Recent News

Time to Hang Up!

April 28, 2021

It is always in season unfortunately for scammers to coax their victims to do their bidding. The Office of International Services wants to remind everyone to stay vigilant. We all receive unsolicited calls, emails, and post mail (also referred to as “mailers”). Not everything is a scam but that is where we need to use […]

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Public Charge Rule Goes Bye-Bye

March 12, 2021

Last April, our office alerted the community and our constituents that under the previous administration, the Public Charge Rule was in effect. This ruling requested information to be provided by beneficiaries/applicants who sought specific immigration classifications as it related to whether or not they and any of their applicable dependents received public benefits. Based off […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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, […]

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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 […]

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