April 12th, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that F-1 students applying for optional practical training will now be permitted to file their Form I-765, Application for Work Authorization, online for specific categories. The only categories that are currently permissible for F-1 students to file are for the following: (c)(3)(A): Pre-Completion OPT (c)(3)(B): […]