News and Alerts

Posted December 11, 2024

Dear Students,

Some of you have inquired about travel risks due to the upcoming change in the presidential administration. As of today, there are no updates regarding anticipated travel restrictions for international students and exchange visitors. Any updates to travel policies introduced by a new administration would likely be announced after the inauguration on January 20, 2025. 

As you prepare to travel, ensure you have all the required and recommended documentation listed below.

 

For New Students: New students should plan to arrive to the U.S. by January 16, 2025 to attend orientation. 

  • Valid signed SEVIS I-20/DS2019 document

  • Valid passport

  • Valid F-1/J-1 visa stamp

  • Proof of SEVIS I901 fee

 

For Continuing Students:

Continuing students should plan to return to the U.S. with ample time to prepare for the start of classes for the Spring 2025 semester. Most programs will begin on January 21, 2025; however, some programs may begin classes earlier. 

  • Valid signed SEVIS I-20/DS2019 document

  • Valid travel endorsement

  • Valid passport

  • Valid F-1/J-1 visa stamp

Recommended (but not required):

  • Copy of your school schedule for the spring semester

  

For students on OPT: We recommend avoiding travel while working in Optional Practical Training. If travel is necessary, you must have:

  • Valid I-20

  • Valid F-1 visa stamp

  • Valid passport

  • Valid Employment Authorization Document (OPT card)

  • Proof of employment

  • Ensure your I-20 document is accurate and that the work authorization dates match your EAD card.

Posted December 11, 2024

Dear Exchange Visitors/Scholars: 

Some of you have inquired about travel risks due to the upcoming change in the presidential administration. As of today, there are no updates regarding anticipated travel restrictions for international students and exchange visitors. Any updates to travel policies introduced by a new administration would likely be announced after the inauguration on January 20, 2025. 

As you prepare to travel, ensure you have all the required and recommended documentation listed below.

J-1 scholars - Please be prepared to have the following documents:

Exchange Visitors should plan to arrive to the U.S. by the first day of their academic program as listed on the DS2019 document. 

  • Valid DS-2019

  • Valid travel endorsement

  • Valid J-1 visa stamp

  • Not required but recommended: Proof of research activities and/or appointment letter.

*Post-docs should not be absent from the country without prior permission from the responsible/alternate officer.

 

 

Posted December 11, 2024
 
Dear Exchange Visitors, 

The U.S. Department of State announced an update to the Exchange Visitor Skills List, effective December 9, 2024. This update removes some countries including Bangladesh, China, India, South Korea, Turkey, and more from the skills list. These changes significantly impact some J-1 visa holders who were previously subject to the 212(e)-home residency requirement based on the skills list.
 
Immediate Impact
Exchange Visitors whose country has been removed from the skills list and were subject to the 212(e)-home residency requirement on the sole basis of the skills list are no longer subject, effective December 9, 2024, and are now able to change status from J-1 to an H, K, L, NIV, IV, or LPR status.
 
Public Notice of Revised Exchange Visitor Skills list
 
Who is not impacted?
Exchange Visitors will remain subject to the 212(e)-home residency requirement if they meet any of the following conditions:
  1. They are from a country and are participating in a program that is still listed on the skills list;
  2. Their program is funded, in part or entirely, by the U.S. government, their home country’s government, or an international organization; or
  3. They are receiving graduate medical education or training.
 
Relevant Regulation
9 FAM 302.13-2(B)(1)  (U) Individuals Subject to INA 212(e)

(1)  (U) Certain J-1 exchange visitors are subject to the two-year foreign residence requirement of INA 212(e) (see 9 FAM 402.5-6(M)(1)).  These exchange visitors must reside and be physically present in their country of nationality or last legal permanent residence for an aggregate of at least two years following completion of the exchange program and departure from the United States.  If the exchange visitor’s country of nationality differs from their country of last legal permanent residence, then they are required to return to the country of their legal permanent residence at the time they obtained J status.  These exchange visitors are ineligible to apply for or receive an H, K, or L NIV, nor are they eligible for an IV or LPR status until they have either complied with the foreign residence requirement or received a waiver.
 
(2)  (U) The following categories of exchange visitors (and their accompanying dependents in J-2 status) are subject to the foreign residence requirement:
 
(a)  (U) Individuals participating in an exchange program financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by an agency of the U.S. Government, the individual’s home government (the government of the country of their nationality or last legal permanent residence), or an international organization which received funding from the U.S. Government or their home government;
(b)  (U) Individuals whose exchange program involves an area of study or field of specialized knowledge that has been designated as necessary for further development of their home countries on the Exchange Visitor Skills List in effect at the time they were admitted to the United States in or acquired, J status; or
(c)  (U) Individuals who entered the United States to receive graduate medical education or training.
 
J-1 exchange visitors who have questions regarding this update, should reach out to ISSS at internationalscholars@smu.edu for assistance.

Posted: February 29, 2024

USCIS Announces Fee Increases and Changes in Premium Processing

 

On January, 31, 2024, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule that would increase certain filing fees.This will impact students applying forpre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT, and/or STEM OPT as well as change of status.

 

Highlights:

  • I-765 Application for Employment Authorization (online filing):

  • Previous Fee: $410

  • New Fee: $470

  • Increase: 15%

  • I-765 Application for Employment Authorization (paper filing):

  • Previous Fee: $410

  • New Fee: $520

  • Increase: 27%

  • I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (online filing):

  • Previous Fee: $370

  • New Fee: $420

  • Increase: 14%

  • I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (paper filing):

  • Previous Fee: $370

  • New Fee: $470

  • Increase: 27%

 

New fees will be effective April 1, 2024. There will be no grace period for new fees. USCIS will use the postmark date of filing to determine the correct fee rate but will use the received date for filing deadlines and for when the premium processing clock starts.

 

Premium Processing Fee:Effective Feb. 26, 2024, premium processing fees will increase from $1,500 to $1,685 (source). The ruling also revises the timeframe of premium processing from calendar days to business days.

 

Questions about this ruling? USCIS has posted an FAQ page on this proposed fee rule.

Questions about applying for OPT? Visit our website or join us for advising.