Newsletter

Dear Comets, As we welcome the month of July, the Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services wants to remind you that you are not alone on your journey. Whether you are navigating complex immigration processes, preparing for international travel, or simply seeking support, our office is here to walk beside you to help you navigate… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News July 2025

Dear Comets, We hope your summer is off to a strong and restful start. Whether you’re taking summer courses, working, or planning your next steps, OICS is here to support your journey. Here are some updates: Student Visa Issuance Temporarily Paused & Resumed – Implentation of Social Media Screening Recently the Department of State was… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News June 2025

Dear Comets, As the academic year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible achievements of our graduating students. Your journey has been one of perseverance, growth, and strength, and we are so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. Whether you’re stepping into a new career, beginning graduate school, or… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News May 2025

Dear Comets, Spring is in full bloom, and we hope this semester has been going well for you! The Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services is here to support your journey by providing important updates, resources, and opportunities tailored to your needs. Important Updates Tax Filing Reminder – Deadline: April 15, 2025 If you are… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News April 2025

Dear Comets, USCIS Announces FY 2026 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 7 and run through noon Eastern on March 24, 2025. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives must use a USCIS… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News March 2025

Dear Community Members, Welcome to the February edition of our Office of Immigrants and Citizenship Services (OICS) newsletter! This month, we bring you important updates from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), tax season reminders, and resources to help international students and immigrants navigate financial responsibilities. Protect your personal information The UTD Directory is a… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News February 2025

Dear Comets, OICS is working to continue to keep you informed of developments with the federal administration that could potentially affect you and our international and immigrant student base. Update on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelan Students On January 28, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) vacated the January 17, 2025, notice that… Read more: Executive Orders: TPS ending for Venezuelans and Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism

Dear UT Dallas International Students and Alumni, We hope that the start of your year is going well. We know that some of you may have questions or concerns about immigration related executive orders, directives, and new laws that are being implemented since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. You can find a list… Read more: OICS: Presidential Actions and New Laws – January 2025

Dear UT Dallas International & Immigrant Students OICS is working to continue to keep you apprised of developments with the federal administration that could potentially affect our international and immigrant population at UT Dallas. The following immigration policy update will not affect the majority of legal permanent residents or non-immigrant visa holders, but may affect… Read more: Executive Order & USCIS Policy Update: Alien Registration

Welcome back Comets, As we enter the new year, the Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services (OICS) is committed to keeping you informed about important immigration updates. Below, we highlight recent changes and developments from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that may be relevant to you.… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News January 2025

Greetings, The Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services would like to extend the following information to you regarding a potential U.S. government shutdown, at midnight, on Friday, December 20, which may affect the availability of various government offices if it occurs. We have included in this newsletter information on several immigration-related agencies and the status… Read more: Potential Government Shutdown 2024

Hello Comets, We hope that you are doing well. We know that many of you may have questions or concerns regarding the recent election and new appointments in the U.S. federal administration, and whether these changes may affect the immigration landscape and your immigration status going forward. At this time, we would like to provide… Read more: Immigration Policies Under New Federal Administration

This month, the Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services (OICS) shares important updates and news from government agencies, tips for maintaining your immigration status, and tools for navigating life in the U.S. Important Updates and News DHS Expands Online Filing for Immigration Forms The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now allows more forms to be… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News December 2024

Hello Comets, We’re at the last stretch of the Fall semester, hang in there! USICS Issues New Guidance on EB-1 Eligibility Criteria for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability Read more about this here: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-6-part-f-chapter-2  Alternatives to the H-1B for STEM graduates The H-1B is the most popular employer-sponsored visa option for graduating international students. However, it… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News November 2024

Hello Comets, Midterm season is here! As you navigate the challenges of academic life, it’s important to recognize that mental health is just as crucial as physical health. If you experience signs of anxiety, depression, or high amounts of stress, we encourage you to reach out and seek the help and support you need. Remember,… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News October 2024

Hello Comets, The Fall semester has begun. To all of our new students, welcome to UT Dallas! Who We Are: The Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services (OICS) is here for you! Our mission is to provide specific immigration and citizenship services, referrals and advocacy to support the matriculation, retention, graduation, and professional success of… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News September 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… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News August 2024

Extension and Redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status Homeland Security announced the extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, from Aug. 4, 2024, to Feb. 3, 2026, due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti. The corresponding Federal Register Notice provides information about registering for TPS as a new or current… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News July 2024

Don’t forget to fill out our Community Needs Survey The Office of Immigrants and Citizenship Support (OICS) is considering expanding citizenship and naturalization services for the UT Dallas community. Please help us in understanding the need for these services within our community by filling out the following survey if you:   -Are currently a Legal Permanent Resident… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News June 2024

On and Off Campus Activities: Know your Rights – Protests & Demonstrations International students and legal permanent residents (LPR or ‘green card holders’) have protections under the first amendment of the U.S. constitution and may participate in lawful public protests and demonstrations. However,  on or off campus activities that result in arrest or other legal sanctions may… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News May 2024

UTD has been selected by the Institute of International Education (IIE) to receive an IIE American Passport Project grant that will enable up to 25 UTD students to obtain their first U.S. passport and open the pathway to study abroad. In its fourth year, IIE awarded 51 institutions in the IIENetwork membership for this opportunity,… Read more: UTD Selected to Receive the IIE American Passport Project Grant to Support Underrepresented Students to Study Abroad

We hope you are hanging in there during the last stretch of the semester! Please see the following immigration and citizenship news which may be of interest to you. 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… Read more: Newsletter: April 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… Read more: Immigration and Citizenship Community News March 2024

Welcome to the first edition of the Immigration and Citizenship community newsletter. We aim to provide updates aimed at managing non-immigrant, immigrant and citizenship related updates for the UT Dallas community.