iEmployment Newsletter: Your Employment News & Updates from ISPO!

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

Cap Gap Process and Eligibility

Did your employer file for a change of status to H-1B visa for you? If your H-1B has officially been filed and receipted with USCIS, and your OPT or STEM OPT expires after April 1, 2022, you may be eligible for a Cap-Gap Extension, which allows you to continue to work with your employer until September 30, 2022.

To request an updated I-20 which reflects the Cap-Gap Extension, submit the F-1 Cap Gap I-20 Request in iPortal.ucsd.edu

Note, if your employer filed for H-1B through consular processing, not change of status, Cap-Gap should not apply to you.

For more information see here.

New ISPO Dashboards

STEM OPT Applications

Are you getting ready to apply for STEM OPT Extension? To help you through the application process, ISPO has broken down the process into 4 stages:

Stage 1: Requesting STEM OPT I-20

Make sure you check out our comprehensive I-983 Guide! Be prepared by reviewing the Form I-983, ISPO's guide, and ensure you and your employer fill out this required document accurately.

Stage 2: Submitting STEM OPT Application to USCIS

Note there are two options to apply to USCIS, online or by mail and ISPO has guides for both!

Stage 3: Waiting for STEM OPT Approval

See here for what to expect while your application is pending and what you can and cannot do.

Stage 4: Maintaining F-1 STEM OPT Status

Do not neglect this important stage! Once approved, it is your responsibility to maintain your F-1 STEM OPT status and we are here to help!

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.

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

iPortal Update

Removal of "Saved/ Not Submitted" Status

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