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Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an employment benefit contained in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) regulations governing the F-1 visa category. Students who have maintained their status will have an opportunity to obtain work experience in their fields of study in order to enhance their educational experience in the United States.

• Standard Post-completion OPT: Full-time OPT that is done after the completion of studies or for graduatestudents during thesis/dissertation. Language Institute students are not eligible; Filing deadline 90 days beforecompletion of all coursework and 60 days after completion.

All students applying for Post-Completion OPT must participate in the OPT Training on Blackboard.

Program extensions will not be allowed beyond your post-completion OPT end date. If you fail to graduation after OPT approval, you cannot extend your I-20 end date beyond your OPT end date.

Once the application is submitted to the IASS, it will take 5-7 working days for the paperwork to be completed for submission. You will receive an email when the application has been processed and it is ready to be mailed.

• 24-Month STEM extension OPT: There is an additional 24-month extension for certain STEM majors in the areaof Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Student must already be approved for and be employed underStandard Post-completion OPT in order to apply. Employer must be registered in E-Verify System. Filing deadline, before expiration of standard OPT.

Once the application is submitted to USCIS it will take 2-3 months for approval

Application for Standard Post-Completion Optional Practical Training

Post-completion Standard OPT is normally valid for 12 months and all students who have completed a degree are eligible to apply. All F-1 students are allowed one year of OPT for completion of each level of study (i.e., BA, MA, Ph.D. Completion). A second degree in the same level of study does not qualify for another year of OPT.

To be eligible for Standard Optional Practical Training

Status: The student must be in valid F-1 status at the time of application.

Enrollment: Student must have been lawfully enrolled on a consecutive, full-time basis at a DHS-approved school for one full academic year before being eligible for OPT.

Full-time OPT: Only full-time OPT is approved. You must work at least 20 hrs. per week.

Request for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)

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Personal Information

1. Name: _______________________________________ UTRGV ID# _________________________

2. Date of birth: Telephone: _____________________________ MM / DD / YYYY

3. E-Mail: Personal: ________________________________________________ (This email will be used to send you emails reminders while you are on OPT).

UTRGV: ______________________________________________

4. Current Status : Full-time Part-time Academic Level: Graduate Undergraduate

5. Date studies began at UTRGV: Semester_______________ Year: ____________

6. Date that you will complete your program: ______________ ________ ___________ Month Day Year

7. Major field of study: Does it match I-20? Yes No

8. I am a graduate student (masters/doctoral) who has finished all coursework and I am currently working on my

thesis/dissertation. Yes No

9. Date that you applied for graduation: ______________ __________ ___________ Month Day Year

10. Participated in the OPT Blackboard Training? Yes No

11. Exact date that you desire to begin Optional Practical Training: (Must be within 60 days after graduation)

Month: Day: Year: __________

12. Exact date that you desire to end Optional Practical Training: (One year minus 1 day later than start date)

Month: Day: Year: __________

REQUEST FOR STANDARD POST-COMPLETION OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING APPLICATION

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Application will not be processed until all items below are submitted to the IASS

Participate in the OPT Blackboard Training

Application Form

I-765 Application Form (complete on-line at USCIS website http://www.uscis.gov, print and submit it to our office)

Check or money order for $410 payable to: U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Credit Card payment is also available by submitting Form G-1450 : Authorization for Credit Card Transaction.

Two Photos Passport style (please write your name lightly on the back of each photo with a pencil)

Signed Student Agreement and Restrictions Notification (attached)

Official transcript

Intent to Graduate Form (attached to this form; must be completed by Academic Advisor (from your department) affirming that it is possible for you to graduate by the date indicated by the student.

Additional Notes Once the DSO recommends a student for OPT, the student has 30-days from the day of recommendation to

submit and confirmed that the application and any supporting documentation has arrived to USCIS. It is theresponsibility of the student to make sure his/her application has arrived on a timely manner to USCIS.

If you will be using our University address on Form I-765, please initial here _____ to give us authorization to opencorrespondence from USCIS.

Item Checklist for submission to IASS

A note about the photos:

You must submit two identical color photographs of yourself taken within 30 days of filing your application. The photos must have a white to off-white background, be printed on thin paper with a glossy finish, and be unmounted and unretouched. The passport-style photos must be 2” by 2”. The photos must be in color with full face, frontal view on a white to off-white background. Head height should measure 1” to 1 3/8” from top to bottom of chin, and eye height is between 1 1/8” to 1 3/8” from bottom of photo. Your head must be bare unless you are wearing headwear as required by a religious order of which you are a member. Using pencil or felt pen, lightly print your name and Alien Receipt number on the back of the photo.

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I understand that after I submit my OPT application to the U.S. government processing center, it is not possible to change my requested OPT start & end dates.

I understand I am filing a request for a specific start date for my OPT period, and that start date will be printed on my EAD, but that my requested date is not guaranteed by USCIS. The first day of work permission printed on the EAD will be either my requested start date, or on a later start date selected by USCIS (depending on application time).

I understand my permission to begin OPT is not finalized until I receive my Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the USCIS.

I understand that the last day my OPT can begin is 60 days after the end of the semester when I complete my degree requirements. Therefore, if USCIS issues my EAD card later than this, the official start date on my EAD will be backdated to the 60th day. In this case, I will miss out on some approved work days while I wait for my card to be delivered.

I understand during OPT I may only do activities directly related to my major field of study.

I understand that I am also personally responsible to submit my complete and correct OPT application to the USCIS no later than 30 days after IASS issues me an I-20 recommending OPT, and that if my application does not arrive to USCIS by the deadline it will be denied and returned to me.

I understand that I am personally responsible to submit my complete and correct OPT application to the USCIS no later than 60 days after the date I complete the requirements for my degree, and that if my application does not arrive by that deadline I will not be approved for OPT. I understand that although I may meet this deadline, due to the government’s processing timeline I may not receive my EAD card in time to work for a full 12 months.

I understand that failing to complete all academic requirements for my degree by the end of finals in my final semester of enrollment may affect my OPT eligibility and impact my F-1 status. I understand I must get advice from IASS if I am concerned about failing to complete my degree. I understand that before my OPT is approved, I can request to withdraw my application. I understand I must contact IASS to officially withdraw. If I fail to graduate and my OPT has been approved, then I will only be allowed to work 20 hrs. week.

I understand that once authorization to engage in OPT is granted by USCIS, it may not be rescinded or cancelled. This means that after OPT is authorized by the USCIS, unexpected delays in completing degree requirements, inability to find an appropriate job, or loss of a job may result in loss of otherwise-eligible time to work.

I understand that if I transfer my I-20 to a new school during my authorized period of OPT, my OPT authorization comes to an immediate end and any remaining unused OPT time is permanently lost.

I understand that government regulations state that during post-completion OPT, my F-1 status is dependent upon employment. If I accrue an aggregate of more than 90 days of unemployment, my I-20 and SEVIS may be automatically terminated by the U.S. government and I will be “out of status”.

Your OPT start date must be no later than 60 days after the last day of your final semester of enrollment. Your OPT end date will be 12 months later. Your OPT can’t end later than 14 months after your program end date.

Student Agreement and Restriction Notification

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If you have filed for OPT but have not finished your coursework, you can leave and re-enter the U.S. as long as your I-20 program completion date is still in the future. If you have finished all your coursework and have filed for OPT you it is not recommended to leave the U.S. before you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and you have or have been offered a job. It is not recommended in the case that you receive a request for additional evidence and you must respond to them on a certain deadline. In the case that you travel outside the U.S. before being approved, you will be required to have your EAD on hand to be able to re-enter the U.S.

I understand that I can work in a verifiable (documented) volunteer position and it will count as OPT employment.

I understand that I must work at least 20 hrs. per week for my OPT employment to be approved.

Standard OPT is available for a cumulative maximum of 12 months per educational level.

Prior use of full-time Curricular Practical Training for one year or more eliminates eligibility for Optional Practical Training.

While on OPT you must update the IASS on any changes within 10 days, that may occur in the following areas: o Employer name and address,o Termination of employmento Change of employmento Change of personal mailing addresso Change of email address

In order to travel outside the United States after you have received your Employment Authorization you will need the following documents in order to re-enter:

o Valid passport with at least 6-month validity left on ito I-20 with OPT recommendation and signed by immigration advisor within the last 6 monthso I-94o Valid F-1 visao Letter from current employer stating that you are employedo Valid Employment Authorization Document (this EAD will say “not valid for travel”). This means

that you cannot travel using this card by itself. You must have all the other required documents.

I have read and understand the student agreement and restrictions notifications that apply to my practical training status. My signature affirms that I agree to and accept said conditions.

Name (please print): ________________________________________________________________________

Signature: ____________________________________ Date: ________________________

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This section to be completed by student

Printed Name: Student UTRGV ID Number:

Degree/Major: Date: _____________

This section to be completed by program/academic advisor

This international student is applying with the Department of Homeland Security for Optional Practical Training (one year of employment in the U.S. which is related to their major field of study).

• This application is based upon the completion, or soon to be completion of all coursework related to his/her degree.• Your signature does not mean that the student is assured of graduation. It just indicates that if everything proceeds

normally, the student should be able to complete his/her studies by the date indicated.• We understand that you cannot guarantee completion of all coursework needed for graduation but we need to know

that it is probable.• If a student applies for OPT and fails to complete his/her coursework it is very likely that they will forfeit that

immigration benefit of their F-1 status.

Please check which one applies:

This student completed all of his/her coursework on (date):

This student should complete all necessary coursework needed for graduation by:

Month ________________ Year ________________

This student is a graduate student who has completed all the necessary coursework for this degree and is now working on his/her thesis or dissertation.

If you have questions, please contact an International Student Advisor at (956) 665-2299 or (956) 882-7092.

_________________________________________ _________________________________ Printed Name of Academic / Program Advisor Signature of Academic / Program Advisor

_________________________________________________ ________________________________ Telephone E-mail Address

Intent to Graduate

Verification Form for OPT

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The I-765 must be completed on-line at the following USCIS website. Once completed, you may print it out and bring it to our office.

1. Go to http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis2. Click on the green tab titled “Forms”3. Scroll down until you find Form I-765 Apply for Employment Authorization4. Click on the “Form I-765” link at the beginning of the text5. Complete Application and print out

Detailed Instructions for Completing Forms I-765 Fill in the I-765 according to the following; mistakes or omissions can cause delays. I am applying for: check Permission to Accept Employment 1. Name Type in name exactly as it appears on I-20 2. Other names: If there are no other names on I-20 leave blank 3. Address in the U.S. We highly recommend that you use one of the UTRGV addresses.

“or” One West University Blvd., MAIN 1.308 1201 W University Dr, ESTAC 3.128 Edinburg, TX 78539 Brownsville, TX 78520

4. Country of Citizenship Type in your country of citizenship as listed on the I-20 5. Place of birth Type in the city and country of your birth 6. Date of birth Type in your date of birth: use format of: month/day/year 7. Gender Select your sex 8. Marital Status Select your marital status 9a. Have you ever applied for a SSN Select Yes or No 9b. Social Security Number Type in your Social Security Number (if you do not have one, leave blank) 10. If you do not have a SSN, do you wish to apply for one? Select Yes or no11. Do you consent disclosure of information to SSN office? Select Yes or no12. Father’s Name This information is required to complete your Social Security Number application13. Mother’s Name This information is required to complete your Social Security Number application14. Alien registration Number or I-94 number Type in the number on the top of your I-94 card in your passport15. Have you ever applied for employment authorization from USCIS before? This will in most cases be “no” unless

you have filled out an I-765 application before; if you have filed an application for employment with immigration before, you will need to put that information in these spaces and supply documentation.

16. Date of last Entry into the U.S. This is the date that you made the latest entry to the U.S.17. Place of last Entry into the U.S. This will be the city where you lastly entered the U.S.18. Status of last entry F-1 student (unless you have changed your status to that of a student inside the U.S.)19. Current Immigration status: Type in: Student20. Eligibility Categories: (C) (3) ( B ) Should be used if you are applying for Post-Completion OPT

21,22 & 23 Leave this section blank. Certification: You will then need to sign, date and put the telephone number where you can be reached by immigration if they need to contact you.

Application Instructions for Form I-765

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Sample of Form I-765

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