麻豆女郎

• Available to students who have been enrolled in a full course of study in the U.S. and have maintained F-1 status for at least one academic year, prior to the start date of OPT
• Available to students who have not exceeded 12 months of full-time CPT.
• Does not require an employment offer at the time of application
• Can be submitted up to 90 days prior to the desired OPT start date; 90 days prior to official semester end date for students in their final term of study
• Requires recommendation from an ISS Advisor (DSO) and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
• Authorized once for each degree level (bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate) for up to 12 months; OPT is approved in order of degree level
• Must be received at USCIS within 30 days of the date DSO enters OPT recommendation in SEVIS
• Employment can begin only on or after the start date on the EAD card
• Allows for no more than 90 days of unemployment during the 12-month employment period. Thus, employment must begin no later than 90 days after the start date of the EAD card

A) Pre-completion OPT (Code: (c) (3) (A))

• Can be applied for at any time during program of study (after completing at least one academic year)
• Granted prior to degree completion; cannot exceed program completion date listed on the I-20
• Authorized part-time (20 hours per week or less) while school is in session, or full-time during the summer semester (if not enrolled full-time) and other official breaks and holidays, if currently enrolled and expecting to enroll for the next available semester
• Deducted from the 12-month period of OPT eligibility (students must apply separately for post-completion OPT for the period not used as pre-completion OPT-90-day unemployment period does’t apply)

B) Post-completion OPT (Code: (c) (3) (B)))

• Should be applied for during the final semester of course enrollment and up to 90 days prior to the official semester end date as per 麻豆女郎 academic calendar (not commencement dates).
• Must be received by USCIS no later than 60 days after the program completion date listed on the I-20 or within 30 days of OPT issuance date, whichever is sooner.
• Authorization granted for full-time OPT up to 12 months (or less if student was approved for any period of authorized pre-completion OPT)

C) Extension OPT (STEM) for eligible student in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Fields (Code: (c) (3) (C)) (please see below)

Graduate students who have completed all degree requirements except for thesis/dissertation may apply for either pre-completion or post-completion OPT. Students are eligible for the post-completion option only if all program requirements are completed prior to the desired OPT start date (coursework, qualifying examinations, proposal) except for thesis or dissertation hours.

• Students engaged in Pre-completion OPT must follow the same travel requirements that apply to all F-1 students who are currently enrolled
• Students engaged in Post-completion OPT should consult with ISS prior to making travel arrangements
• Traveling before receiving EAD card and an employment offer should be avoided. When traveling, page 2 of the I-20 must have the DSO’s travel endorsement (valid for six months).
• Traveling with a pending OPT application is not recommended.
• Obtaining a new F-1 visa while on OPT can be risky.
• Consulting with an ISS advisor before making plans to travel outside the U.S. is recommended - each travel situation is different and may require individual advising.

IMPORTANT:

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will automate the SEVIS termination of any OPT record which does not contain the employment information by day 90 of the OPT authorization (calculated from the start date listed on the Employment Authorization Document your receive from USCIS in order to begin your OPT employment).

In order to ensure that all records are properly updated, we ask that you report your OPT employment to our office by submitting the OPT  . If this information is new or different from the information currently stored in your SEVIS record, we will print a new OPT I-20 for you and contact you for pickup or mailing arrangements.

麻豆女郎 is responsible for the F-1 SEVIS record and I-20 for the duration of OPT. Students must keep ISS informed of the following:

• Initial employment information within 90 days of the OPT start date (employer name, location, address, contact information, including email) as well as any subsequent changes in employment.
• Completion of OPT prior to OPT end date due to change of status or return to the home country
• Acceptance to another degree program in F-1 status will require SEVIS transfer if going to another school in the U.S.
• Student’s current address and contact information (including a non-麻豆女郎 email address); change of address information must be provided within 10 days.

IMPORTANT:

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will send an email reminder to STEM OPT students to the email account associated with the student's SEVIS record (麻豆女郎 email in most cases). During the STEM OPT period, students will be required to report every 6-months to confirm their participation and upload their I-983 training plan updates as applicable. Students are responsible for submitting the STEM OPT reporting e-form to ISS for each of the reporting periods.

Persons engaged in OPT continue to be in F-1 status, and ISS continues to have responsibility for maintaining these records throughout the duration of OPT. Students engaged in OPT must provide ISS with the following information:

• Initial employment information within the 90 days of the OPT start date - completed  .
• For STEM OPT: report to ISS every six months (confirm employment and current address). Second and fourth reporting will require I-983 evaluation submission to ISS.
• Post-OPT and STEM OPT: report consequent changes in employment.
• Changes of address (within 10 days of occurrence).
• Change of status to another category.
• Departure from the U.S. prior to the end date of OPT.
• Transfer of schools to begin a new academic program prior to OPT completion.
• Plans to travel outside the U.S. to renew F-1 visa.