Winter 2021 | Week 8 | Weekly updates for International Students @ UC San Diego
Deadlines, Reminders and Updates
Misconceptions about Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Post-Completion F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of employment authorization for F-1 students. It is an opportunity to pursue a 12-month period of work experience in your major field of study after you complete your degree program. It's important to note that the process to apply for OPT may differ per institution. A great place to start preparing for OPT is ISPO's OPT Website! 

Here are the top 5 questions students have when learning about OPT: 
When will ISPO Approve my OPT Request so I can start working using my OPT I-20? 
It's important to understand that your OPT Application is approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); not ISPO! ISPO will issue students an updated Form I-20 with OPT Recommendation which students will need to mail to USCIS along with the rest of the OPT Application Packet. USCIS will receive your application, review, and send a notice of their decision. If approved, you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card) and approval notice by mail. This process can take 90-120 days. Since students may not engage in any type of employment after the last day of their final quarter without OPT Approval and their EAD Card in hand, it will be important to communicate this timeline with potential employers. 
I don't have a job offer yet, should I wait to apply for OPT so I have more time to find a job?  
F-1 students are NOT required to have an employer in order to apply for OPT with USCIS! Students often think it's best to delay the application process hoping it will provide more time to find an employer. However, they often overlook that it can take 90 – 120 days for USCIS to approve the OPT Application. Students can use this time to interview and start looking for prospective positions to begin employment upon OPT Approval. In addition, once OPT is approved, students have an unemployment limit of 90 days which may also be used to continue the job search. Students who file late and end up receiving a job offer sooner than they expected may lose these opportunities if employers are not willing to wait another 3-4 months to hire. Learn more about your application timeline. 
I just received a job offer to start after graduation. I graduate in 4 weeks, can I apply for OPT now and accept the position to start after graduation? 
Students are eligible to apply for OPT up to 90 days prior to the last day of their final graduating quarter. Because it can take 90 – 120 days for USCIS to approve the OPT Application, we always advise to apply sooner than later. Students applying for OPT with a targeted employment start date in mind should inform potential employers of their expected OPT approval dates (which may differ than the OPT start date listed on the OPT I-20). Students may not engage in any type of employment after the last day of their final quarter without OPT Approval and their Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card) in hand. Communicate this timeline with your potential employer ahead of time and keep them informed. Learn more about what you can do while OPT is pending.
  
What if my OPT is not approved by the end of my 60 day grace period? Can I stay in the U.S. and wait for OPT to be approved? 
Yes, students who have submitted an OPT Application with USCIS may remain in the U.S. after their grace period ends to await adjudication. Learn more about what you can do while OPT is pending.
What if USCIS does not approve my OPT Application by the OPT Start Date listed on my OPT I-20, will those days be deducted from my 90-day unemployment limit?  
If USCIS approves your OPT Application after the OPT Start Date listed on your Form I-20, they will issue you an approval notice and EAD card reflecting an OPT start date adjusted to the date of the USCIS adjudication. This start date will also be listed on your EAD Card as the 'Valid From' Date. Unemployment days are counted from the ‘Valid From’ date on your EAD card. Learn more about unemployment limits and maintaining status while on OPT. 

Questions about OPT?
Visit OPT.ucsd.edu or email iEmployment@ucsd.edu. 
Check Your I-20 or DS-2019 Program End Date!

Locate your most recently issued Form I-20 or DS-2019 from ISPO and review the 'Program End Date' Listed. If you need more time to complete your program, ensure you apply for a Program Extension before the end date listed! Learn more here.
Options after Graduating from UC San Diego

Is Winter 2021 your final graduating term? If you plan to work after graduation, you should plan to apply for post-completion work authorization known as Post-completion Optional Practical Training (for F-1 students) or Post-Completion Academic Training (for J-1 students). Students may be eligible to apply for F-1 OPT or J-1 AT to gain practical experience in their field of study after graduation. This process takes time so plan ahead and understand your timeline. Learn more at iwork.ucsd.edu.
 
Other Options for International Students After Graduation 
Once you complete your program of study, you will have some time to plan your next steps. This is known as your grace period. F-1 students have 60 days while J-1 students have 30 days. Before the end of the grace period, students should take one of the following actions:  
 
  • Depart the U.S.  
  • Transfer Out to Another Institution  
  • Change Degree Level at UC San Diego (Pursue a new degree at UC San Diego)  
  • Apply for F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) or J-1 Academic Training (AT) 
  • Change non-immigrant status 
 
WATCH: Tutorial: COVID-19 Self-Test Vending Machines
Triton Tools & Tidbits Podcast:
Each Thursday, Student Affairs releases a podcast called Triton Tools & Tidbits that focuses on topics geared towards student success. The most recent episode is called Bounce Back, and in it UC San Diego students discuss recovering from academic disappointment and how to turn it into a learning experience! The podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, YouTube and Google.
Stay Connected with Fellow Tritons | iPrograms and iEvents
Sign up for these programs happening now!
Stay connected with ISPO and other Tritons by taking a look at our events calendar at iEvents.ucsd.edu
iCafe- Your Passport to Culture: S Korea!
Friday, February 26 at 12 PM PST

Take a journey with us this Friday at lunch to the beautiful country of South Korean! Learn about South Korea from a local, test your knowledge with travel trivia, and learn about South Korean sports and athletes in Rec's Global Playground! The School of Global Policy and Strategy (G will be the co-host. We can't wait to travel with you this Friday!
Culture Shock & Mental Health Workshop
Tuesday, March 2 at 4 PM PST
 
Join the Graduate Well Being Associate Team, the International Students & Programs Office (ISPO) and Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) for this workshop surrounding culture shock and mental health.  
ISPO Chats
Friday, March 5 at 8AM PST

Think of ISPO Chats as your monthly office hour with the ISPO Leadership team. ISPO deeply values the student voice and we want to hear from you. What is affecting you as an international student at UC San Diego? What would you like to learn more about? Do you have questions about policy updates, current events, etc? ISPO Chats is an informal time for you to share about your experience as an international student at UC San Diego as well as questions to ISPO staff. We hope that by hosting these monthly office hours, we can hear your concerns, advocate on your behalf, and invest in our international student community. 
Triton Trekkers: Moonlight Grove Hike
Saturday, March 6 at 6 PM PST

Join the Triton Trekkers (a collaboration between ISPO & Outback Adventures) as we meet at Outback Adventures for a moonlight hike through the eucalyptus grove on campus.
Spring Break Connection Program- Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Sign-Up Deadline is March 5 

For the Spring Break Connection Program, we will match interested students into teams of three to participate in a Virtual Scavenger Hunt over spring break. We have partnered with UCSD Recreation to offer this virtual scavenger hunt with rave reviews! Each member of the winning team of the scavenger hunt will be awarded with visa e-gift-cards as prizes! Last day to sign up is March 5.
Let's Talk
Mondays from 3:30-4:30 PM PST

The UC San Diego Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is pleased to offer “Let’s Talk”, a program designed to provide drop-in consultation services to undergraduate and graduate international students. The one-on-one meetings with Dr. Rina Schul (CAPS/ISPO Liaison) are for international students who are seeking informal support with issues such as stress, adjustment, cross-cultural challenges, motivation, focus, and relationships. Let’s Talk sessions are designed to provide practical strategies, information, and support.
National College Health Assessment

If you received an email to participate in the National College Health Assessment, please consider participating because YOUR VOICE MATTERS! The information you provide will help improve health and well-being services and programs at UC San Diego. ​

This survey comes with an opportunity drawing! FIVE students will win a $200 gift card and TWENTY students will win $50 gift cards! 

Check for the email in your UC San Diego account! Survey is open until March 20!
As we continue to shift our services to accommodate the needs of our students, this schedule may fluctuate and is subject to change. ISPO's most current advising hours can be found at iContact.ucsd.edu.
Virtual Zoom Advising 
ISPO has expanded virtual advising hours to accommodate different time zones. See the exact advising times/hours on our website.
Online Contact Form
Send ISPO an email through our Online Contact Form. These inquiries are directed to specific advisors depending on nature of the request.
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 at any time from receiving updates from our office. 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