OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING OPT

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OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)
University of Florida International
Center International Student Services Revised
01-23-09
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Heres what were going to discuss

• PART 1
• What is OPT?
• OPT Facts
• Three Kinds of OPT
• Pre-Completion
• Post-Completion
• PART 2
• 17 Month STEM Extension
• Reporting Requirements / Travel
• Applying for OPT

STANDARD OPT
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What is OPT?

• Optional practical training is temporary
  employment authorization that allows F-1 students
  to gain practical work experience (on- or
  off-campus) by applying their academic knowledge
  to a position directly related to their area of
  study.

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17 Month STEM Extension OPTWhat is it?

• A one-time 17-month extension of post-completion
  OPT (life-time limit, NOT per degree level)
• Optional Practical Training is temporary
  employment authorization that allows F-1 students
  to gain practical work experience by applying
  their academic knowledge to a position directly
  related to their area of study.

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17 Month STEM Extension OPTEligibility

• Must have received a Bachelor, Master, or PhD
  degree
• Major studied must be on the STEM (Science,
  Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Degree List
  http//www.ice.gov/sevis/stemlist.htm
• Student's employer must be registered in
  E-Verify, and agree to report to the DSO within 5
  days of when the student is terminated or leaves
  employment.

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17 Month STEM Extension OPTEligibility, cont.

• The student must agree to make periodic reports
  to the DSO every 6 months.
• Must be on a current authorized period of post
  completion OPT
• Begins on the day after the expiration of the
  initial post-completion OPT employment
  authorization and ends 17 months thereafter.
• For example
• Post-completion OPT 12/22/2008 12/21/2009
• 17 Months Extension OPT starts 12/22/2009
  5/21/2011

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17 Month STEM Extension OPT Facts

• Limited Periods of Unemployment to Maintain
  Status
• During post-completion OPT, F-1 status is
  dependent upon employment.
• Students may not accrue an aggregate of more than
  90 days of unemployment during the standard
  post-completion OPT
• Students granted a 17-month OPT extension may not
  accrue an additional aggregate of 30 or more of
  unemployment, for a total 120 days of
  unemployment during the total 29-month OPT
  period.

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TO APPLY FOR THE 17-MONTH OPT EXTENSION

• Submit the completed 17-month OPT STEM Extension
  Form and the following
• Completed Form I-765 (sections number 3 and 16
  have already been completed for you)
• Check or Money Order for 340.00 made out to the
  Department of Homeland Security
• Two passport regulation photos of yourself (taken
  within 30 days of the filing of this application)
• COPIES of your most recent immigration documents
  
• I-20 for OPT Extention, I-94 Card (Front and
  Back), Current EAD (OPT card) (Front and Back),
  Passport, F1 Visa
• Proof of the Degree and Major (such as
  official/unofficial transcripts, or copy of your
  diploma)

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I-765 Application (numbers 3 and 16 will
already be filled in for you)
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17 Month OPT STEM Extension Application Form
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17 Month STEM Extension OPT Verification

• UFIC will verify students eligibility by
• 1) checking for students major on the STEM
  Designated Degree List,
• 2) checking student records to see that student
  has received a Bachelor, Master, or PhD degree
• 3) ensuring that the student is aware of his or
  her responsibilities for maintaining status while
  on OPT

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17 Month STEM Extension OPT Verification, cont.

• UFIC will then input the 17-month STEM extension
  request in SEVIS and produce a new I-20 for the
  student to mail application materials
• Applications for the 17-month STEM extension must
  be filed at USCIS BEFORE the current standard OPT
  card expires.
• Students who file a timely application for the
  17-month OPT extension will be able to continue
  employment while the extension application is
  pending, until a final decision on the I-765 or
  for 180 days, whichever comes first.

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Applying for 17 Month STEM Extension OPT, cont.

• You will be responsible for mailing your
  application through the USPS to
• USCIS Texas Service Center
  PO Box 851041
  Mesquite, TX
  75185-1041
• Recommended to mail as Certified Mail
• The receipt notice and the OPT card will arrive
  at the UFIC, and you will be notified by email as
  each arrive.

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Reporting RequirementsWhile on OPT

• Address Update
• You must update your address within TEN days of
  moving. There are three things you need to do
• Complete an AR-11. The form can be found at
  http//www.uscis.gov/AR-11 or you can complete
  your change of address online. Follow the
  instructions on the same link above.
• Update your personal info in MyUFL at
  https//my.ufl.edu
• Send an email to your International Student
  Advisor with your full name, new address and
  telephone number.

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Reporting RequirementsWhile on OPT Extension,
cont.
Employer MUST be paid Employment with E-Verify
Employer

• Employer Name
• Employer Address
• City, State, Zip Code

• Date Began/Started
• Date Ended/Stopped
• Supervisor's Name
• Supervisor's Email
• Supervisor's Tel

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Travel During OPT

• You are still on an F1 visa during OPT
• Traveling out of the US is always risky, but if
  you choose to do so, in order to return to the
  U.S. you must have
• Valid Passport
• Valid F1 Student Visa
• I-20 (which has been endorsed for OPT)
• Valid travel signature (signature good for 6
  months at a time while on OPT)
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD/OPT card)
• Letter of Employment (on employers letterhead,
  stating your name, job title, brief description
  of duties, and a general idea of OPT start date
  if you have already started, just a letter
  confirming employment and knowledge of your
  travel plans, 2-3 pay stubs)

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University of Florida International Center (UFIC)

• FORMS
• http//www.ufic.ufl.edu/issdownloads.htm
• Appointments 352-273-1538
• International Advisors
• Ethel Porras (A-I) ? eporras_at_ufic.ufl.edu
• Scott Davis (J-Q) ? sdavis_at_ufic.ufl.edu
• Martine Angrand (R-Z) ? mangrand_at_ufic.ufl.edu

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The End(of Part 2)Questions?