Post Completion OPT

Manisha Pai

Topics Covered

• What is OPT• Who is Eligible• How to Apply• When to Apply• Forms• Mailing your Application• USCIS Notification and Approval• Travel

Optional Practical Training

• Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment authorization that gives F-1 students an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a practical work experience off campus.

• 12 months available at each degree level for use either during or following program completion

• Full-time during periods of recess• Part-time when school is in session, deducted at half the

rate• Full-time after degree completion - Post Completion OPT.

OPT Eligibility

• Must be maintaining full time student status for at least one full academic year preceding the submission of your OPT application

• Student is eligible for 12 months of practical training for each change to a higher educational level

• Previously approved OPT periods within the same degree level will be deducted from the 12 months total

• A student who uses a year or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT), is not eligible for OPT

Type of Employment

• Job must be directly related to your academic field of study• Not employer specific – you can change employers and/or

have multiple employers• You do not need a job offer to apply for OPT• Please inform ITU within 3 months regarding your

employment. We need to update this information in SEVIS, or else your I20 gets terminated.

• You can work as volunteer too. • No special permission is required to change employers or

terminate your employment. However, you must notify ITU about it.

How to Apply

• Schedule an OPT appointment with Christine at ctran2scu@gmail.com

• Complete all required forms, take photographs, complete check list (see next slides for details)

• Bring all documents to OPT appointment to submit to ITU adviser for recommendation. ITU will issue you a new I20 with OPT Recommended.

• Upon receipt of new I-20 with ITU OPT recommendation, send application to immigration, USCIS within 30 days.

When to apply

• At the earliest possible date! Immigration can take 90 days or longer to process your application.

• Submit the documents to USCIS within 30 days of receiving I20 from ITU.

• The application for post-completion OPT must received by USCIS no later than 60-days after your end of completion.

When to Apply

• The earliest you can apply for OPT is 90 days before your "completion date." The latest date the USCIS will accept your application is 60 days after your completion date.

• OPT applications must be submitted to USCIS within 30 days of receiving an OPT I-20 from the Berkeley International Office.

How to choose start date

• Your last day of study at ITU. 08/29/2008

• You can start applying from 05/30/2008 to 10/29/2008.

• Your OPT date can start from 08/30/2008 to 10/29/2008.

• The OPT period will be for 12 months.

Things to consider in Date selection

• You can not start working before the start date of OPT. Cannot begin employment prior to start date requested

• Employable only during USCIS approved period

• Once application submitted to USCIS, cannot change dates requested

Application Material

• I-765 Form I-765 form • 2 Photos per passport photo specifications • Photocopy of OPT I-20. Please do not forget to

sign your I20.• Copy of I-94 (front and back)• $340 Check made payable to US Department of

Homeland Security• Print SEVIS ID no. on the memo section of check. • .

Photo Specification

• Submit 2 Identical Passport size photos within 30 days of filling of application.

• The photographs must have white to off white background. Must be printed on thin paper with glossy finish.

• Go to I-765 Instructions for further detail• Write I-94 number on the back of the photo by

pencil.

Check Specifications

Important changes in your I20

• Please make sure we make these changes before requesting your OPT

• Change program end date as the 08/29/2008. Please give your names by end of this seminar, so we can change your program end date to be 8/29/2008

• Student needs to be last session.• Make sure that the I20 says that student is proficient in

English.• Or else, your OPT request will be denied.• Your address in the SEVIS should match with the

address that you write on I-765

Fields required for OPT Request

• Employment Start Date• Employment End date• Full time/ Part time• Explain how the employment is related to

course work.• Has the student completed one full year

of academic study.

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New I-20 With OPT Recommendation

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Documents for Mailing

• I-765 Form I-765 form • 2 Photos per passport photo specifications • Photocopy of OPT I-20 Please sign this I20.• Copy of I-94 (front and back)• $340 Check made payable to US Department of

Homeland Security • Double check• Copy all these documents for your ref. as well

as submit one copy to ITU.

Mailing application

• We recommend students to send the applications either by Certified mail with return receipt or by Courier with the signature required.

Mailing Address USPS

• If you live in CA

• USCIS • California Service Center

P.O. Box 10765

Laguna Niguel, CA

92607-1076

Private Courier

• USCIS

California Service Center

24000 Avila Road

2nd Floor, Room 2312

Laguna Niguel, CA - 92667

After Application Submission

RECEIPT NOTICE FROM USCIS:

• You will get a receipt notice from USCIS within 2-4 weeks.

• Check for errors. If your name is spelled incorrectly, contact USCIS.

• Follow the progress of your case online at Case Status Report using the WAC number assigned on your receipt notice. You can sign up for email notifications about your application when you check the status of your case

online.

• You may get a request for further evidence once your case is reviewed by a USCIS officer. If you receive such a request, respond immediately. Keep a

copy of what you return to USCIS.

• USCIS processing can take up to 90 days!!!

OPT Approval & EAD OPT Approval & EAD CardCard

• When your OPT is approved, you will receive both an Employment Authorization Document (EAD

card) and a USCIS Notice of Approval that looks like your receipt notice. The notice generally arrives before the card. At the discretion of

your employer, if the notice so indicates, it may be used in lieu of

your EAD card to begin employment (and to complete an I-9 form), but

only for 30 days.

• If your card does not arrive within 10 days of receipt of the approval

notice, contact USCIS.

Travel Issues

• Valid Passport• Unexpired F-1 Visa Stamp in passport• Original OPT I-20 (endorsed by OISS

within the last 6 months)• EAD card not valid for Re-entry.• Letter of current temporary employment

- Mandatory.

New reporting requirements during OPT

• Your Name

• Your Residential address

• Your Phone and email address

• Employer name

• Employer address

• Start Date of Employment

• More than 10 days of unemployment (During the initial 12-month OPT,  students may not accrue a cumulative total of more than 90 days of unemployment. Periods of up to 10 days between the end of one job and the beginning of the next job will not be included in the calculation for the time spent unemployed.)

• Date of exiting the U.S (You need to provide date of exit if you decide to exit the U.S and complete your OPT status prior to the end date of your OPT)

You will also be required to update this information within 10 working days of any changes.