USCIS continues to expand its premium processing service, and this now includes work authorizations filed by F-1 students. Students who have a pending I-765 application will have the option to file their work authorizations in Premium Processing beginning March 6, 2023. This includes the following categories: (c)(3)(A) – Pre-Completion OPT; (c)(3)(B) – Post-Completion OPT; and…
Category Archives: F-1 International students- CPT/OPT and STEM OPT
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ACICS Schools Are No Longer Recognized By USCIS
On August 19, 2022, the Department of Labor stated it would no longer recognize the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges (ACICS) as an accrediting agency. This announcement affects English language study programs and F-1 students applying for STEM OPT extensions. SEVP will notify students if their school is affected by the above and strongly encourage…
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Not Selected In The H-1B Lottery? Is Day 1 CPT The Only Option?
Prefer a Video Format? See the video below to learn more about this article? It’s that time of year again when I find myself speaking to people who have not been selected in the lottery and need to consult with PLG to find out whether they have any other options. The majority of people…
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F-1 Students No Longer Required To Bridge The Gap
USCIS recently announced it will no longer require F-1 students to bridge the gap. Previously USCIS had required students who filed a change of status application to F-1, to also file a second application in order to extend their current status. Therefore, someone who entered in B-2 and wished to change to F-1 was required…
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The Importance Of Maintaining F-1 Status
Students on F-1 status need to ensure they maintain status. A failure to maintain status could result in a violation which could have an impact on their immigration future. At PLG we often see requests for evidence questioning maintenance of status for F-1 students, who have submitted an H-1B cap petition requesting a change of…
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DHS Withdraws Its Duration Of Status Rule
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will now withdraw its duration of status rule. Students have for a long time had the benefit of being admitted for the duration of status. In other words, unlike other nonimmigrants, they are not admitted for a specific length of time. This flexibility has allowed them to extend their…
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Is Day 1 CPT Still A Problem?
Having previously written two articles on Day 1 CPT (Curricular Practical Training) I keep being asked whether I would recommend Day 1 CPT and what are the potential consequences of taking it. If you haven’t read my previous articles, please find the links below: https://www.patellegal.com/why-day-1-cpt-is-not-a-good-idea-and-can-cause-more-problems-than-it-solves/ https://www.patellegal.com/day-1-cpt-revisited/ Please note that the first article was written during…
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USCIS Announces That F-1 Students Can File OPT And STEM OPT Applications Online
On April 12, 2021 USCIS announced that F-1 students can file OPT and STEM OPT applications online using form I-765. This applies to the following applications: Pre-completion OPT; Post completion OPT; and 24- month extension of OPT known as STEM OPT. USCIS has also warned that anyone else that attempts to file I-765 online that…
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Day 1 CPT Revisited
2 years ago I wrote an article on the problems of taking Day 1 CPT and thought it was time to revisit this issue. Click here to see my previous article. At the time of writing my previous article, USCIS was taking a very firm stand on Day 1 CPT cases. In fact, students applying…
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Frequently Asked Questions For International Students
With the COVID-19 emergency guidelines in place and the current Trump administration, it can be very difficult to keep up with the applicable immigration laws, the Department of Homeland security (DHS)’s notices and the Presidential Proclamations. If you are an international student, you not only have to focus on your classes but also have to…