Where can I use OPT? How long does OPT last? Standard OPT is available for a cumulative maximum of 12 months per educational level. A one-time extension of 24 months for a total of 36 months is available to certain STEM degree recipients. How many hours per week can I work? Pre-completion OPT is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session and the student still has coursework to complete. Full-time employment can be requested for pre-completion OPT done during official school breaks.
For post-completion OPT, a student must be employed for at least 20 hours per week. Can I work anywhere? The job must be directly related to and commensurate with the level of the students course of study. It is very important that you can document that the job you accept is directly related to your field of study. Must I have an offer of employment to apply for OPT? No offer of employment is required, but the student is expected to work while on OPT. You should keep records of all job postings, letters of invitation for interviews, letters of rejection, or resume postings related to your job search.
Students on post-completion OPT are limited to a maximum of 90 days of unemployment. Tech cannot find your job, but you may want to consult the Norman Career Center for assistance in searching for a job. An I for standard post-completion OPT can be filed up to 90 days before the program end-date and up to 60 days after the program end-date. After you have completed everything in the checklist above, please make an appointment with Sara Chronister. Email Sara Chronister at schronister atu.
You will need to bring all of the documents listed in the checklist above. Please make sure they are completed as fully as possible. At your appointment, you will be issued a new I that shows you have requested OPT. Attention Out-of-Town Students! Part-time OPT is counted at a half-rate. Example : Four months part-time OPT is subtracted from the total as two months.
If your current I end date does not currently reflect the actual end of your program, it must be adjusted. See our information on shortening or extending your record. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for OPT you must: Be registered full-time in a degree program for at least one academic year three quarters in valid F-1 status Have not used 12 months of OPT for a previous degree at the same level e.
Important Notes: If you are outside of the U. On-campus employment does not count against the month OPT eligibility. The 'clock' begins on the start date listed on your EAD. Visit our employment FAQ to learn what is considered employment, how unemployment works, and what to do if you accrue 90 days of unemployment. Reporting: You must report all employers to OIA within 10 days of any new job. Multiple jobs: OPT is not employer specific.
As long as they otherwise meet all employment criteria, you can work for multiple employers simultaneously Showing that OPT is directly related to a degree program After your OPT has been approved and you start working, you are required to report what your position is and how it is related to your degree program through the OIA OPT Update Form.
You must be able to concisely describe how your work is related to your studies in sentences. OIA advisers are unable to determine your degree relevancy or confirm that your job is directly related; determining the relevancy is up to you. Make sure to proofread before submitting your updates.
If it is not clear from the job description that the work is related to the student's degree, SEVP highly recommends that you obtain a signed letter from your supervisor or manager or the employer's hiring official stating how your degree is related to the work performed and keep it for your records. OIA does not need a copy of this statement. The Student Exchange and Visitor Program SEVP recommends that you maintain evidence - for each job - of the position held, proof of the duration of that position, the job title, contact information for the your supervisor or manager, and a description of the work.
This documentation should be kept for your own records and may be requested during future immigration applications e. OIA does not need a copy of this documentation. Keep a list of all gigs, the employer, and duration of each.
Work for hire: Commonly referred to as or Independent Contractor Employment; keep evidence of the duration of contract periods and the name and address of the contracting company. You should be able to prove that you have the proper business licenses and that it is related to your degree program.
It can be a big or small company, start-up, internship, temporary work, full-time, post-doc, hourly, unpaid, salaried, unconventional hours, non-profit, for-profit, self-employment, NGO or any other employer situation.
Additional questions about types of OPT employment? Unpaid Employment: You may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern while on OPT, where this practice does not violate labor laws.
Assuming it meets all other criteria, unpaid internships and volunteer positions can qualify as OPT employment for reporting purposes. However, the work cannot start until after you complete 3 quarters of full-time enrollment. Your OPT start date can be between the day after your end date and 60 days after your end date. If you are outside of the U. If you cannot attend, you can review the OPT workshop slides or recording , as well as all of the information of this webpage, including the OPT FAQs Starting your OPT application without attending or viewing the workshop could lead to application errors and delays in processing your request, as well as have a negative impact on your application to USCIS.
You must include OPT start and end dates on this form. For post-completion OPT, your OPT start date has to be between the day after your end date and 60 days after your end date. Upload the following two documents as a pdf signed Verification of Completion Form and completed I application : a. If your ending quarter is earlier than your current end date, your F-1 record will be shortened to reflect the change. Shortening your record will add additional processing time, so please plan ahead.
This document is required for post-completion OPT applications only. Fill it out online and then print it write-able PDF format. Follow the instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions will cause review and processing delays. If this does not work, we recommend printing and uploading or saving as an image For any technical issues editing the form: If you have any issues editing any of the sections of the pdf, you can always handwrite your answers, as long as the handwriting is neat and legible.
Submission: Your form will be considered "submitted" once you see green text at the top of the page. See image below for example of a fully submitted form. Your name field should match your I exactly.
Part 2, 5a-e : This is where your EAD will be sent. You must select an address that will be valid for the next months. If your address will change, you can ask a friend, relative or employer if you can add their name and U.
EADs will not be sent abroad. When using a friend, relative or employer's address , you must write their full name in the "In Care of Name if any " field.
The U. Postal Service will NOT forward government mail to a new address. If you live in an apartment, check the 'Apt. Include the last four digits of the zip code Ex. You will likely need to hand write this. S' address is correct in the my. Part 2, Items : Optional. If you already have your SSN, you can leave these items blank.
This option was added to the I in early October, If you applied prior to Oct , this option did not exist. Part 2, 21a: Visit the U. If you entered the U. Part 2, 21c Travel Document Number, if any : Most F-1 students will not have a separate travel document other than their passport, so this can be left blank Part 2, Enter the date of your most recent entry into the U.
Part 2, 23 : Enter the port of entry you last came through on the entry stamp in your passport. Part 3: Choose 1a, complete , and sign and date in 7a-7b. Your signature must be handwritten , as electronic signatures will not be accepted and may lead to the denial of your application.
If you are submitting the online OIA application , it is fine if you leave the signature blank until you get the draft copy back. That way, you will not need to print, scan, and upload the document. It may say ' Don't forget to sign! If you can't get the document to print without the warning message, it is fine. USCIS has started that including the warning will not impact your application. Still include this page with submission even if you do not need to complete it.
List Page 3, Part 2, Item 26 where requested here. List Page 2, Part 2, Item 12 where requested here. Review at OIA takes approximately one week. Due to high volume, we cannot accommodate expedite requests , so please plan ahead. You will receive an email confirmation when your new I is ready. Email providers vary in how the sort mail; make sure to check your junk mail folder, as well.
Save all previous Is for your records. You may be asked for them during future applications. I : Any errors that need corrected on your I will be noted in red ink. Once you get your draft back, make sure to review the I in detail along with the instructions above. If there is red on your I, you must print and complete a new one that includes the OIA suggestions in black ink.
OIA does not need to review other drafts. Be sure to print all 7 pages of the I, single-sided. If the screenshot address is different from your current address, it will not impact your OPT application.
However, as you are required by law to keep your address up to date, make sure you follow the SEVIS Address Update instructions to make any necessary changes to fulfill your F-1 address update requirement. Once you pick up these documents, then you can move on to Step 2. Form I Application for Employment Authorization include all 7 pages, and handwritten signature and date on page 4.
If filing online, you will input this information directly into the online I form. Two NEW passport photos in color that meet the U. Photos must be NEW and must not have been used in any previous application. If filing online, can just upload photo.
Payment: A personal check or money order payable to the "U. Department of Homeland Security". Do not use abbreviations. If filing online, you can just enter your payment information into the system when prompted. Either check or money order is fine. Payment must come from a U. If it is no longer accurate, you can cross it out on the check and hand write the new address that is associated with your bank account. This fee is non-refundable.
This is true whether you withdraw your application or if it is rejected. Copy of OPT I the newest one with the OPT recommendation on page 2 : Sign the I at the bottom of page 1 Do not send the original version of this I the actual I you received from us , send a copy instead and keep the original. Include page 1 and 2 of your I The third page with the regulatory information does not need to be included.
You do not need to include EAD copies from other statuses e. J-2, H-1B, etc. Don't have copies anymore? See our Application FAQ for guidance on how to meet this requirement. Copy of the identity page s of your passport. This includes the page that has your photograph and biographical information color photocopy recommended. You do not need to include a copy of your F-1 visa. If filing online, this form will not be needed. Double check your I address! Make sure: The address on the I will be valid at least months into the future If you are sending to friend or family member, their name must be on the address line of the I e.
If you are sending to a friend or family member's address, make sure the return address on your envelope has both of your names on it e. This will help make sure the application is sent back to you correctly in the unlikely event the post office sends it back to you as 'undeliverable'. Note: Cannabis Industry - be aware that the use and sale of cannabis is illegal at the federal level, although it may be legal in some U. To avoid possible deportation or inadmissibility from the US, students should avoid positions related to federally illegal substances.
If you decide to quit your job, or if you do not find a job, keep the unemployment rules in mind. Federal regulations require that all employment that you engage in while on OPT be directly related to your UC Berkeley majorAs part of your OPT reporting requirements, you must provide a description demonstrating a logical connection between your regular job duties and your major area of study.
I f the relationship between the job and a student's field of study is called into question by USCIS in the future, the burden of proof is on the student to demonstrate the relationship.
If you need assistance determining the fit of a job offer, we recommend discussing this with your academic adviser, the Career Center, or others in your field. Students may have multiple jobs and change jobs as many times as they wish during OPT, provided that all employment is directly related to their field of study and the work is a minimum of 20 hours per week.
No special permission is required to change employers. While on OPT, students must follow certain rules and regulations to maintain their proper F-1 status in the U. All students on OPT are required to report their current address and employment information within 10 days of any change.
They are also required to report if they end their OPT early. Time spent going to school should only be an incidental part of your stay in the United States. You must be maintaining the primary purpose of OPT. Beginning a full-time or degree-seeking program of study while on OPT is not allowed.
If returning to UC Berkeley, you'll need to obtain a new I to reflect your new degree. See below. While on OPT, you are subject to all applicable federal, state, and local taxes and must file a tax report. See more information at Taxes in the U. Health insurance is highly recommended due to the high cost of health care in the United States. The Tang Center has information about insurance plans that can be purchased after graduation.
BIO does not endorse any particular plans, and students should research and compare plans to determine if the coverage is sufficient for their needs. This allows the student to remain in the United States during the "gap. Students who have received a U. You are allowed a day grace period following your OPT expiration date to leave the United States, change your visa status, or transfer your F-1 record to a new school or program.
In some cases, you may want to pursue these options before the end of your OPT. If you remain in the United States past the end of your day grace period without transferring to a new school or progam or having applied for a timely filed Change of Status, you may begin accruing days of Unlawful Presence , which has serious consequences depending on the length of the overstay.
If your plan is to depart the United States after OPT, you must do so within your day grace period. You must stop working by the end date on your EAD card. After OPT : If you have a pending or approved change of status when or after your OPT ends, c heck with the immigration legal counsel working on your change of status application to determine what options are available to you and if you may remain in the United States past the end of your day grace period without a negative impact to your immigration status.
Please consult with the immigration legal counsel working on your case. If you wish to start a new program while on OPT, the remainder of the OPT must be forfeited before beginning classes with the new program. If you are beginning a program of study at another U. This must be done before the end of the day grace period following the OPT end date. If interested in joining a program that does not have the authorization to admit F-1 students and thus cannot issue an I, students should discuss their options with the International Student Adviser at that school.
BIO understands that many staff members, including academic advisors and medical care providers, are working remotely and may not be able to sign forms by hand. To accommodate this situation, we will accept the following types of signatures:. Skip to main content. F-1 Optional Practical Training OPT Optional Practical Training OPT is month work authorization available to F-1 international students who have been full-time students for at least two consecutive semesters and plan to seek employment in the United States in their fields of study.
The Basics OPT is a benefit of a student's F-1 status and is generally applied for in a student's last semester. Eligibility To be eligible for OPT, students must S ome students who have changed their visa status to F-1 and who have been continuously enrolled in a full-time degree program for at least 1 academic year may qualify for OPT prior to 1 year in F-1 status.
NOT have used more than 1 year of full-time CPT during their current degree level part-time doesn't count. Do I need a job to apply for OPT? What visa status will I have while waiting for OPT? Follow our transfer out of NYU procedure. I'm in my last semester and have applied for OPT. Can I be outside the US while it's pending? Is there anything else I should know? I'm in my last semester and haven't yet sent my OPT application to the government.
Can I send it from outside of the US? Do I still need handwritten signature on my I form or can it be a digital signature? I am on post-completion OPT and have been put on furlough. Is furlough considered unemployment that will then count towards my maximum unemployment days? How does this impact my OPT? If I am coming close to reaching my unemployment limit while on OPT, will I get additional time due to the current situation? Will time spent working remotely outside the United States count towards my unemployment limit?
I will be completing my post-completion OPT soon. I am concerned that I will not be able to leave the United States before my 60 day grace period ends. What options exist for me? Your OPT Application. When should I apply? How long does the application take? Which date should I select for the start date? What if my application is rejected or denied? I plan to move and I haven't received my "OPT card" yet. What do I do? My application is taking a long time.
Can I do anything to speed up the process? If your application has been pending for more than 5 months from the day the US government received your application, we suggest you take the following actions: Check the status of your application on the USCIS website. Let USCIS know that your case is outside normal processing time by submitting a case inquiry with them. You will have to submit your receipt number to them when you call. What do I do to get it?
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