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Optional Practical Training (OPT)
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Module 3: What do I do once I’ve applied for OPT?
Module 3: What do I do once I’ve applied for OPT?
The objectives of this module are to help you proactively monitor your OPT application, identify the steps you must take when obtaining employment, and demonstrate critical thinking skills as they relate to maintaining your F-1 status while on OPT. This module should be completed once you have submitted an OPT application, generally in your last term of enrollment in classes.
Contact OISP
Phone: 614.797.4700
Email: oisp@franklin.edu
Address:
Franklin University
Office of International Students and Programs
201 S. Grant Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215
USA
Prospective Franklin students: click here to schedule an appointment with a member of the international admissions team.
Current Franklin students: click here to schedule an appointment with an international advising coordinator.
For in-person appointments, free parking is available in lot adjacent to the Paul J. Otte Center for Student Services. Notify the Welcome Center staff when you have arrived.
When scheduling a phone appointment, provide a U.S. phone number, and we will call you at the scheduled time. If you do not have a U.S. phone number, please schedule a virtual appointment.
When scheduling a virtual appointment, provide an email address you check regularly, and we will send you a link to a Microsoft Teams meeting. View Microsoft Teams instructions.
Step 1: Monitor Your Application
Review the information below about monitoring your OPT application's progress through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services's (USCIS) processes. If you have any concerns about your OPT application’s progress, contact OISP promptly.
In order to best track the progress of your OPT application, it is recommended that you submit the G-1145 form with the application and use a mail service that allows you to track delivery of the application. You will receive an I-797C receipt notice showing your receipt number and the Service Center processing your application. You can check your case status online using the receipt number.
If there are any changes after submitting your application, such as your mailing address or delays in graduation, you should update USCIS and OISP.
Updating your mailing address is particularly important in case USCIS requests additional information, called a Request for Evidence or RFE, while adjudicating (deciding) your application. Contact OISP promptly if you receive an RFE for guidance on submitting the requested information.
Federal regulations require USCIS to process I-765 applications within 90 days. If your OPT is pending 75 or more days, you may contact the National Customer Service Center to request that the case be elevated. After it has been pending 90 or more days, you may submit an e-Request Case Inquiry and should contact OISP for additional monitoring.
When you obtain your EAD card, verify that your name and date of birth are accurate on the card, and make a copy of the card for your records. Check the start and end dates on your EAD card as they may differ from the dates requested. If there are any issues, contact OISP.
Submit a copy of the EAD card to OISP to update your file. Your employer will need to see a copy of your card in the hiring process.
USCIS form filing tips: Learn More >
USCIS National Customer Service Center (NCSC) phone: 1-800-375-5283
Tracking USCIS case status: Learn More >
Escalating USCIS delays: Learn More >
Updating address with USCIS: Learn More >
Step 2: Begin OPT Employment
Next, read the resources provided below about beginning OPT employment. This information describes considerations you should take and how to maintain your F-1 status while on OPT. Take the quiz to check if you understand your OPT obligations. Then, answer the questions on the discussion board linked below to engage in a discussion with your peers about the reporting requirements. A member of the OISP staff will review the discussion posts and add comments as necessary.
When you have been offered a job, you will need to fill out important forms for your employer. Once you have your offer letter and EAD card, you can apply for a Social Security number if you do not already have one. Your employer may need to complete an I-9 form showing you are authorized to work, so be prepared to take show your passport, EAD card, and I-20. Review tax information, as well, so that you can enter the proper deductions on the W-4 form the employer may request.
During your OPT work authorization period, you are still in F-1 status and required to maintain your status. To do so, you:
- May only begin work once you have received your EAD card and not before the employment start date on the card.
- May only work in a position related to your field of study and are required to work full-time (more than 20 hours per week), which can include multiple parttime jobs.
- Are limited to 90 days of unemployment while on OPT. If you exceed 90 days of unemployment, your SEVIS record can be terminated. If you are approaching the limit of unemployment days, contact OISP to discuss options.
- Must report any changes in address, legal name, employer name or address, and start/end of employment within 10 days. You can use the OPT Employment Information form to report changes. OISP will update your SEVIS record with this information.
You may travel while on OPT, but it is important to understand risks and requirements. For example, it is recommended that you do not travel outside the US until your OPT application has been approved and you have an employment offer. You should be prepared to show the following when re-entering the US after traveling abroad:
- Valid passport
- Valid F-1 visa
- Valid EAD card
- Employment offer letter
- I-20 with travel signature less than six months old
Contact OISP prior to planning international travel to discuss special circumstances.
While on OPT, keeping your SEVIS record updated is an important part of maintaining your F-1 status. Discuss your plans to maintain your F-1 status with your peers and get feedback from OISP. Post your answers to some or all of the the questions below, and consider responding to your peers’ answers, as well.
- What kind of changes should you report to OISP while on OPT?
- When and how should you report such changes to OISP?
- What purpose do these reporting requirements serve?
- Why might the US government require this information?
- What other purposes could the requirements serve?
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