As Spring 2025 registration approaches, the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) team would like to remind international students at the University of Utah about full-time enrollment requirements and share important updates to the Reduced Course Load (RCL) policy.

On October 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently published a Federal Register Notice, explaining a suspension on certain F-1 student regulations for F-1 students from Lebanon who are experiencing severe economic hardship. Specifically, "employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while maintaining their F-1 nonimmigrant student status," (Federal Register, 2023).

With the Post-Optional Practical Training (OPT) application window now open for most Spring 2024 graduates, we wanted to bring to your attention recent news from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced new fee increases that will go into effect April 1, 2024. Any applications submitted to USCIS on or after April 1, 2024, will need to include the new fee amounts or they will not be accepted by USCIS.

To quote Elon Musk, "If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it." This is not only the favorite quote of Osei Boateng, but also the motto he lives by. Oseigraduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and Societywith minors in Business and Gerontology and a Master's in Healthcare Administrationfrom Cornell University. He is currently a student at the University of Utah pursuing a Master’s in BusinessCreation.OseiBoateng is an aspiring Healthcare Entrepreneurand founder of the OKB Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to bringinglifesavinghealthcare services to rural and underserved communities in his home country, Ghana.