What is the earliest I can apply for Optional Practical Training? You may apply as early as 120 days (4 months) before the date you request your OPT to begin.
When must I apply for OPT? Post-completion OPT: You must apply before the date you complete your studies. The USCIS must receive your application by your completion date, so apply well in advance. After your completion date passes, you are ineligible to apply for post-completion OPT. If you intend to travel abroad around the time you will complete your studies, you must apply for post-completion OPT before you leave the United States. Consult with the Director of International Programs if you intend to travel abroad during this time. Pre-completion OPT: You should apply 3-4 months before the date you wish to begin employment.
What happens after I mail my application? Usually within approximately one month, USCIS will mail a receipt to you at the address listed on Form I-765. Full processing of the OPT application materials is likely to take up to 90 days. Upon approval, USCIS will mail your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to the same address you provided on form I-765. You may not begin employment before you receive your EAD and the start date on the card has been reached. Working before receipt of your EAD constitutes illegal employment that renders you illegally present in the US.
How can I check the status of my application? Once you receive a notice from USCIS confirming receipt of your application, you can check the status at: https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/ (Use the EAC number located in the top left of the receipt notice). Alternatively, USCIS prints the EAC number on the back of your check once it is cashed. You may be able to obtain a copy of your check from your bank.
Can I travel on practical training? Post-Completion OPT: You should not experience difficulty reentering the United States if you have all the items listed below:
- a valid passport,
- a valid F-1 visa stamp in your passport (except Canadian citizens),
- your OPT I-20 endorsed for reentry by a OJC DSO within the last six months,
- your valid practical training EAD issued by USCIS, and
- evidence of employment such as a job offer or employment verification letter.
If you do not have all of these documents listed above or plan to leave the US while your OPT application is pending with USCIS, you should consult with the Director of International Relations before travel abroad. For more information, see: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel/faq_f2.htm. Please note: Your EAD will have a notation, "not valid for reentry to US". This is printed on all EAD cards issued for OPT and simply means that the card alone is not sufficient for reentry to the US. Pre-Completion (i.e. summer) OPT: You can travel and return to the US with a valid passport, valid F-1 visa stamp and your OPT I-20 endorsed by an OJC DSO advisor within the last twelve months. You do not need evidence of a job or a valid EAD issued by USCIS to return to the US.
Do I still need to notify USCIS if my address changes while on post-completion OPT? How do I do that? Yes. You are encouraged to maintain contact with the Director of International Programs by providing updates regarding your address and employment information as they change. The OJC DSO will then update your SEVIS record and report all changes to USCIS. It is the students’ responsibility to report all changes to the Director of International Programs within 10 days of any change. Failure to do so may negatively affect your status; which may affect your ability to continue your education in the United States.
Can I change my OPT dates or cancel OPT if I do not get a job? Once your application has been received by USCIS, the International Programs Office cannot cancel or change your OPT dates for you. If you want to try to withdraw your OPT application after you have sent it to USCIS, you will need to submit a written request to them directly. We advise that you carefully choose your dates and consider your job prospects before applying for OPT, since canceling your application may be difficult or impossible to do. An unexpected delay in completing degree requirements, inability to find an appropriate job or loss of a job does not allow you to take back or adjust practical training authorization even if this means you will lose time when you would otherwise have been eligible to work under Optional Practical Training.
Do I need a Social Security Number to work in the US? Yes. If you plan to work in the US you will need a valid Social Security Number (SSN). To apply, please obtain instructions and directions to the Social Security Office from the International Programs Office. The Social Security Administration will process your application and mail your Social Security number to you.
Do I need to complete any forms with my employer to begin working? Yes. Within the first three days of beginning work you and your employer must complete a form entitled Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). This form will be kept on file by your employer and must be updated each time you receive a renewal of your work permission. Form I-9 must be kept by the employer either for three years after the date of hire or for one year after employment is terminated, whichever is later. The form must be available for inspection by authorized U.S. Government officials.
Can I change employers while on OPT? Yes. OPT work authorization is not job-specific. Therefore, you may change employers, or have multiple employers at the same time, provided that each position is directly related to your major field of study and commensurate with your educational level.
Do I pay taxes while working on OPT? Students in F-1 status are subject to all federal, state and local taxes that may apply. In general, however, F-1 students who have been present in the US for no more than five calendar years are exempt from Social Security (FICA) and Medicare taxes.
How long can I stay in the US after the end date of my OPT? You have a total of 14 months following the completion of your program for both the grace period of 60 days and the 12 months OPT. If you took your 60 days from the time your program date and your OPT start date, you will need to change status, transfer or depart the U.S. immediately following your OPT. If you took 30 days from the time your program date and your OPT start date, you will have 30 days following your OPT to change status, transfer or depart the U.S. You are not authorized to work nor can you leave and re-enter the US in F-1 status during the grace period.
What should I do if I want to begin a new program of study in the US when I finish my OPT? You must contact the International Programs Office and tell us what school you plan to attend and when your new program of study will begin. We must then "release" your F-1 SEVIS record to your new school in coordination with your OPT end date. If you fail to notify the International Programs Office of your plans to begin a new program of study before the end your OPT or grace period, your F-1 SEVIS record is likely to become invalid and you may need to get reinstated in order to begin your a new program.
What happens if I apply for OPT and then decide not to pursue it because I will not complete my educational program as expected? The primary concern is that your program end date be extended BEFORE the program end date on your I-20 or the student will risk going out of status. The DSO must cancel their OPT recommendation, which leaves the student with limited options – if within the 60 day grace period a transfer and reinstatement (following termination of the student’s SEVIS record) would be possible. After the 60 day grace period, reinstatement is the only option.
IMPORTANT FINAL NOTE
The DSO will update your SEVIS record as information is provided by you; however, it is YOUR responsibility to comply with all immigration regulations which apply to F-1 students, including employment regulations. This includes reporting any changes in situation, address or employment to the DSO. You should also keep an independent complete record of your employment during your full period of OPT on hand as well. Information need to provide should include:
- Position held and how it relates to your field of study (job description with comments from you about how it relates to your field of study if it is not clear from the job description.)
- Proof of the duration of that position – Start and End Dates (pay-stubs & tax forms are good proof)
- Manager or Supervisor information (name, title, contact information).
Working without proper authorization is a serious violation of your student status. If you fail to comply with your responsibilities, you may not be eligible for benefits normally granted to F-1 students and, in some situations, may be subject to deportation. The SEVP states in its OPT Policy Guidelines:
“ICE/SEVP may examine SEVIS data for an individual, a selected group or all students on post- completion OPT and terminate a student’s record if it fails to show the student maintained the proper period of employment.”
You must take this responsibility seriously. We strongly urge you to consult with the International Programs Office if you have any questions.
SEND ALL UPDATES TO: international@ojc.edu or call 719-384-6805 or fax 719-384-6935
