Immigration and Citizenship Community News September 2025

Dear Comets,

Welcome to a new semester at UT Dallas! To our new students, we are thrilled to have you join the Comet family. To our returning students, welcome back. We are excited to continue supporting you on your journey. A new academic year brings fresh opportunities, new connections, and important milestones, and the Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services (OICS) is here to walk alongside you.

The Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services (OICS) is dedicated to serving UT Dallas’s immigrant, international, and globally mobile students and community members. We recognize the unique experiences and challenges that come with navigating higher education in a global context, and our mission is to provide accurate information, trusted resources, and compassionate support.

 OICS supports:

• International students navigating visa, employment, and cultural transitions.

• Immigrant and permanent resident students pursuing higher education while managing long-term status and documentation questions.

• Globally mobile students and community members whose academic and personal journeys span multiple countries.

Our office provides:

• Advising & Referrals – General immigration guidance and referrals to licensed legal professionals for complex cases.

• Workshops & Resources – Sessions on topics like U.S. work culture, immigration updates, and student success strategies.

• Student Support Services – Guidance on documentation, access to citizenship services, and help connecting with campus and community resources.

Ensure Orion Data is Correct

Orion displays your citizenship or immigration status, which is used to determine key services such as eligibility for in-state tuition or student health insurance. It is important to verify that this information is accurate. To check your current status in Orion, log in to Galaxy, navigate to Orion Student Center, and look under Personal Information > Demographic Data. If your status is incorrect (for example, if you are mistakenly coded as F-1), you may be automatically charged for international student health insurance. To request a correction, email us at OICS@utdallas.edu with a copy of your supporting documentation (e.g., I-797, green card, EAD, I-94, etc.).

Update Your Emergency Contacts

In the event of an emergency, including a medical emergency, being detained by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) at a port of entry, or being detained by law enforcement or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), University officials may be able to get in touch with your emergency contact to update them on your situation. Here is how you can update your emergency contacts.

Beware of Scams

Scams are on the rise. Protect yourself from immigration scams. If you need legal advice on immigration matters, make sure the person helping you is authorized to give legal advice. Visit the Avoid Scams page for information and resources.

The beginning of a semester can be both exciting and overwhelming. As you start your classes, remember that you are part of a vibrant, supportive community here at UT Dallas. OICS is committed to helping you succeed academically and personally by ensuring that you have accurate, trusted information and resources every step of the way.

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

Immigration Advising