OPT - NJCU :: Office of International Students and Study Abroad - Office of International Students and Study Abroad

OPT

Important Information about Optional Practical Training

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is off-campus employment authorization that lets F-1 students get work experience in their major field of study . The amount of work you are permitted is maximum 12 months of full-time employment for each higher educational level you pursue in the U.S. You can work for any employer, anywhere in the country.

If you decide to spend all of your OPT after you complete your degree, you must request all of it at once, that is the full year. You cannot use it in pieces.

If you decide to go on your Master’s degree after completing your OPT for your Bachelor’s, you will have another 12 months available to you.

How can it be used?

Summer vacation and semester break – either part-time or full-time employment
While school is in session – part time employment only
After completion of all course requirements for a bachelor’s, masters or doctoral degree– part -time or full-time employment

HOW CAN YOU QUALIFY FOR IT?

You must have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year.
You must be able to describe how the type of work you are seeking directly relates to your major. You do not have to have a job offer to apply for OPT. If you are applying for before completion of studies OP, however, it is wise that you be as sure as possible of a job so that you don’t waste any of your time.
You may apply for after-completion of studies OPT up to four months before your requested employment start date, but you cannot apply after you have completed your program!!
You cannot already have used 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training.

HOW DO YOU APPLY?

Download the Application for F-1 Optional Practical Training Employment form, complete it and return it to us. When you return it, we will review your application to make sure that you qualify. If we agree that you do, we will issue a new I-20 document recommending your OPT. You will then be required to come to our office and sign the OPT. After you sign the OPT, we will send your application to USCIS for processing of your work authorization. Please note that ALL OPT APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE YOUR GRADUATION DATE.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

After you return your application to the Office of International Students and Study Abroad, plan that it will take about three months for your EAD (Employment Authorization Document) to be returned to us from USCIS. It could take less or more depending on their workload. If there is an emergency and you need the EAD card earlier, you may request “Expeditious Handling” of your application.

It’s important to take USCIS processing time into consideration when planning the date you want to start working ! YOU CANNOT BEGIN TO WORK UNTIL YOU HAVE YOUR EAD CARD!!

WHAT IF YOU WANT TO TRAVEL BEFORE STARTING AFTER-COMPLETION OF STUDIES OPT?

Contact your international student advisor before making any travel plans if your OPT is still pending USCIS authorization. You required to have your EAD card to return to the U.S. and should also be able to prove that you have a job or a job offer.

Post-graduation OPT cannot be extended. You must apply for the full amount of time remaining in your 12-month period. You will, however, be entitled to another 12-month period of OPT if you go on to a higher level of study. After-completion OPT cannot be extended. You must apply for the full amount of time remaining in your 12-month period. You will, however, be entitled to another 12-month period of OPT if you go on to a higher level of study.

STUDY AND AFTER-COMPLETION OPT

Immigration regulation state that, “Authorization to engage in optional practical training employment is automatically terminated when the student transfers to another school or begins study at another educational level.” Therefore, you should not continue your U.S. studies until after your OPT has ended.

DO NOT START WORKING UNTIL USCIS AUTHORIZES YOUR EMPLOYMENT AND YOU HAVE YOUR EAD CARD!

Therefore, if you would like to get work experience in your major field of study this summer or after you complete your studies this spring you should apply for Optional Practical Training employment authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) early!

REMEMBER, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A JOB OFFER TO APPLY FOR OPT!

Applications are available in our office or online.

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