Transcript Student OPT briefing - Fitchburg State University

Student OPT briefing
What is OPT?
• Optional Practical Training
– Temporary employment to gain practical
experience in the student’s field of study
– Frequently started immediately after graduation
(Post-completion), but can also be conducted
prior to completion of a degree program (Precompletion)
– Most students apply for Post-completion OPT
Maintaining F-1 Status
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To maintain F-1 status, students must:
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Pursue a full course of study and make normal progress towards the completion of the course of study.
Full-course of study and full-time study are defined in the regulations as follows:
Undergraduate student: at least 12 credit hours per term, or the equivalent (as determined by district
director in school approval process).
Graduate student: number of hours consistent with institutional definition (at Fitchburg State that is 9 credit
hours per term).
Maintain a valid passport
Attend the school they are authorized to attend (in essence, they should be attending the school DHS (the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security) last authorized for attendance - see the DHS stamp in the upper
right corner of the I-20 - or the school that has processed a transfer with the DHS).
Complete program before the expiration date on the current I-20 (if you are having problems with this you
must see the Director of International Education BEFORE your I-20 expires).
Follow DHS procedures for changing from one program or educational level to another (e.g., from B.S.
degree to M.S. degree).
Follow DHS procedures for transferring from one school to another
Limit on-campus employment to 20 hours a week while school is in session. (full-time on-campus
employment is permitted during vacation periods, such as summer, as long as student was enrolled full-time
the term before and intends to be full-time the following term).
Refrain from off-campus employment without authorization. Limit off-campus employment (with
authorization through economic hardship or part-time practical training) to 20 hours per week while school
is in session.
Eligibility for OPT
• F-1 students are eligible for a total of 12
months of OPT per educational level (BS/BA,
MS/MA, PhD)
• Student must be in F-1 status for at least two
complete semesters
• Student is completing a degree program (postcompletion)
• Total previous OPT authorization is less than
12 months in the current educational level