News and Announcements

ISO Update: August 23, 2020 New Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) available and effective August 25, 2020 As a reminder, a new version of the Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization (version 08/25/2020), used for applications for F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT), F-1 STEM OPT Extension, and J-2 work permit applications, will become effective on […]

As a reminder, a new version of the Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization (version 08/25/2020), used for applications for F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT), F-1 STEM OPT Extension, and J-2 work permit applications, will become effective on August 25, 2020 The current Form I-765 (ver. 12/26/2019) can be used only if postmarked August 24 […]

On August 14, 2020, USDHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf released a statement via Twitter that the restrictions on “Non-Essential” travel between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico has been extended for an additional 30 days (to September 21, 2020).  In the original announcement released by USDHS on April 20, 2020, “Non-Essential” is defined in the notice […]

Letter from the MIT Office of the Vice Chancellor

On July 31, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced a final fee rule that will adjust fee amounts for certain applications filed with USCIS. The new fee levels will be effective October 2, 2020. New fee costs will impact applications filed with Form I-129 (including H-1B and O petitions), Form I-765 employment authorization […]

On July 30, 2020, the U.S. Department of State (USDOS) published a list of National Interest Exceptions to the Presidential Proclamations that suspended visa issuance and travel to the U.S. for immigrants (P.P. 10014) and certain nonimmmigrant statuses including H, L, and certain J categories (P.P. 10052) that “present a risk to the U.S. Labor […]

On July 24, 2020, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USICE), issued a Broadcast Message and FAQ confirming that their March 2020 guidance regarding international students and online instruction for the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 terms will continue to be in effect for the Fall […]

If you encounter issues at your U.S. Port-of-Entry with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, where additional information is requested, please contact the ISO Emergency Phone Number. This number is NOT to be used to report a successful entry to the U.S., only if you encounter problems at the port-of-entry. For non-Port-of-Entry inquiries, please contact the […]

On July 14, 2020, following a legal challenge by MIT and Harvard, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) rescinded its July 6 directive and July 7 FAQ on F-1 students and online learning.  As a result of this decision USDHS’s March 2020 guidance and Spring term FAQs will continue to apply.  Based on the Spring […]

On July 16, the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs officially announced that individuals traveling to the U.S. from the Schengen area, United Kingdom, and Ireland in certain visa statuses may enter the U.S. with a “National Interest Exception” to the Presidential Proclamations that created the 14-day travel restrictions from these countries. Student […]