Procedures for Applying for Optional Practical Training

Important Notice: The application for OPT takes 2-3 Months.  Apply Early!!!

Step One

• Schedule an OPT appointment with the international student advisor in the Intercultural Center by calling x3121.
• Read through this entire application.
• Obtain an academic evaluation from the registrar confirming that you will have completed your course requirements at the end of the semester (if applying for post-graduation OPT).
• Make two photocopies of all of your former I-20s, the biographical page of your passport, your F-1 visa stamp, the front and back of your I-94 card, and any previous EAD cards or Change of Status notices if applicable.
• Fill out the "OPT Information Sheet" and Form I-765 in blue ink. (A downloadable PDF of Form I-765 is available at the bottom of the screen).  Leave anything blank that you’re unsure of.

Step Two

• Come to your OPT appointment with all of your current documents, photocopies and academic evaluation.
• At your appointment we will finish filling out your forms and put your application together.

Application checklist:
[ ] 1. Form I-765
[ ] 2. A copy of the new "SEVIS" I-20 with the recommendation for Optional Practical Training on page 3.
[ ] 3. A photocopy of both sides of your I-94 Card
[ ] 4. A copy of photo page (identification page) of your passport
[ ] 5. A copy of the F1 visa stamp in your passport (even if expired)
[ ] 6. A copy of ALL previous I-20s that have been issued to you
[ ] 7. A copy of your previous EAD or change of status notice, if applicable
[ ] 8. Two, recent passport-style photos (you can get these at CVS)
Print your name and admission number lightly in pencil on the back of each photo.
Put the photos in an envelope and attach it to front of I-765.
[ ] 9. $340 application fee, payable to Department of Homeland Security.  You may send a money order or a check. NO CASH. Attach to the front of the I-765.

Step Three

• Make a photocopy of your application for your records.

Step Four

• Mail your application (via certified mail or delivery service) to:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Weldon St.
St. Albans, VT 05479-0001

• Note: USCIS must receive your application by the end of your 60 day grace period! You may apply up to 90 days prior to your program end date and up to 60 days after your program end date.
  
  
• After mailing in the documents, you will receive a notice (Form I-797) stating you need to wait for up to 90 days to receive your EAD. Keep this document in a safe place for reference. The receipt will have a case number on it.  You can check the status of your application online at USCIS - Case Status Service.
  
  
• Even if the site says your application is approved you can not begin working until you have the card and only within the dates of the card.
  
  
• In general, the application approval takes at least eight weeks, possibly longer. If you have not received an approval notice after 90 days, contact the Intercultural Center for more information.

Optional Practical Training for Students in F-1 Status

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is F-1 Optional Practical Training?
   Practical training is the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a practical work experience off campus. Optional practical training is authorized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This authorization can take up to 90 days to obtain. The maximum amount of time granted to work in F-1 practical training status is 12 months per degree level. You may use some or all of the available 12 months of practical training during your course of study or save the full twelve months to use after you graduate.
   
   
2. What are the Eligibility Requirements for F-1 Optional Practical Training?
   To be eligible to apply for optional practical training, you must: (1) have been in F-1 student status for at least one academic year, (2) be maintaining valid F-1 status at the time of the application, and (3) intend to work in a position a) directly related to your major field of study and b) commensurate with your degree level.
   
   
3. If I complete one degree program, take 12 months of practical training, and then begin a second course of study, am I eligible for an additional 12 months of practical training?
   Yes, as of January 1, 2003 the new regulations governing F-1 students state that you are eligible to apply for another 12 month period of Optional Practical Training after changing to a higher degree level.
   
   
4. How can I use optional practical training before I complete my academic program?
   Students meeting the eligibility requirements listed above may apply for optional practical training (1) part-time while school is in session, (2) full-time during annual vacation periods, and/or (3) fulltime after you completed all course requirements for the degree and have a thesis requirement remaining. Any periods of optional practical training used before the completion of your studies will be deducted from the total allowable period of 12 months. Part-time practical training will be deducted at one-half the full-time rate. In other words, four months of part-time practical training will result in two months deducted from your 12-month total.
   
   
5. How long does it take to get authorization for optional practical training and when should I apply?
   Authorization for optional practical training is granted by USCIS and can take several months to obtain. Therefore it is important that you apply for the authorization well in advance of the date you wish to commence employment. You may submit your application 120 days before your requested start date and MUST apply before the completion of your course of study/conferral of degree. F-1 students who have not been in status for at least two full semesters at the time of application may not apply earlier than 3 months before the completion of the semester or graduation.
   
   
6. Do I need to have a job to apply for optional practical training?
   You do not need to have a job offer before applying for optional practical training. However if you are applying for optional practical training during your course of study or vacation periods, you will want to either have a job offer or a firm job prospect because periods of optional practical training can not be rescinded once the period requested has been authorized. Students may not accrue an aggregate of more than 90 days of unemployment during any post-completion OPT.
   
   
7. How will I know if the practical training application has been approved?
   You will receive from the USCIS a small photo identification card, called an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). This card will state the type and length of the period of employment authorized. When you receive this card, check to make certain all the information is correct.
   
   
8. Can I begin working before I receive the Employment Authorization Document?
   You may not begin employment before you receive your EAD from USCIS; working before you receive the card constitutes illegal employment that will jeopardize your legal status in the U.S.
   
   
9. Will I have to pay U.S. taxes for income earned while on practical training?
   In general, F-1 students who have been in the U.S. for fewer than five calendar years are exempt from social security (FICA) and Medicare taxes. You should be sure to bring this to the attention of your employer, as many employers are not familiar with this provision of the tax law. You will be subject to all other taxes that may apply: federal, state and local. You should check to see if your country is one of the few that has a tax treaty with the U.S. allowing students to exclude a limited amount of earned income from federal taxation.
   
   
10. What is the OPT extension and who is eligible for it? The OPT extension offers students in STEM majors (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) the ability to apply for a 17-month extension on their OPT.  This is only offered to students whose employees are registered in the E-verify program. Contact the Intercultural Center for more information and when you should apply.
    
    
11. What is the H-1B cap-gap extension? On April 8, 2008 the USCIS has authorized an exception to staying and working during the "cap-gap.  The "cap-gap" occurs when someone's current status and employment authorization (F-1 OPT, for example) expires months before the H-1B becomes available on Octover 1.  The new rule automatically extends OPT work authorization and duration of status for ALL F-1 students who are OPT authorized and have an employer who has filed a timely H-1B application with requested October 1 employment start date and a change of status request. The OPT authorization is valid until October 1 as long as the application is pending or has been approved. Contact the Intercultural Center to extend your OPT if this applies to you.
    
    
12. What are my reporting requirements? All students on OPT are required to report to the DSO within 10 days of any change of name or address, and report employment information (name and address of employer) when accepting a new job or chaning jobs.

Instructions For Filling Out Form I-765

Check first box “permission to accept employment”; fill out lines 1 through 15 in BLUE ink; sign and date under “certification.”

• #3 this address should be valid for up to 120 days. If you think you will be moving during this time, you should use an address of someone you trust who is willing to receive mail on your behalf. This person should live on the east coast in order to use the Vermont Service Center. If you are using an address other than your own, fill out the form like this:
   Line 1 Your Name
   Line 2 c/o the Person’s Name
   Line 3 The Person’s Address
  
  
• #10  in most cases you will use your most recent I-94 number found on the I-94 card that you received when you entered the US (I-94 card is the small white card you received when you entered)
  
  
• #11  you must check “yes” if you have previously applied for an OPT card at this or any other institution
  
  
• #16  this section is already filled out for you: (c) (3) (b)

Remember to sign and date the I-765 in BLUE INK

Choosing Your Start and End Dates

Your optional practical training must be completed within 14 months of your graduation date. Therefore, you may choose a start date anywhere from your graduation day until 60 days after your graduation day. Because you cannot begin working until you receive the card and until the date you have chosen, you want to make sure that you will not want to begin working before the date you choose. However, the “clock” starts ticking once your start date passes, so you do not want to choose an early date if you do not intend to work right away. If you are unsure of your dates, we can discuss your options at the appointment.

Maintaing Your Immigration Status While on OPT

Update your address and employment information with the Intercultural Center. Immigration regulations REQUIRE that while you are on OPT, you must notify the immigration service within 10 days of changing your address and must report any start or change of employment (including name and address of employment). You may do this by calling the international student advisor in the Intercultural Center to update your new address as soon as you move (401-254-3121).

Traveling Abroad While on OPT

• In order to re-enter the U.S. while you are on Optional Practical Training, you must have a valid passport, current F-1 visa stamp, I-20 signed within the last six months AND the EAD (OPT work card). You will not be able to get back in to the U.S. after you graduate if you do NOT have your EAD. You MUST also have proof of employment (in the form of a job offer letter from your employer or a recent paycheck).
  
  
• If your F-1 visa stamp in your passport has expired, you will need to obtain another F-1 visa stamp at a U.S. embassy, preferably in your home country. Remember, F-1 is a non-immigrant-intent visa, and you still need to show ties to your home country. Contact the Intercultural Center for more information about obtaining an F-1 visa while on OPT.
  
  
• Never enter in any status other than F-1 if you plan on continuing to work on your OPT. Entering in any other status, even for a short time, cancels your work permission.

Travel Sheet - Optional Practical Training

Frequently Asked Questions
As you prepare to submit the application for Optional Practical Training (OPT), you may have questions regarding how the application affects your ability to travel outside the United States. Below are some of the more common questions.  Checking with the Intercultural Center before you travel any time is strongly recommended.

1. Now that I’ve turned in my application, can I travel outside the U.S. while I wait for the card to come?
   Before you graduate, you should be able to get back in to the U.S. without the OPT card as long as it is before the end date on your I-20.
   After you graduate, you will NOT be able to re-enter the U.S. without your OPT card in addition to your valid passport, current F-1 visa stamp, the I-20 signed within the last six months and a job offer letter.
   
   
2. I want to leave the U.S. for a little while during the time my OPT application is in process, but I need to return long before the card will have arrived. I have a tourist visa (B–2) that is valid for 10 years. Can’t I just enter the U.S. on my tourist visa while I’m waiting to get the EAD card, then start work with the card once I get it?
   If you leave the U.S. and re-enter with a B visa, you will have an I-94 card that shows that you have been admitted under B status, and you will have lost your F-1 status. Hence, your OPT application and card will be invalid. If you intend to continue working on your OPT, NEVER enter in any other immigration status except F-1. You may travel and re-enter the United States in F-1 status while the OPT is pending as long as you have all of your documents and the receipt for the OPT application. However, if the OPT is approved, you will need all the documents listed in #3. Be careful when making travel arrangements while waiting for your OPT.
   
   
3. What documents do I need to re-enter the U.S. while on OPT?
   You will need your I-20 that has been endorsed on the travel line within the last 6 months; the Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) from the USCIS, your valid passport, a current F-1 visa stamp and a job offer letter from your employer.
   
   
4. The visa stamp in my passport has expired, but I need to travel outside the U.S. while on OPT. Do I need to get a new visa stamp at an embassy?
   Yes, you will need to go to a U.S. embassy or consulate and seek a new visa stamp. Please come to the Intercultural Center or call to discuss your visa application with your international student advisor as the consulates often change the requirements for visa applications for students on OPT. If you are going to Canada or Mexico, and staying for less than 30 days, you could re-enter the U.S. on your expired F-1 visa stamp, with your I-94 card, a valid passport, your EAD card, a job offer letter and an I-20 that has been signed within the last 6 months as long as: 1) you do not apply for a visa while in Canada and 2) you are NOT a national of Iran, Syria, Sudan, Cuba or North Korea.
   
   
5. In what way is my application to the embassy for a new visa stamp affected by being on Optional Practical Training?
   The risk of denial of an application for a renewed visa stamp for Optional Practical Training is higher than while you are in your active student program, as it may be seen as an avenue for adjustment of status to permanent residence. The F-1 student visa requires that the applicant must intend to return to the home country at the end of the program, and if the embassy official is not convinced of your intention to return home, the visa application will be denied. If you need to apply for a new visa, please see the Intercultural Center to make sure you have the most up to date information.
   
   
6. What documents do I need to show at the embassy for a new visa stamp under OPT?
   You need to take a valid passport, the EAD card and your new I-20 with the OPT recommendation. Additionally, if you already have a job offer, you would be well-advised to take an official job offer letter showing salary, location, job duties, and beginning date as well. You should only take a letter if the job is truly temporary and will end before or by the end of your practical training time. You should also be prepared to discuss how this job experience will apply to the job market in your home country and how you intend to apply it there. Other ways to show ties to your home country are family that live there, property you own, bank accounts in your home country or a job to return to when your OPT is finished.
   
   
7. Do I still need to get the travel line on my I-20 signed by the Intercultural Center during the year of OPT?
   Yes, during the OPT year, if you travel outside the U.S., you need to have the travel line signed every six months. If you are not in the area, mail the original I-20 along with copies of your passport biographical page, visa stamp, I-94 card and EAD card to your advisor in the Intercultural Center for endorsement, leaving plenty of time for mailing delays both ways.