Internatinal Services Office OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING INFORMATION Internatinal students, with an F-1 visa, wh have been lawfully enrlled full-time fr at least ne academic year and maintaining status may apply fr Optinal Practical Training (OPT). OPT refers t temprary emplyment directly related t student s majr area f study. It is imprtant t differentiate OPT frm Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which generally refers t alternate wrk/study prgrams, required internships r practicum as part f the established curriculum. Students are eligible fr twelve mnths f practical training fllwing the cmpletin f each degree. Why shuld yu cnsider OPT? Legal emplyment in the US Prvides wrk experience related t yur degree (n the jb training) May expse yu t future (r cntinuing) wrk pprtunities Makes yu mre marketable OPT Authrizatin and Restrictins: 1. During annual vacatin r when schl is nt in sessin if student currently enrlled and eligible, and intends t register fr the next term 2. While schl is in sessin, prvided that practical training des nt exceed twenty hurs a week 3. After cmpletin f all curse requirements fr the degree (excluding thesis r equivalent) if student is in bachelr s, master s r dctral degree prgram 4. After cmpletin f curse f study. Student must cmplete all practical training within a 14-mnth perid fllwing the cmpletin f study. 5. May nt begin OPT emplyment until date indicated n Emplyment Authrizatin Dcument (EAD) 6. Students wh receive ne year r mre f full time Curricular Practical Training are nt eligible fr pst cmpletin practical training 7. OPT autmatically terminates when student transfers t anther schl r begins study at anther educatinal level. 8. Student shuld nt remain in US if ut f schl n OPT fr mre than 5 mnths 9. FGCU/ DSO must maintain cntact with students n OPT, maintain recrds and reprt n students t USCIS Special Requirements while n OPT F-1 Students n OPT must: 1. Register a current physical/living address with the FGCU Internatinal Services Office. 2. Register the name f the OPT emplyer with the FGCU Internatinal Services Office. 3. Reprt changes in OPT emplyment, Name r Living Address within 10 days t the FGCU Internatinal Services Office and t the USCIS (students must file frm AR 11) Nte: There may be sme limitatins t the amunt f curricular r practical training granted, especially fr pst cmpletin based n previus use f curricular r practical training. Yu will need t cnsult with the DSO t determine any limitatins.
Hw and when d I apply? Yu must apply fr OPT prir t cmpletin f study (befre yu graduate) It is recmmended that yu apply fr OPT apprximately 90 t 120 days befre cmpletin f study. Yur applicatin can be submitted up t 110 days befre cmpletin f study date (last day f the semester in which yu cmplete yur study). USCIS prcessing time can take 60-180 days. If yu are applying fr OPT while in yur first year f enrllment, yu may nt apply earlier than 90 days befre cmpleting that academic year. Applicatin fr OPT is made t the US Citizenship and Immigratin Services (USCIS) thrugh the Internatinal Services Office. Yu will need t prepare and submit the fllwing: 1. Student s letter f applicatin (see belw) 2. Academic Advisr s letter f recmmendatin (see belw) 3. I-765 frm (available frm ur ffice r http://uscis.gv/graphics/frmsfee/frms/files/i-765.pdf 4. I-538 frm (Indicate yur requested start and end date f OPT. It must be within the 14 mnth perid fllwing yur last day f the semester at FGCU) 5. SEVIS I-20 (with DSO s recmmendatin fr practical training entered in SEVIS) 6. 2 phtgraphs meeting specificatins (nted in Part 3 f I-765 instructins) 7. Phtcpy f mst recent I-94 8. Phtcpy f any previus EAD (if applicable) 9. $180.00 cashier s check r mney rder made payable t the US Citizenship and Immigratin Services. Academic Advisr s letter Request an Optinal Practical Training recmmendatin letter frm yur academic advisr. If yur advisr des nt knw what this is, he r she can cntact ur ffice fr guidance. The letter will include: yur name, majr, degree cmpletin date (this is last day f the semester, nt graduatin date), and verificatin that yu will have met all requirements fr graduatin, and a recmmendatin that yu be granted practical training experience. Yur applicatin letter t the USCIS: 1. Addressed t the USCIS TSC, PO Bx 851041, Mesquite, TX 75185-1041 2. Date 3. Explain yu are a student at FGCU, studying (yur degree) t prepare fr a career in (yur field f study). Yu expect t cmplete yur degree n (last day f classes) and wuld like t pursue emplyment fr ne year f Practical Training. Yu may want t add smething abut yur self, yur plans, yur student experience but keep this t ne r tw sentences. 4. Sign yur letter OPT Apprval Ntificatin Prcess Apprximately 2 weeks after yur OPT applicatin is submitted by ISO t the USCIS, we receive a Ntice f Receipt that prvides an identifying number knwn as the applicatin receipt number r SRC #. Our ffice will ntify the student when this is received and prvide a cpy f them. Students may check the prcessing status f an OPT applicatin via USCIS Case Status On-line system, website: https://egv.immigratin.gv/cris/jsps/index.jsp When the OPT is apprved, the Case Status will indicate the emplyment start date. Yu may begin emplyment based n the start date nted, even if yu have nt yet received an actual Emplyment Authrizatin Card. Yu may dwnlad a cpy f this Case Status apprval and prvide it t yur emplyer. Page 2 f 5 ISO 01/18/05
Apprximately 2-3 weeks after OPT is apprved, the student s Emplyment Authrizatin Card will be sent t FGCU ISO. We will ntify yu t pick up the card which will shw the beginning and end dates f yur OPT. It als is a supprt dcument yu will need fr ther purpses (i.e: renewing drivers license, travel ut the US and re-entry, t present t yur emplyer, and/r fr ther immigratin benefits yu may care t pursue.) Interviewing fr jbs Students may interview fr jbs at anytime, hwever, yu may nt begin emplyment until the start date f yur authrized OPT. During initial interviews and applicatin prcesses yu d nt necessarily need t share that yu are n a F-1 visa and applying fr yu OPT. Hwever, if an emplyer states that they are interested in hiring yu, advise them f yur immigratin status and the date when yu will be eligible t begin yur OPT. Health Insurance While yu are nt required t have health insurance during OPT, we strngly recmmend that yu have it. Yu may want t cnfirm with yu current Health insurance cmpany if yu can cntinue cverage while n OPT, r cntact ur ffice fr infrmatin n ther health insurance cmpanies. Travel while n OPT An F-1 student n OPT must have the I-20 endrsed fr travel by the DSO within the last 6 mnths, and must pssess a valid EAD and Visa t reenter the US t cntinue emplyment. Students shuld als cntact the US embassy in their hme cuntry t btain a F-1 Visa. We recmmend that students cnsult the DSO befre traveling utside f the US while n practical training and that yu plan ahead with sufficient time fr the DSO t prcess yur travel request. Page 3 f 5 ISO 01/18/05
Internatinal Services Office PRACTICAL TRAINING APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS Frm I-765 Applicatin fr Emplyment Authrizatin This frm is available n the USCIS website: www.uscis.gv under Frms & Fees Cmplete a Fillable frm nline: http://uscis.gv/graphics/frmsfee/frms/files/i-765.pdf 1. Read the instructins fr the frm I-765. Specific instructins are nted in Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. 2. Cmplete the fllwing n the frm: (Just abve item #1) Applying fr: permissin t accept emplyment Items #1 and #2: fill-in names Item #3: D nt cmplete this. We will add ur address label. (Internatinal Services, 10501 FGCU Blvd. S. Ft. Myers, FL 33965-6565). Our ffice will be the cntact address t USCIS fr yur applicatin. If yu change persnal addresses, please infrm us and USCIS within 10 days. Items #4 t #8: cmplete Items #9: cmplete if yu have a US Sc. Sec. # Item #10: list number (frm yur I-20 and I-94 card) Item #11 t #15: cmplete. Last entry date shuld be stamped n yur mst recent I-94 card Item #16: refer t instructins Part 2. Fr F-1 students seeking Practical Training list: (c) (3) (i) Sign, date and add yur telephne number. 3. Make a cpy fr yur file. Frm I-538 Certificatin by Designated Schl Official (submit t ISO) Cmplete sectin A: Item #3: Student Admissin # is listed n yur I-20 and I-94 Card Item #4: date first granted F-1 status is date yu first enrlled at a US schl n the F visa: Item # 5: level f educatin either bachelrs r masters degree Item # 7: a brief statement describing the type f emplyment yu are seeking and hw it relates t yur degree (Example: I intend t btain a jb wrking with a financial firm dealing with internatinal markets t prvide me with wrk experience relating t my business degree.) Beginning date: can be n earlier than the day fllwing the last day f the semester in which yu cmplete yur degree and n later than 60 days fllwing this date. Ending Date: n later than ne year plus 60 days after date f yur last class Number f hurs per week: up t full time Item #8: list any previusly authrized practical training and sign and date the frm Page 4 f 5 ISO 01/18/05
OPT Apprval and Student Respnsibilities Review and ntificatin n OPT applicatins by the USCIS shuld be cmpleted within 60 t 180 days f applicatin, hwever prcessing times are nt guaranteed. Cnsult with the DSO if yur applicatin seems t be unreasnably delayed. Yu may mnitr yur OPT applicatin via the website: www.uscis.gv under Case status n-line by lgging in yur SRC (Case) case number. Students wh are granted Practical Training will receive an Emplyment Authrizatin Dcument (a card) that indicates the permitted dates f emplyment and expiratin. Practical Training can be granted fr a maximum f 12 mnths. The F-1 student is cnsidered t be in status during this authrized perid, and is permitted an additinal 60 days beynd this perid t depart the US. Emplyment hwever, is nt permitted during the 60-day perid t depart. Current address and Emplyer Students engaged in authrized OPT are required t reprt t DSO any change f name, address, r change in OPT emplyment. Be sure t infrm ur ffice if these change, and file the AR-11 frm (yu can find this n the USCIS website: www.uscis.gv) Travel befre OPT authrizatin granted Once a student has submitted an OPT applicatin t USCIS, we recmmend the student shuld nt leave the U.S. until he/she has received ntificatin frm the USCIS fr OPT apprval. If the student des leave the U.S. while the OPT applicatin is pending, the OPT applicatin may be cnsidered abandned and the student may, r may nt, be permitted t return t the U.S. Travel while n OPT An F-1 student n practical training must have the I-20 endrsed fr travel by the DSO (preferably each time the student travels) within the last 6 mnths, and must pssess a valid EAD t reenter the US t cntinue emplyment. Students shuld als pssess a valid F-1 visa. We recmmend that students cnsult the DSO befre traveling utside f the US while n practical training and that yu plan ahead with sufficient time fr the DSO t prcess yur travel request. OPT Terminatin Yur OPT authrizatin terminates when any f the fllwing ccur: When student transfers t anther schl When student begins study at anther educatinal level (i.e: begins graduate study fllwing cmpletin f undergraduate prgram) When student changes t anther visa status (i.e: if apprved fr an H visa) Yu reach the expiratin date n yu EAD card Page 5 f 5 ISO 01/18/05