Fall 2020 | Week 0 | Weekly updates for International Students @ UC San Diego
Deadlines & Visa Status Reminders
Recently arrived to the U.S.? Complete your Document Self-Check!

Within 15 days after arrival into the U.S., complete the International Student Document Self-Check. It is important for you to verify that your documents were processed correctly at the port of entry. There is no need to notify International Students & Programs Office (ISPO) when you complete your document self-check unless you believe there is an error in your documents. You should fulfill the document self-check requirement every time that you reenter the U.S.

Visit iTravel.ucsd.edu for more information regarding traveling as an international student. In addition, visit the following resources for more information about studying in the U.S. this fall quarter:

Fall 2020 Check-In Deadline: Friday, October 16, 2020
2022 Diversity Green Card Visa Lottery - Online Entry Period

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (also known as the Green Card or DV Lottery) provides immigrant visas each fiscal year for persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Essentially, this program provides certain nationalities with the opportunity to win the chance to apply for a green card, without having to qualify in one of the family-based or employment-based categories. For fiscal year 2022, 55,000 diversity visas will be available.

  • Begins at Noon EDT on Wednesday, October 7, 2020
  • Ends at Noon EST on Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Ineligible Nationalities: There are no changes in eligibility criteria this year. As with last year, unless an exception applies, individuals born in the following countries are NOT eligible to apply, because these countries provided more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the previous five years: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. Persons born in Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.
 
For Detailed Eligibility Requirements and To Apply: Submit the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form or DS-5501), online at https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ between noon EDT on October 7, 2020 and noon EST on November 10, 2020. For detailed eligibility requirements, instructions for the application, and FAQs please click on the following link - 2022 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
Fall 2020 Extended ISPO Advising Hours

ISPO has expanded virtual advising hours to accommodate different time zones for the fall quarter. We have expanded our advising hours through Zoom Virtual Advising to reflect the following:

  • MON: 9 AM - 4 PM PST
  • TUES: 1 PM - 6 PM PST
  • WED: 9 AM - 6 PM PST
  • THU: 9 AM - 6 PM PST
  • FRI: 9 AM - 4 PM PST

Note, ISPO is closed everyday from 12-1 PM PST. 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.
On September 29, 2020, the U.S. District court for Northern California issued a nationwide preliminary injunction and stay on implementation of the 2020 final USCIS fee rule in its entirety. New fees and forms associated with implementation of the rule on October 2, 2020, are now put on hold, as are other aspects of the rule, including the Premium Processing time change from 15 calendar days to 15 business days. Current fees and forms should continue to be used pending final adjudication of the matter.
 
What does this mean for students filing OPT? New fees and form versions and other changes associated with the final fee rule that were to be effective on October 2, 2020 and described above apply to OPT applications as well. USCIS fees for the I-765 remain at $410 until further notice. Students should download the most current edition of the form on the USCIS webpage. Review the edition date instructions on the USCIS website carefully for which I-765 edition should be used. 
 
On October 1st, 2020, the USCIS I-765 Website was updated to include an alert acknowledging the injunction of the final rule:

Alert: On Sept. 29, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in Immigration Legal Resource Center et al., v. Wolf, et al., 20-cv-05883-JWS, preliminarily enjoined DHS from implementing or enforcing any part of the USCIS Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements rule.

While the rule is preliminarily enjoined, we will continue to:
  • Accept USCIS forms with the current editions and current fees; and
  • Use the regulations and guidance currently in place to adjudicate applications and petitions. This includes accepting and adjudicating fee waiver requests as provided under Adjudicator's Field Manual (AFM) Chapters 10.9 (PDF, 2.87 MB) and 10.10 (PDF, 2.87 MB).

We encourage students to reach out to iEmployment@ucsd.edu for any clarifying questions.
OPT Group Advising
Getting ready to submit your OPT Application to USCIS, just received a receipt for your pending OPT Application with USCIS, or waiting for your EAD card in the mail? Learn more about what do while you wait for OPT to be approved in addition to how to maintain your status while on approved OPT by joining ISPO's Fall 2020 OPT Group Advising Sessions happening now!
 
Fall 2020 Group Advising
Join our online OPT Group Advising sessions during the times posted below to ask general questions about the 3 stages of F-1 OPT Work Authorization:

  • OPT Stage 1: Requesting OPT I-20 from ISPO
  • OPT Stage 2: Compiling and Mailing OPT Application to USCIS
  • OPT Stage 3: Maintaining F-1 Status while on OPT 

Come to these sessions after reviewing our opt.ucsd.edu website or after viewing our OPT Stage 1, 2, and 3 videos first. You don’t have to wait in line to ask your questions! An ISPO advisor will be answering your questions live!
Additional Immigration Policy Updates
9/25/2020: DHS Proposed New Rule to Eliminate Duration of Status (D/S) Policy for International Students

On September 25, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a Proposed New Rule to On September 25, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a Proposed New Rule to eliminate the current duration of status (D/S) policy for international students in F-1 and J-1 status and international researchers and scholars in J-1 status and replacing the policy with a set expiration date for authorized stay. Media sources such as Inside Higher Education also reported on this proposed change and how it will impact the international community.
 
Under the current policy, students and researchers have the flexibility to make approved changes to their plan without having to depart the United States or undertake a long and complicated government process to extend their status. For example, the time it takes to earn an academic degree does not always fit into a predetermined time period. Programs are added, and experiments and research take longer than anticipated, pushing graduation dates farther away. If finalized, key changes to the policy would include: 
 
  • Limiting the period of authorized stay for F or J status (students, researchers, scholars, and their dependents) to 2 to 4 years.
  • Reducing the F-1 grace period allowed to remain in the U.S. after completing a program of study from 60 to 30 days.
  • Limiting F-1 students in English language programs to a lifetime aggregate of 24 months in language study including academic breaks.
  • Limiting the number of F-1 programs at the same educational level to a total of three for the lifetime of the student.
 
Please keep in mind that this is still a proposed rule. It is not in effect at this time. ISPO is monitoring the situation and working with UC-wide advocacy efforts. We will send updates via the IStudents listserv when new information becomes available. Please contact an International Student Advisor at iContact.ucsd.edu or meet via Zoom advising if you have any questions..

9/18/2020 Canada-Mexico "Essential Travel" Restrictions Extended
 
The restrictions that allow entry to the United States through land ports of entry along the U.S.-Canada and U.S. Mexico borders for "essential travel" only have been extended through October 21, 2020. Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions is considered essential travel.

9/14/2020: DHS and TSA Terminate Designated Covid-19 Airport Restrictions

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) published notices in the Federal Register that terminate COVID-19 designated arrival airport restrictions, effective September 14, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The restrictions had required all flights to land at one of 15 designated U.S. airports if they carried persons who within the last 14 days traveled from, or were otherwise present within, one of the countries designated in the five country-specific Presidential Proclamation coronavirus bans. The country-specific coronavirus proclamations themselves remain in place, however, subject to specific exemptions.

9/11/2020: Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds Final Rule Back In Effect (Injunction Stayed)
 
On September 11, 2020, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a decision that stays the prior injunction to these regulations; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published information on their website on September 22 indicating how they will apply the regulations retroactively to February 24, 2020. If you have a pending I-129 petition filed on your behalf and/or a pending I-539 application as of the September 22 notice date and which was filed after the July 29th injunction date, USCIS may ask for missing evidence prior to adjudication. USCIS will not re-adjudicate any petitions/applications that have already been approved following the injunction date and prior to the September 22nd notice date. Read the final rule here.
On-Campus Employment

When: Tuesday October 6th at 12 PM PST
Learn about work authorization requirements for F-1 and J-1 students wanting to work on campus. This webinar is intended for graduate and undergraduate students in F-1 and J-1 status. Register Now!
F-1 On-Campus Employment
 
In general, all F-1 students are eligible for on-campus employment during the period of their academic program of study. Because the employment is "incident to status," no authorization from the International Students & Programs Office (ISPO) or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is required. Review all information on ISPO's website to understand how you can work on campus while you are a currently enrolled student at UC San Diego. Learn more here.
J-1 On-Campus Employment
 
All J-1 students inside of the U.S. must obtain authorization for on-campus employment before beginning any type of work. Review all information below to understand how you can work on campus. NOTE: J-1 students sponsored by another program (i.e. Fulbright, CONACYT, etc.) should contact their program sponsors directly regarding required on-campus employment authorization documents. Learn more here.
Are You a New Student Employee?​ 

Access UCPath and Ecotime​ Now! ​​UCPath is UC San Diego's human resources and payroll system. Access UCPath to review your personal information and enroll in direct deposit.  Ecotime is UC San Diego's timekeeping system. Access Ecotime to complete your timecards by the deadline in order to get paid on time.​ Click here for more details on how to access these systems. 
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
iThrive: Unpacking Identity
Wednesday, Oct 7 @ 7 PM PST

iThrive is a weekly series that focuses on adjustment through the lens of an international student. This program provides students with an opportunity to explore identity and culture through group discussions, activities and presentations. This series will also highlight resources on campus that support cross-cultural exchange and communication. Through cultural and identity exploration, we can THRIVE.
ISPO Chats
Friday, Oct 9 @ 8 AM PST

Think of ISPO Chats as your monthly office hour with ISPO Leadership. ISPO deeply values the student voice and we want to hear from you. 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. 
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