Transcript ualr.edu

Optional Practical Training
International Student Services
Revised April 6, 2015
Immigration Vocab Quiz
• USCIS
– United States Citizen and Immigration Service
• This is who we refer to as “immigration”
• For OPT, you send your application to USCIS for processing
• DSO
– Designated School Official
• International Advisors process immigration for F-1 & F-2 non-immigrants
• SEVIS
– Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
• Database that contains F and J student records
• When we update your SEVIS record, you will usually receive an updated I20
Immigration Vocab Quiz
What do they stand for?
• EAD
– Employment Authorization Document
• Also referred to as a “work permit”
• E-Verify
– Electronic Verification of employee work authorization
• Optional government program
• If your employer uses E-Verify, you will take extra precaution to update your
information correctly with your DSO
• STEM graduates must work for an E-Verify employer in order to be eligible
for the STEM Extension
• Program End Date
– The last official day of finals in your last semester
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•
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Not the last day of class
Not graduation
Not your last day of finals
8 CFR 214.2 (f)(10)
Regulations for OPT come from 8 Code of Federal
Regulations 214.2(f)(10).
This detailed code outlines everything you need to know to
stay legal in the US as an F-1 on OPT.
Optional Practical Training
Optional
Not required for your degree. Generally after
graduation.
Practical
You’re practicing what you learned in the
classroom. Must have one academic year in
program before eligible.
Training
Must be in your major field of study. Not applicable
to past degrees.
OPT Basics
• 12 months of standard OPT
– 17 month STEM extension
• Optional Practical Training
– You do not need a job offer to apply for OPT
• OPT is still in F status
– Employer does not sponsor your immigration
• Choose OPT or higher degree
– You can apply both for OPT and admission. OPT ends
when you start a new degree
• You can travel with a valid visa
OPT Start Date
• You choose your start date any time in your
Grace Period.
– Earliest: Day after program end date*
– Latest: 60 days after program end date
• To begin employment you must have:
• EAD and reached your OPT start date
• Allowed 90 days of unemployment on OPT
– Starts on your start date
– 90 days unemployment throughout all of standard OPT
Remember: Program End Date is the last official day of finals in your last
semester.
Choosing OPT Start Date
• How to choose your start date
– If you know you will have a job, early start date
– If you think you’ll have trouble finding a job, choose a
later start date
May
October
June
July
May 12
Program End Date
60 day Grace Period
OPT Start date can be anytime in this period.
August
September
Early OPT Start Date
• If you know you will have a job, choose an
early start date
90 Days of Unemployment
begins on your OPT start date
May
October
June
May 12
Program End Date
May 13
OPT Start Date
Can begin working
July
August
August 12
Must have employment
September
Late OPT Start Date
• If you think you’ll have trouble finding a job,
choose a later start date
May
October
June
May 12
Program End Date
July
July 12
OPT Start Date
You cannot work until the
OPT start date and you
receive your EAD
August
September
October 12
Must have employment
If you Apply Late
• It’s always best to apply early
• Waiting to apply for OPT leads to reduced
work opportunity.
May
October
June
July
May 12
Program End Date
August
September
September 12
90 day processing time
June 12
Apply for OPT
In this situation, you
loose 2 months of
OPT.
July 12
End of Grace Period.
Latest OPT Start Date
No OPT Applications will
be processed the last or
first 2 weeks of the
semester
Applying for OPT
Ualr.edu/international/opt
Applying for OPT
Ualr.edu/international/opt
Step One: OPT Seminar
• Attend the lecture in person or view the
online slides
• You must complete this before your OPT
appointment
• Submit the completed OPT Seminar Guide
at appointment
Step Two: Student Request for
OPT
• Submit online request
• May take 15-20 minutes to complete
• Have you passport available for reference
• You will receive an
email notification
when the form has
been submitted
• An ISS advisor will
also receive an email
notification with your
responses.
Step Three: Program End Date
Verification
• Once you submit your Student Request
for OPT, you will receive an email with this
form pre-filled.
• Print the form and take it to your advisor
• Graduate students will also take it to the
Graduate School
• You cannot schedule an OPT appointment
until you have received all signatures
needed.
Step Four: Complete I-765 and G1145
• Find detailed instructions for completing
these forms at ualr.edu/international/opt
• Type directly into the form, print, and sign
• Use a secure, permanent address or the
ISS address
I-765 Application for Employment
Authorization
• This is the official application you’ll send to
USCIS.
Instructions for Completing I-765
• Use a permanent address
– Use the ISS address if you may move in the
next 6 months
– Using our address will slow down the process by
2-3 days
Instructions for Completing I-765
• If you have no SSN, leave blank
• Use I-94 number
– Available at www.cbp.gov/i94
Instructions for Completing I-765
• Check yes only if you have had an EAD in
the past.
– CPT is not in mind here
– If no, skip to question 12 in the second column
Instructions for Completing I-765
• If yes, complete the second part of
question 11.
– Find information on previous approval notice
– A DSO where you applied for the EAD can look
this up in your SEVIS record
Instructions for Completing I-765
• Check your I-94 for entry data
– www.cbp.gov/i-94
– Or check passport entry stamp
Instructions for Completing I-765
• 14. Latest Entry Visa
– Will only be different from status (F-1) if you did
a change of status within the U.S.
– Otherwise: F-1 Students
• 15. Student
Instructions for Completing I-765
• 16. For Standard Post-Completion OPT:
(C) (3) (B)
– For pre-completion: (C) (3) (A)
– For STEM Extension: (C) (3) (C)
• Not for STEM graduates filing first OPT
Instructions for Completing I-765
• 17. Only when filing STEM Extension
– Not for STEM graduates filing first OPT
– Degree = Major according to I-20
– Ask your employer E-Verify Information
– Must match the database
Instructions for Completing I-765
SIGN HERE
• Be sure to Sign and Date
– Applications without a signature will get denied
– Sign between the solid lines
Step Five: Purchase a money order for
$380
• Payable to US Department of Homeland
Security
• If you use a check, be very careful it does
not bounce!
• Purchase money orders from the post
office, Wal-Mart, Kroger, etc.
Step Six: Get 2 Travel-Sized Photos
• Purchase photos from Walgreens, post
office, etc.
• Must be on a white background
• Must meet other criteria. ISS advisor will
review during appointment.
Step Seven: Make Copies of Immigration
Documents
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Passport Bio Page
Visa Page
Arrival stamp for latest arrival (often opposite the visa)
I-94
– Retreive from cbp.gov/i94
– Front and back if you have the card from an arrival prior to April
2013
• Any previous I-20 with a reduced course load or
employment authorization
• I-20s for any dependents in the United States
• EAD from a previous employment authorization, if
applicable
Step Eight: Schedule an OPT Appointment
• Once you have completed all the previous steps,
schedule an appointment with an ISS advisor
– OPT packets will not be reviewed during walk-in
hours
– OPT packets will not be reviewed the first two or last
two weeks of the semester
• Schedule an appointment by emailing
[email protected], calling 501-6837566 or using Google Calendar
At your OPT Appointment
• Advisor will review your eligibility and
recommend you for OPT in SEVIS.
• We will review your documents and offer any
suggestions
• You will receive your updated I-20
recommending you for OPT
• We will scan a copy for your immigration file
• You will get an pre-addressed envelope to mail
your documents to USCIS by US postal service
After You Apply
• Receive delivery confirmation
• Receive email from USCIS with receipt number
– Track your case status online
• You may receive a Receive Request for
Information if there are any questions about
your application
– You must respond within 21 days
• OPT Approval & EAD Card
– Request a new I-20 from ISS
Employment Authorization
Document (EAD)
• Allows you to work
– anywhere in the US
– in your field of study
– during the dates on your EAD
• Use this to renew your drivers license instead of
I-20
While on OPT
• Report via online form: www.ualr.edu/international/optupdate
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Change of address
Change of employment
Loss of employment
Abandoning OPT
• OPT is still F status
– So you must maintain all regulations related to your
F-1 OPT status
– Carefully read the OPT Regulations
International Travel on OPT
• Must have a Valid Visa
– OPT is not a reason for F-1 renewal
• Must have EAD card
• Must have a job offer letter
• Must have I-20 travel signature
– Good for one year
No Study While on OPT
• If you begin a new program or transfer to
another university, you will lose your OPT
• If you do not graduate as expected
– See an ISS advisor as soon as possible.
Drivers License Issues
• You may have difficulty renewing your
drivers license if your program has ended
and you are still waiting on your EAD.
• Different states have different laws for
drivers license issuance.
Health Insurance Coverage
• After graduation, you will not longer be
automatically enrolled in UALR’s health
insurance.
• If you would like to continue your coverage with
LewerMark while you look for employment, you
may enroll in the insurance coverage before
the semester start date.
• Graduates may continue to enroll in coverage
through LewerMark up to 12 months after
graduation as long as there has been no break
in coverage.
Special Considerations for PhD Students
• PhD candidates who have completed all
required coursework and only have to defend
their dissertation can apply for OPT using
their dissertation defense date rather than
the last day of the final semester.
• If you do not successfully defend your
dissertation, you will continue on OPT
through the year while you also complete
your dissertation.
STEM Extension
• Graduates with certain degrees are
eligible for an extra 17 months of OPT
• Apply between 6-3 months before your
standard OPT expires
• You must work for an E-Verify employer
• Only one STEM Extension per lifetime
Transitioning to H1 B
• Non-exempt employers have an April 1 /
October 1 timeline
–Employer can sponsor on April 1
–H1B starts October 1
•Eligible for Cap Gap if OPT ends between
April 1 and October 1
–New I-20 for cap gap
• H1B permits study
Questions?
International Student Services
2801 S. University Avenue
EDU 101
Little Rock, AR 72204
[email protected]
501-683-7566