Immigration and Citizenship Community News August 2024

UTD IIE American Passport Project Grant

UTD has been selected by The Institute of International Education (IIE) this year to receive this grant that will enable up to 25 Pell-eligible UTD students to obtain their first U.S. passport and open the pathway to study abroad and worldwide opportunities. Grants will be awarded for a total of $165 to up to 25 eligible students to cover the cost of an Adult Passport Book and the $35 execution Fee. Click this link for a complete list of eligibility criteria- https://atlas.utdallas.edu/TDClient/30/Portal/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=458

We will begin accepting applications on 09/05/2024. Visit our previous news article for more details on the grant. 

Tuition Insurance  Available to UTD Students

The Bursar’s Office now offers GradGuard tuition insurance as an option to all enrolled UTD students. Tuition insurance can help students and families overcome financial losses that may result from events which force students to completely withdraw from the semester due to a covered medical reason. Under certain conditions, tuition insurance coverage can reimburse up to 100% of your school expenses/payments (tuition, housing, and other educations expenses) after an unexpected complete withdrawal of all classes (at any time during the semester) for a covered illness, injury, mental health disorder and more.

T-Visa

Human Traffickers take advantage of vulnerable individuals, including those lacking lawful immigration status. T visas protect victims & help law enforcement agencies to detect, investigate & prosecute human trafficking. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e86EzShG hashtag#WorldTraffickingDay

USCIS  Completes Second Random Selection for FY 2025 H-1B Regular Cap

USCIS recently announced that they would need to select additional registrations for unique beneficiaries to reach the fiscal year 2025 H-1B regular cap numerical allocation. Projections indicate USCIS has now randomly selected a sufficient number of registrations for unique beneficiaries as needed to reach the regular cap from the remaining properly submitted FY 2025 registrations. Only petitioners with selected registrations may file H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2025, and only for the beneficiary named in the applicable selected registration notice. USCIS did not conduct a second selection for the advanced degree exemption (the master’s cap), as enough masters cap registrations had already been selected and sufficient petitions were received based on these registrations as projected to meet the masters cap numerical allocation.

Electronic Devices and Social Media Searches

Travelers returning after travel abroad should remember that U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers have the authority to search any and all electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops brought into the U.S. at a port of entry. In addition, CBP also has the authority to search the social media accounts of individuals entering the U.S. if deemed necessary.

Don’t Forget to Update Your Address

Anyone who is not a U.S. citizen (unless in A or G status) must report address changes  within 10 days or less online at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – Change of Address or by mail using Form AR-11

found at the following link: USCIS – FORMS.

OICS is here for you

You can reach out via email to OICS@utdallas.edu or through your iComet Portal, for nonimmigrant categories.