Category: Newsletter

As we near the end of the quarter, ISS advisers are working diligently to meet with students, respond to emails, and process requests. Our director, assistant directors, and program assistants are also helping us process different kinds of requests to ensure we process things within a reasonable timeline. That said, we wanted to give some updates on current processing times so you know what to expect. How long does it take for requests to be processed?  Currently, our staff is…

On April 21, 2023, we held a group advising and information session about transferring your SEVIS record to another school. Along with sharing the recording with you, we wanted to give you a few pro tips to ensure you have a successful transfer. Pro-Tips for F-1 SEVIS Transfer Success Upload a copy of your admission letter to your new school. Make sure you know the SEVIS School Code for your new school and input it correctly in the form (without…

The Department of Homeland Security announced that students from Hong Kong will be granted Special Student Relief if they are impacted by the crisis in Hong Kong. Here is a summary of what is listed in the Federal Registry Notice: Eligibility You must have been in F-1 nonimmigrant status as of January 26, 2023, to be eligible for SSR. You must be experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current crisis in Hong Kong. What will SSR…

The State Department posted a notice to the Federal Register on April 5, 2023, granting Special Student Relief to J-1 Exchange Students. They have stated that this action was effective on August 18, 2022, and will remain in effect until October 23, 2023. Details of Special Student Relief: Ukrainian students may pursue course work at half-time (6 credits for undergraduates and 5 credits for graduate students). AROs in ISS may grant written approval for work on or off-campus beyond the…

J-1 students are advised to revisit the rules of their J-1 visa. We have a few reminders here to help with some common questions. Online Courses J-1 students are not allowed to count any online classes towards full-time enrollment. While hybrid courses may be counted towards full-time enrollment, if J-1 students learn that their course has limited in-person requirements, they should plan to adjust their enrollment to take in-person courses. In-person, on-the-ground activities are key to intercultural exchange, which is…

On April 3, 2023, F-1 students were given the opportunity to submit their I-765s for OPT and STEM OPT to USCIS together with Form I-907. Information about the time it may take for approval is listed on USCIS’s website. While many students ask us whether we think that students should file for premium processing, our team does not have a strong recommendation at this time. The decision of filing an I-907 is individual. We advise students to consider the costs…

SEVP’s COVID-19 guidance for F-1 students lasts for the full 2022-23 academic year. This past week, the ISS Leadership Team met to confirm that as UW considers summer 2023 to be part of the 2022-23 academic year, that summer 2023 allows for the continuation of the guidance issued by SEVP on April 18, 2022. Though SEVP could announce that the guidance ends earlier, at this time we are advising all students that summer 2023 allows for the continued flexibilities articulated…

We’ve moved the J-1 Travel Signature Clinic next week to Thursday, April 27th from 10 AM to 12 PM in Schmitz 490. If you’d like to get your DS-2019 signed in person, please come between 10 AM and 12 PM. As a reminder, J-1 Virtual Advising begins this Thursday, April 20, and will continue weekly on most Mondays and Thursdays from 9 to 10 AM. We look forward to serving you soon!

OPT can be difficult to navigate even without all of the dates and deadlines to remember. One of the questions we get a lot is about the grace period students get after their program and the unemployment days students have once their OPT begins. We’ve created a graphic that will hopefully help you understand the differences a little better! Note: This example is specifically for a student applying for post-completion OPT. The “Grace Period” This period begins after your program…

On March 28, 2023, the Department of State announced that effective April 27, 2023, DS-2019s may be digitally signed and electronically transmitted. This will allow AROs in ISS to issue your DS-2019s through MyISSS with our digital signatures. All J-1 forms will be updated in MyISSS on April 26, 2023 to prepare for this change. You will no longer be asked if you would like to have your documents shippped to you via e-Ship Global. And, you will not have…