F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT ) Application Guide

1. F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) Application Guide

2. What is OPT? (slides 3-4) • When am I eligible for OPT? (slide 5) • What is required of my job while I am on OPT? (slide 6) • When do I apply for OPT? (slides 7-9) • Instructions: OPT Application Process (slides 10-27) Guide Overview

3. Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit of F-1 student status. • OPT is a temporary type of work authorization that allows an F-1 student to be employed in their field of study. • Students may request up to 12 months of OPT (with a possibility of extension for STEM majors) per degree level. What is OPT?

4. There are three different types of OPT you may submit an application for: • Pre-completion OPT: Applicable to students who intend to do practical training while they are pursuing degree (such as for an internship). • May be requested full-time (more than 20 hours/week) only during school breaks or part-time (less than 20 hours/week) during the Fall and Spring semesters. • Post-completion OPT: Applicable to students who intend to do paid or non-paid practical training after they complete program of study. • STEM extension OPT: A 24-month extension of OPT for students with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors as decided by USCIS: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/eligible-cip-codes-for-the-stem-opt-extension What is OPT?

5. If applying for post-completion OPT, the earliest you can apply is 90 days before completing the degree and you are not allowed to apply any later than 60 days after completing the degree (the sooner you apply the better). • You must have been lawfully enrolled full-time for at least one academic year (a Fall and Spring semester), under the same SEVIS number, to be eligible to apply. NOTE: Time spent enrolled in a study abroad program during a course of study can count towards the one academic year requirement, but only "if the student had spent at least one full academic term enrolled in a full course of study in the United States prior to studying abroad." In addition, you may use time spent in another immigration status (e.g. E-2, H-4, etc.) to fulfill the academic year requirement. When am I eligible for post-completion OPT?

6. A job offer is not required when you apply for OPT. However, you must find employment within 90 days of the start date of your OPT. • Any employment you do during OPT must be related to your major field of study. • The employment may be part-time or full-time and it can be paid or unpaid. • You may work for multiple employers. • You must work a minimum of 20 hours/week on average. • Once your OPT is approved you will be granted access to the “SEVP Portal”. SEVP will automatically e-mail you a link to register your account. This portal will be where you are required to report your employment and address information while on OPT. What is required of my job while I am on post-completion OPT?

7. The application for post-completion OPT must be received by USCIS: • No earlier than 90 days before program completion (the date you meet program requirements not the date of your graduation ceremony). • No later than 60 days after your program completion. • Please note: Once you apply for OPT, your program end date will be updated on your I-20. Once the program end date passes, we are no longer able to change it. When do I apply for OPT?

8. When do I apply for OPT? *If you are a PhD student, your expected completion date may be your defense date. Please view next few slide for more information.

9. PhD Students • Your academic advisor may select your dissertation defense date as your program completion OR if you have an assistantship from Temple University you may select the last day of your Graduating Semester as listed in the previous slide. • If you have an assistantship you must complete your employment by the end of the final semester. • You must be registered in your final semester. • If for some reason you do not complete degree requirements by the program completion date on your OPT I-20, you may complete your degree after this date as long as you get your diploma before the expiration of post-completion OPT. When do I apply for OPT?

10. STEP 1: Submit the OPT application to ISSS. • The application documents are listed on our website. • The application can be submitted online or dropped off to the front desk of ISSS. STEP 2: ISSS will review your OPT application documents and issue you a new I-20 that will include a recommendation for OPT. This process takes 5 to 10 business days. ISSS will e-mail you to pick up the OPT I-20 from the ISSS office. STEP 3: You will mail the OPT application with the newly issued OPT I-20 to USCIS. STEP 4: USCIS will receipt the application in 2 to 4 weeks from the date the student mails the application. STEP 5: USCIS will process the application in approximately 3 to 5 months. If the OPT is approved, the student will receive an EAD (employment authorization document) card in the mail. This card is your proof of work authorization that you will need to show your employer when you find employment. *Please note: there is not an option to expedite the processing of the OPT application with USCIS so please plan accordingly. Instructions: OPT Application Process

11. Prepare Your Application Materials • Please follow our instructions in following slides, we recommend you also review the “Instructions for Form I-765” on the USCIS website. The application category for post-completion OPT is (C)(3)(B). • All documents must be printed on standard 8.5” x 11” white paper • See following slide for list of required application documents Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials

12. I-765 application form (you can download this form from the USCIS website: http://www.uscis.gov/i-765). • G-1145 form (you can download this form from the USCIS website: http://www.uscis.gov/g-1145): this is recommended if you would like to receive an e-mail notification concerning your application status. • Academic advisor form (you can download this form from our website: http://www.temple.edu/isss/employment/documents/OPTAdvisorForm.pdf). • Student application form (you can download this form from our website: http://www.temple.edu/isss/employment/documents/OPTStudentRequestForm.pdf). • A copy of all I-20s you received (this includes I-20s received from former schools if you transferred to Temple University). • A copy of your passport biographical page, visa, and I-94 (you can download your I-94 from the following website: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/). • Academic history at Temple (you can print this from Self-Service Banner in TuPortal). If you attended other US college(s) before Temple, you must include this academic history (or transcript) as well. • Other supporting documents, if any. For example, a copy of a prior EAD card if you received one, a copy of a prior approval notice for a change of status, etc. • Two U.S. passport-style photos (2” x 2” in size, white background) *Please prepare this item but do not submit to ISSS office. • $410.00 check addressed to: U.S. Department of Homeland Security *Please prepare this item but do not submit to ISSS office. Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials

13. When you are preparing your OPT application, you will need to choose your “Requested OPT Start Date” and “Requested OPT End Date”. • These are the dates you are requesting to begin and end your OPT. • You may choose a start date anytime from the day after you complete your program through 60 days after you complete your program. • Please reference Slide 8 for the exact dates based on your Graduating Semester. • You are allowed 12 months of OPT, therefore your “Requested OPT End Date” would be 12 months from the start date you choose unless you have already used some of the 12 months for pre-completion OPT during your program. • The OPT start and end dates will be shown on Page 2 of your OPT I-20 after our office issues it. • Once USCIS receives your OPT application you will not be able to change your requested OPT Start Date. Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials

14. What e-mail should you use? • You will be asked to provide your e-mail address in the application • You may use a personal, non-Temple, e-mail address that you will continue to receive e-mails to during the duration of OPT. • Not only will ISSS use this email to communicate to you while on OPT, but this is the email that will be associated with your SEVP Portal.  Your SEVP portal will be created  after your OPT is approved. Note: If you would like to maintain your Temple account, you must request this from Temple’s Alumni website. Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials

15. What is the “Expected Completion Date”? • The “Expected Completion Date” is the date you will complete your academic degree. • Your Program End Date on your OPT I-20 will be updated to reflect the accurate Expected Completion Date: Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials

16. After our office reviews your OPT application you will receive an e-mail to pick up your OPT I-20 (during busy times this can take up to 10 business days). You must check your OPT I-20 for accuracy before you send it to USCIS. Please see next slides for details on the information you are responsible for checking. Instructions: OPT Application Process

17. Page 1 of OPT I-20 Name and Country of Birth/Country of Citizenship Make sure your name is spelled and spaced exactly as it appears on your passport.  Also confirm that your Country of Birth and Country of Citizenship reflect what appears in your passport. Education Level and Major(s) Confirm that your education level reflect the degree you are currently completing. Also, confirm that your major(s) are up to date. School Attestation Check for an ISSS advisor signature. Date Issued USCIS must receive your complete OPT Application within 30 days of this date. Student Attestation Remember to sign and date here.

18. Status The OPT I-20 issued by ISSS shows the requested OPT status because USCIS adjudicates (approves) your OPT Application request after they process it. Page 2 of OPT I-20 Start and End Dates These are the dates that you wrote on the OPT Request Form. Your EAD Card will have these same dates when your OPT is approved unless USCIS does not  complete processing your OPT Application by the requested start date. To ensure you receive your requested start date, apply at least 90 days before your request start date, if possible. Full/Part Time If you are applying for Post Completion OPT, this will show “Full Time” requested. Type of OPT Be sure the type of OPT is Post Completion OPT unless you have met with an  advisor and discussed applying for Pre Completion OPT. Travel Endorsement Check for an ISSS Advisor signature. Your Travel Signature is valid for 6 months during OPT instead of 12 months. If you have finished your program it is not recommended you travel until your OPT is approved, you have received the EAD card, and a job offer in the U.S.

19. OPT I-20 • Two identical OPT I-20s will be issued. One I-20 you will mail to USCIS with your OPT application and one I-20 you will keep. • Make sure you have reviewed all the information on your I-20 after you have picked it up from ISSS (see slides 16 and 17). • Sign and date the bottom of the I-20s. • Mail in the I-20 that does not include a travel signature to USCIS. Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials

20. 2 U.S. Passport Photos • Photo must be taken within the last 30 days and cannot match photos used for other documents such as your current passport biographical page. • Photo must be 2” x 2”. For exact specifications, visit the U.S. Department of State webpage. • Lightly print your full name (pen or pencil) AND your SEVIS Number (begins with “N” followed by a 10-digit number) on the back of each photo. • Photos must be professionally taken: • You can get passport photos at the Diamond dollar office on the second floor of the student center or from a photo kiosk station at any store such as Rite Aid or CVS. Photo Examples: Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials

21. OPT Application Fee • $410 Fee. • Fee can be paid by a personal check, money order, cashier’s check, or credit card. NOTE: We recommend you obtain a check from your bank if you have a U.S. bank account as money orders can be more difficult to track and credit card information can be rejected for various reasons. • It is okay if the name or address in the top left is not the same as the applicant’s information. • The check should be made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” • The “memo” or “for” section should state “I-765 OPT Application.” • Write your SEVIS Number anywhere on the front of the check. Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials Check Sample:

22. I-765 Application • Make sure you include all 7 pages of the I-765. • Make sure you fill in all fields of the application, if a section of the application does not apply to you please fill in “N/A” in the box. • On page 1 in Part 1, check the box that says, “Initial permission…” • On page 2 in Part 2, make sure you clearly fill in the U.S. mailing address. This is the location USCIS will mail your EAD card to. • On page 3 in part 2, #27 should be (C)(3)(B), this is the category for post-completion OPT. • Don’t forget to sign and date for the form on Page 4. • If you have been previously granted any work authorization (such as CPT or OPT), make sure you list this information on Page 7, in Part 6. Fill in #’s 1-3. For #3 you can put Page 3, Part 2, #27. You should include the type of work authorization, the duration of the work authorization, and the level (Bachelor’s, Master’s, etc.) of study which it was authorized. Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials

23. Electronic I-94 Record OR Photocopy of Paper Form I-94 (both sides) • You will have an electronic I-94 record if you traveled into the U.S. after April 2013 and entered by air or sea. Your I-94 can be found online. • You will have a card form of the I-94 if you have not traveled into the U.S. since April 2013, you have applied for a change of status to F-1 in the U.S. and have not traveled, OR if you entered the U.S. through a land border (such as a land port of entry from Canada or Mexico). Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials Electronic I-94: Paper Form I-94:

24. Photocopy of Passport Biographical Page • If your most current visa is in an old passport, please include copies of both passport biographical pages AND a short letter to USCIS explaining the situation. • Be sure the entire MRZ Code is visible. Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials

25. Photocopy of most recent U.S. visa Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials • Visa does not need to be valid. • Be sure the entire MRZ Code is visible. • If you were approved for a change of visa status within the U.S. (example: Change from E-2 to F-1) then you will not have the F-1 visa sticker in your passport. • Instead, please include a copy of your I-797 receipt notice showing the approved change of status.

26. G-1145 Electronic Notification Form • Use this form to request a text or e-mail notification from USCIS regarding the receipt and processing of your OPT application. • This form can be found on USCIS’ website. Instructions: Preparing your OPT Application Materials

27. You will receive information handouts with your OPT I-20 when you pick it up from ISSS. These documents are for you to keep. Do not mail this information to USCIS. • The information handouts have reminders and information for you regarding mailing your OPT Application and next steps, so please read it thoroughly. Instructions: OPT Application Process