Emergency Information

In case of an emergency follow the information below to receive direction.

Examples of Immigration-Related Emergencies

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

If You Are Experiencing an Immigration-Related Emergency

Call the UT Police Department at (512) 471-4441. Explain your situation and you will be connected to the appropriate Texas Global staff member.

Do not call 911 for immigration-related emergencies!

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Examples of Health and Safety Emergencies

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

Call 911. After you receive assistance, notify ISSS.

Have questions about how to use your student health insurance plan?

For questions about your health insurance, please refer to our frequently asked questions for further information.

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Immigration-Related Issues & Questions that are not Emergencies

• My STEM OPT Report is due

  If you are on STEM OPT, you may have a STEM OPT report due over the holidays. 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. In fact, you do not need to email us. We have an online STEM OPT reporting process designed to make the reporting process easy for you.

  How do I complete my STEM OPT report?

  You must complete the STEM OPT reporting process in myIO. Log into myIO and navigate to F-1 Practical Training > STEM OPT Request > STEM Reporting. Complete and submit the required report.

  ISSS will review your submission after the winter break and will update your SEVIS record accordingly. Our deadline to do this is 21 days from when you make the report in myIO. Rest assured we will complete this process in a timely manner.

• I Need a Travel Signature

  Please note that this is not considered an emergency. In the event that you travel without a valid travel signature, you will likely be issued an I-515A (read below).

  F-1 and J-1 International Students

  If you will be traveling internationally when Texas Global is closed, please plan ahead and obtain a travel signature before the office closes. You may request a new I-20 travel signature or DS-2019 travel signature online in myIO. If you request a travel signature during an office closure, we will process it upon our return to the office, prioritizing urgent requests based on re-entry date.

  J Scholars (Research Scholar, Professor, Short Term Scholar, Student Intern)

  At this moment we are strongly discouraging international travel. However, if you will be traveling internationally when Texas Global is closed, and need an updated travel signature, please plan ahead and request an updated DS-2019 travel signature through the mailing request form. If you need a travel signature while the office is closed you should email scholars@austin.utexas.edu.

• I Lost My I-20 or DS-2019

  Please note that this is not considered an emergency. In the event that you travel without your immigration documents, you will likely be issued an I-515A (read below).

  F-1 and J-1 International Students

  You may request a new I-20 travel signature or DS-2019 travel signature online in myIO.

  J Scholars (Research Scholar, Professor, Short Term Scholar, Student Intern)

  You may request a new DS-2019 online in myIO.

• 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, you will need to contact UT Police Department who will then connect you with a Texas Global staff member.

• I Received an I-515 When I Arrived at the Port of Entry into the U.S.
  1. If you travel without your immigration documents or a valid travel signature, the CBP officer will likely issue you a Form I-515 which provides temporary admittance into the United States.
      
  2. If you receive Form I-515A, you have 30 days from the date of entry to submit your immigration documents to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) office.
      
  3. Please email hotline@austin.utexas.edu (students) or scholars@austin.utexas.edu (scholars) when the office reopens so we can assist you in preparing your paperwork.
• My Passport Was Lost/Stolen
  1. Please contact your local embassy to apply for a replacement. Some embassies require a police report in the case of a stolen passport.
  2. Please email hotline@austin.utexas.edu (students) or scholars@austin.utexas.edu (scholars) to inform us of the situation.
• My Visa Is Delayed
  1. Let your department know about the delay, and ask if they can accommodate a late arrival.
  2. Please contact ISSS when the office reopens to explore your options. Please email hotline@austin.utexase.edu (students) or scholars@austin.utexas.edu (scholars).
• I Am a New Student in Need of I-20/DS-2019
  1. If you have been admitted to The University of Texas at Austin for the upcoming semester and need an I-20 or DS-2019, you must complete the Check-In process in myIO.
  2. When the office reopens, an international student advisor will review your form and issue your immigration document.