Transcript Post Completion OPT - ITU.edu

Post Completion OPT
ITU Admissions
Topics Covered
 What is OPT
 Who is Eligible
 How to Apply
 When to Apply
 Forms
 Mailing your Application
 USCIS Notification and Approval
 Travel
Optional Practical Training
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary
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employment authorization that gives F-1 students an
opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to
a practical work experience off campus.
12 months available at each degree level for use either
during or following program completion
Full-time during periods of recess
Part-time when school is in session, deducted at half the
rate
Full-time after degree completion - Post Completion OPT.
OPT Eligibility
• Must be maintaining full time student status for at
least one full academic year preceding the submission
of your OPT application
• Student is eligible for 12 months of practical training
for each change to a higher educational level
• Previously approved OPT periods within the same
degree level will be deducted from the 12 months total
• A student who uses a year or more of full-time
Curricular Practical Training (CPT), is not eligible for
OPT
Type of Employment
• Job must be directly related to your academic field of study
• Not employer specific – you can change employers and/or
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have multiple employers
You do not need a job offer to apply for OPT
Please inform ITU within 3 months regarding your
employment. We need to update this information in
SEVIS, or else your I20 gets terminated.
You can work as volunteer too.
No special permission is required to change employers or
terminate your employment. However, you must notify
ITU about it.
How to Apply
OPT request form which is on
www.itu.edu website and submit to the front desk.
• It might take 3 Business days for us to process the
requirements.
• Upon receipt of new I-20 with ITU OPT recommendation,
send application to immigration, USCIS within 30 days.
• Please fill out
When to apply
• At the earliest possible date! Immigration can
take 90 days or longer to process your application.
• Submit the documents to USCIS within 30 days of
receiving I20 from ITU.
• The application for post-completion OPT must
received by USCIS no later than 60-days after
your end of completion.
When to Apply
 The earliest you can apply for OPT is 90 days
before your "completion date." The latest date the
USCIS will accept your application is 60 days
after your completion date.
 OPT applications must be submitted to USCIS
within 30 days of receiving an OPT I-20 from
ITU.
How to choose start date
• Your last day of study at ITU - 05/10/2010
• You can start applying from 02/10/2010 until
07/09/2010. But we recommend you to apply
before 05/10/2010
• Your OPT date can start from 05/11/2010 to
07/10/2010
• The OPT period will be for 12 months.
Things to consider in Date
selection
• You can not start working before the start date of
OPT. Cannot begin employment prior to start date
requested
• Employable only during USCIS approved period
• Once application submitted to USCIS, cannot
change dates requested
Application Material
• I-765 Form I-765 form
• 2 Photos per passport photo specifications
• Original OPT I-20. Please do not forget to sign
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your I20. Make sure keep a copy of the OPT
I-20 with you.
Copy of I-94 (front and back)
$340 Check made payable to US Department of
Homeland Security
Print SEVIS ID no. on the memo section of
check.
Photo Specification
• Submit 2 Identical Passport size photos within
30 days of filling of application.
• The photographs must have white to off white
background. Must be printed on thin paper
with glossy finish.
• Go to I-765 Instructions for further detail
• Write I-94 number and your name on the back
of the photo by pencil.
Check Specifications
 http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb
95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?
gnextoid=73ddd59cb7a5d010VgnVCM1000v0048f3d6
a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVC
M10000045f3d6a1RCRD
Important changes in your
I20
• Please make sure we make these changes before
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requesting your OPT
Change program end date to 05/10/2010.
Student needs to be last session.
Make sure that the I20 says that student is proficient in
English.
Or else, your OPT request may be denied.
Your address in the SEVIS should match with the
address that you write on I-765. Please do not change
your address until you receive EAD card, as USCIS do
not forward mail to the new address. You might lose
your EAD card and OPT.
Fields required for OPT
Request
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Employment Start Date
Employment End date
Full time/ Part time
Explain how the employment is related to
course work.
• Has the student completed one full year
of academic study.
New I-20 With OPT
Recommendation
YALE
Ellie
N0000000000
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Documents for Mailing
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I-765 Form I-765 form
2 Photos per passport photo specifications
Original OPT I-20 Please sign this I20.
Copy of I-94 (front and back)
$340 Check made payable to US Department of
Homeland Security
• Double check
• Copy all these documents for your ref. as well
as submit one copy to ITU.
Mailing application
 We recommend students to send
the applications either by Certified
mail with return receipt or by
Courier with the signature
required.
Mailing Address USPS
• For students staying in california
• USCIS Phoenix Lockbox
 USCIS
P.O. Box 21281
Phoenix, AZ - 85036
Private Courier
For students staying in California
 USCIS
Attn: AOS
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ - 85034
After Application Submission
RECEIPT NOTICE FROM USCIS:
 You will get a receipt notice from USCIS within 2-4 weeks.
 Check for errors. If your name is spelled incorrectly, contact ITU.
 Follow the progress of your case online at Case Status Report
using the WAC number assigned on your receipt notice. You can
sign up for email notifications about your application when you
check the status of your case online.
 You may get a request for further evidence once your case is
reviewed by a USCIS officer. If you receive such a request,
respond immediately. Keep a copy of what you return to USCIS.
 USCIS processing can take up to 90 days!!!
OPT Approval & EAD Card
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When your OPT is approved,
you will receive both an
Employment Authorization
Document (EAD card) and a
USCIS Notice of Approval
that looks like your receipt
notice. The notice generally
arrives before the card. At the
discretion of your employer, if
the notice so indicates, it may
be used in lieu of your EAD
card to begin employment (and
to complete an I-9 form), but
only for 30 days.
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If your card does not arrive
within 10 days of receipt of the
approval notice, contact ITU.
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Please send us photocopy of
your card once you receive it.
Travel Issues
 Valid Passport
 Unexpired F-1 Visa Stamp in passport
 Original OPT I-20 (endorsed by ITU
within the last 6 months)
 EAD card not valid for Re-entry.
 Letter of current temporary
employment - Mandatory.
New reporting
requirements during OPT
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Your Name
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Your Residential address
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Your Phone and email address
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Employer name
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Employer address
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Start Date of Employment
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Student need to get employment whether voluntary within 3 months of starting of OPT,
or else, OPT gets cancelled and you become out of status.
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More than 10 days of unemployment (During the initial 12-month OPT, students may
not accrue a cumulative total of more than 90 days of unemployment. Periods of up to
10 days between the end of one job and the beginning of the next job will not be
included in the calculation for the time spent unemployed.)
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Date of exiting the U.S (You need to provide date of exit if you decide to exit the U.S
and complete your OPT status prior to the end date of your OPT)
You will also be required to update this information within 10 working days of any
changes.