Office of International Student Services Newsletter

 Volume II, Number 29

· OISS Graduation Reception

Immigration Information

· Availability of new H-1 visas
· Last week to apply for OPT if you are graduating this May

Upcoming Events

· May 17 - "Ask an Advisor" chat on Blackboard
· May 19 - OISS Graduation Reception
· May 21 - Commencement Ceremonies

Interesting Articles

· Commuter Center Events
· Full-time UST MBA program to host campus visits, informational open houses
· Life/Work Center Newsletter
· Wellness House Newsletter

"After careful consideration of the H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004 and assuming the regulations publish according to schedule, USCIS has determined that it is a reasonable interpretation of the Act of 2004 to reopen the filing period for FY 2005 on Thursday, May 12, 2005 and make available 20,000 new H-1B numbers limited solely to those aliens who have received a master's or higher degree from a U.S. institution of higher education.

Anticipating a large volume of petitions from U.S. employers seeking those new FY 2005 exemptions, USCIS strongly encourages U.S. employers to send their H-1B petitions via overnight delivery service in accordance with the procedures set forth below to ensure the earliest possible receipt at the Vermont Service Center on or after Thursday, May 12, 2005. So that employers will not have to file two petitions for the same beneficiary, USCIS will automatically treat petitions that do not receive an FY 2005 number as a request for FY 2006 processing unless the petitioner clearly annotates the first page of the Form I-129 with the phrase "FY 2005 only."

Beginning in FY 2006 and for future fiscal years, USCIS will exempt the first 20,000 H-1B petitions reflecting an alien beneficiary with a U.S.-earned master's or higher degree from the H-1B cap."

For more information, please check the official press release by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/H-1B_050504.pdf.