F STUDENT VISA
Immigration defines this as employment which is directly related to your degree, but which is not a part of your academic curriculum. This training may be taken during summer vacations, after graduation or after completing your coursework. A maximum of one year may be authorized; however, you may be eligible to apply for a second OPT as explained below.
To qualify for OPT, you must meet all of the following requirements. No exceptions can be made.
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You must have been enrolled full-time in F-1 status for the two previous semesters and maintained your visa status.
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Undergraduate students must have a 2.0 GPA and graduate students need a 3.0 GPA.
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You must be applying for training after finishing a degree or during a vacation period. If you are a graduate student, it is also possible for you to apply between the completion of your coursework and graduation while working on your thesis or dissertation.
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You must submit your application in advance of your graduation (application deadlines will be posteday apply before graduation only. No post-graduation applications can be processed. Application deadlines should be carefully followed to avoid a missed OPT opportunity.
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You must have a passport valid for at least six months into the future.
- You must also attend a workshop.
To receive an ISSS endoresement for OPT, please present the following items to ISSS. Be sure to leave NO BLANK SPACES ON YOUR PAPERWORK. If something does not apply to you, please write "N/A" (not-applicable).
- Request for Practical Training Form
This must be filled out and signed by you as well as by your Academic Advisor.
- I-20s
Please bring photocopies of ALL forms issued to you.
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I-765 Form
Please note that your work card must be sent to ISSS, as well as any other requests for additional information from Immigration. This is done in the event that you move while your application is in process; it is not possible to forward federal mail and your change of address could significantly delay the receipt of your card.
- Check
It should be made out to "U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services" in the amount of $340 (please note that the amount in the application packet is incorrect). Write "OPT" in the memo section, along with your SEVIS ID number.
- Two (2) pictures - On the back, write your name and SEVIS ID number. Immigration will reject any pictures not meeting the following requirements:
- frontal picture with full head
- height of head should be 1 inch to 13/8 inches
- eyes should be between 11/8 inches and 13/8 inches
- no shadows, marks, splotches, or discolorations
- white or off-white background (not gray)
Once you have submitted ALL of these items, your application will be processed by the ISSS office, and, if you meet all of the requirements, you will get a new I-20 with the dates of requested authorization on the third page. Generally, you will be able to receive your I-20s after seven working days. An e-mail will be sent to you requesting you come to sign the form before it is sent for processing. If Immigration grants the training, you will be sent an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), also known as an "OPT card," which you must present to your employer. The ISSS office will send an e-mail to your ODU student account when it arrives (not to "cs" or "physics" accounts). If you are not able to come yourself, you may appoint a friend by written permission. S/He must have the note or e-mail as well as identification with a picture on it.
Application Status Checks
Because of the volume of applications we process, we ask you e-mail us to check on the status of your application if you have not heard anything seven days after your paperwork was submitted. If any additional documentation is needed or when your I-20 is ready for your signature, we will send an e-mail to your ODU student e-mail account.
Holds
Be sure to have removed all registration holds (including health insurance, Accounts Receivable, library fine or parking fine holds). These must be gone from your record (i.e. on LeoOnline) before processing can continue. Please respond to the e-mail sent to inform you about the hold once the hold has been removed from your record.
Processing Times
Complete applications (i.e. all forms submitted and holds removed) can take up to seven business days for processing once received in the ISSS office. Immigration is currently taking three full months for processing; please plan accordingly. YOU MAY NOT WORK UNTIL YOUR EAD ARRIVES.
Travel on OPT
You must have your EAD before leaving the United States if you wish to re-enter. Do not make travel plans until you are certain your OPT has been approved (although approval does not guarantee a quick delivery of your card). Your I-20 will need a signature that is less than six months old upon re-entry to the U.S. In addition, you should not leave the country if you have your EAD but are still looking for a job. You will need to bring a letter from your employer to verify your employment; it is also advisable to bring three most recent pay stubs.
New Visa
Be aware that obtaining a new student visa while on OPT is extremely difficult. The only way it may be granted is if you are able to satisfactorily prove to the visa officer your plan to return home at the end of your OPT. You should have a letter from your employer stating the company is aware of your OPT expiration date. It will be even more difficult to be approved for a new visa if you do not have a job.
Address Update Requirement
Immigration regulations require those on OPT to notify the University (i.e. LeoOnline) when your mailing ("Permanent") address changes. Your SEVIS Permanent Foreign Address and SEVIS Domestic Address can be updated on the ISSS web site. The University uses the Permanent address option on LeoOnline; please be sure to keep that updated as well so you can receive correspondence in a timely manner.
Maintain Contact with ODU
Along with keeping your addresses current, you are still responsible for reading either the ISS-list or ISSSNews listservs as important announcements are made there. Please see the ISSS web site for more information about these two listservs. Also, if you change your visa status, a fax confirming this is needed to update your file and remove any holds (e.g. health insurance, etc.).
School Transfer
Your OPT becomes invalid if you transfer to a school different than the one on your OPT I-20. If you do not use your entire authorization, you must contact the immigration service center that has jurisdiction over the city in which you live. The international student advisor at your new school can help you with that information.
Degree-Seeking Status
You may take one or two classes as a NON-DEGREE student while on OPT, provided that it is incidental to your current job; it is fine to take classes that would help your performance in your work. Should you choose to become a degree-seeking student, your OPT is cancelled. If you do not use your entire authorization, you must contact the immigration service center which has jurisdiction over the city in which you live. The international student advisor at your new school can help you with that information.
Second OPT
It is now possible to participate in two OPT authorizations. The second one may be applied for after a second degree program that is a higher level than the previous program for which you had OPT. For example, after your Masters, you can get one year of OPT and then after completing a Ph.D., you could be eligible for another year. If you did a second Masters, you could not apply for another OPT authorization.
Employer Information
Information about how you should or should not be taxed can be found IRS Publication 519. Also, we have created a brochure specifically for employers who are not as familiar with OPT and employment of F-1 visa holders.
