Emergency Information

If you experience an emergency while the University is closed, please use the following guidance for support.

Immigration-Related Emergencies

Examples:

• Trouble at the U.S. Port of Entry
• Immediate danger of being deported from the United States
• Detention by a federal officer

See the section below if your immigration situation does not fall into the above emergency types.

If You Experience an Immigration-Related Emergency

Call the UT Police Department at (512) 471-4441 and explain your situation to the dispatcher. If you have an important immigration need that isn't an emergency, please read instructions on this page to determine how to proceed.

Do not call 911 for immigration-related emergencies!

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Health and Safety Emergencies

Examples:

• Personal injury
• Urgent and unexpected hospitalization
• Sexual assault
• Automobile accident
• Robbery
• Missing persons

Call 911. After you receive assistance, notify ISSS.

Additional Mental Health Emergency Support

The following resources are also available for emergency mental health support. 

• National Suicide and Prevention Lifeline: Call 988
• (Students only) UT Austin Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) 24/7 Crisis Line: Call 512-471-2255
• (University employees only) UT Austin Employee Assistance Program (EAP) After-Hours Crisis Line: Call 512-471-3399 

Health Insurance Questions

For questions about your health insurance, including how to use it in an emergency, refer to our frequently asked questions.

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Routine Immigration-Related Issues

Several immigration issues are important and urgent, but not considered emergencies. If you have a non-emergent issue, please take a look at the instructions below to learn how to proceed. 

• I Need a Travel Signature

  This is not considered an emergency.

  If you leave the U.S. without a signature and return when ISSS is closed, you will likely be issued an I-515A. This will require you to meet with ISSS once the office reopens.

  See the section below to learn more about the I-515A process and Secondary Inspection. 

  What to Keep in Mind:

  • The travel signature is needed to reenter the U.S., not for leaving the country.
  • The travel signature can be sent to you electronically.
  • The last advisor signature on p. 2 of your I-20 or p. 1 of your DS-2019 must be no older than 1 year from the day you reenter U.S.
  • F-1 and J-1 Students: You may request a new I-20 travel signature or DS-2019 travel signature online in myIO.
  • J Scholars: Request a signature on your DS-2019 through myIO or by contacting the faculty and scholar services team directly.
• My STEM OPT Report is Due

  This is not considered an emergency.

  If you are on STEM OPT, you may have a STEM OPT report due over the holidays when the University is closed. You may have received an email from SEVP/ICE instructing you to complete your 6-, 12-, 18-, or 24-month STEM OPT validation report and/or to email your Designated School Official (DSO) to verify the details of your employment. 

  You do not need to email ISSS. Instead, we have designed an online process to make it easier for you. 

  Immigration regulations allow ISSS to update your record within 21 days from the date you submitted the report in myIO. 

  How do I complete my STEM OPT report?

  Complete the STEM OPT reporting process in myIO.

  • Log into myIO
  • Navigate to F-1 Practical Training > STEM OPT Request > STEM Reporting
  • Complete and submit the required report

  ISSS will review your submission when the University reopens and update your SEVIS record as required. Rest assured, we will complete this process promptly within the allowed reporting window.

• I Lost My I-20/DS-2019 and/or OPT EAD Card

  This is not considered an emergency. 

  Lost I-20/DS-2019: If you travel abroad and reenter the U.S. without your I-20/DS-2019, you will likely be sent to Secondary Inspection and issued an I-515A upon entry. See more on Secondary Inspection and I-515A below.

  Lost OPT EAD Card: USCIS has outlined the procedure for requesting a new card. If you need more guidance, contact ISSS when the University reopens. 

• My Passport Was Lost/Stolen

  While important, this is not considered an ISSS emergency. You will need to contact government authorities to report the loss and obtain new documents. 

  • Contact your local embassy to apply for a replacement passport. Some embassies require a police report in the case of a stolen passport.
  • Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate where you got your visa to notify them of the loss; however, you will not automatically receive a replacement visa. You must apply for a new visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy to reenter the United States.
  • Once you have reported your lost passport, email ISSS to inform us of the situation:
    • Students: hotline@austin.utexas.edu
    • Scholars: scholars@austin.utexas.edu 
• I Have a Registration Hold I Want to Clear

  This is not considered an emergency.

  Several University holds require you to contact other campus offices to resolve. Two types of holds are administered by Texas Global and can be resolved once the University reopens. 

  Texas Global Holds

  Common Texas Global registration holds are the I hold and J hold. 

  I Hold

  I holds are administered by ISSS. For new students, this generally means that you will need to check-in with ISSS. While you can begin your check-in before you arrive, you cannot finish it until you are actually in the United States.

  J Hold

  J holds are administered by the English Language Center (ELC). ELC has detailed instructions on how to clear you J hold. 

• My Visa Is Delayed

  While important, this is not considered an emergency.

  • Let your department know about the delay, and ask if they can accommodate a late arrival.
  • Contact ISSS when the office reopens to explore your options.
    • Students: hotline@austin.utexase.edu
    • Scholars: scholars@austin.utexas.edu
• I Am a New Student in Need of I-20/DS-2019

  This is not considered an emergency.

  1. If you have been admitted to UT Austin for the upcoming semester and need an I-20 or DS-2019, you must complete the document request process in myIO.
  2. When the office reopens, an international student advisor will review your form and issue your immigration document.

  If you think you will not be able to make it for the first day of classes, please let your department know about the delay and ask if they can accommodate a late arrival.

• What Is Secondary Inspection?

  If the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry cannot verify your immigration status, or if you do not have all of the required documentation, the officer may direct you to “secondary inspection.” Secondary inspection allows CBP to conduct additional research in order to verify information without causing delays for other arriving passengers.

  The inspector will first attempt to verify your status by using SEVIS to check your immigration status. In the event that the CBP officer needs to verify information with UT Austin, contact UTPD.

• I Received an I-515 When I Arrived at the Port of Entry into the U.S.
  • If you travel without your immigration documents or a valid travel signature, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will likely issue you a Form I-515, which provides temporary admittance into the United States.
  • If you receive Form I-515A, you must submit your immigration documents within 30 days from the date of entry. The Form I-515 will have instructions on how to submit your documents to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) office.
  • Contact ISSS when the office reopens, and we will assist you with the SEVP paperwork.
    • Students: hotline@austin.utexase.edu
    • Scholars: scholars@austin.utexas.edu