March 3, 2021 | Weekly updates for International Students @ UC San Diego
USCIS Extends Flexibilities to Certain Applicants
Filing Form I-765 for OPT

Dear UCSD Student, 



THIS NOTICE WILL ONLY APPLY TO YOU IF YOUR OPT APPLICATION IS SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED TO USCIS BETWEEN OCTOBER 1, 2020 - MAY 1, 2021.

You may have experienced OPT receipt notice delays by USCIS in the last several months. On February 26, 2021, USCIS released an announcement of flexibilities they will apply for certain students impacted by these delays. Please see the entirety of the message here. ISPO has categorized the announcement by impact:  
14-MONTH OPT PERIOD FLEXIBILITIES

If you meet the criteria below, this may apply to you if your application has already been approved or is currently pending. 

  • Summary: If you meet the below criteria, you should be granted the full 12 months of OPT for your initial post-completion OPT application regardless of when USCIS approves it. 
  • Time of Filing: USCIS must have received your OPT application between October 1, 2020 – May 1, 2021  
  • How it Works: If USCIS approves your application after your requested start date, they will adjust the start date to their day of approval and the end date to 365 days later.  
  • If USCIS Issues EAD With Less than 12 Months: If the above applies to you, but your EAD does not reflect a full 12 months, you may request a correction of the EAD due to USCIS error. ISPO recommends you request this correction as soon as you notice the error. Make sure you make a copy of the EAD before you return it to USCIS. After your correction is approved, verify your EAD dates are updated in SEVP Portal. If not, contact us at iemployment@ucsd.edu. 
  • Common Misconceptions: This does not mean you are eligible for 14 months of initial post-completion OPT. You are still only eligible for 12 months of initial post-completion OPT (and 2 year STEM OPT extension if you qualify and apply for at a separate time). 
REFILING FOLLOWING REJECTION

If you meet the criteria below, this may apply to you if your application has been rejected or is currently pending.  

  • Summary: You may be eligible to reapply if you meet the below criteria. 
  • Time of Filing: USCIS must have received your OPT or STEM OPT application between October 1, 2020 – May 1, 2021 
  • Reason for Rejection: The reason for rejection should NOT be due to the application being submitted more than 30 days of ISPO’s recommendation of initial post-completion OPT or 60 days of the STEM OPT extension recommendation by ISPO. 
  • Process to Refile: If you are eligible to refile, you will NOT need  to obtain a new Form I-20 with an updated OPT recommendation from ISPO. USCIS must receive your new application by May 31, 2021. 
  • Employment: If you are applying for the STEM OPT extension, based on STEM OPT regulations, as long as your application has been received by USCIS, you can continue working up to 180 days after your initial EAD end date while the STEM OPT application is pending. 
  • Common Misconceptions: Rejection notices and denial notices are not the same thing. If your notice says your application was denied, this does not apply to you. 
MISSING OR DEFICIENT SIGNATURES

If you meet the criteria below, this may apply to you if your application is currently pending. 

  • Summary: USCIS will reject applications with missing or deficient (not original) signatures. See above for information on rejections if your application is rejected. 
  • Request for Evidence (RFE): If USCIS accepts (does not reject) an I-765 application with a missing or deficient signature, they will send you a Request for Evidence (RFE) instead of denying the application. 
  • How it Works: An RFE gives the student the opportunity to provide the Form I-765 with a corrected signature. 

If you have any questions, please contact iemployment@ucsd.edu or attend Employment Zoom Advising for Current and Former Students. 
Get Involved 
Do you want to connect with other alumni or engage with UC San Diego after graduation? Check out the UC San Diego Alumni website for upcoming virtual events, joining an alumni club or group in your region or city, accessing career resources, signing up for an Alumni Email for Life, and more. 
ISPO Office Hours: Virtual Advising

While ISPO's Office (Student Center B) is closed to the public for in-person services. We continue to provide all advising services through virtual Zoom advising! Visit iContact.ucsd.edu for various ways to contact an ISPO Advisor!
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