Overview

Student Immigration Definitions

Obtaining F-1 Student Status at Columbia

Important Information for Students Fully Funded
by Columbia University

Transfer of F-1 Supervision

Change of Status to F-1

Message for Canadian Students

Potential Delays in Visa Issuance

Dependents

Student Tax Information

Maintaining F-1 Status

I-20 Recertification

Academic Certification for Travel

F-1 Travel Information

Govt Q & A for F-1 Travel

DHS Information on Arrival Problems

F-1 Extension of Stay (Current Program)

F-1 Extension of Stay to Begin New Program

F-1 Reinstatement

F-1 Work Opportunities

F-1 Practical Training (PT) Overview

F-1 Curricular Practical Training

F-1 Optional PT Before Degree Completion

F-1 Optional PT After Degree Completion

STEM 17-month OPT extension

F-1 Internship with an International Organization

F-1 Leave of Absence, Suspension or Withdrawal

Student Departure Information

F-1 Last Term Authorization

Inviting Relatives/Friends to Visit You

Address Change Form

Applying for a Social Security Number

Optional Practical Training (OPT) After Completion of Degree Requirements

This document covers the following information:

  • OPT Definition, Eligibility Requirements and Application Period and Deadline
  • How to Apply: Request new I-20 with OPT recommendation from the ISSO; Mail complete application to USCIS; Special Considerations
  • Documentation required to return from a trip abroad during the first 12 months of OPT
  • No more than 90 days of unemployment allowed during OPT in order to maintain status
  • Reporting Obligations to the ISSO while on OPT
  • "Cap-gap" extension for individuals with a pending H-1B during authorized OPT
Definition: Employment related to your field of study immediately after completion of your studies, authorized by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) through the issuance of an EAD card (Employment Authorization Document). OPT is permitted for a period of up to a maximum of twelve months per educational level (Bachelors, Masters, etc.) unless you are a graduate from a government-designated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) degree which qualifies you for a possible extension of an additional 17 months. The STEM extension is discussed separately.

The following information is for the initial application for post-completion OPT for all students in F-1 status finishing a program of study.

Obtaining the employment authorization is a 3-step process:
  1. Obtain an OPT recommendation from the ISSO on a new I-20
  2. Mail your application (I-765) and all supporting documentation for an EAD to the USCIS
  3. Receive the EAD in the mail. You may begin to work ONLY after you receive the EAD and no earlier than the start date on the EAD.

Eligibility: You must meet all of the following conditions:

  1. Must be physically present in the U.S. in F-1 status at the time of application. Do not leave the U.S. during the 60 day grace period following the completion date of your program if you have not yet applied for OPT.
  2. Have been enrolled in a University-recognized degree or certificate program in lawful student status on a full-time basis for at least one full academic year
  3. Have completed all requirements for the award of your University-recognized degree or certificate at the time OPT begins
  4. Not have used twelve months or more of full-time curricular practical training (CPT)
  5. Have received a grade for any course-related CPT done in a prior semester (if applicable)
  6. Have not previously been authorized for OPT at the same level of study

Application Period and Deadline:

Deadline:
The OPT application must be received by USCIS before the end of the 60-day grace period following the completion date of the current program of enrollment. The completion date is generally the official last date of the term in which all degree requirements have been fulfilled and not the date on which the degree is conferred. USCIS will deny any application received after the end of your 60-day grace period.

When to Apply:
You have a 5 month period in which to apply for OPT--from 90 days before the completion of your program until 60 days after but you must still be in the U.S. at the time of application. You may request a start date within the 60-day grace period following completion of your program.

The employment authorization start date on your EAD will be the date you requested or the date the EAD is processed, whichever is later. Regardless of when your OPT begins, it cannot end later than a year from the end of your grace period.

Example: A student is graduating on May 16, 2012. This student may choose a start date within sixty days following the completion of her program, from May 17 to July 15. She wants her OPT to begin as late as possible, which is July 15, 2012. She sends her application to USCIS on June 1st and they process her EAD card on August 15th. The OPT authorization on her card is August 15, 2012 to July 15, 2013. OPT cannot end more than 14 months after the end date on the I-20. She may not begin employment until she has the EAD in hand and she can only work during the time period indicated on the EAD.

How to Apply

Step 1: Obtaining the ISSO Recommendation
You may apply without a job offer. The ISSO recommendation may require 5 working days and you should make every effort to apply in a timely manner.

  1. Complete the fillable I-765 Form in PDF format online and print it. Use a laser printer only. Sign the print out, making sure not to write outside the allotted area. If you choose not to type, please make sure you use BLUE ink. USCIS has some helpful form completion and filing tips on their website at http://www.uscis.gov/lockboxtips.

    We strongly recommend that your I-765 be submitted in paper form. Submitting the I-765 as an online web-based form requires submission of biometrics after your application has been received by USCIS.

    • On the top of the I-765, before question 1, you must check the correct box for "I am applying for:"
      If you do not check the appropriate box, USCIS will return your application to you for correction before beginning to process it.
    • Question 3, Address. The address you put on the I-765 has to be one at which you can reliably receive mail up to 4 months from the time you mail the application. An "undeliverable" address is a major source of problems with OPT applications.
    • Question 10 asks for your Alien Registration number or I-94 number. This is the number printed at the top of your I-94 card.
      Question 16 asks for eligibility categories. The code for post-completion OPT is (c)(3)(B).
    • Question 17--Complete ONLY if you are applying for a STEM extension of your approved OPT. The code for STEM extension is (c)(3)(C).

  2. Download both pages of the Post-OPT Recommendation Request. You must complete page 1 and your academic adviser, department chair or program coordinator must complete page 2. Bring both completed forms to the ISSO with your completed I-765. Please come prepared to the ISSO with your desired employment start and end dates.

    A note about your completion date: This is not necessarily the day on which the degree will be conferred—-it is the day on which all degree requirements have been completed.

    For doctoral students the completion date can vary. Speak with an ISSO adviser about your particular situation.

    Note: You may not be able to return to the United States in F-1 status after the deposit of your dissertation without having practical training authorization since you are no longer considered a full-time student after the dissertation deposit. Please consult an ISSO adviser before making your travel plans.

  3. Trainee Adminstrative Fee of $100. Regulations under SEVIS require the University to maintain the record of the student for the duration of the time that is authorized. You are responsible for notifying the ISSO of any changes in your name or residence address, the name of any new employer and the employer's address, and any interruption, change, or termination in employment, and the ISSO must update your SEVIS record. The $100 fee is paid online at Trainee Administration Fee web page and must be paid before the I-20 with ISSO's recommendation is released to you. All credit card payments must be made online but the ISSO will continue to accept payment in cash.

  4. Bring to the ISSO:
    a) Your current I-20 and all previously issued I-20s
    b) Passport
    c) I-94 card (white card usually stapled in passport)
    d) I-765 Form
    e) OPT Recommendation Request Form

  5. The International Students and Scholars Office staff will:
    • Review your application for eligibility
    • If you are eligible, process a new I- 20 which includes the OPT recommendation and the requested dates of employment
    • Notify you by email when your new I-20 is ready to be picked up

Step 2: Mailing your OPT Application to USCIS:

  1. Sign and date the new I-20! (section 11) This sounds obvious but many OPT applicants have their applications returned for an unsigned I-20 and/or an unsigned check and/or an unsigned I-765 form.
  2. Photocopy the entire application before you send it so that you have a complete copy for your records.
  3. Send your application to the USCIS by certified mail, return receipt requested or by a courier service such as FedEx to provide you with proof that your application was timely in the event that the application is lost. Please note: Your application must be received by the USCIS Service Center within 30 daysof the date that the OPT I-20 is issued.
  4. All applications must either be filed at the USCIS Dallas or USCIS Phoenix Lockbox facilities. Students who list a mailing address on the I-765 in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania, must send the application to:

    U.S. Postal Service (USPS)

    Courier service (FedEx, UPS)

    USCIS USCIS
    PO Box 660867 Attn: AOS
    Dallas, TX 75266 2501 S. State Hwy. 121, Business
      Suite 400
      Lewisville, TX 75067

    If you use a mailing address in another state, please refer to page 10 of the I-765 instructions to find out where to file your application.

OPT Application Checklist

  1. Form G-1145 - This form should be on the top of your application for USCIS to notify you by email and/or text message that they have accepted your application.
  2. Completed Form I-765 - Original. If you do not use the G-1145 form, the I-765 form should be on the top of your application materials for prompt identification purposes at the USCIS Service Center. We recommend you use blue ink.
  3. Required $380 fee payable to the Department of Homeland Security by:
    • personal check, write "USCIS I-765" in the memo line of the check
      See How to Write a Check or the step-by-step online demonstration at The Beehive
    • a bank check
    • money order; please note, a money order is more difficult to track than a check

  4. Photocopies of pages 1 and 3 of all I-20s issued to you since you first entered in F-1 status, including the I-20 issued with the OPT recommendations. Do Not Send Originals of any I-20. Be sure you have SIGNED AND DATED all your I-20s on page 1. Note: The USCIS wants to see all your I-20s starting from the one marked "initial attendance". If you do not have all your I-20s and are unable to obtain copies from the appropriate school, you should attach a brief explanation of your F-1 status history.
  5. Photocopy of your passport ID page
  6. Photocopy of both sides of the I-94 card (the white card in your passport)
  7. Photocopy of both sides of any previous issued EAD cards
  8. Two U.S. passport style photos. The USCIS requires that the photos meet the specifications for the full frontal/passport type of photos and not be more than 30 days old when the applications is filed. Visit the Department of State website for more information on photo standards.
    Write your name on the back of each picture in pencil. Passport photos can be taken at the following locations:
    • Fedex Kinkos - 116th Street between Broadway and Claremont
    • Village Copier - 118th Street & Amsterdam or Broadway between 111th and 112th Streets
    • Duane Reade - Broadway & 111th Street

Step 3: Receiving your EAD Card in the mail:

  • Address: The address you put on the I-765 has to be one at which you can reliably receive mail up to four months from the time you mail the application. An “undeliverable” address is the major source of problems with OPT applications.

  • USCIS will send all mail related to the EAD to the address indicated on the I-765 form, even if you later update your address with the ISSO and in SEVIS. There is a way to change your address with USCIS online using the USCIS Change of Address site but we cannot guarantee its efficacy. U.S. government mail will not be forwarded to another address, even if you change it with the postal service.

  • The address must be within the jurisdiction of the USCIS Regional Service Center to which the application is being submitted or the application will not be processed.

  • If you are using an address of a friend, your name should be indicated somewhere on the mail box. If the mail carrier does not recognize your name, the envelope with the EAD card will be returned to USCIS. Use "C/O" (care of) the name of your friend in the address to help avoid confusion. You may follow this example:
    Mary Smith (your name)
    c/o Linda James (your friend's name)
    5 Apple Street, #2D
    New York, NY 12345

    Processing time: The USCIS can take from 6 to 12 weeks to process an EAD application. After you receive the "Notice of Action" with the 13-digit receipt number, you can check the status of your pending application online on the USCIS webpage. If your application has been pending for more than 90 days from the date of receipt on the "Notice of Action" form, contact the ISSO.

    Special Considerations:

    1. Your application must be received by USCIS before the end of the 60-day grace period following the end date of your program. The completion date of your program will be indicated on the I-20 and cannot be changed.
    2. Please note that once your OPT application has been sent to the USCIS, there is no provision for changing the dates or canceling the request. You are not allowed to work until you receive the EAD from USCIS.
    3. There is some risk involved in leaving the U.S. while your OPT application is pending at the USCIS in the event USCIS mails you a request for further information.
    4. Regulations allow you to change employers during the period of authorized practical training, as long as the new employment continues to be directly related to your field of study and commensurate with your educational level.
    5. Contact the ISSO immediately if you receive any correspondence from USCIS about your application (other than the Notice of Action receipt)

    Travel Abroad and Post-Completion OPT

    The regulation for students on OPT allows for reentry “to resume employment after a temporary absence.” DHS has issued the following guidelines:

    • Before your EAD is issued, you may reenter the U.S. to resume searching for employment. You must carry evidence of a PENDING OPT application. The receipt notice from USCIS will serve as proof that you have applied.
    • After an EAD is issued, you may only reenter the U.S. to resume employment that has already commenced, or to return to begin a job that has already been offered. This means you must carry a letter from the employer, in addition to the EAD. Please note: this letter must be for the duration of your OPT and not for a permanent position.
    • Please note: Given both the uncertainty surrounding the length of time needed to obtain approval for an EAD and the variations at the ports of entry in the implementation of the regulations for travel on OPT, if you wish to travel on OPT soon after completion of your studies, our recommendation is to:
      1. Apply for OPT early so that you will have an EAD before your travel, and
      2. Have a letter from your employer confirming a job to which you will be returning

      If you travel without either of the above documents, there is a risk that you may not be able to return to the U.S. in F-1 status.

    In addition, you must also have:

    • An I-20 that has been recertified on page 3 for travel within the past 6 months, not 12 months as it was when you were enrolled.
    • An unexpired passport valid for 6 months into the future (except Canadians, and nationals from countries that have an agreement with the U.S. allowing entry until the passport expiration date.
    • A valid, unexpired F-1 entry visa (except Canadians)
      If you require a new entry visa while on OPT, be aware that there is no guarantee that you are eligible for one. You are required to establish non-immigrant intent every time you apply for a non-immigrant visa.
    • Please note:Your EAD will have the notation "Not valid for re-entry to the U.S." This simply means that the card ALONE is not sufficient documentation to return in F-1 status. You must present your EAD along with the above-mentioned documentation at the port of entry.

    Travel by Dependents during Post-Completion OPT
    Entry requirements for dependents are essentially the same as those for holders of F-1 visas. Each dependent must carry his/her original I-20. If traveling separately from the principal, dependents should also carry a photocopy of the F-1's visa, I-94 card, I-20, Employment Authorization Card (EAD) or Receipt Notice and a letter from the employer. Note that if F-2 status was obtained through a change of status application, the F-2 will not be issued an F-2 entry vias unless the student has already obtained an F-1 entry visa.

    Maintaining F-1 Status on OPT: Limited Periods of Unemployment Allowed:
    OPT is a benefit and extension of F-1 status. During post-completion OPT, F-1 status is dependent upon employment. Students may not be unemployed for an aggregate of more than 90 days, including weekends. Aggregate means that you add up individual days, even if they are spaced apart. F-1 regulations require you to report employment and interruptions in employment to DHS through notification to the ISSO. You must use the online OPT Report Form. For complete information on OPT reporting requirements, see Reporting Requirements While on Post-Completion OPT.

    H-1B cap-gap AUTOMATIC extension of D/S and work authorization until September 30:
    The “cap gap” refers to the period of time between the end of authorized OPT and the start of H-1B status on October 1st, the start of the federal government's fiscal year when H-1Bs become available.

    If the employer of an individual on F-1 OPT files a petition to change to H-1B status before the OPT ends, F-1 status and employment authorization are automatically extended to September 30 without application to USCIS - a new EAD card will not be issued. If necessary, the ISSO may issue a new I-20 reflecting the extension of the period of OPT.

    If an employer files the H-1B petition while the individual is in F-1 status but not on OPT, the F-1 status will be extended until September 30 but without employment authorization.

    The extension of duration of status and work authorization will automatically terminate upon the rejection, denial, or revocation of the H-1B petition filed on the individual's behalf.

    The advisers of the ISSO encourage you to contact them if you have questions about the procedure or if you receive any correspondence about your application. Students whose immigration documents were processed by the International Affairs Office on the Columbia University Medical Center should contact the IAO for specific procedures.

    Last Reviewed: 14 March 2012 Last modified: 14 March 2012
    Columbia University International Students and Scholars Office