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What is F-1 Optional Practical Training?
Practical training is the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in your degree program to off-campus work in your major field. OPT is authorized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (U.S.C.I.S.). This authorization can take up to 90 days to obtain.
The maximum amount of time granted to work on F-1 OPT status is 12 months per degree level. You may use some or all of the available 12 months of practical training during your course of study or save the full twelve months to use after you graduate.
What are the Eligibility Requirements for F-1 Optional Practical Training?
To be eligible to apply for optional practical training, you must: (1) have been in full time student status for at least one academic year, and (2) be maintaining valid F-1 status at the time of the application.
If I complete one degree program, take 12 months of practical training, and then begin a second course of study, am I eligible for an additional 12 months of practical training?
Yes, as of January 1, 2003 the new regulations governing F-1 students state that you are eligible to apply for another 12 month period of Optional Practical Training after changing to a higher degree level. This does not apply to a second master's degree.
How can I use optional practical training while I am still in my program?
Students meeting the eligibility requirements listed above may apply for optional practical training (1) part-time while school is in session, (2) full-time during annual vacation periods, and/or (3) full-time after you completed all course requirements for the degree and have a thesis requirement remaining.
Any periods of optional practical training used before the completion of your studies will be deducted from the total allowable period of 12 months. Part-time practical training will be deducted at one-half the full-time rate.
How long does it take to get authorization for OPT and when should I apply?
Authorization for OPT is granted by U.S.C.I.S. and can take 3 months to obtain. Therefore it is important that you apply for the authorization well in advance of the date you wish to start working.
You may submit your application 120 days before your requested start date and you MUST apply before the completion of your course of study / conferral of degree. F-1 students who have not been in status for at least two full semesters at the time of application may not apply earlier than 3 months before graduation.
Do I need to have a job to apply for optional practical training?
You do not need to have a job offer before applying for optional practical training.
How will I know if the practical training application has been approved?
You will receive from the U.S.C.I.S. a small photo identification card, called an Employment Authorization Document. This card will state the type and length of the period of employment authorized. When you receive this card, check to make certain all the information is correct.
Can I begin working before I receive the Employment Authorization Document?
You may NOT begin employment before you receive your EAD from U.S.C.I.S.; working before practical training has been authorized by the U.S.C.I.S. constitutes illegal employment that will jeopardize your legal status in the U.S.
Will I have to pay U.S. taxes for income earned while on practical training?
In general, F-1 students who have been in the U.S. for fewer than five calendar years are exempt from social security (FICA) and Medicare taxes. You should be sure to bring this to the attention of your employer, as many employers are not familiar with this provision of the tax law.
You will be subject to all other taxes that may apply: federal, state and local. You should check to see if your country is one of the Few that has a tax treaty with the U.S. allowing students to exclude a limited amount of earned income from federal taxation.
Now that I've turned in my application, can I travel outside the U.S. while I wait for the card to come?
After you graduate, you will NOT be able to re-enter the U.S. without your OPT card in addition to your valid passport, current F-1 visa stamp and the I-20 signed within the last six months.
Before you graduate, you should be able to get back in to the U.S. without the OPT card as long as it is still long enough in advance of your graduation (at least one month). If you have to travel, talk to Dr. Sharma at the IEO before you leave.
Can I leave the U.S. while waiting for the EAD and return before receiving the EAD?
If you leave the U.S. and re-enter with a B visa, you will have an I-94 card that shows that you have been admitted under B status, and you will have lost your F-1 status. Hence, your OPT application and card will be invalid .
If you intend to continue working on your OPT, NEVER enter in any other immigration status except F-1.
What documents do I need to re-enter the U.S. while on OPT?
You will need your I-20 that has been endorsed on the travel line by the IEO within the last 6 months; the Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) from the U.S.C.I.S., your valid passport, and a current F- 1 visa stamp.
The visa stamp in my passport has expired, but I need to travel outside the U.S. while on OPT. Do I need to get a new visa stamp at an embassy?
If you are going to Canada or Mexico, and staying for less than 30 days, you could re-enter the U.S. on your expired F-1 visa stamp, with your I-94 card, a valid passport, your EAD card and an I-20 that has been signed by Dr. Sharma within the last 6 months as long as: 1) you do not apply for a visa while in Canada and 2) you are NOT a national of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Cuba or North Korea. If you are traveling elsewhere, you will need to go to a U.S. embassy or consulate and seek a new visa stamp. Please come in to the IEO to discuss your visa application with Dr. Sharma as the consulates often change the requirements for visa applications for students on OPT.
In what ways is my application to the embassy for a new visa stamp affected by being on Optional Practical Training?
The risk of denial of an application for a renewed visa stamp for Optional Practical Training is higher than while you are in your active student program, as it may be seen as an avenue for adjustment of status to permanent residence.
The F-1 student visa requires that the applicant must intend to return to the home country at the end of the program, and if the embassy official is not convinced of your intention to return home, the visa application will be denied. If you need to apply for a new visa, please see Dr. Sharma to make sure you have the most up to date information.
What documents do I need to show at the embassy for a new visa stamp under OPT?
You need to take a valid passport, the EAD card, AND an I-20 created by the IEO AFTER you receive approval for your OPT authorization. Additionally, if you already have a job offer, you should take the official job offer letter showing salary, location, job duties, and beginning date as well.
You should only take a letter if the job is truly temporary and will end before or by the end of your practical training time. You should also be prepared to discuss how this job experience will apply to the job market in your home country, and how you intend to apply it there.
Do I still need to get the travel line on my I-20 signed by the IEO during the year of OPT?
Yes, during the OPT year, if you travel outside the U.S. , you need to have the travel line signed every six months. If you are not located in Bloomsburg, mail the original I-20 to the IEO for endorsement, leaving plenty of time for mailing delays both ways.
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Visa Issues 
