POST-COMPLETION OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT) for … · 1/29/2020 · Post-completion OPT...

Mailing address: 1120 15th Street, AA-2013 Augusta, Georgia, 30912 t. (706) 721-0670 f. (706) 721-9304 Email: [email protected] www.augusta.edu/ipso

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POST-COMPLETION OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT) for F-1 Students at Augusta University

(Revised 29 January 2020)

General Disclaimer: The information contained in International and Postdoctoral Services handouts or packets are for the use of the AUGUSTA U community. Some of the information is very general and some is specific to Augusta University. Information contained herein should not be used as the sole source of information for making decisions that may affect one's legal status in the U.S. or one's right to study, teach, conduct research, or work. Regulation: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 8, Section 214.2(f)(10) and Interim Rule - 73 Fed. Reg. 18944 (April 8, 2008) Optional Practical Training (OPT) is employment authorization which allows F-1 students to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a practical work experience. OPT must be directly related to the student’s major area of study. • Most F-1 students are eligible for up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training per

educational level. • If a student begins a new academic program at a higher level, the student is eligible for

another 12 months of OPT. • Students who earn Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) degrees in

areas approved by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) may be eligible for an additional 17 months of OPT. See STEM extension information.

This information should serve as a general resource and is not a substitute for (USDHS) regulations or directions/instructions found on USDHS forms or on USDHS internet pages. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services information webpage Practical Training for Qualified Students o http://www.ice.gov/sevis/practical-training/ I-765 Application for Employment Authorization o www.uscis.gov/I-765

TYPES OF OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING OPT may be used prior to or after completion of studies. OPT taken prior to completion of studies is commonly referred to as "pre-completion practical training." OPT taken after completion of studies is called "post-completion practical training." This information sheet focuses on Post-completion OPT. An F-1 student may be authorized to participate in post-completion OPT upon completion of studies.

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After completion of studies is defined as: For undergraduate students – your graduation date For graduate students – your thesis defense date or the end of the semester date Post-Completion OPT Must be approved as full-time (but you may work part-time or full-time). May be authorized for up to 12 months minus time spent in pre-completion practical

training, not Curricular Practical Training up to 364 days of full-time CPT. May be authorized without job offer for an initial application Must be completed within 14 months of graduation (program completion). WHEN TO APPLY FOR OPT • Students must apply to United States Customs Immigration Services for post-

completion Optional Practical Training within the 90 days before their completion of studies date or within the 60 days after their completion of studies date.

• You are urged to apply for post-completion OPT prior to completing your Augusta University degree program. International and Postdoctoral Services recommends that you apply 3-6 months before you wish to begin employment. Note that application adjudication times vary.

• If you do not apply prior to graduation, you are encouraged to apply within the 45 day period beyond graduation so that your application will reach the USCIS Lockbox on or before the 60th day after graduation,

• The complete OPT application must be received at the USCIS Dallas Lockbox no more than 30 days after your Designated School Official endorses your updated Form I-20 for OPT. (Ms. Tarver will give you an updated I-20 endorsed for OPT once she has reviewed your complete application packet. See instructions below.)

NOTES ON TRAVEL ABROAD AND OPT • If you intend to travel abroad around the time or after you will complete your studies,

you are urged to: o Submit your OPT application and receive your receipt notice before you leave the United

States. o Apply in advance, 3-4 months before the requested start date of OPT.

• If you leave the U.S. after you complete your studies and you do not apply for OPT prior to leaving the U.S., then your application for OPT, including OPT endorsed Form I-20, must be received at the USCIS service center no later than the 60th day after the end date of your academic program, graduation or degree completion.

• Be advised that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may determine that your F1 status has ended when you exited the U.S. and you are ineligible for OPT.

RESTRICTIONS ON POST-COMPLETION OPT • The employment must be directly related to student's field of study. • Post-completion OPT may be used only after completion of the course of study. • All OPT requires prior approval from the United States Citizenship and

Immigration Services (USICS). DO NOT BEGIN ANY EMPLOYMENT UNTIL OR AFTER THE “VALID FROM” DATE ON YOUR Employment Authorizaton Document.

o The EAD is an identification card laminated in plastic and includes your photograph, fingerprint (usually), and the expiration date of your permission to work. It will look like one of the samples below.

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OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON POST-COMPLETION OPT • Students who begin or continue study at another educational level while on OPT

automatically end their OPT employment authorization. The OPT termination date overrides the validity dates on the Employment Authorization Document.

o The federal regulation 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(B) states: “(B) Termination of practical training. Authorization to engage in optional practical training employment is automatically terminated when the student transfers to another school or begins study at another educational level.”

HOW TO APPLY FOR OPT OPT Application Packet List Please include the following documents in this order in your OPT application packet. Notes: All fillable .PDF forms should be completed online and printed for signature where required. Handwritten forms are not recommended. Online fillable forms are highlighted in yellow on the packet list below. Before mailing your packet or providing it to IPSO for mailing, COPY all forms and documents for your files.

Date you may begin working

Sample Form I-766 Employment Authorization Cards/Documents

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1. Completed G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance • http://www.uscis.gov/g-1145

2. Payment - $410 (effective 23 December 2017) Fee is subject to change. Check the USCIS website for up-to-date fee information. (www.uscis.gov/i-765 Look under the “Filing Fee” section.) By Check or Money Order (IPSO recommends a personal check) Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check or money order for the Form I-765 filing fee:

• The check or money order must be drawn on a bank or other financial institution located in the United States and must be payable in U.S. currency.

• Make the check or money order payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security. NOTE: Spell out U.S. Department of Homeland Security; do not use the initials “USDHS” or “DHS.”

• On the top of the check write your I-94 number next to your name. If your name is not listed at the top of the check or money order, write your name and your I-94 number. On the Memo or For line on check write I-765 application for OPT.

By Credit Card • If you are filing your form at a USCIS Lockbox facility, you can pay your filing fee and

biometric services fee (if applicable) using a credit card. Please see Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, at www.uscis.gov/G-1450 for more information.

3. Two (2) passport-style photos • See https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/photos/photos.html • The photos must be taken within the 30 days before you file your application. • In pencil, lightly write your name and your Form I-94 number on the back. • Enclose the photos in a clear plastic bag or envelope and paperclip them to your

application. 4. Completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization

• www.uscis.gov/I-765 • On page 1 under Part 2, enter as much of your name as possible in 1.a., 1.b. and

1.c. If your full name will not fit in the boxes in 1. or if you have other names, enter your other names in 2.

• On page 2 for 5.a. through 5.e., use the IPSO mailing address: 5.a. Augusta University IPSO 5.b. 1120 15th St 5.c. Ste. AA2013 5.d. Augusta 5.e. GA 5.f. 30912 (See sample on page 6 of this document.) IPSO will contact you when your notices, documents and other information are received. If you choose to use a mailing address other than the Augusta University address, Augusta University will not assist you in resolving any application issues that may arise.

• On page 2 for question 6. “Is your current mailing address the same as your physical address?”, check “No.”

• On page 2 for 7.a. through 7.e., enter your “U.S. Physical Address” – the address where you are currently living.

• On page 3 for 27., enter (c)(3)(B). (See sample on page 7 of this document.) 5. On page 4 under Part 3 for 7.a., sign your name in ink. List the date in 7.b.

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6. Form I-20 endorsed for OPT • This will be issued by IPSO at your appointment if your application is complete.

7. Copies of the F-1 student’s: • I-94 Arrival-Departure Record printed from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home • Most recent F-1 visa (not required for Canadian citizens) • Most recent U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrival stamp (ink stamp) in

passport • Valid passport identity pages (Write your name and I-94 number in pencil along the

left side of the page.) • If your passport will expire within the 12-month period following submission of your

application to USCIS, IPSO recommends that you extend or renew your passport prior to applying. Contact your home country embassy or consulate for information on renewing your passport.

8. A copy of any previous EAD cards (front and back) • On each copy, please write a notation explaining the circumstances. (For example:

J-2 employment authorization, F-1 OPT authorization, severe economic hardship employment authorization, or replacement for lost card.)

• Write your name and I-94 number in pencil along the left side of each page. Other Documents Required by IPSO for OPT endorsement In addition to the documents listed above, please bring the following items to your IPSO appointment. NOTES: All fillable .PDF forms should be completed online and printed for signature where required. Handwritten forms are not recommended. Online fillable forms are highlighted in yellow in the list below. 1. Post-completion OPT letter

• The letter should contain a recommendation for practical training in the area of your degree program and include the following: your major, degree level, and expected date of completion of your degree program.

• The letter should be from either: o Your academic advisor or the Dean’s designee for your program o The administrator for academic affairs in your college

• An offer of employment is not required at the time of application. 2. Completed page 8 of this document 3. Original passport with visa

• If you have more than one passport, please bring both. Schedule an appointment with Ms. Beverly Tarver in International and Postdoctoral Services by visiting www.augusta.edu/ipso/appointmentrequest. Bring the packet and other documents to your appointment. Ms. Tarver will review your application packet and, if all criteria are met, will issue a properly annotated SEVIS Form I-20 to be submitted with the application.

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SAMPLE FORM I-765 This is a sample Form I-765. Please download the form at: www.uscis.gov/I-765. If you are receiving

assistance from the International and Postodoctoral Services Office, you should enter our office mailing address where it says “U.S. Mailing Address” on page 2 of the form. See below. All receipt notices, the

approval notice and your EAD Card will be mailed to our office. We will notify you when they arrive.

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On page 3 for 27. Eligibility Category, enter (c)(3)(B). See below.

Mailing address: 1120 15th Street, AA- 2013 Augusta, Georgia, 30912 t. (706) 721-0670 f. (706) 721-9304Email: [email protected]

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Please submit this completed form when you request the Form I-20 endorsed for OPT. OPT Reporting Requirement Certification 73 Fed. Reg. 18944 (April 8, 2008) Augusta University is required by federal regulation to continue to maintain your SEVIS record for the full period of Optional Practical Training, including any extension.

By initialing and signing this form below, I certify that the information that I provided as part of my application for Optional Practical Training is true and correct, and that I understand and will comply with the following SEVIS requirements that took effect on April 8, 2008:

Within 10 days of a change I will report the change to Augusta University International and Postdoctoral Services changes to my: name, U.S. address, email address, or employment information (Please use this form: http://www.augusta.edu/ipso/international/informationchangerequest.php. With approved OPT use the SEVIS Portal: https://sevp.ice.gov/opt/.)

I understand that I must report/verify my current contact and employment information with Augusta University International and Postdoctoral Services Office every six (6) months from the date my OPT begins. (Please use this form: http://www.augusta.edu/ipso/international/informationchangerequest.php. With approved OPT use the SEVIS Portal: https://sevp.ice.gov/opt/.)

I understand that I cannot be unemployed for more than a total of ninty (90) days in the aggregate while on post-completion Optional Practical Training.

I understand that transfer to another school, beginning or continuing study at another educational level or in another academic program will terminate my authorization to engage in Optional Practical Training employment.

Name of Applicant:

SEVIS ID: Augusta U POUNCE Student ID:

Augusta U email: Alternate E mail:

Augusta U Phone: Home/Cell/Alternate Phone:

Foreign Phone Number: ______________________________

Current Address: Permanent Address in home country:

Augusta University Program completion date (Month/Day/Year):

Proposed OPT start date: Proposed OPT end date:

X _____/______/______ Your Signature Date

https://sevp.ice.gov/opt/

https://sevp.ice.gov/opt/

POST-COMPLETION OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT) for … · 1/29/2020 · Post-completion OPT...

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