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Optional Practical Training for F1 Students

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Obtain 2 passport-size photos ... Meet with OU DSO to finalize OPT application prior to submission to USCIS ... number and website to track application status. ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Optional Practical Training for F1 Students


1
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/

2
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.

3
Important Terms
  • DSO Designated School Official OU
    International Student Advisor
  • USCIS US Citizenship and Immigration
  • OPT optional practical training
  • EAD employment authorization document (card)

4
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.

5
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.

6
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.

7
Optional Practical Training
8
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!

9
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.

10
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

11
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!

12
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

13
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

14
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.

15
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.

16
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.

17
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!

18
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

19
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.

20
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!

21
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

22
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.

23
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.

24
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.

25
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.

26
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.

27
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.

28
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

29
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!
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