• What is OPT
• Eligibility Requirements
• When to Apply
• Application Process
• Reporting Requirements
• Frequently Asked Questions
Optional Practical Training
What is OPT?
•
Benefit of F-1 student immigration status that provides for an
initial 12 months of work authorization in field of study in the
United States for international students who have been enrolled
full-time for a minimum of one academic year.
•
Two Types of OPT
–
Pre-Completion (not recommended—see
CPT
info online)
Eligibility Requirements
•
Eligibility based on degree level, i.e. Bachelors, Masters, PhD
•
Enrolled for at least two semesters at full-time status
•
12 months or more of previous FULL-TIME Curricular Practical Training
(CPT) at the same academic level will eliminate any OPT eligibility
– Less than 12 months of full-time CPT will not be subtracted from Post-completion OPT
Definition of Completion of Studies for OPT
•
Not the day of your graduation ceremony
•
Undergraduate students/Non-thesis Masters track: last day of finals
•
Thesis/dissertation track: completion of studies date can be the
scheduled defense date, last date of contract, or any specific date
– You can be enrolled in dissertation/thesis credit or 999 courses while on OPT
•
Your completion of studies date will always be BEFORE your official
graduation date in SPIRE
When to Apply?
You can file your Post-Completion OPT application no earlier than
90 days prior to your completion of studies date and must file no
later than 60 days after your completion of studies date.
Completion of Studies:
•
Undergraduates/Non-thesis Masters students:* Last day of Finals
•
Thesis/dissertation students: Contract end date, Defense date
(discuss with your academic authority), etc.
Application Process
1. Choose your requested OPT start/end dates (must be within 60 days AFTER completion date) 2. Fill out the I-765 form
– Complete the I-765 form in .pdf format, print (handwritten is allowed but typed is recommended) (it does not need to be signed for the IPO review). Do not use an electronic or digital signature on the I-765 or USCIS will deny your OPT.
– The mailing address on the I-765 should be valid and able to receive your mail for 3-5 months after submitting your application. If using a friend or relative’s address, add your name to the mailbox. If you choose to use IPO for mailing, use the following address on the I-765:
#5.a.: IPO, UMass Amherst #5.b.: 70 Butterfield Terrace
#5.d: Amherst #5.e: MA #5.f: 01003
• NOTE!!! If you use the IPO’s address to receive your I-797’s and EAD, please give us
permission to open your mail per the OPT I-20 Request E-Form. The IPO is not responsible for lost or damaged mail. Nor is the IPO responsible for postage errors or undeliverable mail. The IPO will contact you when your documents are received.
– Find your I-94 arrival number for item #21a
Application Process
3. Complete the
OPT I-20 Request
to request OPT I-20 endorsement.
*remember to only use the I-765 from USCIS’ website as they change it
occasionally. Wrong I-765=rejected application.
The IPO will review your I-765 upon submission of your OPT
request and provide feedback for changes:
–
Undergraduates (7-10 business days)
–
Graduates (Submission request is sent to academic authority then
submitted to IPO. Once submitted: 7-10 business days)
4. Receive the new I-20 with OPT endorsement (see pg. 2)
Two Submission Options
•
Mail (Recommended Method at this time)
•
Online (Not recommended at this time since it is a new and unknown
process with USCIS) but this is your choice.
– Basic information about applying online can be found here. The IPO cannot
provide assistance with the online application. Technical issues should be resolved with USCIS.
– Differences with online submission: I-765 done online, payment online, documents uploaded, mailing time eliminated
•
How you choose to submit results in a slightly different application
process with USCIS.
•
Remember—DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR OPT APPLICATION TO
Documents for USCIS
I-765 Form (if mailing) (signed with a real (not digital) signature & dated by you). If
applying online, the I-765 is completed within the USCIS portal.
Two (2) passport-style photos.
Filing Fee: Personal check/money order to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” for
the correct fee (see next slide) (if mailing). Payment will be by credit/debit card if applying
online.
Copy of your passport photo ID page (it’s ok if it is expired) Copies of your current F-1 visa stamp (it’s ok if it is expired)
New OPT I-20 provided by the IPO and signed by you on page 1
Copies of all previously issued I-20s signed by you on page 1. Request old I-20s here. The
IPO will provide unsigned copies for you. The IPO cannot sign old I-20s and this will not impact your OPT application.
Copy of your previous Employment Authorization Document (EAD) if prior OPT Most recent I-94 record
Form G-1145 (if mailing) is optional but HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: USCIS will e-mail
Important Note about Changing Fees and I-765s
10
**Wrong fee or wrong I-765 = rejected application = delays in processing
*postmarked means the day the mail carrier stamps your package **form edition can be found in lower left-hand corner of the I-765 ***This chart will be updated when the edition/fee change.
Application Postmark*
Date Form Edition Used** Base I-765 Fee
On or after August 25,
Mailing to USCIS
USCIS Chicago Lockbox
U.S. Postal Service (USPS):
USCIS
PO Box 805373
Chicago, IL 60680
FedEx, UPS, and DHL
deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-765 C03
131 South Dearborn - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
USCIS PROCESSING
TIMES
Approximately 3 to 4 months (90-120 days)
Monitor your pending case here:
OPT Approval = EAD
Once you receive your EAD
card, inspect it carefully. Notify
IPO staff if you notice any
spelling or date errors on your
EAD card.
(Employment Authorization Document)
Considerations
• Do not wait for a job offer in order to start the OPT application process
• Do not submit your OPT application to USCIS prior to obtaining an I-20 from the IPO with your specific OPT recommendation
• USCIS must receive the OPT application within 30 days of the IPO’s OPT recommendation date; if the application is not received by the USCIS within 30 days after the issuance of the OPT I-20, the
application will be denied. (THIS IS THE MOST COMMON REASON FOR OPT DENIAL)
• Do not submit your application so that USCIS receives it more than 90 days before your program end date or more than 60 days after the program end date. (Applications received outside of these times will also be denied)
• Your start date will likely change—you pick a start date for your I-20 but USCIS will adjust based on their processing timeline. For example, you pick July 1 as your start date, but your application is not approved by then so USCIS will change to the next closest day. If they approve on July 15, they will pick a day around July 15 as your official start date. Your unemployment clock then begins on July 15.
Considerations
• If your entire application is returned to you, consult with your IPO Advisor before resubmitting the application; you may need a new I-20 with OPT recommendation • OPT applications to USCIS take approximately 3 to 4 months to process, there is no
expediting!
• You CANNOT begin work (or volunteer) until the start date arrives on your EAD AND you have the EAD
• Unemployment is limited to 90 calendar days during the 12 month OPT period (weekends and holidays are considered). Unemployment starts counting based on the start date on your EAD, which may be different from your requested start date. • Internships, unpaid/volunteer position, part-time position (20 hours or less per
week), or self-employment in your area of study can count as “Employment.” 20 hours/week = full-time employment per regulations
IPO Reporting Requirements
•
Changes in personal information (address, email, phone, name): Update in
SPIRE
(you will receive SPIRE access for 1-3 years after your completion
of studies). If unable to access the forms, contact IT.
•
OPT Reporting E-Form
: All employment information (employer’s
name/address, start and end dates, unemployment period)
– If there is a change in position (job title, part/full time)
•
If you (i.e. H-1B, Permanent Resident), change to another visa status
report it
here
.
Frequently Asked Questions
• Can I travel?– While application is pending?
– When application is approved?
– Do I need travel signatures again? • What if I move?
– While application is pending?
– When application is approved? • Can I change the dates I requested?
• My card was lost/stolen, what should I do?
– Never received the initial?
Frequently Asked Questions
•
What’s the SEVP Portal?
– Optional government site—you still need to report to IPO so it’s best to use our E-Form instead (Use UMass credentials to log in and update info on E-Form).
•
I want to transfer to a new school or start a new degree?
– Be careful! If still on OPT, it is automatically terminated the same day your
SEVIS record is transferred to another institution or when your I-20 is updated to reflect a new program.
•
What if I don’t find a job?
– 90-day unemployment clause
•
Can I save any unused OPT time and use it later?
Life After OPT…. Think Ahead!
•
60 days grace period at the end of OPT
•
Make arrangements to depart the U.S.
•
Enroll in another program of study as an F-1 student and receive a
new I-20 from that university (fill out the
Transfer Out E-Form
so
that we can transfer your SEVIS record to the new school)
•
For students in a STEM field, apply for a 24-month
STEM OPT
extension
•
Change to another immigration status
, H-1, J-1, etc. Submit the
IPO’s Change of Status E-Form found under Reporting
Cap Gap Provision (OPT and H-1B)
•
OPT work authorization will be automatically extended until
September 30 for an F-1 student who has a timely-filed H-1B petition
requesting change of status and an employment start date of
October 1
•
Student must have employment authorization through OPT beyond
April 1
•
The “Cap-Gap” extension automatically terminates upon rejection,
denial, or revocation of the H-1B petition filed on the student’s behalf
STEM OPT: 2-year extension
Eligibility:• You have been approved for the initial 12 months of POST COMPLETION OPT.
• You have had fewer than 90 days of unemployment while on POST
COMPLETION OPT.
• Your primary major/field as indicated on your I-20 form is a STEM field on this list.
• UMass eligible STEM majors listed here
• Your employer is enrolled in the E-verify program.
• You have a job or a job offer of at least 20 hours per week that is PAID.
Application Process:
• See IPO website for more information on STEM OPT
– STEM OPT Request E-Form and application process
– I-983 Training Plan and common errors that lead to processing delays
– Reporting Requirements and E-Form Requests
– I-20 Reprints while on STEM OPT
– Changing your status
• Approx. 3 to 5 months processing time with USCIS
• MAY CONTINUE EMPLOYMENT WITH
RECEIPT NOTICE AND NO STEM EAD FOR 180 DAYS as long as application at USCIS by
