Immigration and Citizenship Community News March 2024
March 14, 2024
Hello Comets,
We hope you are having an enjoyable spring break! Please see the following immigration and citizenship news which may be of interest to you.
Texas Senate Bill 4 update
On February 29, the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas granted a preliminary injunction blocking Texas Senate Bill 4 (SB 4). Following this decision, Texas appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, resulting in a temporary stay of the Western District Court’s ruling and allowing time for deliberations to go to the Supreme Court. On March 4, 2024, the Supreme Court stayed the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals until March 13. The Court is considering whether it will allow the state to enforce Senate Bill 4. What is Senate Bill 4? This law seeks to create a new state crime for unauthorized entry or reentry into Texas from a foreign country and a new crime of refusing to be deported. It also allows local and state law enforcement to arrest and prosecute people suspected of violating the law and gives power to magistrate judges to order someone removable and supervise that they abandon the country You can view a bill analysis prepared by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) here.
Am I required to file taxes?
Yes. Even if you did not work or receive an income, all individuals residing in the U.S. must file with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). UT Dallas has arranged access to Sprintax Tax Preparation, an online tax preparation software, specifically for nonresident alien students. To gain access to the software, you will need to complete the online registration form to determine your residency status as a taxpayer. Depending on how long you have been residing on U.S. soil with your status, you may be considered a resident for tax purposes and would not be eligible to utilize this service. For those classified as residents, local community resources may be available to help you file your taxes for free. You can enter your zip code on the IRS website to find places close to where you live. Or you can call this free hotline: 1-800-906-9887. For more information on using Sprintax, you can visit the ISSO page. If you have any additional questions about tax filing, contact the UT Dallas Tax Compliance Office at taxcompliance@utdallas.edu.
Requesting Case Assistance with your pending USCIS case from the CIS Ombudsman
If you cannot resolve your issue with USCIS and you have exhausted your options reaching out to the agency, you may request assistance from the CIS Ombudsman’s office. To learn how to request case assistance check out the one-page infographic on how to request case assistance from their office, along with translations in up to 12 different languages. In addition, you can check out their Tips for Submitting a Case Assistance Request tip sheet that addresses specific situations like submitting large files, signing on behalf of clients, and requests involving multiple form types or family members.
Domestic H-1B Pilot Visa Renewal Program Deadline Coming Up Soon
Eligible applicants for the pilot program to resume domestic visa renewals for qualified H-1B visa applicants ends April 1, 2024. Visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/domestic-renewal.html for more information.
LPR Students – Understand the Process of Becoming a U.S. Citizen
Obtaining U.S. citizenship through naturalization offers many benefits and important responsibilities. Learn the steps to apply for naturalization at https://oics.utdallas.edu/naturalization/. Apply as soon as you are eligible.
Off-Campus Resource Round Up
Check out featured immigrant focused service providers.
- Fleeing gender based violence? Tahirih Justice Center serves immigrant survivors fleeing gender based violence.
- Need comprehensive family and immigration law assistance? Mosaic Family Services provides comprehensive legal representation including divorce, child custody and child support, as well as U (victim of crime) and T visa (human trafficking) assistance.
Tips on how not to get locked out of your USCIS Account
Check out this new tip sheet provided by the CIS Ombudsman’s office on how people with individual U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) online accounts can maintain access and avoid getting locked out of their accounts. If you have a pending case with USCIS and do not currently have an online account, you can register here to for an array of benefits such as status updates and case assistance.
Tornado Season
While tornados are rare, the International Center would like you to be prepared. Review the Tornadoes and Watch vs. Warning information on the UT Dallas Emergency Preparedness Information webpage, under the “Know Your Hazards” section.
Help Keep our Campus Safe and Welcoming
All members of our University community share in a collective responsibility to make our campus peers feel welcome and safe. Stand up and step in by recognizing potentially harmful situations (physical, mental, social or emotional) affecting individuals or groups, and respond in a way that could positively influence the outcome. For more information, visit Comet Voice.
OICS is here for you
You can reach out via email to OICS@utdallas.edu or through your iComet Portal, for nonimmigrant categories.
Find us on the web
Immigration and Citizenship webpage and archive of news located at – https://oics.utdallas.edu/newsletter/
Do not reply to this email. Clicking “reply” will send a message to the entire listserv. Unapproved listserv messages will be rejected. Instead, contact OICS directly – https://oics.utdallas.edu/immigration-advising/
Warm regards,
Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services
The University of Texas at Dallas