Post Completion Optional Practical Training Information Session

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Post Completion Optional Practical Training
Information Session
University of Texas at San Antonio Office of
International Programs

• Presented by the
• Office of International Programs

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What is Optional Practical Training (OPT)?

• Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit
  for F-1 visa holders whereby students can engage
  in a temporary 12 month employment for the
  purpose of gaining practical experience directly
  related to his or her major field of study.
• Pre-Completion OPT
• Post-Completion OPT

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Students interested in
Pre-Completion OPT

• Pre-completion OPT is authorized to be worked
  before the students program end date. Students
  with approved pre-completion OPT may work up to
  20 hours per week while school is in session.
  Students who are eligible to register for the
  next term, and who plan to do so, may have
  approval to work full-time when school is not in
  session.
• Interested students should contact International
  Student Advisor.

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How Often Can I Use OPT?

• OPT is valid once per level of study.
• Bachelors degree 12 months OPT
• Masters degree 12 months OPT
• Doctorate 12 months OPT

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Who is eligible for Optional Practical Training?

• Students who have completed their educational
  objective and have
• been lawfully enrolled in full-time status at
  UTSA for one academic year preceding their OPT
  application
• are in valid F-1 status
• Are in good standing with UTSA and USCIS. (Those
  students who are on a leave of absence or who
  have been suspended from their academic programs
  before applying for OPT are not eligible.)

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Do I Need an Offer of Employment?

• An offer of employment is NOT required to
  apply for OPT.
• Students are expected to actively seek
  employment either before or after graduation, but
  cannot begin working until the EAD has been
  received and their first day of OPT has arrived.

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Maximum Length of OPT
The maximum amount of time you may work is 12
months. You may only work from the dates listed
on your Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
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Where can I Use OPT?

• Anywhere in the United States
• Off-campus
• On-campus
• Paid jobs
• Unpaid jobs (i.e. internships)
• Volunteer positions

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I Can Volunteer?

• Yes.
• In a position related to your degree.
• Doing a job that the company does not ordinarily
  pay someone to do
• Keep a log of the days and times/hours you work
  and who your supervisor is.
• Keep our office updated

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When to Apply

• Within ninety (90) days before graduation (i.e.
  student has three months to apply)
• Up to 60 days after graduation (known as the
  Grace Period)
• Employment must start within sixty-one (61) days
  after graduation or course completion. This date
  is chosen by the student.
• New rules permit students to apply during the
  Grace Period however, you must still start work
  within 61 days after graduation.

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Where to Apply

• In the Office of International Programs (OIP),
  Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am
  and 4pm. No appointment is necessary.
• You must have all of your documents ready
  (including copies) when you come to the OIP to
  apply for OPT.
• We will issue your final documents through our
  office.

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What to Include in Your Packet (You must bring
these items to the OIP before mailing in your
packet)

• Original Form I-765 (located in OIP packet)
• 2. Copy of the first page of your current I-20
  (not the original)
• 3. Copy of your I-94 (front back sides)
• 4. Copy of passport ID pages with expiration date
  your passport must be valid
• 5. An official letter from your Academic Advisor
  that reflects the exact date (mm/dd/year) you are
  expected to graduate
• 6. Two Photographs
• 7. Money Order or Personal check in the amount of
  340.00 made out to U.S. Dept. of Homeland
  Security make sure you have money in your bank
  account!
• 8. Photocopies of Previous EADs if applicable
• 9. Start date for your OPT

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Sending Payment with the OPT Application

• There are two options
• Money Order
• Check Make sure there is money in your account!
• If your check bounces Homeland Security will
  cease processing your application, charge you a
  fee, and request payment of the 340. They will
  not accept a check as payment from you.
• If you fail to pay within 14 days of the notice,
  your application will be rejected, however the
  debt to the U.S. will still be due and the
  government may take legal action to collect the
  debt.
• If you still want to apply for OPT, you will need
  to re-file a new application and documents and
  also pay another 340 application fee. They will
  not accept a check as payment from you.

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Choosing Your Start Date

• Your Start Date must fall within 61 days after
  your Graduation date. Provide this date to the
  International Student Advisor.
• Thing to consider
• Will you have an employer lined up after
  graduation?
• Do you still need to find an employer after
  graduation?

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OPT Packet
Pick up your packet from the Office of
International Programs or get it online at
http//www.utsa.edu/intprograms/advising.cfm
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Form I-765(Updated)

• A portion of the form is pre-filled for you
• Permission to Accept Employment box is checked.
• Return address will be UTSA Office of
  International Programs.
• Line 16 Post-completion code (c)(3)(B)
  pre-completion code (c) (3)(A)
• Line 17 will remain blank
• Your form must have a barcode on it.

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Filling Out your I-765 Application Points to
Remember

• 10 Please enter your I-94 number (located on
  the top left of your I-94 card and include all 11
  numbers)
• 11 This does NOT refer to authorized CPT
• 12 Please enter the U.S. point of entry, not
  your home country. The U.S. point of entry can be
  found on your I-94 (i.e. Newark, Los Angeles,
  etc.)
• 16 prefilled for you. Verify it is (c)(3)(B)
  for Post Completion OPT.
• You must sign and date this form at the bottom of
  the page.

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I-94
Copies of the front AND back of your I-94 must be
included.
LAST NAME
FIRST NAME
COUNTRY OF CITIZENSHIP
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Academic Advisor Letter
This must be typed on
department letterhead and signed by your Advisor
of Record.The Graduation date MUST be reflected
in MM/DD/YYYY format.Dont forget to apply for
graduation!
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Passport Photos

• Photos must be
• 2 inches by 2 inches
• 1 inch from the hair to the chin
• 1 ¼ inches from the eye height to the bottom of
  the photo
• 4. Write your name and I-94 number on the back
  of both photos

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• The Office of International Programs will issue
  two (2) new
• I-20 Forms reflecting the OPT recommendation.
• You will receive
• one I-20 to mail with your OPT packet and the
  other to keep as your current I-20 form. We will
  also provide you with the envelope to mail your
  application packet to USCIS.

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Processing Time

• Currently USCIS may require up to three months
  for processing. USCIS processing time is
  determined by their current workload and can be
  checked at www.uscis.gov
• Processing will take longer the closer it gets
  to the graduation date. Remember, USCIS processes
  applications for ALL U.S. universities within our
  region.

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Travel Concerns

• If you have applied for OPT, it is inadvisable
  to travel outside the U.S. until you have
  received your EAD and a job offer.
• The Office of International Programs does not
  recommend for you to travel during this time.
• Traveling with approved OPT but NO job offer
  your OPT ends and you cannot reenter unless you
  have a written job offer.
•  

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Traveling Abroad while on OPT

• You will need to take your
• Employment Authorization Document,
• I-20 with the OPT endorsement,
• A recent travel signature from the Office of
  International Programs (within the last six
  months),
• A valid passport,
• A valid F-1 Visa in your passport,
• Employer letter or job offer letter.

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Travel Close to the Texas-Mexico Border

• Be sure to take your immigration documents
  with you when traveling close to the Texas-Mexico
  border.
• You will be required to show them at the
  border patrol post even if you are not crossing
  the border into Mexico.

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Words of Advice
You can start employment ONLY after you have
received your EAD and your approved start date of
OPT has passed. Dont forget, your employment
must be directly related to your major field of
study. Working without proper documentation is
a serious violation of your status.
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• It is YOUR responsibility to mail the OPT
  Application packet to
• USCIS - TEXAS SERVICE CENTER
• I-765 Form
• P.O. BOX 851041
• MESQUITE, TX 75185-1041

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I Mailed My Packet Now What?

• Your check will be cashed
• USCIS will send a receipt notice to our office
  which will include your case number, website and
  a 1-800 customer service number.
• Our office will notify you to come pick-up your
  receipt notice.

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I Mailed My Packet Now What? (Part 2)

• Once you pick up your receipt notice, you must
• Verify all information is correct.
• If incorrect, contact USCIS by using the 1-800
  number provided on your receipt notice.
• To track the status of your application, go
  online to the website provided on your receipt
  notice and log in using your case number.

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I Mailed My Packet Now What? (Part 3)

• USCIS will send your EAD to our office. We will
  notify you immediately that it is ready for
  pick-up.
• Once you have your card, wait for your first day
  of OPT in order to begin working.
• Your employer will want to see your EAD.

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Its Been 90 Days wheres my EAD?

• If it has been 90 days since you applied for
  OPT and you have not received your EAD, please
  call USCIS Customer Service to verify status then
  come or call the OIP and speak to an
  international advisor to discuss your options.

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Now that Youve Found an Employer

• New USCIS regulations mandate that you MUST
  update OIP with the following information
• Your personal information, such as address
  phone number
• Employer name, address, phone number
• Visit our webpage and use the form titled OPT
  UPDATE FORM!

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Unemployment

• New USCIS rules mandate that students on
  12-month OPT cannot exceed 90 days of
  unemployment.
• USCIS has stated they will terminate the
  students OPT if 90 days is exceeded and the
  student must then leave the country.

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Can I get an OPT Extension?

• Only available for students graduating from a
  STEM degree in
• Science, Technology,
• Engineering, Mathematics
• Please visit our website to see if your major
  is listed download the handout.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• When can I start working?
• Upon receipt of your EAD AND on the official
  start date of your OPT.
• Can I get an extension of my OPT?
• Yes, only if you belong to a STEM program. See
  the OIP website for more information.
• What is my visa status while on OPT?
• You are still an F-1 visa holder and part of the
  UTSA Office of International Programs.
• Can I travel before I get my EAD?
• By traveling before you receive your EAD and a
  job, your OPT may be cancelled as USCIS will view
  your departure as abandoning your request for
  OPT.

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More Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I travel once I receive my EAD?
• Yes, if you have a valid visa and passport, but
  an immigration officer may question you about the
  place of your employment reason for traveling.
  Take all of your documents with you.
• My visa is expiring. What do I need to do to get
  it renewed?
• The risk of getting a visa denial while on OPT is
  high. According to federal regulations, an F-1
  visa student must return home after finishing
  their program. The embassy official may view the
  renewal of your visa while on OPT as your intent
  to try to stay in the U.S. instead of an intent
  to return to your home country.
• How much time do I have after my OPT expires and
  before I have to leave the country?
• You have a 60 day grace-period in order to get
  your affairs in order before returning to your
  home country.

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Ive Decided Not to Apply for OPT

• Should you decide not to apply for OPT, you
• Have a 60 day grace-period to put your affairs in
  order and leave the U.S.
• Cannot work or study during the 60 day
  grace-period

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Students reporting responsibilities while on OPT

• 1. Student must report to OIP changes in
  employment within 10 business days (name of the
  employer, dates of employment, address, title).
• 2. Student must report to OIP a change of their
  name address within 10 business days.
• Complete OPT Update Form on our web-site at
• http//www.utsa.edu/intprograms/forms/optupdatefor
  m.cfm
• 3. Student must report to OIP change of F1 visa
  to any other visa status within 10 business days.
  Send e-mail to internationalprograms_at_utsa.edu

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Reporting requirements while on OPT

• Failure to report changes of employment while on
  12-month OPT will lead to the loss of F-1 visa
  status.

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• Thank you for attending the Office of
  International Programs OPT Information Session.