F1 Regulatory Update/ Consular Affairs Update AMIE Meeting, July 9, 2007 Cristen Casey The University of Texas at Dallas

F-1 Regulatory Update

USCIS Fee Increases Effective July 30, 2007 Full text at: ibrary.dlib/fees_forms_and_processing/uscis_fee_schedule_effective I-765 (new form): Work Authorization (OPT, Economic Hardship) $180 increased to $340 I-539: COS or Reinstatement $200 increased to $300 I-102: Replacement of I94 $160 increased to $320

SEVIS 5.7 Upgrade Full text at: Enhancements to: Initial Status Student Actions, Student Major/Minor Selection, Student/Dependent Search, OPT Edit Command, Pending Status OPT Display, Reinstatement Update Successful Updates to: Registration Current Session End Date, M-1 Extension New Program End Date, Defer Attendance, Country Lists/Tables, Visa Issuance Post List/Table

ICE Transfer Update Terminated & completed records can again be transferred (DSO’s transfer out form to include permission to discuss the student’s case with the new school) Transfer of newly arrived students permissible CPT and OPT terminate on transfer release date

SEVIS Recertification Nothing yet released. Keep informed with or Process is: proposed rule, comment period, final rule. Recertification cannot begin prior to final rule being published Schools authorized to continue until final rule is published.

I-515A Use this address instead of one on form: SEVP, ATTN: Form I-515A Processing Team Chester Arthur Building 425 I Street, NW, Suite 6034 Washington, DC If student will travel within 30 days, expedite by faxing I-515A, I94 and airline ticket to

US VISIT Effective May 6, 2007, international visitors are no longer required to check out at a US VISIT exit kiosk. All other exit procedures remain the same, including: Exit interview for NSEERS registrants. I-94 must be submitted to airline/ship rep

Request For Evidence (RFE) Changes Effective June 18, 2007 USCIS given authority to outright deny applications/petitions that do not have all required documents or do not sufficiently reflect eligibility for benefit When RFE issued, no longer bound to give 12 weeks response time

Direct Filing of I-765 (F related benefits) Applicants with residence in Texas continue to file at TSC For more information: ec/regulatory_document_library.dlib/fee s_forms_and_processing/direct_filing_o f_forms

SSN and OPT Can apply if OPT I20 and OPT Receipt Notice Problems and delays, contact SSA first. If no response,

Reinstatements sent to Service Centers Began October 30, 2006 File directly with Vermont Service Center Questions about pending applications go to Nat’l Customer Service Call Center, web- based case status service, or contacting the service center from which they received last notice.

USCIS Discontinues Local Production of Interim EADs As of September 1, 2006, USCIS has discontinued production of EADs at local USCIS offices InfoPass appointments still available to those whose I-765s have been pending over 90 days, but EADs will be produced by Service Centers Students are encouraged to apply for OPT at least 90 days prior to desired start date

F-1 students with I-485 pending ICE guidance: keep their F-1 status “alive” in SEVIS If students drop below full course, travel on Advance Parole or use EAD off-campus, terminate in SEVIS with a note “I-485 pending, A number” Texas Service Center: these students are not eligible for OPT, TSC will issue EAD in C(0)(9) category (PR-pending)

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) Requires all travelers (including citizens of the US, Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas) to use a passport to enter the US Implemented in 2 phases: 1/23/2007 for air travel 1/1/2008 for land and sea travel

Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) DHS TRIP can be used by individuals who have inquiries or seek resolution regarding difficulties they experiences during their U.S. entry or exit: shtm shtm

Consular Affairs Update

Visas and Admission Discontinuation of Application Received Stamp (showing visa refusal), effective January 2007 E-passports required for WB/ WT entrants, effective October 2006 Personal Appearance requirement expands restrictions for personal appearance waivers 14 – 79 age range

What is verified at visa application time: Enough English to function? Plan that has them going back? Can applicant articulate the plan? Interview, approximately 3-5 minutes Note: Consular official doesn’t see program start/ end dates or notes in SEVIS.

Types of Visa Clearances Class (flags) Identification (fingerprints, soon to be 10 print) Facial recognition (personal interview) Mantis (field of study, valid for 48 months for Fs from most countries) Security Clearance problems:

Consular Affairs: The Next Generation Web-based visa applications Unified appointment system On-line payment All electronic visa (no passport stamp) 10 fingerprint scans (by end of 2007)

DSO Resources

Consular questions: How do I inquire about… A specific case: or 202- Status of a visa clearance: Clearance for certain citizens: travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity/index.htm Visa regulations: FOIA.state.gov J Waiver review problems:

Texas Service Center: How do I inquire about… Region III Website Regulatory Updates: dates.asp dates.asp Inquiry Procedures Fax Inquiry Form Fax #: (214) Inquiry:

Resolving SEVI Hits for non-averse terminations DSO can call SEVIS help desk to remove the SEVI hit (don’t ) Only for non-averse terminations (COS, Authorized early Withdrawal) Information to be included: Student’s name, DOB, SEVIS ID Airport where student entered U.S. Date student entered U.S.

NAFSA Resources iManual Government-NAFSA Liaison Summaries Practice Resources Regulatory Information NAFSA.news Regional Web Sites International Student Advising Network (sign up at forums) NAFSA Knowledge Communities IssueNet:

Questions