Winter 2021 | Vol 1 | Updates from the International Students & Programs Office @ UC San Diego.
Hello Campus Partners,
 
As new federal and state regulations are released to the public, ISPO strives to provide information on how these will impact current processes, international students, and campus partners. See important announcements below. Please contact ISPO and let us know how we can continue to support your efforts. 
Immigration Policy & Office Updates 
ISPO Office & Student Services Updates

  • 1/18 Mon Holiday Closure: ISPO will be closed on Monday, January 18 for Martin Luther King Jr Day Holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Please visit iContact.ucsd.edu for business and closure hours and emergency contact information.   

  • iPortal Outage: Please note, this Saturday, January 16 from 10 AM to 5 PM PST, iPortal will be down for system updates and maintenance. Students should not have any issues accessing and submitting requests in iPortal outside of these hours. If you experience technical issues, please contact iPortal@ucsd.edu. 

  • Cancellation of In-Person Appointment & Document Pick-Ups: Due to health and safety guidance, in-person advising and document pick-ups have been cancelled for Winter 2021 until further notice. 
Pre-Arrival Season Begins March 1st!
 
As the International Students & Programs Office prepares to issue visa documents for our Fall 2021 newly-admitted international students, we will do additional outreach to departments to offer our support in working with new admits throughout what we call the “pre-arrival season” over the next several months. If your department plans to run an early start or prep program that requires international participants to arrive to the U.S. more than 30 days prior to Fall 2021 quarter start, please notify ISPO no later than Monday, February 22 to discuss eligibility for an earlier start date to be issued on a student’s I-20 or DS-2019. If approved, these students will be directed to a specific I-20/DS-2019 application form in the iPortal to ensure they receive the correct document. More information to come!  

For questions regarding pre-arrival or early start programs, please contact ISPO's Lead Pre-Arrival Advisor, Lisa Swid at lSwid@ucsd.edu.   
Required Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test Result or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Airline Passengers Arriving into the United States Effective 1/26/21

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an Order on January 12, 2021 requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving from a foreign country to the US. This Order will be effective on January 26, 2021 and published in the Federal Register soon. Students should have documentation prepared to show negative results prior to making travel plans. Visit CDC’s website to learn more. 
USCIS Modifies H-1B Selection Process to Prioritize Wages While U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule to Reform Prevailing Wages
 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS or the Department) is amending its regulations governing the process by which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) selects H-1B registrations for the filing of H-1B cap-subject petitions (or H-1B petitions for any year in which the registration requirement is suspended), by generally first selecting registrations based on the highest Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) prevailing wage level that the proffered wage equals or exceeds for the relevant Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and area(s) of intended employment. This final rule is effective March 9, 2021. View the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s Final Rule published in the Federal Registrar for more information. In addition, The U.S. Department of Labor announced a Final Rule to update the wage methodology it uses to set prevailing wage rates for the Permanent Employment Certification, H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 Visa worker programs. Read the Department of Labor's News Release for more information.
Resources & Program Highlights
10 Things to Consider When Supporting International Students in a Virtual Environment

The International Students & Programs Office (ISPO) created this guide in response to hearing the challenges international students continue to navigate while operating in a virtual environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. ISPO worked collaboratively with both students and campus partners to identify top issues as well as best practices for faculty and staff to be mindful of when supporting students. We hope that you will find this guide both useful for yourself and your colleagues.

Student Success in a Virtual Environment

This course is for international students at UC San Diego to support their academic success and facilitate access to campus resources. In collaboration with various campus resources, ISPO has created a course to serve student needs and answer questions. Throughout the course, you will learn about technology and system support, intercultural communication with faculty and peers, navigating remote, hybrid and in-person courses and time management to help you be successful at the university. Students can review short modules and videos at their own pace or reference multiple times throughout the year! Learn more here. 
ISPO Web Resources
 
  • iUpdates: The most up to date COVID-19 information, travel restrictions, and immigration updates for international students studying at UC San Diego.
  • iContact: All ISPO advising services will continue virtually through the Winter term.
  • Resource Page for ISPO’s Campus PartnersWe have a dedicated page on our website for UC San Diego staff who are advising and supporting international students. Guides include Tips on Effective Intercultural Communication, Employing International Students, Basic Immigration Requirements, and more. 
Editor's Picks
WHY AM I RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER? As a campus partner, your collaboration is important to us in supporting our international student community. The information sent in this Newsletter is available on ISPO's website, iStudents.ucsd.edu. You have the right to unsubscribe from receiving updates from our office at anytime. You can do this by emailing istudents@ucsd.edu .