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Welcome to the Optional Practical Training Workshop Presented by Center for International Students and Scholars Student Center, 3rd Floor, Suite 310 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Tel: 781-891-2829 OPT Overview Optional Practical Training is employment in your field of study that is related to your field of study. You must have been a full-time student for at least one academic year in valid F-1 status or another valid nonimmigrant status that permits full-time study in the U.S. You must hold valid F-1 status, which means you must be physically present in the U.S., at the time of submitting your application. Once your OPT application is approved, you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card from USCIS. Sample EAD Card Pre-Completion OPT (before degree completion): Pre-completion OPT not used often at Bentley Can only be part-time (20 hrs or less/week) while school is in session Can be full-time (more than 20 hours/week) during annual vacations or breaks Any time used will be subtracted accordingly from the total 12 month allotment at a part-time or fulltime rate. OPT Post Completion (after degree completion) : When to Apply You may apply 3 months (90 days) prior to completion of your degree requirements. Completion of degree requirements for Spring semester is May 21, 2016 First day to submit OPT application is Feb. 23, 2016 OPT Post Completion: Logistical Details Submit your OPT application no later than 1 month before your graduation date. You do NOT need to have a job offer before you apply for OPT. You will be authorized to begin work after completion of your studies. You are eligible for a total of 12 months of OPT per higher educational level. You may only apply for full-time post-completion OPT (more than 20 hours/week). You may split your 12 months of OPT time IF you obtain 2 consecutive degrees at the same academic level. OPT Application: Forms to Submit to CISS CISS OPT Acknowledgement Form - including your start and end dates of requested employment. Completed and signed Form I-765. Copy of your I-94 Arrival Departure Record printed from the U.S. government website: https://i94.cbp.gov. Completed and signed Form G-1145. Registrar’s OPT Status Letter Request form. CISS OPT Acknowledgement Form CISS OPT Acknowledgement Form Complete OPT Acknowledgement Form to indicate: Start Date and End Date of Employment for Post-Completion OPT You must choose your start date of employment based on the day you complete all requirements for the degree. Your end date will be no later than one year (less a day) after your start date of OPT. Day After Completion of Studies 60 Days Later You may choose any day up to 60 days after your completion of studies date as your start date. I-765 Form Go to: http://www.uscis.gov/ portal/site/uscis I-765 Form 3. Use local address or CISS address: 1. 2. 3. 4. LAST, first Bentley University - CISS 175 Forest Street, STU 310 Waltham, MA 02452 I-765 Form 12. – 15. Refer to I-94 information. I-765 Form 16. (c) (3) (B) for Post Completion OPT I-765 Form 17. – 18. Leave blank I-765 Form Certification: Remember to sign, date and include your phone number in BLUE INK. I-94 Arrival Departure Record Print from the U.S. government website: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html G-1145 Form Registrar Letter Required to Confirm Your Graduation Date Request: An OPT Status Letter, found on the Registrar’s website at http://www.bentley.edu/files/2015/11/06/OPT-statusletter-request.pdf or by going to the Registrar’s office in Rauch and by completing the orange form. This letter requires 5 business days to complete because it triggers an audit of your academic record and confirms your actual graduation date. OPT Application: Additional Documents to Submit to CISS $380 personal check, cashier’s check or money order payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 2 color passport style photos. Write your full name in pencil on the back of the photos. Copies of pages 1 and 3 or 1 and 2 of any and all current and previous I-20s. Copy of passport identity/expiration date page. Copy of F-1 visa page and most current entry stamp. Copy of any previous EAD cards. Copies of proof of any other previous immigration statuses you held prior to being an F-1 student. CISS Review of Your Application: An advisor will review your OPT application A new I-20, reflecting your OPT recommendation will be provided to you with your OPT application. You must sign and date this new I-20. A copy of the I-20 will be made for you. Be sure to keep the original Form I-20 and send a copy of this newest I-20 to USCIS. You will receive an email to come to CISS and pick-up your OPT application. Note: Subject line will read: “Task Completion.” USCIS must receive your OPT packet within 30 days of the newly issued I-20, which will reflect the OPT recommendation on it. A copy of the OPT application will remain in your CISS file. OPT Application to Submit to USCIS $380 personal check 2 color passport style photos Completed and signed (in blue ink) Form I-765 Completed and signed Form G-1145 Copies of pages 1 and 3 and 1 and 2 of any and all current and previous I-20s Copy of your I-94 Arrival Departure Record Information Copy of passport identity/expiration page Copy of F-1 visa page and most current entry stamp Copies of proof of any other immigration statuses you held before becoming an F-1 student. Copy of any previous EAD cards Mailing your Application Make copies of everything you send to USCIS! Send the application by “Certified Mail” and “Return Receipt Requested” or via Overnight Courier. Be sure the application is received by USCIS within 30 days from the day your newest I-20 is issued. Tracking Your Application USCIS usually sends a receipt notice within 3-6 weeks of their receipt of your application. With the receipt notice, you can check the status of your application online using the EAC number: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/index.jsp Allow 2-4 months to receive the EAD card. Legal Start Date to Work You must be in possession of your EAD card and the start date of your employment must be either current or passed for you to be eligible to work. 90- Day Unemployment Rule While on OPT, if you are not employed for more than 90 days, you are in violation of your F-1 status. Reporting Requirements while on OPT U.S. law requires you to inform CISS of all employers for whom you work. Remember to update CISS with any change of employer EACH time you change your job. Please send an email to [email protected] and provide the following information within 10 days of gaining employment or change: Employer Name Employer address, including zip code Brief sentence describing how your current position is related to what you studied at Bentley University Start date of employment Is the employment full time or part time Employer Identification Number (not required but ‘highly recommended’ as per SEVIS) Change of U.S. address International address (in your home country) Change of your immigration status (and proof of the change) Reminders Once you receive your EAD, you are responsible for providing CISS with a copy of the card. A clear fax or scan is fine. If, while on OPT, you decide to leave the country and not return to use your OPT, you should send CISS an e-mail request stating that you are “completing OPT and leaving the United States”. Your SEVIS record will be “completed” and the date of your exit will be noted. Canceling your Application Changes to your OPT Application: If you change your mind and decide not to send your application, then notify CISS in writing so we may cancel your request in the SEVIS system. If you change your mind AFTER you have mailed your application, you may write to USCIS and ask them to cancel your request for OPT, though there is no guarantee this it will happen. What Happens when you Start a New Degree Program and you have not completed your OPT? Once your SEVIS record is transferred to the new school, you must stop working on your Bentley OPT. Traveling Abroad While on OPT Before Degree Completion, you are able to travel abroad without any additional concerns. After Degree Completion, but before you receive your EAD card, it is possible to travel with the receipt of your application, a valid passport and visa and an offer letter, (if you have one). It is not recommended that you travel under these circumstances. After Degree Completion and when you have your EAD card, you may leave the U.S. and re-enter in F-1 status as long as you have: Passport (valid at least 6 months in to the future) Valid F-1 visa If your F-1 visa will NOT be valid up0n your re-entry to the U.S., then you must apply for a new F-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Proof of employment is preferred for you to secure your new F-1 visa. EAD card I-20 with travel signature within the last 6 months Employer letter (if you have an employer) Life After OPT You have a 60-day grace period after the completion of your post-completion OPT. You may timely file for an H-1B visa, if you have a sponsoring employer. If you are in a STEM eligible major, and you find a job working for an E-Verify employer, you may apply for a 17-month OPT extension. Undergraduate Programs Actuarial Science Computer Information Systems Mathematical Science Sustainability Science Graduate Programs Human Factors in Information Design Information Technology Business Analytics Where to Find the OPT Process and Application on the CISS Website Go to this URL for information about OPT: http://www.bentley.edu/campus-life/studentdevelopment-services/international-students-andscholars/student-employment Then go to: “Optional Practical Training” and Click on the Power Point Presentation and other links for an overview of the process and for the forms and checklist necessary to complete your OPT Application