OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR F-1 STUDENTS

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1 Internatinal Student and Schlar Services Science Library G Washingtn Avenue Albany, New Yrk USA PH: FX: isss@albany.edu OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR F-1 STUDENTS Applicatin Instructins Optinal Practical Training (OPT) allws students in F-1 status t gain practical experience and training in a field directly related t the majr area f study befre r after cmpletin f prgram. Students are eligible t apply fr OPT after ne academic year in F-1 status. Students are allwed a maximum ttal f 12 mnths f OPT, which may be cmpleted all at nce, r at several different intervals (e.g., three mnths each summer). The initial 12 mnth OPT limit may be extended by 24 mnths, fr a ttal f 36 mnths, fr certain STEM (Science, Technlgy, Engineering, Mathematics) degree hlders (nly if the emplyer is registered with the E-Verify system). Students are eligible t d ne year f OPT fr each higher level f study ne year fr a Bachelr s degree, ne year fr a Master s degree, and ne year fr a Dctrate degree. Emplyment authrizatin is evidenced in the frm f a small, plastic card called an Emplyment Authrizatin Dcument, r EAD. This card will shw yur pht, signature, and the type f emplyment authrizatin. It will als specify the dates that yu are eligible fr emplyment. Eligibility Requirements T be eligible fr Optinal Practical Training (OPT), yu must have been enrlled as a full-time student at least fr ne academic year and be in F-1 status at the time f applicatin. All emplyment must be directly related t the majr field f study fr the prgram yu are using t apply fr the OPT authrizatin. Pre-Cmpletin OPT Students may nly wrk up t 20 hurs per week while schl is in sessin if OPT is authrized befre cmpletin f the prgram. There is n specified limit t the number f hurs students may wrk during vacatin perids r after cmpletin f prgram. Part-time OPT is defined as 20 hurs r less per week and cunts ½ the time f full-time OPT (i.e., 4 mnths f part-time OPT = 2 mnths f full-time OPT). Full-time OPT is defined as mre than 20 hurs per week. Dctral students wh have been advanced t candidacy may use full-time OPT during their dissertatin research perid while cntinuing full time registratin. Students must cnfirm advancement t candidacy befre applying fr full time pre-cmpletin OPT. Students wh chse t break up their OPT int mre than ne perid f pre-cmpletin wrk authrizatin r t split their OPT perid between pre- and pst-cmpletin OPT must file separate applicatins fr each perid f OPT. Frm I-765, questin 16: (C) (3) (a) Pst-Cmpletin OPT Students planning t use Optinal Practical Training (OPT) after cmpletin f prgram may apply t United States Citizenship and Immigratin Services (USCIS) fr OPT up t 90 days befre cmpletin f prgram but n later than 60 days after cmpletin f studies. Once OPT is recmmended in SEVIS by an Internatinal Student Adviser, the student must file Frm I-765 with USCIS within 30 days f issuance f the Frm I-20 recmmending OPT. Fr undergraduate and master s students the cmpletin date is the date all requirements fr the degree are met. Fr dctral students, 1 Rev. 10/23/2017

2 Graduate Studies cnsiders yur cmpletin date t be the end f the semester in which yur dissertatin is received by Graduate Studies. F-1 regulatins d nt allw students t pstpne cmpletin f prgram fr any reasn except unfinished academic requirements fr the degree. Pst-cmpletin OPT is always defined as full-time (mre than 20 hurs per week) with the expectatin that yu will be engaged in full-time emplyment, r seeking full-time emplyment. Please cnsult the Internatinal Student Adviser immediately if yu realize yu will nt cmplete yur prgram by the end date listed n yur Frm I-20. Please nte that the Frm I-20 cannt be extended nce the prgram end dated has passed. Frm I-765, questin 16: (C) (3) (b) 24 Mnth STEM Extensin Students majring in certain fields may be eligible t extend their OPT fr an additinal 24 mnths, fr a grand ttal f 36 mnths. These fields are referred t as STEM majrs (Sciences, Technlgy, Engineering and Mathematics). Students wh chse t use the 24 mnth STEM extensin will apply fr the initial 12 mnths f OPT first, and then apply again fr the STEM extensin befre that first 12 mnths is ver (but n earlier than 90 days befre the initial 12 mnth OPT perid expires). Please cntact ISSS fr a full list f qualifying requirements fr the STEM degree and emplyment. Limited Perids f Unemplyment t Maintain Status During the 12 mnth pst-cmpletin OPT, F-1 status is dependent upn full-time, qualifying emplyment. Students may nt accumulate mre than 90 days f unemplyment during any perid f authrized pst-cmpletin OPT (including weekends). A student s I-20 can be autmatically terminated by SEVIS if mre than 90 cnsecutive days f unemplyment are accrued. Please cnsult the Internatinal Student Adviser if yu have questins abut the unemplyment limit. Please nte that if the 90-day unemplyment limit is reached, a student is then cnsidered ut f status. A student s I-20 can be terminated and n additinal 60-day grace perid is allwed at that time. Hwever, if a student is unemplyed fr 90 days and is wrking fr the remaining 9 mnths, the 60 day grace perid still applies. Vlunteer wrk, r unpaid activity, may cunt as emplyment under OPT as lng as the emplyment meets all requirements, including that the student is wrking at least 20 hurs per week in a psitin directly related t the student s prgram f study. Travel while OPT is pending Travel utside f the United States while an applicatin is pending with USCIS is strngly discuraged. Once yu have cmpleted yur studies, yu need dcumentatin shwing cntinuing status in rder t reenter the U.S. Fr F-1 students n OPT, the prf that USCIS has granted yu cntinuing status is the EAD card. Cnsult with the Internatinal Student Adviser befre making any internatinal travel plans. Travel after OPT is apprved Students n an apprved perid f OPT may travel. T re-enter, the student must have a valid I-20 signed within the past 6 mnths frm the date f re-entry, valid passprt, valid F-1 visa, valid EAD card, and prf f emplyment (such as a cntract r ffer letter). Grace perid Fllwing the cmpletin f OPT, students have 60 days t depart the U.S., enrll in a new academic prgram, r change t anther nn-immigrant status. 2 Rev. 10/23/2017

3 Health Insurance While n OPT Yu must have health insurance while yu are n OPT. If yu are nt wrking r wrk fr an emplyer that des nt ffer health insurance, yu may purchase insurance thrugh ISSS (the GeBlue Student Insurance) at mnthly intervals. If yu are currently enrlled in the GeBlue internatinal student health insurance, yu must renew yur plicy with ISSS n mre than 30 days after the cmpletin f yur prgram. If yu are currently enrlled in NYSHIP insurance as a graduate/teaching/research assistant, but want t switch t GeBlue after the cmpletin f yur prgram, yu must d s befre the prgram cmpletin date. H-1B Cap-Gap Extensin Please check with ISSS t see if yu qualify fr a cap-gap extensin. Fr students wh qualify fr a cap-gap extensin the duratin f status and wrk authrizatin will be autmatically extended if the student has a timely filed H-1B petitin requesting an emplyment start date f Octber 1 f the fllwing fiscal year. The extensin f duratin f status and wrk authrizatin will terminate upn the rejectin, denial, r revcatin f the H-1B petitin filed n the student s behalf. The nly prf that students will receive f their Cap-Gap extensin is a new I-20 frm ISSS. ISSS des nt autmatically knw if students receive the Cap-Gap extensin, s yu will need t request a new I-20 frm the ffice with prf f successful filing, such as the receipt r apprval ntice frm USCIS. Reprting Requirements while n OPT While authrized fr OPT yu are still an F-1 student under the University at Albany s spnsrship. Make sure that ISSS has the address yu read regularly and that yu respnd t ISSS s. We will cntact yu by in the event f regulatry changes and if yu have nt updated yur infrmatin with ur ffice. The Department f Hmeland Security may als cntact yu, s yur address must be up t date in MyUAlbany and in SEVIS. While n OPT, yu must: 1) Prvide Internatinal Student & Schlar Services with a phtcpy f yur Emplyment Authrizatin Dcument, r EAD card (frnt and back). 2) When applying fr OPT, keep in mind that yu must receive authrizatin frm USCIS and have an Emplyment Authrizatin Dcument (EAD) in yur hands befre yu begin emplyment. The entire applicatin prcess takes n average 3 mnths, but may take lnger. 3) Update yur U.S. Address in yur MyUAlbany demgraphics. Kindly keep yur address and ther cntact infrmatin, including , up t date in MyUAlbany. 4) Students n OPT are required t reprt any changes t persnal/cntact infrmatin (including but nt limited t name changes, , phne number, and address), emplyment infrmatin (including but nt limited t new emplyment, emplyer changes, end f emplyment, emplyer name, address, supervisr cntact infrmatin, psitin, and hw the emplyment relates t the student s prgram f study) and changes in status (including changes f status t H1B, permanent residency, etc ). 5) Yu are required t reprt any f the abve changes t ISSS/DHS within 10 days. 6) Students may reprt by submitting an OPT data frm, available n ISSS website. Starting spring 2017, SEVP (the gvernment agency which administers SEVIS) will be launching a prtal fr students t directly input changes in emplyment infrmatin. Students will be sent an t enrll based n the address in SEVIS, s yur must be up t date in MyUAlbany. 7) Yu are required t reprt the interruptin f yur emplyment t ISSS within 10 days f yur terminatin. 8) Yu must cmplete a Departure Frm when yu end OPT and plan t depart the United States. Please see the Departure Frm n ur website at under Frms. 3 Rev. 10/23/2017

4 OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING APPLICATION PROCESS: Part 1 Applying fr new I-20 Frm fr OPT Submit the fllwing dcuments t Internatinal Student & Schlar Services (allw 5-7 business days prcessing): 1. Cmpleted ISSS applicatin frm (attached, page 9). This frm shuld be filled ut by yu and yur Academic Advisr. The frm must be cmpleted befre the advisr signs it. 2. Cmpleted I-765 frm. 3. Cmpleted frm G-1145 E-Ntificatin f Applicatin/Petitin Acceptance. 4. Emplyment ffer letter (if any). 5. Phtcpy f current Frm I-94 Frm (bth sides f card versin) r print-ut f the electrnic I Phtcpy f identity pages in passprt, including expiratin date and mst recent F-1 visa stamp. 7. Phtcpies f all previus I-20s. Part 2 Applying fr EAD card: Yu must mail the fllwing dcuments t USCIS within 30 days f the issue date f Frm I-20 recmmending yu fr OPT. Prcessing with USCIS takes 2-4 mnths. Yu CANNOT begin OPT withut the EAD card: 1. A mney rder, certified check r persnal check made payable t U.S. Department f Hmeland Security. payable t the amunt f $ Cver letter addressed t the Dallas Lckbx USCIS prcessing center (page 8) 3. Original cmpleted Frm I-765 (yu can als type the frm using the nline PDF) 4. Phtcpy f the new Frm I-20 issued fr OPT (d nt send the riginal). 5. Phtcpies f all Frm I-20s ever received (lder versin pages 1 and 3, newer versin pages 1 and 2). 6. Phtcpy f current Frm I-94 Frm (bth sides f card versin) r print-ut f electrnic I Phtcpy f identifying pages in passprt. 8. Phtcpy f mst recent U.S. Visa. 9. Tw identical passprt phtgraphs with yur name and I-94 number written n the back see next page and g t: Phtcpy f any previus Emplyment Authrizatin Dcument (EAD) issued t yu (bth sides). 11. Frm G-1145 E-Ntificatin f Applicatin/Petitin Acceptance (ptinal). Nte: Optinal Practical Training MUST be related directly t yur majr field f study and cmmensurate with yur level f educatin. YOU MAY NOT BEGIN EMPLOYMENT UNTIL YOU RECEIVE THE EAD FROM USCIS. While engaged in OPT, students are under the University at Albany s F-1 prgram. Change f lcal address, and phne number must be reprted t MyUAlbany within 10 days s we can update SEVIS. Yu must reprt any changes in yur emplyment t ISSS. Send yur cmpleted applicatin within 30 days f DSO signature using a methd that shws Prf f Delivery t: Fr US Pstal Service deliveries: USCIS PO Bx Dallas, TX Fr Express mail and curier service deliveries (ex: FedEx, UPS) USCIS Attn: AOS 2501 S. State Hwy. 121, Business Suite 400 Lewisville, TX MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING YOU SEND FEDERAL MAIL IS NOT FORWARDED. If the address given n Frm I-765 is nt valid yur EAD will be sent back t immigratin by the pst ffice. 4 Rev. 10/23/2017

Passprt Phtgraph Infrmatin When btaining pictures t send in t USCIS, please visit: https://travel.state.

Yur passprt pht must be: Printed n matte r glssy pht quality paper Size f pht 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size Size f head must be between

Recent, taken in the last 6 mnths t reflect yur current appearance Effective Nvember 1, 2016: N glasses in yur passprt style phtgraphy

expressin r a natural smile, with bth eyes pen In clr Taken in clthing that yu nrmally wear n a daily basis N hats r head cverings, unless

N headphnes r wireless hands-free devices.

5 Passprt Phtgraph Infrmatin When btaining pictures t send in t USCIS, please visit: fr mre infrmatin. The fllwing infrmatin can be used t assist yu. Yur passprt pht must be: Printed n matte r glssy pht quality paper Size f pht 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size Size f head must be between 1-1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm) frm the bttm f the chin t the tp f the head. View the Pht Cmpsitin Template fr mre size requirement details. Recent, taken in the last 6 mnths t reflect yur current appearance Effective Nvember 1, 2016: N glasses in yur passprt style phtgraphy Backgrund must be plain white r ff-white Head must be directly facing the camera with yur full face in view Taken with a neutral facial expressin r a natural smile, with bth eyes pen In clr Taken in clthing that yu nrmally wear n a daily basis N hats r head cverings, unless yu wear it daily fr religius purpses. Yur full face must be visible and yur head cvering cannt cast shadws n yur face. N headphnes r wireless hands-free devices. Pht Cmpsitin 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 Acceptable Phts ( 5 Rev. 10/23/2017

Sample I-765 Page fr OPT Page 1 f 2 Fr example use nly Check that the date f the frm has nt expired. One f these bxes must be checked, r USCIS will nt prcess the applicatin.

6 Sample I-765 Page fr OPT Page 1 f 2 Fr example use nly Check that the date f the frm has nt expired. One f these bxes must be checked, r USCIS will nt prcess the applicatin. Check Permissin t accept emplyment if yu have never applied fr an EAD card befre. Legal name as it appears n passprt & and I-20. Yur EAD card will be mailed t this address. This address must be clearly identifiable t be delivered. In yur mailbx, please make sure yur name is written inside. Yu may put the ISSS ffice address if yu are unsure where yu will be living. Only fill in if yu have an SSN. If yu have an SSN card, answer #10 with N. and skip t #14 n page 2 (leave the ther items blank) If yu are requesting an SSN card, check Yes fr #10 and #11 and fill in items #12-#13. ISSS address: First Line ISSS, 1400 Washingtn Ave, SL G- 40 Secnd Line Albany, Only fill in if yu are applying fr an SSN. Please nte: There are nw tw pages t the I-765. Rev. 10/6/ Rev. 10/23/2017

7 Sample I-765 Page fr OPT Page 2 f 2 Fr example use nly Only fill in if yu are applying fr an SSN. Yur I-94 number is the admissin number at the tp f the I-94. If yu have never befre applied fr an EAD card, check n. If yu have applied fr an EAD card in the past, check yes and cmplete the additinal questins. Yu can find infrmatin fr numbers n yur mst recent I-94 ( v) and under the Travel Histry sectin f the I-94. If the travel histry des nt accurately reflect yur last entry, please cnsult an ISSS Sign and date the frm. While all ther sectins f the frm can be typed, yur signature must be an riginal signature in blue r black ink. Include yur phne number and date. Mst students shuld have this sectin blank. This sectin shuld nly be cmpleted if smene else is cmpleting the frm and filing it n yur behalf (such as a lawyer r cmpany). Rev. 10/6/ Rev. 10/23/2017

8 Cver Letter USCIS Dallas Lckbx ATTN: I-765 Dear Officer: Enclsed please find the fllwing items related t my request fr Optinal Practical Training: 1. Check r mney rder fr $410.00, payable t U.S. Department f Hmeland Security 2. Cmpleted Original Frm I-765; 3. Phtcpy f Frm I-20 issued fr OPT; 4. Phtcpies f all Frms I-20 ever issued t me; 5. Phtcpy f current Frm I-94 Frm (bth sides f card versin) r electrnic I-94; 6. Phtcpy f identity page f passprt; 7. Phtcpy f mst recent US visa stamp; 8. 2 passprt phts, cut with white backgrund with name and I-94 written n the back; 9. Frm G-1145 E-Ntificatin f Applicatin/Petitin Acceptance (ptinal) 10. Other evidence: Please feel free t cntact me if further infrmatin is needed. Sincerely, Signature Date Name Printed SEVIS ID Number 8 Rev. 10/23/2017

9 OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING I-20 REQUEST FORM (ISSS Applicatin frm) Name: Academic Majr: SUNY ID: Degree Level: (circle ne) Bachelr s, Master s, PhD I-20 End Date: (mm/dd/yy) SEVIS ID: Telephne Number: Address: I have attended an Off-Campus Emplyment Wrkshp. [ ] Yes [ ] N If yes, when / / I have watched the n-line OPT tutrial at [ ] Yes [ ] N Start Date Requested fr OPT (cnsult ISSS if necessary): Emplyer s Name and Address fr OPT (if any): I have dne OPT previusly. [ ] Yes [ ] N If yes, at what level f study? I verify that my SEVIS USA Address, and phne number in My UAlbany is crrect: [ ] Yes (please initial) I take full respnsibility fr reading/understanding the infrmatin presented in the OPT packet, the wrkshp and/r the nline tutrial: [ ] Yes (please initial) Student s Signature Date TO BE COMPLETED BY THE STUDENT S ACADEMIC ADVISOR The signature f the academic advisr indicates a verificatin f the student s level and field f study and, especially, the expected cmpletin date f studies. Degree expected: [ ] Bachelr [ ] Master s [ ] PhD [ ] Other Expected Cmpletin Date (MM/DD/YY): This date was determined as fllws (check ne) [ ] Anticipated Graduatin (must be registered in that semester) [ ] Dissertatin Defense & Submissin (fr Dctral students) [ ] Other - please explain: Is the student in gd academic standing? [ ] Yes [ ] N D yu, the academic advisr, recmmend that Optinal Practical Training be given t enhance the student s understanding f his/her field f study? [ ] Yes [ ] N I certify that the abve infrmatin is crrect and satisfies the infrmatin required by Internatinal Student and Schlar Services t recmmend Optinal Practical Training fr this student. Name and Title f Advisr: Signature f Advisr: Date: Phne Number: Address: 9 Rev. 10/23/2017

Optional Practical Training - STEM Extension

Optional Practical Training - STEM Extension 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)