Optional Practical Training (OPT) Information Workshop
What is Optional Practical Training? Overview OPT is defined in the Federal Regulations as temporary employment directly related to a student's field of study. During OPT, a student remains in F-1 status. The end result of the OPT request process is an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS).
OPT Information Workshop Two Types of OPT Pre-Completion OPT May work full-time or part-time Post-Completion OPT May work full-time Is not subject to the unemployment provisions, and may receive a program extension Would be subject to the unemployment provisions, and be unable to receive an extension of his or her program May not apply for the STEM extension from a period of pre-completion OPT May apply for the STEM extension if otherwise eligible Would not be eligible for the cap-gap extension of OPT Would be eligible for the cap-gap extension
Eligibility for OPT F-1 students who have been enrolled full-time at least 1 academic year when OPT begins. Have not used 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Have not already been approved for 12 months of OPT at the same degree level Have an unexpired passport
Other Guidelines OPT You may be authorized for 12 months of OPT and become eligible for another 12 months when you change to a higher educational level The work must be directly related to your field of study You can remain unemployed for an aggregate of no more than 90 days during the initial 12 months of the OPT period and 120 days during the entire 29 months on STEM The employment may be paid or unpaid, but you are required to work at least 20 hours per week on post-completion OPT. Make sure you have health insurance coverage at all time Full-time study is prohibited during post-completion OPT You may study on an incidental basis (part-time, non-degree status and not at a higher level then graduating degree)) You do not need to have a specific job offer to apply for OPT but be aware that you cannot recover portions of the OPT period that you may have spent searching for employment
Application Materials Needed to Apply: 1. Complete the form I-765 (mark the code (c)(3)(a) for pre-completion or (c)(3)(b) for post completion. The form should be completed in BLUE INK or typied and signed in blue ink. NOTE: I-765 form can be obtained at: www.uscis.gov. Please do not submit I-765 payment or any part of your OPT via the internet. The OPT application should be processed with an International Advisor at the International Center. Please use the International Center s or a friend s mailing address if you anticipate moving within the next three months. International Center University of Louisville Louisville, KY 40292 The postal service will not forward your mail. If it is sent back to the Service Center then you will be required to resubmit the service fee. Please remind the advisors if you reside in a state other than Kentucky because it may be necessary to file at a different Service Center. 2. Complete Request for Employment Authorization form (Need completed original form only) 3. Complete OPT Personal & Employer Information form (Need completed original form only, submit this form every time you move to update your address or change employers or have multiple employers) 4.Complete the Reporting Requirement form. 5. Submit the Academic Advisor Recommendation Form. The letter requires a signature from both your Academic Advisor and the Department Chair. (not required when applying for STEM) 6. Obtain 2 Passport Size Photos All photos must meet the specifications for full frontal/passport photos and must be no more than 30 days old when an application is filed. Photos must not have a dark/gray background or have a side pose. Print your name and I-94 Admissions number on the backside of each photo. 7. Submit a check/money order made payable to Department of Homeland Security for the I-765 processing fee in the amount of $380. For more information on photo standards visit the Department of State Website at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotoreq/pptphotoreq_5333.html 8. Make 2 copies each of your passport photo/bio page (Need old and new Passports), most recent visa, I-94 printout (www.cbp.gov/i94 to obtain the electronic version) 9. Make 2 copies of any I-20 that has been endorsed for Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
I-765 Example OPT Information Workshop
OPT Information Workshop Employment Authorization DOCUMENT (EAD) Card OPT Information Workshop
OPT Information Workshop When do I apply? When do I start my job? Application started with ISSS 90 days prior to your program completion date 90 days Program Completion Date Start date is between your completion date and 60 days later 60 days USCIS absolute deadline to receive OPT application is 60 days after completion date 12 months Employment must end 12 months from Start Date, unless STEM or Cap Gap eligible 60 days grace period 1) Departure from US 2) Transfer to another University 3) Change of Level 4) Change of Status Note: The expected processing time for EAD is approximately 90 days after your application is received by USCIS
OPT Information Workshop 24-Month Extension Students awarded Bachelor s, Master s, and Doctoral degrees in specific STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields, are eligible for a one-time 24- month extension of post-completion OPT Total Eligibility for qualified students cannot exceed 36 months Students authorized for Post Completion OPT and employed in a position related to field of study at time of extension request Volunteer Position is allowed on STEM Student s employer must be registered & participating in the USCIS E-Verify employment verification program at time of extension request and must supply form I-983 (training plan)
OPT Information Workshop STEM Information STEM OPT Extension Qualifications To qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, an F-1 student participating in an initial period of regular post-completion OPT must: Have a degree in an eligible STEM field from a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified school that is accredited when the student submits their STEM OPT extension application to USCIS. Pursue their STEM OPT extension through an employer that is enrolled in USCIS's E-Verify employment eligibility verification program. Select a STEM OPT employer that provides the student with formal training and learning objectives. Work a minimum of 20 hours per week per employer. For more information about STEM OPT extension eligibility requirements, please visit our eligibility pages for students and school officials. For more information about applying for STEM OPT, please visit the USCIS website. Reporting Requirements There are reporting requirements associated with STEM OPT extensions. 1.Employers must report to the relevant DSO (indicated on the Form I-983) when an F-1 student on a STEM OPT extension terminates or otherwise leaves their employment before the end of the authorized period of OPT. The employer must report this change to the appropriate DSO no later than five business days after the student leaves employment. For more information about employer requirements, please visit our Employer Reporting Requirements page. 2.STEM OPT students must report to their DSOs every six months. As part of such reporting, STEM OPT students must confirm the validity of their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System information, including: 1. Legal name. 2. Address. 3. Employer name and address. 4. Status of current employment/practical training experience. 3.For more information, please visit our reporting requirements pages for students and school officials. 3.STEM OPT students must do an annual self-evaluation and must report to their DSO about the progress of the training experience. Students must sign the self-evaluation prior to submitting it to the DSO, who will include it in the student's record. 4.Both the student and employer are obligated to report to the student's DSO any material changes to, or material deviations from, the student's formal training plan.
OPT Information Workshop Application Materials Needed to Apply: 1. Complete the form I-765 (mark the code (c)(3)(c) for STEM Extension (Need completed original I-765 and one copy). Make sure you only put your LAST/SURNAME in caps and if possible fill out the document in blue ink if not completed on-line. Please do not submit I-765 payment or any part of your OPT via the internet. The OPT application should he processed with an International Advisor at the International Center. Please use the International Center s mailing address; International Center University of Louisville Louisville, KY 40292 if you anticipate moving within the next three - four months as immigration will not forward your mail and you will need to pay the fee payment again if it is forwarded back to the Service Center. Please let the Advisor that processes your application know if you reside in a state other than Kentucky because it may be necessary to file at a different Service Center. 2. A STEM OPT student and their employer must obtain, complete and sign the Form I-983before the student may apply for a STEM OPT extension. 3.Complete Request for Employment Authorization form 4. Complete OPT, Personal & Employer Information form. 5. Complete the Reporting Requirement form. 6. Obtain 2 Passport Photos The place that you buy the passport photos from, must cut the photos, not you. Both photos must be identical. All photos must meet the specifications for full frontal/passport photos and must be no more than 30 days old when an application to filed. Print your name and I-94 number on the back of the each picture with either ink or pencil. For more information on photo standards visit the Department for State Website athttp://travelstate.gov/passport/pptphotoreq/pptphotoreq_5333.html or contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. 7. Make 2 copies of your passport photo/bio page (both new and any old passports), visa, I-94, Initial OPT EAD card, official/unofficial transcript and copy of the degree awarded to you. 8.Form I-765 Required Processing Fee: A check/money order made payable to Department of Homeland Security. If paying fee via check, the check must have your name printed by the company that supplied the checks in the upper left hand corner. If you have an address on the check, this is okay, but, do not mark through the address if it is not correct.
Advisor s Contact Information OPT Information Workshop Phone: 502.852.6604 Fax: 502.852.7216 Email: International Center Service Account: intcent@louisville.edu Thomas Beard: thomas.beard@louisville.edu ISSS Mailing Address: International Center Brodschi Hall University of Louisville Louisville, KY 40292 HSC Office: Abell Building/Instructional Building; Room 120A Phone: 852-7124
Question and Answer Session For Complete information visit the website: OPT Information Workshop www.louisville.edu/internationalcenter/isss