June 15, 2023

ISS Updates on June 15, 2023.  Please see https://iss.washington.edu/ for more detail or questions. 

ISS Response Times

Email Responses

    • Current tickets: 563
    • Response Time: 1-2 weeks

Request Processing

    • Current requests in queue: 503
    • Processing Time: 3-4 weeks

Regulatory or Policy Updates

Remote Work

F-1 students

    • CPT, OPT, STEM OPT may all be done remotely.
    • On-campus may also be remote.

J-1 students

    • Hybrid work flexibility starts July 1 – 60% of work must be in-person

Special Student Relief (F-1 Students)

    • U.S. government allows special flexibilities for students from certain countries with natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
    • Current countries: Afghanistan, Burma/Myanmar, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Current Hot Topics for ISS Advisers

Summer Work

F-1 Students

    • On-Campus – If vacation (true for most students), may work over 20 hours a week.
    • Off-Campus – MUST be authorized through CPT (paid or unpaid)

J-1 Students

    • On-Campus – MUST be authorized – may be over 20 hours per week
    • Off-Campus – MUST be authorized -Academic Training

 

On-Campus Work Limitations

Both F-1 and J-1 Students:

    • Are allowed to work 20 hours per week On-Campus. – J-1 s require authorization and a letter to do this.

F-1 Students

    • To work in additional on-campus jobs, they MUST request and be authorized for CPT.
    • Working without CPT authorization for additional ( over 20 hours work) on-campus= SEVIS termination.

 

Current Hot Topics for ISS Advisers

Curricular Practical Training

    • Students MUST have authorization PRIOR to beginning working. (This includes onboarding.)
    • Students MUST be enrolled in credits PRIOR to submitting MylSSS request. No enrollment = dismissed or delayed requests and no CPT.
    • Processing Times: We recommend that students apply 4 weeks early. This allows for the additional time for academic advisors to process.
    • GEN 350 Allowed. And, if student in a declared major, ISS advisers will ask for clarification RE: why they’re not taking major course for CPT.
    • CPT Credit Must Match Enrollment Quarter. If you indicate that the student will take courses in summer and they enroll for autumn, ISS advisers will not approve. This causes delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I started working without authorization? Is this OK?

Nope. It sounds like you may have worked without authorization. Working without authorization leads to SEVIS termination. You may need to regain status.

My department took two weeks to approve my CPT application. Can you expedite it?

No. To be fair to all students, we must process things first-come, first-serve. ISS does not have the staffing or resources to expedite any requests at this time.