Transcript post-completion_OPT Training_ Part2

Post-Completion
Optional Practical Training
Part 2 : Applying for OPT
Stanford University
Bechtel International Center
You will be able to know…
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OPT Process Overview
OPT Application Instructions
After Mailing in Your Application
Additional OPT Resources
OPT Process Overview
Two-Step Process
Submit Online Request
Mail Application
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Submit on-line OPT request in Axess.
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Within 5-10 days, you will be notified your OPT
endorsed I-20 is ready for pick up.
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Prepare and mail OPT application with all supporting
documents to USCIS. (Do not E-file!)
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USCIS sends a Notice of Action (receipt notice) to
confirm the receipt of your application.
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Within 90 days, USCIS issues the EAD for you to begin
working.
E-Filing
Submitting the OPT application electronically (E-filing) is strongly
discouraged.
E-filing is not necessarily a faster process and instead, has caused
significant delays and complications for students.
E-filing is only recommended if there is not enough time for USCIS
to receive your OPT application before your grace period is over.
See an advisor if you are considering E-filing.
Application Timeline & Duration of
Status
I-Center
provides
endorsed I-20
2 weeks
EAD received
from USCIS
USCIS
processing time
90 days
14 months
 Departure
 Back to school/CDL
Transfer Out
 Change of status
60 days
Degree
Conferral
Notice of
Date
2 w.
60 days
12 months
Action
WAC #
Submit
req. docs
to I-Center
Submit new I-20* +
other docs to
USCIS
*I-20 < 30 days old.
Start OPT
(EAD)
EAD expiration
date
OPT Application
Instructions
OPT Application Instructions:
Step 1 Submit online OPT request
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Login to AXESS at http://axess.stanford.edu with your SUNET ID and password.
Click on the “Student” tab
At the bottom of the Student Center page, under the Employment subheading:
Select Create Practical Training Application Request and a menu of available F-1 employment
types will be displayed.
5. Select Post-Completion OPT and carefully read through the list of Student Eligibility Conditions
that you must confirm before selecting “I agree to the above” and “Continue”.
6. Your personal details will auto populate. You may edit your email address and under Education
Details, select your “Academic Program” if you have multiple active programs.
7. Training Details – Enter your requested start and end dates for OPT. (Choose your dates carefully
as it may not be possible to make changes later.) Enter in Describe the Proposed Employment for
Practical Training: Employment in the field of study of [name of your major].
8. Employer Details – This field is optional and can be left blank. The employer details will be printed
on the I-20 upon issuance of the OPT I-20. Note: A new I-20 will not be printed every time you
report a change in employment.
9. Previously authorized employment for Practical Training – A list of your previously endorsed
employment will be displayed in this section. If you have any previous Practical Training (i.e. from
another school) that is not indicated in this section, please enter the missing information in
Comment section at the bottom of the form.
10. Once the form is complete and you certify all the information is correct, you can Submit the form
for the I-Center to process. Or, you can Save the form and complete later.
OPT Application Instructions:
Step 2 Prepare and mail application
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Cover letter (see example in next slide)
G-1145 E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance – (Optional) Submit this one page form
to receive an electronic confirmation via email and/or text message that USCIS has received your
application. The benefit is that you will receive your receipt number upon the receipt of your
application in order to track it in the event your Receipt Notice is lost. There is no additional fee.
Download and complete the Form G-1145 and clip it to the first page of your application.
3. I-765 (see example in following slides)
4. Fee* – Check or Money Order
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Visit USCIS website for current I-765 filing fees. Make sure you enter the exact amount or your
application will be returned.
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Make payment payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security
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Include your I-94# (and your name and address if you are using a payment that does not have that
information already printed on it).
5. 2 Passport photos*
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Two identical full-frontal color passport photos following US passport photo requirements.
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Photos must be recent, no more than 30 days old.
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Photos can be taken at the I-Center’s Overseas Resource Center or at any other location offering
passport photo services.
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Print your name and I-94# on the back of both photos and on the envelope the photos will be placed
in.
*Attach both the fee and the envelope containing the photos to the I-765 form using paperclips
OPT Application Instructions:
Step 2 Prepare and mail application
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Photocopy of passport and visa stamp (if applicable)
Staple copy of the biographical page of your valid passport with your latest F-1 visa stamp (if you
have
one).
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If your visa stamp is in your expired passport, only include a copy of the visa page, do not include
a copy of the expired passport.
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Write your I-94# on the first page of this section.
7. Photocopies of all your previous I-20s
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Gather all your previously issued I-20s to make photocopies. If you do not have all your previous
I-20s, make a note of which ones you’re missing (especially if they were CPT/OPT I-20s) and list
them on your cover page.
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Staple the photocopies of page one and three of each I-20 together and paperclip all the I-20s
together.
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Write your I-94# across the top of page one of the first photocopied I-20.
8. Photocopy (front and back) of your paper I-94 or printout of your electronic I-94 record
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Note: Even if you obtain a new I-94 through travel, you do not need to update it with USCIS.
9. Photocopy of previously issued EAD card(s) (if applicable)
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Staple both photocopies together and write “Photocopy of front and back of previous EAD based
on [degree level]” on page one.
10. Photocopy of any previous USCIS-approved employment authorizations (if applicable)
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Write your I-94# on the first page of each previous USCIS-approved employment authorization.
OPT Application Instructions:
I-765 Form
 Download the I-765 form :
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-765.pdf from the USCIS
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website.
Make sure the form is the most current edition by
downloading directly from USCIS right before you submit
your application.
We recommend for you to complete the PDF using Adobe
Reader, http://get.adobe.com/reader/, but the form can be
completed by hand (write legibly).
Mac Users: We recommend for you to use Safari to open
the file, complete the form and print. If you use Firefox, first
download the PDF form to your desktop (or ‘Downloads’
folder), then open it with Acrobat Reader 9 or higher (NOT
Preview). You cannot open the PDF form from the
‘Download’ window of Firefox.
Check the appropriate box for “I am applying for:”
Check ONLY one box.
Permission to accept employment – if you are a new
applicant.
Replacement – if you lost your EAD card.
Renewal of my permission to accept employment – if you
are applying for a STEM extension.
Download I-765 Form
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-765.pdf
OPT Application Instructions:
I-765 Form
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(SECT 1: NAME) CAPITALIZE your family name only (not your first name).
(SECT 3 : ADDRESS) Enter a mailing address where you want your EAD card to be
sent (as noted on the cover letter). This should be an address where you can receive
mail for at least the next 90 days (we recommend 6 months)*.
All correspondence related to your application, including your EAD card, will be sent
to this address.
Any changes to the mailing address while the OPT application is pending may result
in significant delays. Either a Request for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS (which
requires your timely response) or the EAD may be lost in the mail. (Even if the OPT is
approved, you may not begin working until you receive the EAD).
If sending to your friend’s address, please indicate “in care of” by entering c/o [your
friend’s name]
*If you will be moving within the next 90-120 days, we recommend that you have your
card sent to either your P.O. Box or a friend’s address (somewhere in California).
Typical processing times can be up to 90 days or longer!
Change in I-765 Address While Application is Pending: You must file an online Form
AR-11 within 10 days of the change to notify USCIS: USCIS Online Change of
Address,
https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=coa. You should also send an email to the ICenter , [email protected] so we can follow up with USCIS on your
behalf.
Don’t forget that any changes to your residential address (independent of your I-765
mailing address) requires you to update your address in Axess within 10 days of
moving (as required by law).
Download I-765 Form
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-765.pdf
OPT Application Instructions:
I-765 Form
 (SECT 9: SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER) Enter your SSN if you
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have one. Otherwise, leave blank.
(SECT 10: ALIEN REGISTRATION NUMBER OR I-94#) Enter the
11 digit # on your I-94 card/record.
If you receive a new I-94 while your OPT application is pending, it
will not impact your application and you do not need to update this
information later.
(SECT 11: EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION FROM USCIS?) Only
enter “Yes” for previous OPT applications or any other work
authorization applications through USCIS. If you have only
previously applied for CPT, enter “No”.
If you enter “Yes”:
Which USCIS Office? This is the Service Center location: California
Service Center, Vermont Service Center, Nebraska Service Center,
Texas Service Center. Date: Enter the “Received Date” from the
Notice of Action (I-797C).
Results (Granted, Denied, or Pending) Enter the result of your prior
application(s) to USCIS and be sure to include all documentation of
it with your application. If you are missing this information, make a
note regarding the missing documentation (what you are missing
and the information pertaining to it) in your cover letter. If you have
a currently pending Pre-OPT application, enter the 13-character
Receipt Number beginning with three letters such as EAC, WAC,
LIN, or SRC.
12345678901 (11 digit # on the I-94 card)
Download I-765 Form
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-765.pdf
OPT Application Instructions:
I-765 Form
 (SECT 13: PLACE OF LAST ENTRY INTO THE U.S.) Enter
the city and state of your last entry point into the US. If you
flew into the SFO airport as your US port of entry, enter San
Francisco, CA.
 (SECT 16: ELIGIBILITY CATEGORY) Enter the correct OPT
eligibility code for Post-OPT. Failure to mark the appropriate
category will result in the application being returned.
 (CERTIFICATION: SIGNING THE I-765) Sign the document
correctly using black ink and be extremely careful to sign in
between the two signature lines. Your signature is digitized
and placed on your EAD card. If your signature even
touches the line, you will be asked to resubmit a new
signature, delaying your application.
C
A : Pre-OPT
B: Post-OPT
C: OPT Extension
3
B
Mailing Your Application
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F-1 OPT applications should be sent to one of the USCIS Lockbox facilities in Phoenix
or Dallas depending on the mailing address you entered on the I-765. You can locate
the lockbox address information at the bottom of the USCIS page, Direct Filing
Addresses for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization,
http://www.uscis.gov/i-765-addresses
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We strongly advise that you mail the application by “certified mail with return
receipt” or by courier service/express mail (e.g. FedEx) to have proof that your
application was received.
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Please make a photocopy of your application before mailing to USCIS for your record.
5. After mailing in your
application
After Mailing in Your Application
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Notice of Action – You will receive a receipt
notice within 2 weeks to confirm USCIS received
your OPT application. The Notice of Action will
have the following important information:
Receipt number preceded by 3 letters (e.g.
WAC123456789, if it is being processed by the
California Service Center (CSC)). You can use
your receipt number to track your application
online,
https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard.do.
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Received date - This is the date USCIS
acknowledges receiving your application to
determine how long your application has been
pending. The I-Center can submit an inquiry with
USCIS if your application has been pending for at
least 75 days from the received date.
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If no Notice of Action is received 2 weeks after
the application has been received, then contact
the CSC at: [email protected] and request
that a Notice be sent to you.
Security Checks During OPT
Processing
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OPT application may be subject to security check procedures and this may delay the
processing time of your OPT application.
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Applications subject to security check procedures may be sent to Washington D.C.
for further review.
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A security check can delay your application by 4-8 weeks, and sometimes longer.
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A security check can not be expedited.
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We have seen some students from Iran and China (in sensitive fields) who have had
delays in obtaining their EAD card in a timely manner.
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There is no way of knowing who will be subject to a security check.
• You could be subject if you are:
 Studying in a field listed in the “Technology Alert List”
 National or citizen of a country considered high risk to the U.S.
OPT Traveling & Reentry:
After Degree Conferral
Required documents to reenter the US while on OPT after your degree conferral date:
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Valid Passport
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Valid Visa
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I-20 endorsed for OPT
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I-20 with signature on P.3 no more than 6 months old
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EAD card
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Proof of Employment
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Proof of funding (salary)
Visa Renewal
You are eligible to apply for a new F-1 visa with the required OPT travel documents.
Note: The F-1 is a non-immigrant visa, so you will still have to demonstrate ties to your
home country.
NOTE: Traveling with a pending OPT application after your degree conferral date.
Being outside the US after your degree conferral date while your OPT application is
pending is NOT recommended.
• If there are any problems with your application (i.e. USCIS sends you a request to
submit additional information), it may be difficult for you to comply while outside the
US.
• In the event your OPT is denied/returned, your OPT is forfeited. You are not eligible to
apply for OPT if you are outside the US after your degree conferral date.
If you have to depart the US, make arrangements for someone to check your mail and
forward the EAD to you. USCIS will not mail EADs to a foreign address.
Additional OPT Resources
I-Center Resources:
 Axess OPT Submission Instructions,
http://icenter.stanford.edu/docs/students/online_post-OPT_instructions.pdf
step-by-step instructions on completing the online OPT request in Axess
 FAQ for F-1 Practical Training,
http://icenter.stanford.edu/students/current/employment_faq.html
 EAD Card Pending for More Than 75 Days,
http://icenter.stanford.edu/students/current/opt_pending_80_days.html
 Change of Address while OPT Application is Pending
http://icenter.stanford.edu/students/current/opt_change_address.html
Government Resources:
 USCIS My Case Status – To check the status of your OPT application with
USCIS
https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard.do
 SEVP Policy Guidance for OPT Regulations
http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/opt_policy_guidance_042010.pdf
End of Part 2
Thank you!