Tag: F-1 Visas

On March 12, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that F-1 students seeking optional practical training (OPT) can now file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online if they are filing under one of these categories: (c)(3)(A) – Pre-Completion OPT; (c)(3)(B) – Post-Completion OPT; and (c)(3)(C) – 24-Month Extension of OPT for science, […]

Biden’s comprehensive immigration bill—known as the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021—was formally introduced in the House on February 18, 2021, by Representative Linda Sanchez (D-Calif) and in the Senate on February 22, 2021, by Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). The bill calls for broad immigration reform, including an eight-year pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented […]

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new rule that would place new restrictions on foreign students’ ability to enter and remain in the United States. Under current regulations, those who enter the United States under a F-1 student visa are admitted for the duration of their status, with no fixed time period. Thus, […]

On July 6, 2020, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced modifications to temporary exemptions for international students taking online classes that it had enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic in March. The modifications asserted that students taking fully online course loads would be ineligible to receive visas or enter the U.S., and those already present […]

During the Spring 2019 semester, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) temporarily reduced the restrictions on online courses permitted under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The reductions allowed students in F-1 or M-1 status to participate in online or alternate learning procedures and count them towards a full course of study without risk […]

As summer break comes to an end for many F-1 international students, it is important to keep in mind a few tips for a smooth entry into the U.S. for the upcoming school semester. When you re-enter at a U.S. Port of Entry, you should carry the following documents: your valid passport...

The H-1B visa allows employers to temporarily employ a foreign national, who possesses at least a bachelor’s degree, in a specialty occupation. The H-1B employment period generally begins on October 1, the start of the federal government’s fiscal year.  There are special rules that act to automatically extend the US employment eligibility of qualified F-1 […]

F-1 students who have an H-1B petition that remains pending after October 1, 2018, risk accruing unlawful presence if they continue to work on or after October 1, 2018 (unless otherwise authorized to continue employment), as their “cap-gap” work authorization is only valid through September 30, 2018. Due to increased demand for immigration benefits, resulting […]

On August 17, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its website to reflect changes to the Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT). Importantly, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarified that participants of this program can participate in training experiences that take place at offsite locations. Training experiences that are […]

USCIS aims to improve the integrity of the F-1 and Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs by implementing an updated process that ensures consistency between Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and USCIS systems and informs students of the potential consequences of working with a terminated employment authorization document (EAD).  Under current regulations, F-1 students in […]