OIP Events

OIP offers multiple International Student Orientation sessions at the beginning of each term. These sessions cover important topics such as maintaining your immigration status, work authorization, submitting requests through Sunapsis, cultural adjustment, immigration documents, and more. 

All sessions will have light refreshments (snacks and beverages), interactive games, and very important handouts to help you understand and maintain your immigration status. 

UPCOMING SESSIONS

Currently there are no upcoming sessions.

If you would like to know about other events organized by OIP, go here - Explore - MineTracker (utep.edu)

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT

Certain students are REQUIRED to attend an International Student Orientation session at the beginning of their program. 

Students who are required to attend will be notified by email of the requirement at least once before the start of the term. You are required to attend International Student Orientation if you are:

• A new student
• A transfer student
• Changing from the undergraduate level to the graduate level
• Returning from an absence of two semesters or longer

Continuing students are welcome to attend for a refresher on important immigration information.

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ATTENDING

If you were required to attend a session but did not attend, or you left early, a HOLD will be placed on your OIP account. You must meet the Orientation requirement before any OIP requests will be processed. Students who failed to meet the Orientation requirement will be emailed with further instructions after the last scheduled Orientation session. 

More importantly, students who do not attend Orientation are at a very high risk of immigration status violations that can stay on their immigration record forever. Being an international students comes with many rules and regulations. Many status violations are caused by students who were simply not aware that they were doing something they weren't supposed to be doing, or because they failed to do something that they were supposed to do. Orientation serves as the base for informing you of what you need to know, and providing you with the resources to learn the rest. 

OIP will hold OPT Workshops throughout the year (Visit our OPT Web Page for Workshop Information).  Workshops are highly encouraged.  Attending a workshop will help you understand about the multi-step application process and the rules you need to follow while on OPT.  We recommend attending a workshop during the last year of your program so you'll have plenty of time to apply.

The PASE Program (Programa de Asistencia Estudiantil) provides an out-of-state tuition waiver to citizens and permanent residents of Mexico who qualify based on financial need. The validity of the benefit covers one academic year (Fall, Spring, and Summer). The student will be required to re-certify before the recertification deadline every year. For a list of our information sessions, please visit our PASE Web Page.

Currently there are no upcoming sessions.

If you would like to know about other events organized by OIP, go here - Explore - MineTracker (utep.edu)

MANDATORY ONLINE MODULES

All new international student joining UTEP would also get an email from us asking to complete the online modules on International Student Orientation. This is separate from the in-person orientation and needs to be completed before attending the in-person sessions. 

How do you file taxes? Do you have to file? When? Where? Why? 

The U.S. tax system is one of the most complicated in the world, and it can be confusing even for individuals who have been filing for years. At this workshop, you will learn the basics of the U.S. tax system for international students & scholars so you what you have to do to stay in compliance with tax and immigration laws.

UPCOMING SESSIONS

Currently there are no upcoming sessions.

If you would like to know about other events organized by OIP, go here - Explore - MineTracker (utep.edu)