Optional Practical Training - STEM Extension

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Martha Terry
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1 Optinal Practical Training - STEM Extensin F-1 students in pst-cmpletin Optinal Practical Training wh earned a bachelr s, master s r dctral degree in a science, technlgy, engineering r mathematics (STEM) field as listed n the I-20 and the DHS STEM Designated Degree Prgram list and wh wrk fr an E-Verify emplyer are able t apply fr a 24-mnth extensin f the pst-cmpletin OPT. The STEM Designated Degree Prgram list as f May 10, 2016 can be fund at Eligibility Be in a perid f apprved pst-cmpletin OPT status and prperly maintaining F-1 status Current OPT must be based n a degree in ne f the STEM designated fields (see link abve) STEM Extensin may be based n a previusly btained degree. Previus degree must be frm an accredited, U.S. - based institutin, and the degree must have been earned within the past 10 years. Pssess a valid passprt Wrk at least 20 hurs per week fr an emplyer wh is registered in the E-Verify prgram and in a jb directly related t the student s majr field f study Emplyer must agree t reprting requirements Student must cmplete a Frm I-983 Training Plan (attached) with their emplyer and submit with STEM OPT Extensin applicatin When t Apply STEM OPT petitins may be submitted up t 90 days prir t the end date n the current EAD card and must be received by the USCIS Service Center prir t the current EAD end date and n later than 60 days after DSO recmmendatin in SEVIS. Emplyment Dates Authrizatin begins the day after the first perid f initial OPT and ends 24 mnths later. A student wh submits the petitin n time t USCIS may cntinue t wrk fr 180 days beynd the expiratin f the current OPT while the STEM extensin is pending (274a.12(b)(6)(iv)). The wrk must be fr an emplyer enrlled in E-Verify. Please nte, the University f Suth Alabama is nt an E- Verified emplyer. Unemplyment Limit Pst-cmpletin OPT is limited t 90 days f unemplyment beginning with the start date f the OPT card. Students with a STEM OPT Extensin are granted an additinal 60 days allwance fr time spent unemplyed. Students granted a 24-mnth extensin may nt accrue an aggregate f mre than 150 days f unemplyment during the ttal 36-mnth OPT perid (this includes any unemplyment time accrued during the initial 12-mnth OPT). Unemplyment is cnsidered t be every day (including weekends and time spent ut f the cuntry). Cancellatin f Optinal Practical Training If ne decides t cancel OPT, it is smetimes pssible t d s. Once the EAD has been prcessed by USCIS, OPT cannt be cancelled if the start date n the EAD Card has already passed. T cancel OPT please cntact the Immigratin Crdinatr wh assisted in filing yur applicatin. Student Reprting Respnsibilities while n STEM OPT Extensin Students with STEM OPT have tw timelines fr reprting respnsibilities. Infrmatin shuld be sent t. 1. Changes t the fllwing must be reprted within 10 days f the ccurrence: Any change in legal name (t be accmpanied by new passprt) Residential address Name and address f their emplyer Any change t the name and address f the emplyer Any interruptin, lss, additin, r change f such emplyment

2 2. Every 6 mnths (cunted frm the start date f the STEM OPT), the student must re-verify the name and address f their emplyer as well as residential address infrmatin and telephne number. This must happen even if there hasn t been any change t the data frm the last reprt Mnth and 24-Mnth Evaluatins: The student must als cmplete and submit a self-evaluatin using the I-983, signed by the emplyer and submitted t the Office f Immigratin and Internatinal Admissins at mnths 12 and 24 f the STEM Emplyment Perid. *Students in STEM OPT Extensin may use the SEVP Prtal t update their persnal infrmatin. Emplyer and Frm I-983 must still be submitted t OIIA fr SEVIS and I-20 update. Emplyer Respnsibilities 1. Emplyer must be enrlled in the E-Verify prgram. 2. Emplyer must cmplete a Frm I-983 Training Plan with the student. Explain hw training is related t the field f study State training gals and means f supervisin/evaluatin State duties, hurs, cmpensatin, and verify that the cmpensatin is cmmensurate with similarly emplyed U.S. wrkers Sign ff n a self-evaluatin by the student at tw times (12th mnth and 24th mnth/end f prgram) Any substantial change in emplyment duties will require and updated I Emplyer must prvide practical training experience t the student at its wn place f business and have a bna fide emplyer-emplyee relatinship with the student. Emplyers may nt assign r delegate training respnsibilities t a third party client r custmer. 4. Emplyers must agree t ntify the Designated Schl Official using if the emplyee is terminated r departs frm emplyment prir t the end date n the STEM OPT Extensin EAD within 48 hurs f the ccurrence. Change f Emplyer While n STEM OPT Extensin A student may change/add emplyers at any given time as lng as: The new emplyer is enrlled in the E-Verify prgram Emplyer must cmplete a new I-983 Training Plan with the student. *Any change r additin f emplyer/emplyment must be reprted t OIIA at USA. USCIS and SEVP advise against changing emplyers while the I-765 fr STEM Extensin is pending, since the I-765 petitin names a specific emplyer as yur spnsr. Travel during STEM Optinal Practical Training Re-entry t the U.S. requires that F-1 students present the fllwing dcuments: SEVIS Frm I-20 endrsed fr travel by DSO within the last six mnths OPT Emplyment Authrizatin Dcument (EAD) card Valid F-1 visa Cnfirmatin f emplyment frm emplyer Departure frm the U.S. after Optinal Practical Training An F-1 student in OPT is allwed 60-day grace perid after the authrizatin f emplyment ceases t change status, acquire an I-20 fr a new academic prgram, transfer t anther institutin, r depart the United States. Additinal STEM OPT infrmatin frm the Department f Hmeland Security can be fund at:

3 STEM OPT Extensin Student Applicatin Frm Family Name: First Name: Jag ID #: Degree Level: Majr: Graduatin Date: SEVIS ID: N Is yur STEM OPT Extensin based n: Current Degree r Previus Degree? Previus STEM OPT Authrizatin: Yes - Level N Current EAD start date: End date: Signature Date When crrespndence arrives cncerning my OPT please cntact me at: Phne Permanent (Check this ften fr updates!) Required Dcuments t Accmpany Applicatin: Cmpleted STEM Student Applicatin Frm and STEM OPT Agreement frm Cmpleted Frm I-765 use black ink (attached r fund at under Frms) In questin 27, use cde (c)(3)(c) fr a STEM extensin and cmplete questin 28. List current OPT dates and level n Part 6. If yu have previus SEVIS IDs, CPT Authrizatin, r OPT authrizatin at previus levels use Part 6 n page 7 t list this infrmatin. Cmpleted G-1145 frm (t receive text and receipt ntificatins) Cmpleted Frm I-983 Emplyer Infrmatin Jb ffer letter with cmpany s E-Verify number listed Cpy f diplma and transcripts (especially if basing extensin eligibility n previus STEM degree) Cpy f current EAD card (frnt and back) Phtcpies f all I-20s (pages 1 & 2 nly), passprt, visa, and latest I-94 arrival page r card Tw passprt-style phts n lder than 30 days Check r mney rder fr $410 made payable t Department f Hmeland Security r cmplete Frm G-1450 t pay via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, r Discver nly) An immigratin advisr will review the materials and prduce an I-20 with the OPT recmmendatin. Yu will be sent an requesting that yu cme t sign the new I-20. If yu are nt in Mbile, the abve dcuments can be scanned and sent via fr review. The riginal I-20 and mailing instructins will be sent t yu s that yu can send the petitin packet t USCIS. The petitin and supprting materials which include a cpy f the signed I-20 must be received by the USCIS Prcessing Center n later than 60 days after the date the I-20 was prduced.

4 STEM OPT Agreement I understand that I am respnsible fr the fllwing shuld USCIS apprve my STEM OPT Extensin petitin: Reprt t the Office f Immigratin and Internatinal Admissins (OIIA) within 10 days f a change in: My residential address Name and address f my emplyer Change t my emplyment status Reprt t the Office f Immigratin and Internatinal Admissins the name and address f my emplyer every 6 mnths, even if there is n change t this infrmatin Pursue wrk pprtunities with emplyers enrlled in E-Verify n the Frm I-983 n file at OIIA that are directly related t the prgram listed n my I-20 Be aware f and nt exceeding the unemplyment limits (150 days, t include initial pst-cmpletin OPT) Keep my passprt valid six mnths int the future Submit the required annual self-evaluatin n Frm I-983 t OIIA Request a signature n I-20 frm OIIA fr ut f cuntry travel Cmply with U.S. tax and Department f Labr laws I understand that: On-campus student emplyment psitins are nt apprpriate while in pst-cmpletin OPT/STEM OPT Extensin status The issuance f a new I-20 fr transfer t a new schl r matriculatin t a new prgram f study will invalidate the OPT authrizatin when the SEVIS recrd fr the new I-20 is changed t active status I have 60 days beynd the expiratin f my OPT t either depart the U.S., transfer t a new schl, have an I-20 issued fr a new prgram, r apply fr a change t anther immigratin classificatin I am respnsible fr cmpiling and mailing my petitin t USCIS. The additin r exclusin f dcuments may negatively impact the adjudicatin f my petitin. Disclaimer: The Office f Immigratin and Internatinal Admissins is able t prvide yu with general guidance. Hwever, any advice prvided t yu by ur ffice, as well as the infrmatin in this packet, des nt cnstitute legal advice. Additinally, due t the fluid nature f gvernmental interpretatin, the USCIS may change its interpretatin f the abve mentined immigratin plices, prcedures, regulatins, and eligibility requirements fr benefits at any time. This ffice will d its best t prvide yu with the mst current guidance, but please be mindful that. Each case is fact-specific and it is advised that yu cntact an experienced immigratin attrney if yu have questins regarding yur situatin. Signature: Date: Print name: Emplyer Name: Emplyer Address: Emplyer Data (Required fr all STEM OPT Extensins) Yur Jb Title: Full-time r Part-time: Emplyer EIN: Cmpany E-Verify #: Supervisr s Name: Supervisr Telephne: Supervisr Emplyment Start Date: Explain hw wrk is related t field f study:

2 inches by 2 inches The height f the head (tp f hair t bttm f chin) shuld measure 1 inch t 1 3/8 inches (25 mm - 35 mm) Make

5 Pht Cmpsitin Template Make sure the pht presents the full head frm the tp f the hair t the bttm f the chin Center the head with the frame The persn in the pht shuld have a neutral expressin and be facing the camera Paper Pht Head Size Template Pht must be 2 inches by 2 inches The height f the head (tp f hair t bttm f chin) shuld measure 1 inch t 1 3/8 inches (25 mm - 35 mm) Make sure the eye height is between 1 1/8 inches t 1 3/8 inches (28 mm 35 mm) frm the bttm f the pht Well Cmpsed Pht Cmpsitin Examples

7 Revised 8/15/2018

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR F-1 STUDENTS

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR F-1 STUDENTS Internatinal Student and Schlar Services Science Library G 40 1400 Washingtn Avenue Albany, New Yrk 12222 USA PH: 518-591-8172 FX: 518-591-8171 EMAIL: isss@albany.edu www.albany.edu/isss OPTIONAL PRACTICAL