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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Many of you may have heard about the recent court ruling related to the 17-month OPT Extension.</span></i></b> No doubt there have been rumors related to what this means and we would like to provide
at least some initial guidance. In the court case Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the court basically ruled that DHS did not follow proper procedure for public comment among other things with their
2008 rule and subsequent rules. Below is some basic information:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]>The 2008 rule from DHS granted F-1 international students in STEM majors an additional 17-months of OPT within the U.S. as well as provided other updates or rules related to F-1 international students.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]>The court vacated the 2008 rule but given the fact that this ruling would have tremendous impact on the job market and students, the court has issued a “stay” or delay in the enforcement of this rule until February 2016.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]>DHS has the ability to resolve the issues related to their 2008 rule by the February 2016 deadline. At this time it is unclear how this ruling will effect certain F visa benefits but many
<b><i><u>reliable</u></i></b> sources has indicated that DHS will have the ability to resolve the issues brought up in the court ruling.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]>This ruling <b><i><u>does not mean that the 17-month OPT Extension will be going away</u></i></b> but there will most likely be some changes from DHS related to this and other F-1 student benefits.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the entity within DHS that governs F and J student policy, is
<b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt">still allowing F-1 students the ability to file for the 17-month OPT Extension and there will be no interruption in applications or processing by either SEVP or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
</span></i></b>which is the entity that processes OPT applications. Over the next few weeks and months we will be receiving updates from DHS related to their response and ongoing process with the court ruling.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt">In addition to this recent court ruling, SEVP has also published some draft guidance related to certain F visa rules and policies for public comment.</span></i></b> You may review this information at
<a href="http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevp-guidance-for-comment">http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevp-guidance-for-comment</a>. After the public comment timeframe is complete, SEVP will review all comments and MAY or MAY NOT make the draft guidance effective
as new policy or rules. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>I have been invited to a meeting in the Dallas area in September where other DFW area international office leadership and our SEVP representative will discuss these changes.</i></b> We recognize that students will communicate with
other students and there can be a lot of misinformation that is passed around. If you should have any questions or concerns at any time please contact the ISSS. SEVP has indicated they will be providing us updates and as we receive information we will forward
that to our students. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John Mark Jones, Director<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">International Student & Scholar Services<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Texas A&M University-Commerce<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PO Box 3011<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Commerce TX 75428<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Ph) 903-886-5097 (F) 903-468-3200<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.tamuc.edu/isso">www.tamuc.edu/isso</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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