Optional Practical Training for F1 Students

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Optional Practical Training for F-1 Students

• University of Oklahoma International Student
  Services
• 729 Elm Avenue, Hester Hall, Room 155
• iss_at_ou.edu
• 405-325-3337
• http//www.ou.edu/intprog/iss/

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Before We Begin

• Are all attendees in F-1 status?
• Please hold your questions until the end of all
  general information.
• If you have a unique and complicated question,
  wait until the end of the workshop. An advisor
  will speak with you.

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Important Terms

• DSO Designated School Official OU
  International Student Advisor
• USCIS US Citizenship and Immigration
• OPT optional practical training
• EAD employment authorization document (card)

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Practical Training Two Types

• An F-1 student may wish to find an internship or
  short-term employment to gain practical
  experience in the field of study.
• To obtain permission for this type of employment
  authorization, the USCIS permits an F-1 student
  to seek authorization for practical training.

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Type 1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

• Internship offered by sponsoring employers
  through agreements with the university that is
  required as an integral part of an established
  curriculum, or will count toward degree
  requirements. CPT is recommended by the academic
  advisor and authorized by the DSO.

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Type 2Optional Practical Training (OPT)

• Temporary employment authorization granted by
  USCIS for practical training that is directly
  related to the students major area of study.
• OPT can be taken during annual summer vacation,
  part-time during regular school session, after
  completion of course requirements or after
  completion of course of study.

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Optional Practical Training
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OPT can be authorized in the following ways

• After completion of the degree program
  (undergraduates last day of semester graduate
  students defense date or last day of semester in
  which defense took place)
• After completion of all course requirements for
  the degree, excluding thesis or dissertation
  (I-20 for degree program CANNOT be extended after
  OPT completion date)
• Full-time (20 hours per week) as pre-completion
  OPT during summer break
• Part-time while school is in session (20 hours or
  less per week). Minimum enrollment requirements
  apply!

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Important!

• The USCIS will grant post-completion OPT on a
  full-time basis only.
• Post-completion OPT apply to USCIS 90 days
  before degree completion date or 60 days after
  (NEW). The latest date that post-completion OPT
  can begin is 60 days after degree completion
  date.
• NEW OPT application eligibility window has
  reverted to 90 days prior to degree completion
  date.
• Applying for OPT after graduation will cause you
  to lose weeks or months of work authorization.

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OPT application procedures

• Submit Academic Advisor recommendation form to
  advisor
• Complete USCIS Form I-765
• Make 2 copies of all immigration documents
  (passport bio page, visa, I-94, current and all
  prior I-20s, former EADs)
• NEW Obtain 340 check or money order processing
  fee for USCIS application
• Obtain 2 passport-size photos
• Submit complete OPT application to OU ISS make
  OPT processing appointment with OU DSO
• Meet with OU DSO to finalize OPT application
  prior to submission to USCIS

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Notes on OPT application procedure

• USCIS sends receipt notice when OPT application
  is received and in process.
• Receipt notice has number and website to track
  application status.
• You cannot begin OPT employment until you have
  the EAD and the start date is current.
• If requesting pre-completion OPT, you must not
  work until USCIS has approved your application
  processing time 100 days
• If your degree does not require that you complete
  an internship, consider pre-completion OPT and
  plan ahead!

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Note! Mailing address for EAD

• OU ISS office address is pre-filled in 3 on Form
  I-765 this is the address to where EAD will be
  sent
• OU ISS office will receive your receipt notice
  and EAD, notifying you to safely retrieve it
• A designated friend may also retrieve it on your
  behalf send an email to iss_at_ou.edu
• we will verify photo ID prior to releasing your
  card to a designated party

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Post-completion OPT? Determine your start date!

• You must apply for post-completion OPT either
  before you graduate NEW beginning 90 days
  prior to degree completion or 60 days after
  graduation
• Post-completion OPT can only start after you
  graduate - 60 days following degree completion
• Applying for OPT after graduation will cause you
  to lose weeks or months of work authorization.
• You will be asked to choose your preferred OPT
  start date when you submit your application to OU
  ISS

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR GRADUATE ASSISTANTS

• If you choose a completion date that is NOT the
  end of the regular semester, BE ADVISED THAT
• All on-campus employment will end on the date you
  choose as your completion date
• Your graduate assistant appointment will end on
  your completion date. You may not continue any
  employment, paid on unpaid, on the OU campus
  after your completion date.
• You will no longer be eligible for your tuition
  waiver as of your completion date. You may be
  required to pay back your tuition waiver.

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GRADUATE STUDENTS AND COMPLETION DATE cont.

• If your degree completion date is mid-semester,
  you are
• Not eligible for on-campus employment
• Not eligible to continue graduate assistant
  appointments
• Not eligible for tuition waiver
• The only way to avoid these complications is to
  SELECT THE PROGRAM COMPLETION DATE THAT IS THE
  END OF THE SEMESTER.

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IMPORTANT REGULATION!

• OPT employment authorization is strictly
  regulated under US federal immigration law.
  Working before the OPT start date on your EAD IS
  A SERIOUS VISA VIOLATION AND CAN RESULT IN A LOSS
  OF YOUR F-1 VISA STATUS.

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NEW OPT Application Deadlines

• We recommend that you submit your OPT application
  via US mail to USCIS no less than seven days
  prior to your degree completion date.
• NEW You may now submit the OPT application 60
  days after you graduate, but you will lose the
  days of work authorization. It is our
  understanding that this will count against your
  grace period.
• Undergrads Recommended spring 2008 deadline for
  processing appointment with OU ISS is May 2 for a
  May 9 degree completion date (MUST submit
  application by May 1)
• Grad students Recommended spring 2008 deadline
  for processing appointment with OU ISS is May 2
  for a May 9 degree completion date (MUST submit
  application by May 1), or seven days prior to
  defense date. You must choose a date it cannot
  be changed!
• OU ISS cannot process any OPT I-20s for Spring
  2008 graduates after June 30, 2008!

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New Optional Practical Training (OPT) Rules for
F-1 Students

• The current 12-month limit on OPT will be
  extended by 17 months, for a total of 29 months
  for certain students who have completed STEM
  degrees in the US ONLY
• The H-1B cap gap is eliminated by extending OPT
  employment and status for those who are
  beneficiaries of an H-1B petition with an October
  1 start date applies to ALL OPT participants
• The filing deadline for initial OPT applications
  is changed - applies to all OPT participants
• There are new reporting requirements for students
  and employers applies to all OPT participants
• Post-Completion OPT will now be dependent on
  employment.  Only limited periods of unemployment
  will be permitted - applies to all OPT
  participants

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What are STEM degrees?

• STEM Fields include
• Actuarial Science
• Computer Science Applications
• Engineering
• Engineering Technologies
• Biological and Biomedical Sciences
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Military Technologies
• Physical Sciences
• Science Technologies
• Medical Scientist (MS, PhD)
• Certain fields that many would regard as being
  part of science or engineering are not included
  in the STEM list, but the Department of Homeland
  Security is inviting individuals to submit the
  titles of additional fields. There is no
  published procedure yet for how to do this.

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Complete information on the new OPT rules is
posted on our website!

• Go to http//www.ou.edu/iss for complete
  information
• 5-page document
• Links to additional web resources
• Many new rules and procedures have not yet been
  established by the USCIS and DHS
• Keep checking your email for regular updates from
  OU ISS!

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I get more OPT at a later date?
• Can my OPT be cancelled?
• Can I study while on OPT?
• Can I change employers during OPT?
• Can I travel out of the US while on OPT?
• Do I get a grace period after OPT?
• We will now cover these questions in depth

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FAQ 1 Can I get more OPT at a later date?

• Yes, in some cases. F-1 students may apply for
  12 full months of full-time OPT per degree
  provided that subsequent degrees are each at a
  higher degree level.
• STEM-qualifying graduates working for employers
  enrolled in E-Verify may obtain an additional 17
  months of work authorization.
• All F-1 students with a cap gap may apply for an
  extension to October 1 to bridge the cap gap.

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FAQ 2 Can I withdraw my OPT application?

• It is extraordinarily difficult to change the
  start date of the OPT application once it has
  been submitted. Cancellation of all or part of a
  period of OPT once the EAD card has been issued
  is also difficult.
• If you wish to withdraw your OPT application,
  your I-20 must be extended to a new program
  completion date. It can take over a month to
  resolve your on-campus employment and status
  issues.
• You will also pay the OPT application fee again
  if you apply in the future.
• Due to F-1 status issues and cost to student, we
  recommend you choose a firm degree completion
  date and OPT start date.

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FAQ 3 Can I study while on OPT?

• You may finish remaining requirements, such as a
  thesis or dissertation, for a current degree
  program.
• If you did not complete a required course in your
  final semester of your degree program, you may
  complete a course.
• Full-time, post-completion OPT? You may not begin
  study toward a new degree program and keep your
  OPT.
• Start date of new I-20 for a new degree program
  ENDS OPT.
• Do not take course credit toward a new degree if
  you wish to preserve your OPT.
• Post-degree certification/licensure programs
  (examples Human Relations, Accounting) may be
  pursued while on OPT with no adverse effect on
  your OPT.

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FAQ 4Can I change employers during OPT?

• Yes. A student may work for more than one
  employer and/or change employers during the
  period of authorized OPT, but ALL employment must
  be directly related to the field of study on the
  I-20. NEW You must routinely report your US
  employer and work address, along with your
  personal address, to OU ISS so that we can report
  it in SEVIS. Failure to do so could result in a
  loss of F-1 status.

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FAQ 5 Can I travel out of the US while on OPT?

• OPT F-1 status.
• Travel abroad with
• I-20 signed for travel by OU DSO
• EAD card
• Valid passport and valid F-1 visa
• employment confirmation letter.
• You may depart the US without the EAD. You must
  have the above documents to reenter the US.
• USCIS has advised that students may reenter the
  US with the OPT receipt notice not recommended!
• It may be more difficult, to renew an F-1 visa
  while on OPT.
• These recommendations may change due to new OPT
  regulations.

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FAQ 6Do I get a grace period after I complete
OPT?

• Yes.
• F-1 students have a 60-day grace period following
  the completion date of OPT if they applied for
  OPT BEFORE graduating.
• The time the OPT application was pending does NOT
  count against the grace period if they applied
  for OPT BEFORE graduating.
• You may change immigration status during the
  grace period, obtain an I-20 for a new degree
  program, or depart the US.
• You are NOT work-authorized during the grace
  period.

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What are the new OPT reporting requirements?

• Student must routinely report your US employer
  and work address
• Student must routinely report your personal
  address
• Information is reported in SEVIS by OU ISS
• US employer must report departure of F-1 student
  within 48 hours
• Student must report start and end dates of any
  period of unemployment
• 90 days of unemployment loss of F-1 status
• 120 days of unemployment during STEM extension
  period loss of F-1 status

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APPOINTMENTS
You MUST submit your OPT application packet prior
to your processing appointment with a DSO. Go to
OU ISS office, Hester Hall Room 155 to submit an
OPT application packet and set an OPT processing
appointment. Email iss_at_ou.edu if you have any
questions. See you soon!