Fall 2020 | Weekly updates for International Students @ UC San Diego
Traveling Internationally?
Check Requirements for Re-entry into the U.S.
Form I-20 Travel Signature

ISPO encourages international students to refrain from international travel when possible. The pandemic remains fluid, with rapidly expanding international travel bans occurring with little notice. Please also note that there are also travel restrictions due to the global pandemic. Read additional immigration news and information here.  
 
Once you have been approved for OPT, note that the travel signature on the second page of your most recently issued Form I-20 is only valid for 6 months (not 1 year). Check the 2nd page of your Form I-20 and ensure that you have a valid travel signature at the time of re-entry into the U.S. To learn more, visit iTravel.ucsd.edu...
Valid F-1 Visa & Visa Renewals

Due to U.S. Embassy closures, students who are seeking re-entry into the U.S. should take into account their visa expiration date and how it may impact their plans to return to the U.S. Visit ISPO's Visa Application Page to learn more about preparing for a visa renewal while on approved OPT/STEM OPT.
Maintaining Employment

During post-completion OPT, F-1 status is dependent upon employment. Students may not exceed a cumulative total of 90 days of unemployment during the post-completion OPT period. Unemployment days are counted from the ‘Valid From’ date on your EAD card. Students who exceed 90 days of unemployment are in violation of their F-1 visa status. Students who are approved for STEM OPT Extension are provided an additional 60 days of unemployment. Any unused days of unemployment from the initial 12 months of OPT can be carried over to the unemployment days during STEM OPT for a total of 150 days of unemployment. There is no 60-day grace period after reaching the limit for unemployment. Students should ensure their most up to date employment is reported within SEVP Portal. Students who have exceed unemployment or have failed to report their employment should contact an ISPO Advisor.

According to the Student Exchange & Visitor Program (SEVP), the following is true for students on OPT/STEM OPT for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency:
 
  • Students currently participating in OPT, including STEM OPT, may work remotely within the U.S. or outside the U.S. during COVID-19 while maintaining their status.
  • Students participating in STEM OPT do not need to submit an updated Form I-983 to report remote work nor should students on OPT update their work address in SEVP Portal to their remote work address. Rather, keep it as your employer's office address.  
  • Students currently participating in OPT, including STEM OPT, should keep their personal address in SEVP Portal as a U.S. address.
Your OPT Application
ISPO Holiday Closure and iPortal Requests

ISPO will be closed from Thursday, December 24, 2020 – January 3, 2021. ISPO will continue to process iPortal requests within 10 business days and reminds students that the earliest USCIS can receive their complete STEM OPT Application is 90 days before their current EAD expires. Students planning on submitting their STEM OPT Applications to USCIS prior to ISPO's closure should note:  
 
 
  • Processing Time: Note that ISPO's processing time for STEM OPT I-20 Requests is 10 business days. Though there are no guarantees, ISPO will do our best to process pending STEM OPT I-20 Requests that were submitted in iPortal by 4PM PST on Tuesday, December 15. 

  • Express Shipping (eShip Global): In response to San Diego County and California public health officials recently issued regional stay at home order (PDF), ISPO has cancelled all in-person appointments and document pick-up services until further notice. Students who wish to receive their documents in a timely and secure manner should choose Express Shipping and provide an Order Number within their STEM OPT I-20 Request in iPortal. Choosing standard shipping does not guarantee secure delivery or speed of delivery.  

  • Earliest Date USCIS Can Receive OPT Applications: The earliest USCIS can receive your complete STEM OPT Application is 90 days prior to your current EAD end date. Students who submit earlier than the 90th day will receive a denial from USCIS.  

  • Physical Location: Current USCIS regulations require that students be physically present in the U.S. at the time of applying for OPT. Ensure you are physically present in the U.S. at the time of submitting your STEM OPT Application.  

For questions, visit STEMOPT.ucsd.edu or email iEmployment@ucsd.edu 
OPT Receipt Notice Delays (Form I-765)

If you included a G-1145 with your I-765 application to USCIS, and do not receive the text message or email within a few days of USCIS receiving your application, it is most likely due to delays by USCIS. However, some questions to ask yourself to ensure your application was submitted correctly, regardless of whether you included a G-1145 or not, are: 

  • FORM: Did you send the most recent I-765 from the USCIS website? Did you sign in within the last 30 days? Was it issued within less than 30 days from when USCIS received your application?  

  • PAYMENT: Did you include the correct fee of $410 made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security? If so did you confirm if the fee was deposited? Was the check or money order dated in the last 30 days? 

  • DELIVERY: Did you track the delivery of your application and did you send it to the correct address based on your I-765 mailing address and whether you sent via Fedex/UPS or USPS? See mailing information here. If you sent to the correct address, did you confirm it was delivered? 

If you are concerned about any of the above, email iemployment@ucsd.edu. If you do not receive your receipt notice within 4 weeks of when USCIS received your application, contact USCIS.  
OPT 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.  
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.
ISPO Office Hours: Virtual Advising

While ISPO's Office (Student Center B) is closed to the public for in-person service through Summer 2020, we continue to provide all advising services through virtual Zoom advising! Visit iContact.ucsd.edu for various ways to contact an ISPO Advisor!
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