Click here to subscribe to ISPO News for Campus Partners!

Winter 2021 | Vol 3 | 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.

Updates and Information

iPortal Updates 2/23 Tuesday: iPortal System Maintenance: iPortal will be down on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 between 9 AM and 2 PM PST for system updates and maintenance. If you continue to experience technical issues outside of these hours, please contact iPortal@ucsd.edu.   iPortal for Departments: For more comprehensive iPortal User Guides for Primary and Sub-Approvers within iPortal, please visit ISPO's iPortal for Departments Website! ISPO Alerts on UC San Diego's Mobile App: Students can now get the latest news and updates from ISPO through the UC San Diego Mobile App! In addition, IPortal Status Update Notifications for students are now available so they know the status of their document and letter requests from ISPO! Please encourage students to visit mobile.ucsd.edu for more information on how to download the app.

On-Campus Employment for International Students Students Located Inside of the U.S.: F-1 and J-1 students physically located in the U.S. are eligible to pursue on-campus employment. Current guidance in place during COVID-19 permits students to engage in on-campus employment remotely. If the current on-campus employment opportunity has transitioned to remote work or the employment can be done through remote means, students may continue to engage in on-campus employment remotely. Students Located Abroad: F-1 students outside of the U.S. may be eligible to continue working remotely for UC San Diego. If the current on-campus employment can be conducted through remote means, the student may continue to engage in on-campus employment remotely. Hiring Process: Departments and colleges who are looking to hire international students for on-campus work, including Orientation Assistants, TA, and GSR positions, should work closely with these students in the onboarding process. It is important to note that students abroad must comply with all applicable income tax laws, including tax filing and payment mandates of the US, California, and any country where they reside and work. Taxation questions are beyond ISPO’s purview and should be directed to a credible tax professional in the U.S. or one located in the place the student's resides. Social Security Numbers & Form I-9: Individuals in F-1 or J-1 visa status are allowed to begin work as soon as their work authorization is valid, even if they do not yet have an SSN. A valid SSN is not required at the time of hire in order to be put on payroll and to enroll in benefits. For UC San Diego on-campus hires: If hiring departments are filling out the Payroll Personnel System (PPS) system they should enter 999-99-999 in the SSN field for the time being. Once the student is able to apply for and receive the SSN, the student must update the HR representative/personnel liaison with their SSN in the payroll system. We encourage students to apply for the card as soon as they are able to visit the SSA Office. For location hours, appointments, and availability, students should contact the SSA directly at https://www.ssa.gov/. For more information, please reference the Graduate Division's Collab Page regarding Remote Hiring Guidelines and more.

Things to Consider: Planning For Spring 2021 Arrival to the U.S. Students with Initial I-20 or DS-2019: Students who hold an initial I-20 or DS-2019 may have began their programs from abroad and have not used the Form I-20 or DS-2019 issued by UC San Diego to enter the U.S. (awaiting activation upon entry into the U.S.). Students with Initial I-20 or DS-2019s have various requirements in order to seek entry into the U.S. Be aware of the following:   Form I-20/DS-2019: Students should ensure the program start date listed on their Form I-20 or DS-2019 is in the future. For students planning to enter for Spring 2021, the start date should be listed as March 24, 2021. Students who do not have a March 24th start date must request a new Initial I-20 from ISPO by logging into iPortal and submitting the NEW ADMIT: I-20 or DS-2019 Amendment/Reprint Request. Travel Dates: Generally, students may enter the U.S. 30 days prior to the start of the quarter. For Spring Quarter, students should plan to enter the U.S. no earlier than Monday, February 22, 2021. Learn more about the earliest date students may seek entry into the U.S. The latest date to enter the U.S. is April 9, 2021. If unable to arrive by April 9, 2021, students may work with their college or department to get written permission to arrive at a later date. In addition, ISPO can issue a late arrival support letter for students. Students should anticipate delays at the port of entry if planning to enter after April 9, 2021 and admittance is not guaranteed. Travel Support Letter for New Students: ISPO in collaboration with the Registrar's Office at UC San Diego has issued a support letter for students arriving for the first time in Spring 2021 to use during travel and if applicable, visa appointments. This letter is available for students to download on the home page of iPortal (iPortal.ucsd.edu) under Notifications. . In-Person Component for Spring 2021: To seek entry into the U.S., international students cannot be enrolled in a full-course load that is 100% online. In other words, students will need to register for at least one hybrid or in-person course for the Spring 2021 term to seek entry into the U.S. Students who are unable to find a course with an in-person or hybrid component are urged to contact their colleges or departments directly to help assist them in course selection.   Check-In Upon Arrival: Upon your initial arrival to the U.S. using a Form I-20 or Form Ds-2019 from UC San Diego, students are required to log into iPortal and submit the Check-In for I-20/DS-2019 Activation. This ensures students have a local U.S. Address in TritonLink, have a valid Form I-94 reflecting entry into the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 Status, and have an active Form I-20 or DS-2019. Failure to submit the Check-In can result in problems with their immigration status. Students are urged to contact ISPO at iNewStudent@ucsd.edu if you they have additional questions regarding their travel plans to enter the U.S. next quarter. Students with Active I-20 or DS-2019: Students who have already arrived to the U.S. using a Form I-20 or DS-2019 from UC San Diego issued by UC San Diego and are now planning to return to the U.S. should be aware of the following:   Form I-20/DS-2019: To re-enter the U.S., students must have a valid F-1 or J-1 visa, a valid travel signature and all other documents listed on the ISPO travel website. These students will maintain an active I-20 or DS-2019 as long as they enroll in a full course load and otherwise maintain their immigration status. Travel Support Letter: ISPO in collaboration with the Registrar's Office at UC San Diego has issued a support letter for continuing students to use during travel and if applicable, visa appointments. This letter is available for download on the home page of iPortal (iPortal.ucsd.edu) under Notifications.   Course Enrollment: Continuing students who are currently outside the U.S. in active F-1 status and wish to return to the U.S. for Spring 2021 may continue to take online classes and are permitted to seek entry into the U.S. anytime during their academic program.

Resources & Program Highlights

Webinar: Hot Topics in Immigration with Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP Immigration Attorneys Friday, February 19th 12:00 -1:30 PM PST Sponsored by the International Faculty and Scholars Office (IFSO) and international Students and Programs Office (ISPO), this webinar will focus on current topics in the area of immigration, including the current status of travel bans, proposed changes to H-1B (cap, prevailing wages, specialty occupation), public charge, duration of status, STEM OPT program, and Biden’s immigration plan. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend! Sign-Up Here!

Webinar: OPT and Beyond: Navigating the U.S. Immigration System Tuesday, February 23rd 12:00 -1:20 PM PST Sponsored by the International Faculty and Scholars Office (IFSO) and international Students and Programs Office (ISPO). The webinar will feature student and scholar advisors and Claudia Martorell, an immigration attorney with Larrabee Albi Coker LLP as they provide information related to OPT, STEM OPT, changing to H-1B. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend! Sign-Up Here!

A Call for Faculty & Staff Support! ISPO acknowledges the many challenges that international students, faculty, and staff have faced in the transition to virtual learning while prioritizing health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. ISPO created a guide, in collaboration with both students and campus partners, to identify top issues as well as best practices for faculty and staff to consider when supporting students. We hope you will find this guide both useful for yourself and your colleagues. Thank you. Access the Guide Here.

Mental Health Resource: MY SSP (Student Support Program) We are excited to introduce a new program – My Student Support Program (My SSP)! My Student Support Program (My SSP) provides University California, San Diego students living internationally with immediate and/or ongoing confidential, 24-hour support for any school, well-being, or general life concern at no cost to students. As a student, you can receive live and real-time support in multiple languages via the My SSP app. If you are currently living out of the country, MySSP is a mental health resource for you.  More information about CAPS services for students residing internationally is available on the CAPS website.

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 Partners: We 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

2/19/2021: CNBC: Immigration Agency Delays Jeopardize International Students' Legal Status 2/14/2021: University World News: International Student Strategies Must Change According to American Council on Education (ACE) Report 2/14/2021: San Diego Union Tribune: Quiet Giant Who Helped Slow AIDS Crisis has UC San Diego on Fast Track Out of Coronavirus Pandemic 2/1/2021: Forbes: International Student Applications are Rebounding in the U.S. Is it the Biden Bounce? 2/1: New Yorker: The Race to Dismantle Trump's Immigration Policies

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 .