Transcript Slide 1

Optional Practical Training
Workshop
Dr. Juliet Hurtig
PDSO at Ohio Northern University
1
Various Types of OPT

Post-Completion OPT:

After completion of all academic program and course
requirements
17-Month STEM OPT Extension:

Available following standard post-completion OPT for certain
students with a degree in a STEM field (*see list)
2
OPT: Eligibility and Limitations

Eligibility:



Currently in F-1 status
Have been a full-time student for one year or more
Limitations:



12 months of standard OPT per degree level
OPT employment must be in student’s field of study
12 months or more of full-time CPT= No OPT
 If LESS THAN 12 months full-time CPT (e.g. 11 months 29
days) = eligible for full amount of OPT
 Part-time CPT does not count towards OPT
3
OPT: Employment

Student may not begin employment until:




S/he has obtained an EAD (Employment Authorization Document)
from USCIS;
The OPT start date (according to EAD) has arrived; AND
S/he has completed all course requirements for the program of study
Qualifying Post-Completion employment :



Must average at least 20 hours a week
May be paid or unpaid (so long as the unpaid position meets U.S.
Labor Law standard for strictly volunteer work - it is your
responsibility to research these standards)
May have multiple employers and may change employers provided
all employment is directly related to area of study
4
OPT: Unemployment

Post-completion OPT (max. 12 months):


No more than 90 days of unemployment
STEM Extension OPT (max. 29 months):

No more than 120 days of unemployment
Accumulation of more than the allotted amount of
unemployment days constitutes a violation of F-1 status.

5
OPT: Calendar
2/15/13
5/15/13
7/15/13
7/14/14
Program end date
USCIS must receive OPT
application no later than 60
days following end date (and
no more than 30 days after
DSO recommendation); OPT
can begin no later than 60
days from program end date.
Standard OPT ends no
later than 14 months
from the program end
date (followed by 60
day grace period)
May apply 90 days
prior to program end
date
6
OPT: Reporting Requirements
 Students on post-completion OPT must report
to the DSO within 10 days, changes in:




Legal name
Local U.S. residential address
Employer information
Periods of unemployment
Please submit to the DSO the OPT Information
Update Form to report these changes.
7
OPT: Travel and Re-Entry

Traveling while on OPT :


Travel is always at your own discretion
The risks of individual situations vary, and we will discuss your
specific situation at your appointment with the DSO
While
on Post-Completion OPT, a student is
required to present at the U.S. Port of Entry:




Valid passport and F-1 visa (unless exempt)
I-20 with travel signature (valid 6 months - no longer 12 months);
Employment Authorization Document (EAD);
Employment letter (if returning to the U.S. after the employment
start date listed on the EAD).
If
outside the U.S. for more than 5 months, F-1
status and OPT authorization end.
8
OPT: Application Process
1. Student applies
for OPT with DSO
4. Student signs
I-20 and sends
application to
USCIS
5. USCIS service
center adjudicates
the application
2. DSO verifies
student’s eligibility
3. DSO issues new
I-20 with OPT
recommendation
and signs I-20
6. USCIS approves
application and
sends EAD
9
OPT: Application Process
***See Handout
Important points to remember:



Students ask DSO to recommend OPT within 30 days of the date
they expect their application to arrive at USCIS and no earlier (this
new I-20 will expire after 30 days).
The DSO will work with students at their individual appointments,
advising them in choosing requested OPT start date: however,
please remember this is ultimately their decision and responsibility
Students can not have a requested start date that is more than 60
days past their program end date
10
I-20 Page 3 with OPT Recommendation
11
Form I-765
12
Employment Authorization Document
(EAD)
13
Thank you for your attention.
QUESTIONS?
14
OPT: STEM Extension

The 12-month limit on OPT can be extended by
17 months, for a total of 29 months, for certain
students with a degree in a Science, Technology,
Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) field.

To apply, a student must obtain a new I-20 with DSO
recommendation, submit Form I-765 and supporting
documentation and pay the application fee.
15
OPT: STEM Extension

Additional Requirements:
Student must have successfully completed a Bachelor's, Master's, or
doctoral degree in a field on the DHS STEM Designated Degree
Program List
Student must be currently participating in a period of PostCompletion OPT, working for a U.S. employer, in a job directly
related to the student’s major area of study

STEM Extension 6-Month Reporting:
Schools are required to verify students are employed 6 months and
12 months after the STEM extension begins. Failure to do so will
result in the termination of a student’s F-1 status.
16
OPT: STEM Extension
Additional Requirements (continued):

Student must have a job offer for a paid position from an employer
registered with E-Verify*




There is currently no list available of companies registered with EVerify*
To find out if a company is registered with E-Verify*, it is
recommended you contact the company’s Human Resources
department and ask one of their representatives this question directly
Student must not have previously received a 17-month STEM Extension
While a timely-filed application is pending, employment eligibility is
extended up to 180 days.
17