Fall 2020 | Weekly updates for International Students @ UC San Diego

New Address for filing OPT Applications: USCIS Form I-765 New Filing Location Effective 1/8/21

Dear International Student, You are receiving this email because you have recently been issued a Form I-20 recommendation for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT Extension. Please note that as of January 8, 2021, USCIS has recently updated the filing location for Form I-765 OPT/STEM OPT Applications to the Chicago Lockbox:

HOW MIGHT THIS CHANGE IMPACT YOU?

If you HAVE NOT MAILED their OPT Application to USCIS: If you have not yet mailed your OPT Application to USCIS, please ensure you mail it to the new filing address on or after January 8, 2021. We will provide more information as we receive updates from USCIS. For questions, please email iEmployment@ucsd.edu.

If you HAVE MAILED their OPT Application to USCIS: As this change was made with no warning or notice, various institutions nationwide are aware of this issue and are now working with government liaisons for more information on how this impacts cases filed at the old location. If you mailed your application to USCIS at the previously published location after January 8th, ensure that you track your package to confirm lockbox delivery and that your OPT Application or STEM OPT Application was complete and correct. We will provide more information as we receive updates from USCIS. For questions, please email iEmployment@ucsd.edu.

OPT Receipt Notice Delays (Form I-765) If you included a G-1145 with your I-765 application to USCIS, and do not receive the text message or email within a few days of USCIS receiving your application, it is most likely due to delays by USCIS. However, some questions to ask yourself to ensure your application was submitted correctly, regardless of whether you included a G-1145 or not, are:  FORM: Did you send the most recent I-765 from the USCIS website? Did you sign in within the last 30 days? Was it issued within less than 30 days from when USCIS received your application?   PAYMENT: Did you include the correct fee of $410 made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security? If so did you confirm if the fee was deposited? Was the check or money order dated in the last 30 days?  DELIVERY: Did you track the delivery of your application and did you send it to the correct address based on your I-765 mailing address and whether you sent via Fedex/UPS or USPS? See mailing information here. If you sent to the correct address, did you confirm it was delivered?  If you are concerned about any of the above, email iemployment@ucsd.edu. If you do not receive your receipt notice within 4 weeks of when USCIS received your application, contact USCIS.

ISPO Office Hours: Virtual Advising While ISPO's Office (Student Center B) is closed to the public for in-person service through Summer 2020, we continue to provide all advising services through virtual Zoom advising! Visit iContact.ucsd.edu for various ways to contact an ISPO Advisor!

International Students & Programs Office | iStudents.ucsd.edu

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WHY AM I RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER? All international students studying at UC San Diego are automatically subscribed to the iStudents Newsletter to ensure they receive proper immigration updates from our office. The information sent in this Newsletter is available on ISPO's website, iStudents.ucsd.edu, or may direct students to other external resources. You have the right to unsubscribe from receiving updates from our office at anytime. You can do this by emailing istudents@ucsd.edu . Note, all international students at UC San Diego are responsible for staying up to date with immigration regulations that may affect them. To learn more, visit our website at iStudents.ucsd.edu