A presentation about accessing OPT for SUNY Plattsburgh international students

1. OPTIONAL PRACTICAL
TRAINING:
WORKING AND LIVING IN THE US AFTER
GRADUATION
SUNY Plattsburgh
International Student Services (ISS)

2. What is Optional Practical Training
(OPT)?
 OPT is a way to live & work in the US after
graduation and gain practical experience in
your field.
 12-month extension of F-1 Student Status
 Intermediary step between F-1: Student Status
and H1-B: Temporary Worker in a Specialty
Occupation
 An important benefit to students seeking practical
experience in their field of study
 A good way to experience US business
customs/practices

3. OPT Eligibility
 To be eligible to apply for OPT you must:
 Have completed at least one academic year in
the United States
 Be maintaining your F-1 Student Status
 Not have used full-time CPT for 365+ days
 Will I be denied OPT?
 No, provided that you apply in a timely manner
 OPT is a benefit to F-1 Student Status. It is not a
right. If you apply in a timely manner your
application will most likely be approved.

4. When Can I Apply?
 Students must apply for OPT at least one
(1) month before their graduation date.
 It is highly recommended that students
apply three (3) months in advance of their
graduation date.
 Applications can take as long as 3 months
or 90 days to process – Apply early to
avoid any complications!
 OPT
Timeline

5. How do I apply?
 Verify with an ISS Advisor that you are eligible
 Download & Complete the appropriate forms
from the ISS website:
 I-765
 I-538
 Academic Advisor'sRecommendation for OPT
 Student Acknowledgement of Responsibility

6. How do I apply? (continued)
Form I-765 Form I-538
Items
1-7
Only!
No
Need to
complet
e if you
have
not
Do Not applied
for OPT
Complet in the
e past.

7. How do I apply? (continued)
 Collect all the required documents
 I-765 Application Fee
 2 passport size photos (2”x 2” or 5.08cm x 5.08cm)
 Completed I-765
 “OPT Requested” Form I-20
 Copies of all previous I-20s
 Copy of F-1 Student Visa
 Copy of Form I-94 (small white card) – Front & Back
 ISS attempts to keep copies of all students’ Form
I-20s in their immigration folder
 Remember! Your F-1 status is your responsibility
– Keep all of your Form I-20s!

8. OPT Rules and Regulations
 All employment must be related to your course of
study (i.e. your major(s) – minors are not
accepted).
 You must begin OPT within 60 days of your
program completion (graduation) date.
 You must complete your OPT within 14 months of
graduating.
 You have a ninety (90) days of an unemployment
“allowance” from the date your OPT begins.
 You must be employed full-time in order to comply
with OPT rules and regulations.
 Full-time employment is considered to be an
average of more than 20 hours per week over the
entire 365-day OPT period.

9. OPT Rules and Regulations
(continued)
 Update your address with ISS. You MUST
update your address within 10 days of a
change.
 Update ISS with your employer’s name and
contact. information (i.e.
address, telephone, email, etc).
 If your employer changes be sure to update
ISS with this information within 10 days of a
change.
 Report any periods of unemployment to ISS.

10. OPT and Travel
 Not recommended to travel outside the US until you
have:
 Your OPT card
 Job Offer Letter or Contract
 You can still travel outside the US so long as your
Form I-20 and F-1 student visa are valid.
 When you are approved for OPT your Form I-20 is
not renewed; your OPT card serves to extend the
Form I-20 (even though it is expired).
 Do not to travel outside the US if:
 Form I-20 is expired
 You have not received your OPT card

11. OPT and Travel (continued)
 If you travel outside the US you
MUST have your Form I-20 signed
within SIX MONTHS of your re-
entry date.
 Always travel with:
 Passport
 Form I-20
 F-1 Visa
 Form I-94
 OPT Card
 Letter from your employer

12. Frequently Asked Questions
 Can I have multiple employers while on OPT?
 Yes! – Provided you are working full-time (20+ hrs/wk)
 What if I want to go home and my visa is expired?
Can I renew my visa with my OPT card?
 Maybe! – Most embassies and consulates are willing
to renew F-1 visas for OPT card-holders. Best to
check with ISS first to see if you will have visa
difficulties.
 Will I be taxed while working in the US?
 Yes! – However, you can recuperate those taxes by
filing a tax report
 International students are NOT subject to Social
Security, Medicare, or unemployment taxes unless
they have been in the US for 5+ years.

13. I WANT YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT
OPT!
SUNY Plattsburgh
International Student Services (ISS)