OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)
Preliminary Requirements
- Apply for graduation at the Registrar's Office.
- Go to the Academic Advisement Office and let the Academic advisor fill out the Academic Advisor's Recommendation Form
- Present the endorsed Registrar's receipt and the letter mentioned above to our office in order to obtain the application package.
ISSC Process
The following documents are needed by the ISSC to process an application for optional practical training and issue the OPT SEVIS I-20:
What should your OPT start date be? That depends on your future plans. Optional Practical Training must begin no later than 60 days following your semester end date.
LAST POSSIBLE DAY FOR OPT TO BEGIN
SPRING 2008 GRADUATES:
Semester End Date: 05/23/2008
Earliest possible OPT Start Date: 05/24/2008 Last possible OPT Start Date: 07/22/2008
SUMMER 1 2008 GRADUATES:
Semester End Date: 07/02/2008
Earliest possible OPT Start Date: 07/03/2008 Last possible OPT Start Date: 08/31/2008
SUMMER 2 2008 GRADUATES:
Semester End Date: 08/14/2008
Earliest possible OPT Start Date: 08/15/2008 Last possible OPT Start Date: 10/13/2008
FALL 2008 GRADUATES:
Semester End Date: 12/23/2008
Earliest possible OPT Start Date: 12/24/2008 Last possible OPT Start Date: 02/21/2009
SPRING 2009 GRADUATES:
Semester End Date: 05/22/2009
Earliest possible OPT Start Date: 05/23/2008 Last possible OPT Start Date: 07/21/2009
You may choose any date between the Earliest and Last OPT start date.
A student in F-1 status may apply up to 90 days before the completion date or semester end date and up to 60 days after their completion date. Students MUST apply within 30 days of the creation of the OPT I-20 with OPT recommendation. Program completion refers to the date that you have finished all coursework and any project/thesis/dissertation for your degree. It is not your graduation date. There is no grace period for applying for OPT.
Optional practical training is limited to a total of 12 months. Students in certain “STEM” (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields may be eligible for a one-time extension of 17 months of post completion OPT. There is a separate application for filing for this extension. Please speak with an advisor from the ISSC if you feel you may qualify for the extension.
Employment and Unemployment
An offer of employment is not required to obtain approval for OPT. OPT is recommended by the International Student Service Center (ISSC), and authorized by the USCIS. During OPT NO student may be unemployed for an aggregate of more than 90 days* or their status will be put in jeopardy. *For STEM students approved for the 17 month extension the limit on unemployment is raised to an aggregate of no more then 120 days.
Students are required to report to the ISSC within 10 days:
- The beginning of employment, with the name and address of the employer.
- The termination of employment.
- Any change in your personal address.
- Any change in your employers Address.
Required Employer information
Due to a recent policy change within SEVP/ICE international students on OPT are now required to report to their international student office the name and address of their employer while the student is participating in OPT. [214.2(f)(5)(i)]
Upon beginning employment you MUST complete the OPT Employment Reporting Form.
Options for Students Unable to Find Employment
Students who are unable to find full-time employment may look to the alternative options listed below to avoid reaching the aggregate 90 day unemployment limit (120 for STEM extension):
Student’s may:
Volunteer for a Company Complete an Unpaid Internship Work Part-Time
For these options the student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week. Please note that students must still report to the ISSC the beginning of these employment options, and also the termination. Also please remember that the employment MUST be related to your field of study.
NOTE: Students should keep records of their entire employment history!
Cap Gap Extension
Duration of status and work authorization will be automatically extended for a student on OPT, who is the beneficiary of a timely-filed H-1B petition requesting change of status and an employment start date of October 1 of the following fiscal year. This would apply to all qualified students on OPT, not just STEM students. The extension of duration of status and work authorization would automatically terminate upon the rejection, denial, or revocation of the H-1B petition filed on the student's behalf.
F-1 students currently in the US, including students on OPT are able to take advantage of this new provision.
Applying for the Extension
If you feel you are eligible for the Cap Gap extension you will need to speak with an advisor in the ISSC. If you are eligible the advisor will ask you to submit documentation from USCIS to extend your OPT. Depending on which stage of the process you are at, will determine what date your OPT can be extended to. The chart below describes the dates your OPT can be extended to and the document required for the extension:
USCIS Document |
OPT Extended to: |
Status Valid To: |
Receipt Notice (I-797C) |
June 2nd |
August 2nd |
Wait-List Notice |
July 28th |
September 27th |
Approval Notice (I-797B) |
September 30th |
September 30th |
Please note that if you have filed for the extension and your application is rejected, denied or revoked during the extension period, your OPT authorization will end 10 days from the date of the denial. Your F-1 status will end 60 days from the denial date.
Studying while on OPT:
- Authorization for OPT is automatically terminated when you transfer your SEVIS record to another school or begin full-time study at a different educational level.
USCIC Process
The applicant must send the following documents to USCIS:
- Original I-765.
- Copy of the current SEVIS I-20 endorsed by the ISSC and copies of all your previous I-20's (front and back).
- Copy of the passport and F-1 visa page
- Copy of your Form I-94 Departure Record (front and back)
- Copy of any previously approved employment authorization cards (front and back).
- Application Fee ($340.00) - a check or money order
- Two recent photos, each with your name and I-94 number lightly printed with pencil on the back
Please do not mail the OPT application package to the USCIS until you receive your
SEVIS I-20 from ISSC with the recommended OPT dates indicated on the third page!
Where to file?
If you live in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania, mail your application to:
Dept. of Homeland Security
USCIS Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Welden Street
St. Albans, VT 05479-0001
Note: Make sure to write in the lower left hand corner Optional Practical Training, Form I-765
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| Dept. of Homeland Security |
| USCIS Vermont Service Center |
Optional Practical Training
Form I-765 |
75 Lower Welden Street |
| St. Albans, VT 05479-0001 |
Processing information
An application filed without the required fee, all the necessary documents, signature and photographs will be returned to you as incomplete. You may correct the deficiency and resubmit the application, however, an application is not considered properly filed until the USCIS accepts it. If your application is complete and filed at a USCIS Service Center, you will be mailed a Notice of Action Form I-797, receipt notice.
Decisions on your application
a ) Approval:
If approved, your EAD card will be mailed to you at your filed address.
b ) Request for further information:
If additional information or documentation is required, a written request will be sent to
you requesting further specific information.
c ) Denial:
If your application cannot be approved, you will receive a written notice explaining the basis of you denial. You can appeal by filing an appeal with a “motion to reopen”.
Time
It will take the USCIS Vermont Service Center 2-3 months to process your request. Processing times may vary on the USCIS Vermont Service Center’s workload. Employment may NOT commence until you have obtained approval from the USCIS Vermont Service Center and you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card.
Important Information
After you have received a notice from INS, and if you have any further questions regarding your application status, the number to the USCIS public inquiry phone is 1-800-375-5283.
Traveling During OPT
The DHS and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) agree that an F-1 student who has timely filed an application for OPT post-completion of study may travel outside the United States while the OPT application is pending, provided that the F-1 student can present the Notice of Action Form I-797, proving that the application has been filed.
However, once the EAD card for OPT is issued to the F-1 student if a student decides to travel abroad, the student can only re-enter the United States to resume employment. DHS has clarified that the F-1 student does not need to have already begun actual employment before leaving, as long as the student has a job offer for which he/she is returning.
If you have recently applied for Optional Practical Training and you do decide to travel, you will need the following documents for re-entry:
- SEVIS I-20 signed by the Designated School Officer at Baruch College
- Valid EAD card
- Unexpired passport
- Valid F-1 visa
- Letter from a US based employer certifying that you are returning to resume or commence employment
Traveling during the "Cap Gap"
According to SEVP, a student on OPT who has his/her OPT automatically extended by USCIS because of an approved H1B application, would not qualify for an F1 visa unless the student has a valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD). If a student in this “Cap Gap”, whose EAD card is no longer valid, chooses for whatever reason to leave the US, he/she would have to apply for the H1B and would not be allowed to re-enter the US until after September 1st.
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