<div dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ecaad863-12d6-6f63-264b-d412e6164401"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">Dear undergraduates,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">I hope this e-mail finds you well.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">I am Daniel Wang, '16 and chair of the UA Public
Affairs Committee. We are a brand-new committee and our mission is "To educate
MIT undergraduates about their potential impact in the public sector as well as
to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with governmental
entities in order to connect undergraduates with opportunities to make positive
and meaningful impacts on society."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">We would like to present such an opportunity.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is
currently taking public comments on a Proposed Rule regarding the STEM
Extension to Optional Practical Training (OPT) made available to international
students on F-1 visas. Many of you are likely planning to make use of OPT after
you finish your degrees or have friends who will do so. <b>We strongly
encourage you to read on and consider submitting a public comment letter of
your own.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black"><b><br></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">The UA Public Affairs Committee has prepared a
letter on behalf of the full undergraduate student body expressing our general
support for OPT, the STEM OPT Extension, and for the quick response by DHS to
recent court actions that threatened the extension. A copy of our letter is
attached.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">OPT and the STEM OPT Extension are being scrutinized
and criticized by many sources, including US legislators, many non-governmental
organizations, and even officials within DHS. It is important that we express
our support for these programs. <b>It is particularly valuable that DHS receive
personalized messages from many individuals that support or personally benefit
from these programs.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">To help make it easy for you to submit a comment
of your own, we’ve prepared a short personalizable draft letter that you can
make your own (2nd attachment) and provided links below you can follow to learn
more about OPT and submit your comment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">Our third attachment describes a couple of
important details on the standard OPT period and STEM OPT Extensions and
highlights some of the noteworthy changes between the old STEM OPT Extension
rule and the new Proposed Rule. You might want to comment on some of these
items, or read more about them at the links below.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><b><span style="color:black">Submit your letters to the Federal Register by
11:59pm Eastern Time on November 18th, 2015!</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">Best regards,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">Daniel Wang</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">Chair, MIT UA Public Affairs Committee</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">P.S.</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">Informative Links:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="https://owa.exchange.mit.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=xVDHgN6_v3FuXrmA7pckFMIZkpoLzFakue6hHGQc8z8rMHtCse7SCGgAdAB0AHAAcwA6AC8ALwB3AHcAdwAuAGYAZQBkAGUAcgBhAGwAcgBlAGcAaQBzAHQAZQByAC4AZwBvAHYALwBhAHIAdABpAGMAbABlAHMALwAyADAAMQA1AC8AMQAwAC8AMQA5AC8AMgAwADEANQAtADIANgAzADkANQAvAGkAbQBwAHIAbwB2AGkAbgBnAC0AYQBuAGQALQBlAHgAcABhAG4AZABpAG4AZwAtAHQAcgBhAGkAbgBpAG4AZwAtAG8AcABwAG8AcgB0AHUAbgBpAHQAaQBlAHMALQBmAG8AcgAtAGYALQAxAC0AbgBvAG4AaQBtAG0AaQBnAHIAYQBuAHQALQBzAHQAdQBkAGUAbgB0AHMALQB3AGkAdABoAC0AcwB0AGUAbQAtAGQAZQBnAHIAZQBlAHMALQBhAG4AZAA.&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.federalregister.gov%2farticles%2f2015%2f10%2f19%2f2015-26395%2fimproving-and-expanding-training-opportunities-for-f-1-nonimmigrant-students-with-stem-degrees-and"><span style="color:blue">Federal Register page on the Proposed Rule</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="https://owa.exchange.mit.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=c60t9sfXaQ1oZjz9hbT1LkOFRaEtDXkWIwas1PVN5B4rMHtCse7SCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AdwB3AHcALgBuAGEAZgBzAGEALgBvAHIAZwAvAEYAaQBuAGQAXwBSAGUAcwBvAHUAcgBjAGUAcwAvAFMAdQBwAHAAbwByAHQAaQBuAGcAXwBJAG4AdABlAHIAbgBhAHQAaQBvAG4AYQBsAF8AUwB0AHUAZABlAG4AdABzAF8AQQBuAGQAXwBTAGMAaABvAGwAYQByAHMALwBJAFMAUwBfAEkAcwBzAHUAZQBzAC8ASQBzAHMAdQBlAHMALwBGAG8AYwB1AHMAXwBPAG4AXwBTAFQARQBNAF8ATwBQAFQALwA.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nafsa.org%2fFind_Resources%2fSupporting_International_Students_And_Scholars%2fISS_Issues%2fIssues%2fFocus_On_STEM_OPT%2f"><span style="color:blue">NAFSA Summary of STEM OPT Developments</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><u><a href="https://owa.exchange.mit.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=uU8jxfJQSpmAsf_LXX8R7_J2K7-P-kIcVSC-u5p9l9ErMHtCse7SCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AdwB3AHcALgBuAGEAZgBzAGEALgBvAHIAZwAvAEYAaQBuAGQAXwBSAGUAcwBvAHUAcgBjAGUAcwAvAFMAdQBwAHAAbwByAHQAaQBuAGcAXwBJAG4AdABlAHIAbgBhAHQAaQBvAG4AYQBsAF8AUwB0AHUAZABlAG4AdABzAF8AQQBuAGQAXwBTAGMAaABvAGwAYQByAHMALwBJAFMAUwBfAEkAcwBzAHUAZQBzAC8AUwBUAEUATQBfAE8AUABUAF8AUgB1AGwAZQBtAGEAawBpAG4AZwAvAA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nafsa.org%2fFind_Resources%2fSupporting_International_Students_And_Scholars%2fISS_Issues%2fSTEM_OPT_Rulemaking%2f"><span style="color:blue">NAFSA detailed writeup on the Proposed Rule</span></a></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><u><a href="https://owa.exchange.mit.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=8yZkBOHtTNLkVMxj58jtV2d_BpM4tPVRfbqm-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&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nafsa.org%2fFind_Resources%2fSupporting_International_Students_And_Scholars%2fNetwork_Resources%2fInternational_Student_and_Scholar_Services%2fTips_for_Writing_a_Useful_Government_Comment_Letter%2f"><span style="color:blue">NAFSA guidance on writing good public comment letters</span></a></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><u><a href="https://owa.exchange.mit.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=opQZIKURKtlU_dQj1YL7dyrkKcEddagTYOrSqobsmw4rMHtCse7SCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AdwB3AHcALgBoAGEAcABwAHkAcwBjAGgAbwBvAGwAcwAuAGMAbwBtAC8AcwB1AG0AbQBhAHIAeQAtAHAAcgBvAHAAbwBzAGUAZAAtADIANAAtAG0AbwBuAHQAaABzAC0AcwB0AGUAbQAtAG8AcAB0AC0AZQB4AHQAZQBuAHMAaQBvAG4ALQByAHUAbABlAC8A&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.happyschools.com%2fsummary-proposed-24-months-stem-opt-extension-rule%2f"><span style="color:blue">Video summaries of major provisions of the Proposed Rule</span></a></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><u><a href="https://owa.exchange.mit.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=roEYoNdROk2uOVPVq6cW6C4R0xuP6qAprjXoIM_5YVgrMHtCse7SCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AaQBtAG0AaQBnAHIAYQB0AGkAbwBuAGcAaQByAGwALgBjAG8AbQAvAGQAcgBhAGYAdAAtAGMAbwBtAG0AZQBuAHQALQBmAG8AcgAtAG8AcAB0AC0AcwB0AHUAZABlAG4AdABzAC0AYQB3AGEAaQB0AGkAbgBnAC0AcwB0AGUAbQAtAGUAeAB0AGUAbgBzAGkAbwBuAC0AcgB1AGwAZQAvAA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fimmigrationgirl.com%2fdraft-comment-for-opt-students-awaiting-stem-extension-rule%2f"><span style="color:blue">An additional draft letter from an immigration attorney</span></a></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><u><span style="color:blue"><a href="https://owa.exchange.mit.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=U9irtpO4egpkAsDgrj49q1dGoK6V3o6KQRyGy-yJXhsrMHtCse7SCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AZwBzAGMALgBtAGkAdAAuAGUAZAB1AC8AbgBlAHcAbAB5AC0AcAByAG8AcABvAHMAZQBkAC0AZgAtADEALQBzAHQAdQBkAGUAbgB0AC0AbwBwAHQAaQBvAG4AYQBsAC0AcAByAGEAYwB0AGkAYwBhAGwALQB0AHIAYQBpAG4AaQBuAGcALQBvAHAAdAAtAHIAdQBsAGUAcwAvAA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fgsc.mit.edu%2fnewly-proposed-f-1-student-optional-practical-training-opt-rules%2f">An LASC Webpage with all of these resources.</a></span></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oMyawzRPVvG60KMTGUG4Je9J3qtIUNRi3Ur6WcNWm7s/edit?usp=sharing">The letter we sent</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">How to submit your public comment letter:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black"></span></p><p class="" style="margin-left:1.5in;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">1.<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="color:black">Fill in some information about yourself and your story in either
our draft letter or the alternate draft letter in the links above.</span></p><p class="" style="margin-left:1.5in;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">2.<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="color:black">Go to the </span><a href="https://owa.exchange.mit.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=xVDHgN6_v3FuXrmA7pckFMIZkpoLzFakue6hHGQc8z8rMHtCse7SCGgAdAB0AHAAcwA6AC8ALwB3AHcAdwAuAGYAZQBkAGUAcgBhAGwAcgBlAGcAaQBzAHQAZQByAC4AZwBvAHYALwBhAHIAdABpAGMAbABlAHMALwAyADAAMQA1AC8AMQAwAC8AMQA5AC8AMgAwADEANQAtADIANgAzADkANQAvAGkAbQBwAHIAbwB2AGkAbgBnAC0AYQBuAGQALQBlAHgAcABhAG4AZABpAG4AZwAtAHQAcgBhAGkAbgBpAG4AZwAtAG8AcABwAG8AcgB0AHUAbgBpAHQAaQBlAHMALQBmAG8AcgAtAGYALQAxAC0AbgBvAG4AaQBtAG0AaQBnAHIAYQBuAHQALQBzAHQAdQBkAGUAbgB0AHMALQB3AGkAdABoAC0AcwB0AGUAbQAtAGQAZQBnAHIAZQBlAHMALQBhAG4AZAA.&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.federalregister.gov%2farticles%2f2015%2f10%2f19%2f2015-26395%2fimproving-and-expanding-training-opportunities-for-f-1-nonimmigrant-students-with-stem-degrees-and"><span style="color:blue">Federal Register page on the proposed rule</span></a><span style="color:black">.</span></p><p class="" style="margin-left:1.5in;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">3.<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="color:black">Click the green button, upper right, “Submit a formal comment”</span></p><p class="" style="margin-left:1.5in;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">4.<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="color:black">You can either fill in text or attach a file. We recommend
attaching a PDF.</span></p><p class="" style="margin-left:1.5in;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="color:black">5.<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><b><span style="color:black">Submit your comment!</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<b><span style="color:black">NOTE:</span></b><span style="color:black"> Your public
comment letter will be <b>publicly viewable</b> at the Federal Register page
with the full docket for this Proposed Rule. DHS will do their best to filter
out personally identifiable information that should not be public, but be
cognizant of this while drafting your letter.</span></p></font></span></div>