Transcript Post-Completion Optional Practical Training

Post-Completion
Optional Practical Training
Part I : Before you apply for OPT
Stanford University
Bechtel International Center
You will be able to know…
• Introduction to Optional Practical
Training
• Things You Should Know Before
Applying for OPT
Introduction to
Optional Practical Training
What is OPT (Optional Practical
Training)?
OPT is temporary work authorization that allows you to gain work experience
directly related to your major field of study at a U.S. company or organization.
Post-OPT is work authorization after the completion of a degree program.
Optional Practical Training requires work permission from US Citizenship and
Immigration Service (USCIS), who issues an Employment Authorization
Document (EAD) as proof of your work authorization.
Maximum period of OPT: 12 months (29 months in some cases, see
information on STEM OPT extension,
http://icenter.stanford.edu/students/current/STEM_ext.html.)
Post-Completion OPT can only be full-time.
What is OPT (Optional Practical
Training)?
•
You have been enrolled
full-time for at least an
academic year by the
time you graduate.
•
You have applied to
graduate.
•
You seek employment
that is directly related to
your field of study.
•
You are NOT eligible for
Post-OPT if any of the
following situations
apply to you:
Note: No job offer is required
to apply for OPT.
• You have already been granted 12 months of OPT for the
same degree level.
• You have completed 12 months of full-time CPT.
• You have returned from a leave of absence, but have not
completed one academic year in valid F-1 status.
• You have applied for and received approval of a change
of status from F-1 to any other visa type.
• You are outside the US at the time of filing your OPT
application. You must be in F-1 status to apply. (You have
no visa status when you are outside the us.)
• You are outside the US after your degree conferral date.
You may not apply from outside the US nor are you
eligible to reenter the US to regain your F-1 status during
the grace period. Your F-1 status will have completed,
ending all benefits associated with the F-1.
Duration of Status & OPT Timeline
 Departure
Earliest Start
Date of OPT
 Back to
school/CDL
Transfer Out
 Change of status
Latest Start
Date of OPT
1
2
3
4
ACADEMIC
60 Days
12 Months
60 Days
Degree
Start Date
Degree Conferral
Date
OPT Completion
Date
 : Studies
 : Grace period after completion of studies
 : OPT (should be done within 14 months after completion of studies)
 : Grace period after completion of OPT (no school, no work)
Things you should know
before applying for OPT
Points to Consider
When Applying for OPT
90 Day Processing Time
If You Do Not Know If You Will
be Graduating
Calculating Your OPT Dates
Degree Conferral Date: 6/15/2014
Earliest OPT Requested Start Date:
6/15/2014
Latest OPT Requested Start Date:
8/14/2014
Requesting 12 Months of OPT:
Start: 6/15/2014
End: 6/14/2015
•
Apply early for OPT! USCIS can take up to 90 days to process OPT work
authorization. There is no guarantee they will process it faster.
•
You may not begin employment until you receive your EAD card and the dates
are valid.
•
Only students who are certain they will be graduating should apply for Post-OPT.
•
If you apply for Post-OPT and fail to graduate, you risk your OPT being denied.
•
If the OPT has been approved and you fail to graduate, you will be responsible
for equally maintaining your student status and your Post-OPT status at the same
time.
•
If you are not sure if you will actually be able to graduate by your intended date
and wish to apply for Post-OPT, speak with an International Student Advisor to
discuss you options.
•
When applying for OPT, you have to choose a start and end date for the period of
OPT you are requesting.
•
Start Date of OPT: This date can be as early as your degree conferral date and
no later than 60 days after.
•
End Date of OPT: This date will be one year later if you are eligible and applying
for the full 12 months of OPT.
•
You would be eligible for less than 12 months if you were granted PreCompletion OPT for this same degree program or have been granted a portion of
OPT for another F-1 program at the same degree level.
Pre-Completion OPT – Calculating the Remaining Period of OPT: Deduct the
number of days you were granted Pre-OPT from the 12 months(365days) of
OPT. If you were approved for part-time Pre-OPT, deduct at a half time rate (e.g.
60 days of part-time Pre-OPT only counts as 30 days of full-time OPT).
•
Deadlines
Failure to meet these
deadlines will result in
either a denial or
rejection of your OPT
application!!


• You may apply for Post-OPT up to 90 days before your
degree conferral date and no later than 60 days after.
• USCIS cannot receive your application any earlier than 90
days prior to your degree conferral date.
• USCIS must receive your application no later than 60 days
after the degree conferral date.
• Once the OPT I-20 has been issued, USCIS must receive
the OPT application within 30 days.
• If your application is denied or rejected, you will not be
eligible to reapply if your grace period is over.
Denial of OPT application = Your application is processed, including the application
fee, resulting in a denial.
Rejection of OPT application = Your application is not processed and is returned to
you, including the application fee. When this happens, you will most likely have to
request for a new I-20 if it has been 30 days or more from the I-20 date.
Post-OPT Requirements
To maintain your F-1 status while on POST-OPT, you are required to do the following:
• Update your non-Stanford email address in Axess
Make sure this is an email address you check regularly.
• Update your SEVIS US address in Axess within 10 days of moving.
This address must be a physical residential address and not a P.O. Box.
•
Report all periods of employment and unemployment once your Post-OPT begins,
within 10 days of any change in your employment status.
Students update their employment status on the I-Center site,
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/icenter/employmentinfo.fb.
Students should always keep documentation for their own records of the employment
information they report.
•
Report changes to your visa status (e.g. change to H-1B) on the I-Center site,
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/icenter/employmentinfo.fb.
•
Report early completion of your Post-OPT on the I-Center site,
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/icenter/employmentinfo.fb.
Report your final departure date from the US in F-1 status if you decide to forfeit the rest
of your OPT period and leave the US. This means that you are requesting that we
complete your F-1 record and you no longer wish to continue your OPT.
•
Do not accrue any more than 90 days of unemployment.
Unemployment While on OPT
•
You can not accrue any more than an aggregate total of 90 days of unemployment
once your OPT begins.
If you accrue 90 days of unemployment, you automatically lose your OPT and must
depart the US by the time you reach the 90th day of unemployment.
Contact the I-Center if you are approaching 90 days of unemployment.
•
If you volunteer or intern without pay at least 20 hours per week in your area of study
(where this does not violate any labor laws), this time would be considered as
employment for OPT and it will not be counted against the 90 days of unemployment.
Things to Know
•
You may legally remain in the US while your OPT application is being processed.
•
You may not begin employment until you receive your EAD card and the dates are
valid.
•
You cannot take classes while on OPT except for incidental classes.
•
After graduation, you cannot work on campus unless you have OPT authorization and
the job is related to your field of study.
•
After your H-1B effective date, your F-1 OPT status automatically ends. --> You must
contact the I-Center of your change of status by reporting the change here,
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/icenter/employmentinfo.fb. Also, email a copy of your H-1B Notice of
Approval to [email protected].
•
You have a 60 day grace period after your EAD card expires to prepare to go home,
transfer to a new academic program in the US, or change your status.
End of Part 1
Thank you!