Transcript . What is OPT? Optional Practical Training is one year of work permission in a student’s field of study after completion of studies.

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What is OPT?
Optional Practical Training is one year of
work permission in a student’s field of study
after completion of studies at each degree
level.
 OPT should be viewed as a BENEFIT of
maintaining your F-1 status rather than a
RIGHT.
 The work MUST BE directly related to the
field of study on your I-20.

Completion of Studies:

Students can now apply for OPT 90
days prior to or within 60 days after
completion of program. We STRONGLY
recommend that you apply before your
program completion date as filing later
will cause delays in receiving your OPT
card.
How do I choose my OPT start
date?

Students may apply 90 days prior to program
completion or within 60 days after program completion.
For May 2014 grads:
Earliest date to apply – 2/17/2014
Latest date to apply – 7/14/2014
For August 2014 grads:
Earliest date to apply – 6/3/2014
Latest date to apply – 10/28/2014

The start date is your choice and must be within the 60
days after the program completion date.
 May Graduation date: 5/16/2014
 August Graduation date: 8/31/2014
Status on OPT
During OPT, F-1 status is dependent upon
employment.
 If a student accrues an aggregate of 90
days of unemployment on OPT, the student
loses his/her F-1 status.
 For OPT, “employment” includes full-time,
part-time, and volunteer work in a student’s
field of study.
 If you are traveling while on OPT, you can
use your OPT I-20 to travel.

Important Reporting Requirements
Students must report to DSO within 10 days
any changes in:
Student’s legal name
 Student’s residential address (USA)
 Employer’s name
 Employer’s address
 Student’s loss of employment

OPT Application Process
ISO can mail your application to the USCIS Texas Service Center or you can mail the application.

Submit your OPT application packet to
ISO.
 Come to ISO to sign and pick up OPT I-20
as soon as you receive email. We cannot
mail application without this signed I-20.
 You will receive an email from ISO to pick
up your OPT Receipt Notice.
 You will receive an email to pick up your
EAD (Employment Authorization
Document) card.
You CANNOT start working in the United
States until you have received your EAD
card AND the start date on the EAD card is
valid.
Other Facts
You are in F-1 status during OPT.
 You may renew your Driver’s License
while on OPT.
 You may access Glacier Tax prep
software from ISO in order to file your
taxes.
 You MUST also update any address
changes on your Topnet account under
“Local Off Campus.”

Travel on OPT
Travel outside the U.S. while on OPT is complicated and always
risky.

Most advisable:
 Travel BEFORE graduation and BEFORE OPT is
approved.
 AFTER Graduation and AFTER you have the OPT card.
More information will be included in your OPT packet.
We suggest that you DO NOT travel outside the U.S. with an
expired visa while on OPT.
In order for ISO to issue your OPT I-20, please
submit the following:
•
FORM I-765 (in this packet) – FILLED OUT IN BLUE INK
•
Student Request for OPT. Submitted via iSTART.
•
2 passport size photos (see sample and specifications in this packet).
•
Personal check or money order made out to the “Department of Homeland Security” for
$380. No temporary checks.
•
2 photocopies of your visa.
•
2 photocopies of the front and back of your I-94 card (even if it is blank) OR 2
photocopies of your electronic record and the passport stamp from your last entry.
•
2 photocopies of your Passport ID pages with expiration date.
•
Photocopy of any previous EAD card (s) if applicable.
•
Hand-written permission for another individual to pick up your OPT card (if applicable).
Student Request for OPT via iSTART
Log in to iStart as Full Client.
• Click on F-1 Student Services.
• Then select:
 F-1 Student Request for OPT OR
 Public Health F-1 Grad Student Request for OPT (if in Public Health
program)
STEM OPT
STEM is a 17-month extension of OPT for those
in STEM fields.
 The list, criteria and instructions can be found
on our website
(http://www.wku.edu/isss/current/stem_opt.php).

H-1B Cap Gap I-20
(Applies to For-Profit Companies Only)



If a student’s employer has applied for his/her H1B work visa in a timely manner for the next fiscal
year, the student’s employment eligibility is
automatically extended.
The automatic extension terminates when USCIS
rejects, denies, or revokes the H-1B petition.
If eligible for the H-1B Cap Gap I-20, please
contact your ISO Advisor as soon as H-1B is filed.
Congratulations on
your Graduation!