online opt workshop

7/31/2019 Online Opt Workshop

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Introduction of OPT OPT Eligibility OPT Application Timeline OPT Application Process OPT Application Materials How to complete I-765 Form OPT Employment Timeline OPT Employment Types 17-Month OPT Extension OPT Reporting Requirements Cap Gap I-20 Traveling Abroad while on OPT Frequently Asked Questions


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Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)is a work authorization granted by U.S. Citizenshipand Immigration Services (USCIS) for you to gain

practical experience in your field of study uponcompletion of a degree program.

You are eligible for 12 months of OPT uponcompletion of each higher degree level.

You do not need to have employment offer toapply for OPT.


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You must: Have maintained valid F-1 status for at least one

academic year.

Not have had previous OPT approved for the same

degree level. Not have used one year of full-time Curricular

Practical Training (CPT).

: Part-time CPT does not count against OPT eligibility


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You can apply for OPT as early as 90 days beforeyour degree completion date.

The recommended deadline to submit your OPTapplication to Dashew Center is 3 weeks before

your degree completion date. USCIS may take up to 90 days to approve your OPT

application.

USCIS will accept applications up to 60 days after

your degree completion date. However, you maynot receive the full 12 months of OPT.


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End date on Employment

Authorization Document(EAD) card. Last day of work

90 daysOPT employment of 12 months

Apply up to

3 monthsbefore

Completiondate

OPT start date windowCannot have start date MORETHAN 60 days after degreecompletion date

Application Window

60-day graceperiod

OPT application mustbe received by DCISSno later than 3 weeksBEFORE completiondate in order to

guarantee arriving toUSCIS within the 60-day grace period

OPTStart


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Submit completed application materials to DashewCenter through our weekly hand-in sessions: Mondays from 10-11AM or Wednesdays 3-4PM or Schedule individual appointments with an F-1 counselor

You MUST return to Dashew Center in 1 week fromsubmission date to sign your OPT I-20.

Dashew Center will then send your OPT applicationto USCIS.

: Failure to sign your OPT I-20 on time will result incancelation of your OPT application.


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As part of OPT application, USCIS allows youto choose your own OPT start date.

Your OPT start date can be as early as 1 dayafter your degree completion date or as lateas 60 days after.

: Doctorate and Masters students may choose theirdissertation, thesis submission date, or the actual quarter enddate as their degree completion date.


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: December 9, 2011 OPT Start Date window: December 10 February 7, 2012

: March 23, 2012 OPT Start Date window: March 24 May 22, 2012

: June 15, 2012 OPT Start Date window: June 16 August 14, 2012

: May 11, 2012 OPT Start Date window: May 12 July 10, 2012

: December 14, 2012 OPT Start Date window: December 15 February 12, 2013


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I-765 Form (can be downloaded http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-765.pdf)

$380.00 check or money order (made payable to U.S. Department ofHomeland Security. Write your date of birth and SEVIS ID number on front of the check)

2 copies of I-94 card (front and back sides)

2 U.S. style passport photos (write your name and SEVIS ID number onback of the photos)

1 copy of current I-20 (provide copy of all CPT I-20s, if any)

1 copy of passport ID page

OPT Recommendation Form (signed by your academic counselor/advisor)
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-765.pdfhttp://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-765.pdf


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Please sign form with blue

ink pen!


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BRUIN, Josie

5112 Wilshire Blvd. #200

Los Angeles CA 90025

United Kingdom

London United Kingdom

12/31/1989

123-45-6789

000123785 11


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Write your name and SEVIS ID number on back of the photos.We recommend to have the photos done at Campus Photo

Studio, located on A-Level Ackerman Union.


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Josie Bruin417 Bruin Walk Way #1Los Angeles, CA 90095

Check 2011

Date

Pay to the order of:$380.00

Dollars

Date of birth: 12/31/1989SEVIS ID#: N0000000000


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Approximately 1 month from the signed date ofyour OPT I-20, you will receive the Notice of Actionreceipt from USCIS. This receipt has your filenumber and you can track the status of your

application online at www.uscis.gov About 3 months from the initial application date,

you will receive the Employment AuthorizationDocument (EAD) card. This card has the OPT startand end date that you requested if you appliedearly enough.
http://www.uscis.gov/http://www.uscis.gov/


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WAC07-116-52869Received DateSeptember 20, 2010

Notice DateSeptember 30, 2010


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You cannot begin working until you have receivedyour Employment Authorization Document (EAD)card AND the requested start date has been reached.

You cannot continue working beyond the end date of

the EAD card.

: Students with pending 17-month OPT Extension and capgap I-20 can continue working without having a new EAD card.


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You have a total of 90 days of unemployment fromthe start date of your EAD card.

Each day (including weekends) that you are notemployed is counted toward the 90-day

unemployment time limit. Students with 17-month OPT Extension have an

additional 30 days, for a total of 120 days ofunemployment.


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Your OPT employment must be in a job that isrelated to your degree program.

Your job must be appropriate for a person with

your degree level.


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Part-time (at least 20 hours per week) or full-time.

You may work for more than one employer, but

all employment must be related to your degree program.

Musicians

and other performing artists may work for multiple short term employers

(gigs). You should maintain a list of all gigs, the dates and duration. Ifrequested by DHS, you must be prepared to provide evidence showing alist of all gigs.

This is commonly referred to as 1099 employment, where

you perform a service based on a contractual relationship rather than

employment relationship. If requested by DHS, you must be prepared toprovide evidence showing the duration of the contract periods and thename and address of the contracting company.


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You can start a business andbe self-employed during OPT. You must be able to prove that youhave the proper business licenses and is actively engaged in abusiness related to your degree program.

You

must be able to provide evidence showing you worked an average ofat least 20 hours per week while employed by the agency.

You may work as volunteers or unpaid

interns, where this does not violate any labor laws. The work mustbe at least 20 hours per week. You must be able to provide evidenceacquired from the employer to verify that you worked at least 20

hours per week during the period of employment.


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Recipients of Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoratedegrees in certain ( cience, echnology,

ngineering, athematics) fields may be eligible for

a one-time 17-month extension of post-completion

OPT, for a total of 29 months.

To learn more about STEM degrees, please see

http://www.ice.gov/sevis/stemlist.htm
http://www.ice.gov/sevis/stemlist.htmhttp://www.ice.gov/sevis/stemlist.htm


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Must currently be engaged in 12-month OPT. Must have completed degree in one of the fields.

Must have job or job offer from an E-verify employer.

Must get recommendation from an F-1 counselor at

Dashew Center for the 17-month OPT extension in SEVIS. Must file a new I-765 form.

Must pay another $380.00 application fee with USCIS bythe end of the current authorized OPT.

To learn more about E-verify, please see www.uscis.gov/everify
http://www.uscis.gov/everifyhttp://www.uscis.gov/everify


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You may work for more than oneemployer, but all employment must be related to your degreeprogram. All employers must be enrolled in E-verify.

This is commonly referred to as 1099 employment,where you perform a service based on a contractual relationshiprather than employment relationship. If requested by DHS, you must

be prepared to provide evidence showing the duration of thecontract periods and the name and address of the contractingcompany.

You can start a business andbe self-employed during OPT. You must be able to prove that youhave the proper business licenses and is actively engaged in a

business related to your degree program. You

must be able to provide evidence showing you worked an average ofat least 20 hours per week while employed by the agency.


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Per 8CFR214.2(f)(10)(ii)(E) F-1 regulations, you arerequired to report the following:

OPT Employment status:

www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu click on OPTAudit Request

Email us your Change of Address at:

[email protected]
http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/


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Cap gap I-20 a period in which students F-1 statusis automatically extended to bridge the gap betweenthe end of F-1 status and start of H-1B status.

The most common situation occurred when the

students OPT ended in early spring or summer, andhis or her F-1 status expired 60 days after that,leaving a gap of several months before the studentsH-1B status began on October 1.

The cap gap I-20 will extend the authorized period ofstay, as well as OPT without having a new EAD card.


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The extension of cap gap I-20 applies to all F-1students in all fields of study with pending orapproved H-1B petitions during the fiscal year.

If you have an H-1B petition filed or approved with

USCIS and your OPT is about to expire or alreadyexpired prior to the H-1B start date, please contactour office at [email protected] or

310-825-1681 to request for the cap gap I-20.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Documents required for reentry to the U.S. BEFOREyour degree completion date: Valid Passport Valid (unexpired) F-1 Visa Stamp Endorsed I-20 for travel by DCISS

Documents required for reentry to the U.S. AFTERyour degree completion date: All of the above documents AND EAD Card

Proof of Current Employment or Offer Letter(8 CFR 214.2(f)(13)(ii))


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Please be advised that being on OPT does notchange your F-1 status.

You are still required to obtain appropriate travel

signature on your I-20 for traveling abroad.


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How early can I apply for OPT? You can apply for OPT as early as 90 days before your degree

completion date.How long does it take USCIS to approve my OPT application? Currently, USCIS takes approximately 90 days to approve your

application. Therefore, we recommend you to apply as early as

possible to avoid any delays.How do I choose my OPT start date? Your OPT start date can be as early as the day after your degree

completion date, or as late as 60 days after.What if I submitted my OPT application and not completing mydegree as expected? Your only option is to complete your degree during your OPT period.

However, you will be subjected to all OPT regulations.


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You may never receive your EAD card. US Postal officeforward Federal mail. Therefore, we recommend you to have youraddress valid for at least 4 months from the initial application date.

, if your reentry date is the degree completion date statedon your OPT I-20.

, if your reentry date is the degree completion date statedon your OPT I-20

Valid Passport Valid F-1 visa stamp OPT I-20 endorsed by Dashew Center (each travel signature is valid

for 6 months from the date it last signed) Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card Employment verification or offer letter


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Yes, but you would need to apply for a new F-1 visa stamp. Pleasebe advised it may be difficult to obtain an F-1 visa while on OPT.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leaves this discretion tostudents to determine.

This is a serious violation of your F-1 status. Therefore, you may bedenied future immigration benefits.

No, you may not engage in any employment until you have receivedyour EAD card and the requested start date has been reached.

You would need to request for a replacement of the card with a newI-765 form, application fee, and other supporting documents.


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www.internationalcenter.ucla.educlick on OPT Audit Request

Email us [email protected]

After your OPT ends, you have an additional 60-day graceperiod to: transfer to another school, change education level,depart from the U.S. For other legal options, please consultwith an immigration attorney.
http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/


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UCLA Career Center www.career.ucla.edu

UCLA Alumni Association www.alumni.ucla.edu
http://www.career.ucla.edu/http://www.alumni.ucla.edu/http://www.alumni.ucla.edu/http://www.career.ucla.edu/


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