Recent News

Alien Registration Requirement

March 17, 2025

USCIS will require nonimmigrants to comply with the new alien registration form and evidence of registration requirement by April 11, 2025. While most of our international visitors are already registered, this new requirement will impact dependents. If a dependent (i.e., F-2, J-2, H-4) will be turning 14 years of age, then they will need to […]

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Interview Visa Waiver Update

March 16, 2025

There has been a recent update to the eligibility for the interview visa waiver (also referred to as Dropbox). The Department of State announced on February 18, 2025, that it will return to the 12 month Dropbox eligibility from 48 months. Previously, if the prior visa expired within the last 48 months, then one would […]

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Upcoming New USA Presidential Administration

January 16, 2025

As we face a new administration in the coming week, the Office of International Services (OIS) understands that many of you may have questions or concerns regarding potential changes to U.S. immigration policies, particularly as they relate to visas and the future of international visitors in the U.S. and in higher education institutions. While it’s […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements End for Travelers to the U.S.

May 11, 2023

The Biden Administration has announced this past May 1st that effective May 12th, all air travelers coming to the United States are no longer required to show that they have had the COVID-19 vaccine administered. In addition, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will also end their COVID-19 requirements on May 12th at ports of […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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CDC Implementing New COVID-19 Test Requirements for Air Travelers from China

December 30, 2022

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will implement new COVID-19 travel test requirements effective January 5, 2023, at 12:01 AM ET. All air passengers flying directly from China, Hong Kong, and Macau to the United States will need to have a negative COVID-19 test two days prior to their departure. This requirement will […]

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