Welcome to the Office of International Affairs
The Office of International Affairs (OIA) provides advising services and supportive programming to the international community at the University of Chicago. Please reach out to your OIA adviser via email or by telephone. If you do not know who your adviser is, please visit the OIA Staff Directory.
Phone: (773) 702-7752
Address: 1427 E. 60th St. Chicago, Suite 251, Chicago, IL 60637 (MAP)
Email: international-affairs@uchicago.edu
Need a Travel Signature for Summer?
You can always request a new I-20 or DS-2019 from OIA to be emailed to you via the Reprint Request Form.
Upcoming OIA Office Closures
- Wednesday, June 14, 2023 (1pm - 5pm)
- Thursday, June 15, 2023 (OIA team retreat)
- Friday, June 16, 2023 (12pm-5pm) & Monday, June 19, 2023 (Juneteenth holiday)
- Tuesday, July 4, 2023 (Independence Day)
- Friday, Sept 1, 2023 (12pm - 5pm) & Monday, Sept 4, 2023 (Labor Day holiday)
News
Spring Break Travel Information 2023
Information for F1/J1 Students Traveling Abroad Over Spring Break
International students in F1 or J1 status, and their dependents (F2 or J2), need the following to re-enter the U.S. after traveling abroad:
USCIS Announces Premium Processing; New Online-Filing Procedures for Certain F-1 Students Seeking OPT or STEM OPT Extensions
On Monday, March 6, 2023, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services announced the launch of premium processing for F-1 students applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT). Premium processing means for an additional (substantial) fee, USCIS will provide expedited review/adjudication of an application and issue a decision faster than normal processing times. In this case, for an additional $1,500, you will receive a decision on your application within 30-calendar days.
USCIS Announced Plans to Expand Premium Processing in Spring 2023
USCIS announced plans to expand premium processing in phases over Spring 2023 to certain F-1 students with pending and initial Form I-765 OPT and STEM OPT applications, and certain students and exchange visitors seeking a change or extension of status on Form I-539.
According to USCIS, its anticipated timeline for the next expansion phases are as follows: