Transcript Employment Workshop - University of Illinois Springfield

Employment Workshop
For international students
2014-2015
Employability depends on your
immigration status ---
What is your status?
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(not – what is your visa)
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NEVER work without immigration authorization –
unauthorized employment can not be fixed in
immigration
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What is volunteering?
F-1s
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On campus – up to 20 hours per week during the semester
and full-time during breaks
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Off campus due to severe economic hardship – after one
academic year, doesn’t happen much any more *
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Curricular Practical Training – after one academic year,
must be for academic credit **
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Special Student Relief – right now, only Syria
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Employment with an International Organization – mostly in
Washington, D.C.
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Optional Practical Training and STEM *
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Available after 1 full academic year in program
•
Usually available only after 1 full academic year in program
Non-SEVIS employment issues
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Apply for Social Security Number
Complete an I-9 – proof of identity and proof of work
permission
Taxes
 Money withheld from every paycheck (some pay checks
are $0!)
 Amount depends on tax treaty
 All international people must complete tax forms and
mail to Internal Revenue Service by April 15 even if
they did not make any money
 Generally, students receive some of the money back
that was previously withheld.
OPT and STEM –
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most common at UIS
12 months full-time per level of study
STEM – 17 months, once per lifetime
Job directly related to major and appropriate for level of
study
Pre-OPT is subtracted from Post-OPT
STEM fields eligible for 17-month extension and must be
with an eVerify employer
Work permission has specific start and end dates indicated
on EAD card
Can not be unemployed more than 90 days during regular
OPT and no more than 30 additional days during STEM
Must report address and employment information to UIS
within 10 days (AR-11)
OPT/STEM application process
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Read the OPT handout (and STEM handout)
http://www.uis.edu/internationalstudentservices/wp
-content/uploads/sites/95/2014/03/OPT-formpdf.pdf
Attend an employment workshop
Prepare all documents
 Advisor’s
form
 I-765
 G-1145
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Make an appointment with ISS – receive new I-20
Mail application within 30 days
Can apply before getting a job offer
Advisor’s Form
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Student
 Name,
UIN, SEVIS ID, Major, expected graduation
date
 Requested
Must
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beginning and ending date
be within the 60 days following graduation
Advisor, Department Chair, etc.
 Certify
the student’s information regarding major
and graduation date
 Name,
signature, email, etc.
Determining what start date to request
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Usual issues
 Do
you already have a job offer?
 Monday,
1st or 15th of the month
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Must be between graduation day and 60 days later
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Won’t get EAD card until at least 90 days after
application is mailed
 And
can’t begin working until you have the card
Post Completion OPT Timeline
150 day application time
60 days after graduation
– start date on card
~~Actual work start date~~~~~~~~~~~
- No more than 90 days unemployment after start date on card
90 days before
graduation
Graduation
date
60 days after
graduation
G-1145 – e-Notification of
Application/Petition Acceptance
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Name
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Email address
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Telephone number
I-765 – Application for Employment
Authorization – Type this!!!!!!!!!!!
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Permission to accept employment
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1. Name (family name in CAPS)
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2. Other names
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3. U.S. Mailing Address – sometimes changes SEVIS address, must be where
you plan to be living in 90 days, some people use our office, use correct zip
code!
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4. Country of Citizenship/Nationality
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5. Place of Birth
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6. Date of Birth
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8. Marital Status
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9. Social Security Number – if you have one
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10. Alien Registration Number or I-94 Number
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11. Have you ever before applied for employment authorization from USCIS?
(First)
(Middle)
7. Gender
I-765 continued
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11 continued – which USCIS office, dates and results
12. Date of last entry to the U.S.
13. Place of last entry to the U.S.
14. Status of Last Entry
15. Current Immigration Status
16. Eligibility Category: pre(c)(3)(A), post(c)(3)(B), STEM
(c)(3)(C)
17. required information for STEM
 Degree
 Employer’s name in E-Verify system
 E-Verify number
Signature, telephone number and date
Application materials & order
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Check for $380 made out to Dept. of Homeland
Security
Two recent photos with name and I-94 written on
back (not more than 1 month ago)
G-1145
I-765
Copy of new I-20 from ISS office requesting OPT dates
– make sure you have signed the bottom on the first
page
Copy of previous I-20, passport, visa and I-94
Address to mail application depends on
where you live
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Read our handout for specific information or
check online at www.uscis.gov/i-765
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Regular mail to PO Boxes in Phoenix, AZ or Dallas,
TX
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Express mail to physical addresses in Phoenix, AZ
or Lewisville, TX
Application Timeline - OPT
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Eligible to apply from 90 before graduation up to 60 days
after graduation
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Must mail application within 30 days of new I-20 being
generated with requested OPT dates
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Students will receive a receipt notice by email, text or
regular mail indicating their receipt number
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Students can track progress of their petition with the
receipt number
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Processing of EADs usually takes 90 days
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Can not begin employment until card is received and the
start date on the card has arrived
Differences for STEM application
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Eligible to apply up to 120 before end of OPT
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Application must include evidence of degree completion
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Application must include evidence that first 12 months of
OPT were conducted appropriately – directly related to
major, appropriate for level of study, no more than 90
days of unemployment
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This means include copies of job offer letters, pay stubs,
etc.
Can extend I-9 with EAD – or for 180 days with receipt
notice
Additional OPT Issues
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Employment Reports within 10 days
 Your
name and physical address – AR-11 and UIS
 Job title and start date
 Company name and address
 Supervisor’s name and contact information
Requesting a STEM extension I-20 – email and
employer report
 L-1s and jobs outside the U.S.
 Cap Gap and H-1s
 Travel before, during and after OPT/STEM
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