Students on F-1 Visa

Maintain Legal Status

• I-20
• Passport
• Full Course of Study and Reduced Course Load
• Change of Address Procedure
• Permanent Departure from the University of Minnesota
• Temporary Departure from the University of Minnesota
• Violation of Status
• Visa Overstay
• F-1 School & Visa Transfer
• Program Extension
• Returning to a Program of Study After an Extended Absence

---

Employment

• Work Options for Students on F-1 Visa
• Payroll Documents
• Identification Documents

---

• F-1 Forms

---

Travel

• F-1 and F-2 Travel Information

Dependents

• Inviting Family Members to the US
• Dependent on F-2 Visa Status
• Change of Visa Status (To F-1 or F-2)

F-1 Student

OPT

Optional Practical Training for Students on F-1 Visas (OPT)

Summary:

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is permission for off-campus employment granted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). OPT enables students to gain work experience in their field of study. 12 months of OPT is available per degree level for students of any major as long as the subsequent degree is at a higher educational level. OPT may be used before or after completion of a program. Students with certain majors in science, technology, engineering or math may be eligible for a 17 month extension of post-completion OPT. International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) must recommend OPT for a student. USCIS then provides final approval and issues an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Individuals must have an EAD before they can begin OPT employment. OPT authorization granted by USCIS cannot be changed, voided, or canceled.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Completed one academic year of full-time study
• Valid F-1 status
• Good academic standing
• Employment must be in the student's major field of study
• Have not regained legal status through reentry during the previous academic year

OPT Categories:

1. Pre-completion
1. Academic Year
   During fall and /or spring semesters and student has not completed required coursework. On and off campus work combined may not exceed a total of 20 hours per week.
2. Vacation Period
   Authorization may be part-time or full-time.
2. Post-completion
1. For students who do not need to complete a master’s Plan A or Plan B paper or a Ph.D. thesis, the date of completion is the final day of the last semester of required coursework, as indicated on the University’s academic calendar.
2. For students completing a master’s degree Plan A or Plan B paper or a Ph.D. thesis, the date of completion is the student’s choice of either
   1. completion of all required classroom credits (including thesis credits);
   2. the day the student has completed all requirements for the degree, including submission of the final paper or thesis; or
   3. the last day of the month that the student submits the final paper or thesis. Students may not postpone the completion date by “holding” a completed thesis. Once defense and thesis revisions are completed, the thesis must be submitted within a reasonable time after defense.

When to Apply:

• Pre-completion Applications: Can be submitted to ISSS 100 days before your requested employment starting date.
• Post-completion Applications: Can be submitted to ISSS 100 days before your expected date of completion.

Step 1: Request an OPT recommendation from ISSS.

ISSS must process a recommendation for your OPT request. We will prepare a new I-20. This process requires at least five working days to complete. Please submit the following items to an ISSS adviser during walk-in hours or a scheduled appointment. ISSS cannot accept your application for processing unless all these items are completed. Please bring:

• Student Request/Academic Adviser Verification Form
• Form I-765 (Use most recent version from ISSS Web site.)
• Reduced Course Load form(s), if applicable
• Valid passport / Form I-94

Step 2: Submit the following items to USCIS.

• Original Form I-765 (Keep a copy for your record).
• Photocopy of I-20 page 1 with your signature and page 3 with OPT recommendation. OPT applications must be received by USCIS no later than 60 days after your expected date of completion in block #5 of the Student Request and Academic Adviser Verification form and no later than 30 days after the "date issued" on the OPT I-20.
• Include photocopies of pages 1 and 3 of previous I-20s. Do not mail original I-20s.
• Photocopy of both sides of Form I-94. Copy the back even if it is blank. Do not mail the original Form I-94.
• Two color photos. The instructions with Form I-765 provide detailed photo requirement information. Print full name and most recent Form I-94 number in pencil on the back of each photo. Place the photos in a clear plastic bag or an envelope and staple it to the application. Learning Abroad Center (230 Heller Hall, 612-626-9000) offers photography service.
• Photocopies of as many as possible of the following that contain your name and photo: the identity page of your passport, entry visa stamp with a photo, driver's license or state ID, student ID, and any previously issued EAD.
• NSEERS registrants should include a photocopy of fingerprint ID number (FIN) on Form I-94 or in passport.
• Check or money order, payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" for the OPT application fee.

Keep a copy of the above documents for your records. Staple the application materials together in the following order: Form I-765, photocopy of I-20, copies of identity verification, and the photocopy of Form I-94. The small pieces (bag/envelope containing photos and check) should be placed on the top and stapled with the entire application. Do not put staple holes in the photos. Mail the application by registered or express mail to obtain a signed receipt. Keep the receipt for your record.

Step 3: Wait for EAD to be mailed from USCIS

• It takes approximately 2 to 4 months for USCIS to process your request and mail your EAD to the address on Form I-765. See the current processing times for I-765 (OPT) applications
• Several weeks after you apply, you should receive a receipt notice (Form I-797) in the mail from USCIS.
• You may not begin OPT employment until you have received your EAD, even if your requested start date has passed.
• You may not continue student employment (including assistantships) after the completion date in block 5 of your OPT I-20, even if you have not yet completed your degree. Any on or off-campus employment after this completion date must be with OPT authorization.
• The EAD will reflect the dates of your employment authorization.

Requirements while you are on OPT

• During OPT you are still in F-1 status at the U of MN.
• ISSS is required to have a copy of your EAD. Upon receipt of the EAD, fax to 612-626-7361 or email isssopt@umn.edu a copy of it to ISSS. Include your U of MN student ID number.
• If you have applied for post completion OPT before you finish your final paper or thesis, you must complete all degree requirements by the OPT end date. A program extension is not possible after this date.
• Official admission to a new degree program or transfer to a new school during OPT will void any remaining time on your EAD. This time can not be re-captured at a later date.
• Enrollment "for administrative purposes" (Grad 999) is allowed.
• You must continue to update your Current Mailing address through the University's One Stop website.
• You must report to ISSS the following information by emailing to isssopt@umn.edu:
• Name of your employer, address, and your employment start date
• Any changes in your employer and their address
• Any interruption in your employment or periods of unemployment.
• You may not accumulate more than 90 days of unemployment during the 12 month period of initial post-completion OPT. Employment must be 20 hours per week or more. Volunteer work or unpaid internships in your field count as employment. Keep written documentation of all employment.

• If you have accumulated 90 days of unemployment, you will no longer be in F-1 status. The only exception is that periods of up to 10 days between the end of one job and the beginning of the next job will not be included in the calculation for time spent unemployed. If you contact ISSS to report this information before your status expires, you will have a 60 day grace period to depart the U.S. or gain another status. Once your F-1 status expires, you are required to leave the U.S. immediately. You will not be granted a 60 day grace period if you do not report to ISSS.
• Notify ISSS if you decide to permanently depart the U.S. during your OPT.
• Notify ISSS if you change your visa status during your OPT.
• When you have completed your degree, your expenses and source(s) of funds might have changed. If this change is greater than 25%, you will need to obtain a new I-20 from ISSS by completing a Student Financial Certification Statement from and submitting it to an F-1 advisor. Once you have applied for post-completion OPT, ISSS will only produce a new I-20 if you have provided ISSS with an EAD photocopy.

Travel during Post-completion OPT

Under normal circumstances, a student who has both (1) an EAD for post-completion OPT or receipt notice and (2) a job or job offer should not experience difficulty reentering the US. If either of these two conditions is missing, then the student is assuming risk.
See more information ....

Travel signatures are only valid for 6 months.

H-1B Cap Gap
Opt employment and status for those who are beneficiaries of an H1-B petition with an October first start date are automatically extended. No additional action is required.

Last Update: August 20, 2009