iEmployment Newsletter: Your Employment News and Updates from ISPO

June 2022 | Updates for Alumni and Students on Post-Completion Training

Negative COVID-19 Test No Longer Required for Air Travel to U.S.

Effective June 12, the U.S. government is lifting pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirements for international air travel to the United States. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will reassess the policy after 90 days of implementation and then on an ongoing basis. Non-U.S. citizens will still be required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 before entering the U.S.

Though the testing requirements have been lifted, the CDC still recommends exercising caution against COVID-19 and emerging variants. This includes testing before and after travel and wearing masks while in transit.

If you are planning to travel internationally this summer, visit the CDC Travel Website for up-to-date requirements and guidance.

Career Center & Career Advisors for International Students

The Career Center at UC San Diego can coach you on how to find that ideal job, internship or experiential outcome. Boost your skillset and become better prepared now!

Contact the Career Center:

For general questions, email careercenter@ucsd.edu or call (858) 534-3751.
Meet the team.

For more information, click here.

Stay in Touch with ISPO Via LinkedIn!

ISPO is now on LinkedIn! This is great and easy way to stay connected to the international community at UC San Diego, receive important information and updates, and contact ISPO as you start on your professional journey!

Click here to follow ISPO on LinkedIn!

F-1/J-1 OPT and Academic Training (AT)

Reporting Requirements Reminders

STEM OPT Extension Reporting Requirements (Validation Reports)

For changes to your personal address or phone number, use the SEVP Portal.

For changes to your employment information, use the Updated I-20/DS-2019 Request at iportal.ucsd.edu, and an ISPO advisor will update your record for you.

To fulfill your validation report requirement that is due every 6 months while on STEM OPT, use the F-1 STEM OPT Reporting Form at iportal.ucsd.edu, and an ISPO advisor will validate your record for you. The F-1 STEM OPT Reporting form must be submitted within 10 days of the validation report due date.

If you experience a change in your employment information at the same time that you have a validation report due, then you must submit BOTH the Updated I-20/DS-2019 Request and the F-1 STEM OPT Reporting Form on iPortal.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been scrutinizing the F-1 OPT program for fraudulent employers and fraudulent use of the program through a DHS law enforcement operation called, Operation Optical Illusion . Review the types of employment that may be reported for OPT purposes. If you are unpaid or volunteering, review information here for what qualifies as volunteering or unpaid.

Contact iemployment@ucsd.edu with any concerns or questions.

Reporting Reminders for Students on Standard 12-Month OPT

Keep employment, personal address, and phone number up to date at all times using the SEVP Portal. If you experience a change in any of these areas, log into the SEVP Portal to update your information within 10 calendar days of the change. You do not need to report these changes to ISPO, only to the SEVP Portal. If you are unable to report your employment to the SEVP Portal, submit the SEVP Portal Assistance Request at iportal.ucsd.edu.

If you are unable to add an employer within 10 calendar days of the start date, enter the next day as your employment start date in the SEVP Portal. Then submit the iPortal, “SEVP Portal Assistance Request”. ISPO will then be able to enter your correct employment start date in SEVIS and it will reflect in your SEVP Portal within 48 hours.

If you would like your I-20 to reflect your changes, request an updated I-20 from ISPO by submitting the Updated I-20/DS-2019 Request at iportal.ucsd.edu .

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been scrutinizing the F-1 OPT program for fraudulent employers and fraudulent use of the program through a DHS law enforcement operation called, Operation Optical Illusion. Review the types of employment that may be reported for OPT purposes. If you are unpaid or volunteering, review information here for what qualifies as volunteering or unpaid. Contact iemployment@ucsd.edu with any concerns or questions.

J-1 Academic Training (AT) Reporting Reminders

Are you a J-1 student on post-degree completion Academic Training? Make sure to complete the following checklist to maintain your status.

Verify your employment within 30 days of your start date.
Maintain adequate health insurance.
Report any changes in employment within 10 business days
Submit your J-1 Post-Academic Training Reporting Form to ISPO upon completion of your employment

Having SEVP Portal Issues? Submit a Request in iPortal!

You may use the SEVP Portal Assistance Request in iPortal.ucsd.edu for any of the following issues:

Assistance with updated the employer start date information due to start date being 10 days or more in the past*
Resetting SEVP Portal access due to locked out account OR expired link.
Receiving SEVP Portal account setup emails AFTER OPT start date listed on EAD card.
Changing email address associated with SEVP Portal.
Assistance with employer information due to another SEVP Portal not listed above.

* If you are trying to enter a start date more than 10 days in the past, the SEVP Portal system won't let you. You can submit the SEVP Portal Assistance Request and ISPO will help you but you still need to enter an employer in SEVP Portal. Since it won't let you put the right start date, put today as the start date and then submit the SEVP Portal Assistance Request to correct the start date. 

If you have any questions, email iemployment@ucsd.edu.

Removal of "Saved Not Submitted" Applications

If you have started an iPortal application and it is in "Saved Not Submitted" status, please note that it will be removed from the iPortal system if it is not submitted to ISPO within 30 days of starting that application. If you have a pending iPortal application, log in now to make sure it is in "Submitted" status!

International Students & Programs Office | iStudents.ucsd.edu

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