OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING

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OPTIONALPRACTICAL TRAINING
University of South Carolina International
Student Services
Revised 08/2008
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WHAT IS OPT?

• Off-campus work authorization permitting a work
  experience in your field of study at a U.S.
  company or organization.

• Maximum authorization of 12 months

• Employment limited to your field of study

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WHAT EXACTLY IS OPT?

• Xia majored in Chemistry and is hired by Coca
  Cola to work in their Research and Development
  department.

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WHAT IS NOT OPT?
Maria is completing a degree in Biology. Her
professor says she can continue work in her GA
position after completing her degree. She also
wants to do some extra work hours as a waitress.
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WHEN CAN I DO OPT?

• Pre-Completion
• During school vacations (full-time)
• During school year (part-time)
• Post-Completion
• After completion of studies date

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WHEN CAN I DO OPT?

• Masters or Doctoral students Once all coursework
  has been completed, students may concurrently
  work full-time on OPT while writing their
  thesis/dissertation.
• Full-time enrollment is required.
• Time spent during pre-completion will be
  subtracted from the total 12 months.

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COMPLETION OF STUDIES

• Students with coursework requirements only to
  complete

• Last day of term in which coursework is completed

Students writing a thesis or dissertation

• Last day of term in which you are defending

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DEFENSE BETWEEN TERMS

• If you defend your thesis / dissertation
  between terms, then the day of defense is your
  Completion of Studies date.

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IMPORTANCE OF COMPLETION OF STUDIES DATE

• It is recommended that you apply before your
  completion of studies date. USCIS must receive
  your application BEFORE the end of your 60 day
  grace period.
• The earliest you can apply is 90 days before
  completion date.
• OPT must start within 60 days of the completion
  date.

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IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER

• You CANNOT work between your completion of
  studies date and your OPT start date. Program
  extensions are not available.
• Plan accordingly!!!
• Example defense/completion of studies date
  March 13
• OPT start date May 1
• RESULT ineligible to work from March 14-April
  30.

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HERES HOW IT WORKS

5. Apply for OPT
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WHAT DO I NEED TO SUBMIT?

• Check made out to U.S. Department of Homeland
  Security for 340
• Copies of I-94, front back visa passport
  pages showing picture, expiration date, and date
  of last entry stamp.

• OPT eligibility form
• Advisor Recommendation Form
• I-765 Form
• 2 photos (Lightly print I-94 number and your name
  on the back)

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THE APPOINTMENT

• All materials must be submitted at the time of
  the appointment.
• Incomplete applications and applications
  requiring significant changes will not be
  accepted.
• A follow-up appointment will be made in this case.

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TIPS FOR APPLYING

• Be on time to your appointment.
• Come with all copies forms ready.
• Leave blank anything you dont understand.
• Consider when to begin OPT discuss it with the
  advisor when applying.
• (Remember You must begin OPT within 60 days of
  completion.)

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ONCE YOU SIGN YOUR I-20,
Your application is sent to the USCIS Texas
Service Center.
You should receive a Notice of Action (receipt
letter) within 1 ½ to 2 weeks.
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TRACKING YOUR APPLICATION

• The Notice of Action has a tracking
• number the SRC number, which can
• track the application online from the USCIS
  homepage.
• www.uscis.gov

You will eventually get an EAD Employment
Authorization Document. Processing times vary.
(60 days currently)
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WHAT IF I CHANGE MY MIND?

• Your OPT can be cancelled, without losing any
  time, if the start date has not begun.
• If you start a new degree program during your
  OPT period, this will cancel the OPT.

• Higher degree 12 more months of OPT.

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STARTING OPT

• You cannot start working until your requested
  start date.
• You cannot start working without an Employment
  Authorization Card.

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THE JOB SEARCH

• No job offer is needed at the time of
  application.
• Having difficulty finding a job? Document your
  active search.

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MAINTAINING STATUS

• You MUST work while on OPT
• In order to maintain your status, you cannot be
  unemployed more than 90 days (total) while on OPT
• You must report changes in employers, and period
  of unemployment to us (intlprog_at_sc.edu)

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H-1B CAP GAP EXTENSION

• If your OPT expires while you have an H-1B
  application pending or approved, your work
  authorization can be automatically extended until
  your H1B begins. You must contact ISS to get an
  updated I-20 reflecting the extension.
• If your pending H-1B is denied and your OPT has
  already expired, you now have 60 days (grace
  period) to change status, or begin a new program
  of study, or leave the country.

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EMPLOYER AND ADDRESS UPDATES

• We must keep your SEVIS record accurate!
• Moving? Update your address on VIP or through
  OPT update form.
• Working? Let us know the employer name and
  address! Unemployed? Let us know as well!
• Use the OPT update form, located on our website.

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CONTACT WITH International Student Services

• USCIS correspondence will come to International
  Student Services.

• Send your address and employment information to
  INTLPROG (INTLPROG_at_sc.edu)

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TRAVEL

• I-20 travel signature no more than 6 mos. old!!
• If your application is still pending and you have
  completed studies, travel is risky.
• If your application was approved and you have
• A job, it is recommended that you travel with
  written support from your supervisor.
• No job, leaving the country is risky.

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PLANNING AHEAD

• Think ahead about changing visa status. Advanced
  preparation is advised.
• Once the OPT is over, there is 60-day grace
  period (if you do not have a pending H-1B)
• Transfer Out
• Change Program
• Prepare to Leave Country

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17 month post-OPT extension

• You must have a qualifying STEM degree
  (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math)
• You must work for an employer using the
  E-Verify system
• Your employer must report if/when you leave the
  position
• You must report any changes in address/employer
• You are allowed 30 days (more) of unemployed time

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SPECIAL REGISTRANTS

• Special registrants are required by law to notify
  Homeland Security of a change in employer.
• AR-11 SR
• Changes in U.S. home address should be changed in
  VIP or through the OPT update form.

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SPECIAL REGISTRANTSare male citizens of

• Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan Syria, Afghanistan,
  Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon, Morocco,
  North Korea, Oman, Qatar,

• Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen,
  Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Egypt,
  Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait.

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NEED MORE HELP?
OPT and other immigration questions can be
emailed to INTLPROG_at_sc.edu An advisor will
respond as soon as possible.
Advising Appointments Call 777-7461. Please do
not request appointments through INTLPROG.