New Jersey Institute of Technology The Office of International Students

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New Jersey Institute of Technology The Office
of International Students

• Optional Practical Training
• (OPT)

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Optional Practical Training in F-1 Status

• Pre-Completion Post-Completion Optional
  Practical Training

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Definition

• Pre-Completion Practical Training is employment
  in your field of study before you complete your
  degree. (If you are considering this option for
  OPT during a semester or summer, remember you
  must have been in full time status for one
  academic year (fall and spring semesters). OPT
  will be part time during the semester unless your
  are completing a project, thesis or dissertation.
  Post-Completion Practical Training is employment
  in your field of study after you complete your
  degree.
• It may take 3 months for the USCIS to grant
  pre-completion or post-completion OPT.

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Eligibility

• You are a degree candidate who has been in lawful
  status as a full-time student for at least one
  academic year.
• For Post-Completion Practical Training, you may
  apply up to 90 days BEFORE you complete your
  degree or, up to 60 days AFTER.
• You may engage in Optional Practical Training
  only after you receive your Employment
  Authorization Document (EAD) from the U.S.
  Citizenship and Immigration Service.
• This process can take approximately 3 months.
• 12 months standard and 17 months extension for
  STEM majors

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Types of Work on 12 Months OPT

• Volunteer-ask the employer for a letter
  describing duties, time per day and length of
  volunteering. Must be in the program of study.
• Contract work with an employer
• Employment with a company
• Self-employed
• All of the above will keep you in F-1 status
  during the
• 12- months standard OPT.

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Types of Work on 17 Months STEM OPT

• All of the above
• Must be for an E-Verify company
• Can volunteer, BUT volunteering does not count as
  work, which is needed to retain F-1 status

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17 Months STEM OPT

• Available if program was Science, Technology,
  Engineering or Mathematics (STEM).
• Is an extension of the 12 months standard OPT.
• Can be applied for up to 90 days before 12 m OPT
  expires.
• Must work for an E-verify company.
• Can have more than one job at one time in your
  program of study.
• Must report any address or job change to OIS
  within 10 days of occurrence.
• See http//ois.njit.edu/opt-information/17-month-S
  TEM-opt-ext.php for this reporting.
• Must report every 6 months.
• Employer is asked by USCIS to report to NJIT
  termination of your employment within 3 days of
  the event. See http//ois.njit.edu/opt-informati
  on/post-opt.php.

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OPT Reporting

• Go to http//ois.njit.edu/opt-information/post-opt
  .php to see your reporting responsibilities

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Instructions For Applying For OPT

• Complete an Advisor Form.
• Have two immigration photos taken. Lightly, in
  pencil using capital letters, print your name and
  write the number of your I-94 card on the back of
  each photograph.
• Complete the I-765 form and sign your name after
  Your Certification. Complete the OPT Request
  Form.
• 380 check, and two photos should be placed in a
  white business envelope.
• Bring a copy of your most recent I-20 when you
  hand in the application to OIS.

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OMB No. 1615-0040 Department of Homeland
Security
I-765, Application For U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services
Employment Authorization _________________________
__________________________________________________
___
Do not write in this block.
I am applying for ? Permission to accept
employment.
? Replacement (of lost employment
authorization document).
? Renewal of my permission
to accept employment (attach previous employment

authorization document). ______________________
__________________________________________________
___
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I-765, Application For
Employment Authorization 1. Name (Family Name in
CAPS) (First) (Middle)
Which USCIS Office?
Date(s)

______________________________________________
__________ __________________________________
________________________ 2. Other Names Used
(Include Maiden Name) Results
(Granted or Denied attach all
documentation) ___________________________________
_____________________ _______________________
___________________________________ 3. Address in
the United States (Number and Street) (Apt.
Number) 12. Date of Last Entry into the U.S.
(mm/dd/yyyy) c/o NJIT Office of International
Students 140 Fenster
Hall _____________________________________________
___________ _________________________________
_________________________ (Town or City)
(State/Country) (ZIP
Code) 13. Place of Last Entry into the
U.S. (mm/dd/yyyy) 323 MLK Jr. Blvd.
Newark, NJ
07102 ____________________________________________
____________ ________________________________
__________________________ 4. Country of
Citizenship/Nationality 14. Manner of
Last Entry (Visitor, Student, etc.) ______________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________________
________ 5. Place of Birth (Town or City)
(State/Province) (Country) 15.
Current Immigration Status (Visitor, Student,
etc.) _______________________________________
________________ ____________________________
______________________________ 6. Date of Birth
(mm/dd/yyyy) 7. Gender
16. Go to Part 2 of the
Instructions, Eligibility Categories. In the
space
Male
Female below, place the letter
and number of the category you selected from the
__________________________________________________
____ instructions (For example,
(a)(8), (c)(17)(iii), etc.) 8. Marital Status
Married Single

Widowed
Divorced Eligibility under 8 CFR
274a.12 ( c ) ( 3 ) ( ) _______________________
_________________________________ 9. Social
Security Number (Include all numbers you have
ever used) (if any) 17. If you
entered the Eligibility Category, (c) (3) (C), in
item 16 above, ___________________________________
_____________________ list your degree,
your employers name as listed in E-Verify, and


your employers E-Verify
Company Identification Number or a 10. Alien
Registration Number (A-Number) or I-94 Number (if
any) valid E-Verify Client Company
Identification Number in the space _______________
_________________________________________
below.

Degree
__________________________ 11. Have you ever
before applied for employment authorization
Employers Name as listed in E-Verify
___________________________ from USCIS?

Employers
E-Verify Company Identification Number or a valid
E-Verify Yes (If yes, complete below)
No
Client Company Identification Number
___________________________

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Certification. ___________________________________
__________________________________________________
________ Your Certification I certify, under
penalty of perjury under the laws of the United
States of America, that the foregoing is true and
correct. Furthermore, I authorize the release of
any information that the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services needs to determine
eligibility for the benefit I am seeking. I have
read the Instructions in Part 2 and have
identified the appropriate eligibility category
in Block 16. _____________________________________
__________________________________________________
______ Signature

Telephone Number
Date _______________________________
__________________________________________________
____________ Signature of Person Preparing Form,
If Other Than Above I declare that this document
was prepared by me at the request of the
applicant and is based on all information of
which I have any knowledge. _____________________
__________________________________________________
______________________ Print Name
Address
Signature
Date _________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________
Remarks
__________________________________________________
___________________________

Form I-765 (Rev.
02/12/10)Y
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The Application (I-765)Your Practical
Training application is now ready to be processed
by your International Student Advisor. Drop off a
copy of your current I-20, OPT Request Form,
I-765, and the NJIT Advisor Form at the Office of
International Students, Fenster Hall, Room 140.
Your application will be completed in 7-10
business days. PLEASE NOTE completion is often
less than the 7-10 business days.
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Mailing ChecklistMailing Checklist AFTER your
International Student Advisor has processed your
Practical Training application

• Photocopies of ALL student I-20s (current and
  previous), Your advisor will approve OPT in
  SEVIS and issue a new I-20. The OPT work dates
  will appear on page 3. For STEM, the work dates
  and the current E-verify employer will be on page
  3 with start date for this employer.
• Photocopies of front and back of I-94 card
• Photocopies of passport pages containing picture,
  expiration date and visa
• Original I-765 form
• Business envelope containing
• - Two photos with your name and admission
  number (found on the
• I-94) penciled on the back
• - Personal Check or Money Order for
  
• 340 payable to U.S. Department
  of Homeland Security. Your International Student
  Advisor will keep the original OPT Request Form
  and will place it in your OIS folder.

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The 30 Day Rule

• The OPT application MUST reach and be receipted
  by the USCIS Dallas Service Center Lockbox within
  30 days of the NJIT International Student
  Advisors OPT recommendation date.
• This important date is printed on
• page 3 of the I-20.

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Where To Mail The ApplicationUSCIS Dallas
LockboxFor U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
DeliveriesUSCISPO Box 660867Dallas, TX
75266     For Express mail and courier
deliveriesUSCISAttn AOS2501 S. State Hwy.
121 BusinessSuite 400Lewisville, TX 75067 
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Copy All Documents You Mail To USCIS

• Copy all documents before you mail and keep this
  safely with your important documents.

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Travel on OPTOn OPT do
not travel outside of U.S. borders without the
current OPT I-20 signed by your international
student advisor, a valid U.S. entry visa, an
employment letter, pay stubs and your EAD. You
must be returning to resume employment to be
granted re-entry by Customs and Border
Protection (CBP).You will not be allowed to
re-enter the U.S. unless you have written proof
a job.