Fill - Free fillable Opt Packet For Website (Towson University) PDF form

ISSO | Psychology Building, 4

Floor | 410 704-2421 | isso@towson.edu | www.towson.edu/isso

Optional Practical Training

(OPT) Information

What is Optional Practical Training (OPT)?

OPT provides F-1 students the opportunity to gain employment experience in their academic

fields of study for a maximum period of twelve (12) months. It must be:

 Directly related to the student’s major(s) or minor field of study

 Appropriate for someone having the student’s level of education

Who is eligible?

F-1 students enrolled full-time in a degree program for at least one academic year are eligible

to apply for OPT. If you have changed your visa status to F-1 within the last year, consult with

an ISSO advisor regarding your previous status; you may be able to apply your time in a

different status toward the academic year requirement.

What type of employment is available?

 Pre-Completion-During summer vacation (full-time or part-time) or during the academic

year (part-time only; 20 hours/week maximum.

 Post-Completion-After completion of your degree program (must be full-time; 20+ hours

and can be paid or unpaid) This is the most common form of OPT for students.

 STEM Extension-After completion of the first 12 months of OPT, students who have

completed degrees in approved STEM fields may be eligible for up to two 24-month

STEM extension.

Note: Periods of full time pre-completion OPT reduce your 12 month total at a one to one

rate and periods of part-time, pre-completion OPT authorization reduce your 12 month

total at one-half the rate.

When do students apply?

 Pre-completion OPT - You may apply for OPT up to 90 days before the requested

employment start date. There is no deadline to apply for pre-completion, but you must

be approved and have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for OPT before

beginning to work.

 Post-Completion OPT - You may apply for OPT any time from 90 days before, and no

later than 60 days after, your program completion date. Your start date must be within

60 days of your program completion date.

 Your OPT application must be filed within 30 days of the date your OPT I-20 was entered

ISSO | Psychology Building, 4

Floor | 410 704-2421 | isso@towson.edu | www.towson.edu/isso

into SEVIS by ISSO (this is the date next to the ISSO’s signature on Page 1)

 After you have completed all course requirements, you should not leave the United

States until you have received your EAD for OPT.

When can you work?

You can start work when:

1. You have received your EAD

AND

2. The Valid From date on the EAD is current.

If, after receiving your EAD card, you discover that you have not completed all your program

requirements, contact ISSO immediately. Do not risk working illegally. If you are on OPT

and you plan to transfer to another school, please be aware that once Towson University

releases your SEVIS record, your OPT (and work authorization) will end on the date your

record is released to a new school.

Your responsibilities on OPT:

1. You must work more than 20 hours per week

2. The work must be in your field and at your degree-level

3. Report address changes within 10 days on the SEVP Portal

4. Report changes to employment, including the addition of employer, loss of

employment, or changes in employer’s name and/or address. This should be done on

the SEVP Portal

5. While on OPT, you are only permitted 90 days of unemployment. Once you have gained

90 days of unemployment, you are no longer in status.

6. If eligible for STEM OPT, you must submit completed I-983 to the ISSO no later than 2

weeks before the end date of your OPT.

ISSO | Psychology Building, 4

Floor | 410 704-2421 | isso@towson.edu | www.towson.edu/isso

Completing the I-765

 Disclaimer: Please note that this is not Legal Advice.

 Guidance in this document is for sections that can be confusing or in which USCIS

wants information in a specific format. Please fill out ALL sections of the application.

 Please type your application using the writeable PDF. Be sure to open the PDF in the

Adobe Application rather than using a web browser.

 Do not fill in the application by hand.

 You will need to sign the form by hand on page 4.

Page 1: Part 1

 Select 1.a.

Page 1: Part 2

 Your Full Legal Name is the name on your passport

 2.a.-2.c. If you have no other names that you have used in the past (maiden names,

etc.), write NA

 3.a.-4.c. If you write NA in 2.a.-2.c, leave these blank

Page 2: Part 2

 This is the address where USCIS will send your Receipt notice and your OPT card

 5.a. Who will be receiving your mail from USCIS?

o If it will be addressed to you – leave this section blank

o If it will be addressed to another person (e.g. a family member or friend) – put

their name here

 6. Your physical address is where you are living at the time of applying

o If you answer Yes, leave 7.a-7.e. blank

o If you answer No, complete 7.a-7.e.

 8. Leave blank

 9. Leave blank

 13.a.

o If Yes,

 13.b. Enter your Social Security number

 14. Select No

o If No,

 13.b. Leave blank

 14. Select Yes

 15. Select Yes

 Complete 16.a.-17.b.

 18.a. Enter the country of the passport that you used to enter the U.S.

ISSO | Psychology Building, 4

Floor | 410 704-2421 | isso@towson.edu | www.towson.edu/isso

Page 2: Part 2, cont’d:

 18.b.

o If you have other citizenship, write that country here

o If you do not have other citizenship, write NA

Page 3: Part 2

 21.a. Enter I-94 number for your most recent entry to the U.S., which you can find at:

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home#section. If your most recent travel outside of

the U.S. was to Canada or Mexico, please check in with the ISSO.

 21.c. If you have a passport, write NA

 23. Where did you last enter the U.S.? Usually, this is an airport: specify the airport.

o Example, if you came in to the U.S. through New York, specify: New York JFK

Airport (or New York La Guardia Airport, etc.) If your last arrival in the U.S.

was by car, bus, or boat, please check with the ISSO regarding what you

should put in this space.

 24. Enter “F-1 student” unless you have changed your immigration status while in

the U.S.: in that case, you will enter the status in which you last entered the U.S. (e.g.

H-4, etc.)

 25. Enter “F-1 student”

 26. Your SEVIS number can be found at the top of your I-20.

 27. For post-completion OPT, enter ( c ) ( 3 ) ( B ). Write it EXACTLY as it is here,

with a lower-case “c,” the letter three “3,” and an upper-case “B.” If you are applying

for pre-completion OPT or STEM OPT, please contact the ISSO.

 28-31.b. If you are applying for post-completion OPT, please leave these sections

blank.

Page 4: Part 3

 You must select either 1.a. or 1.b.

 If someone helps you prepare the application (not the ISSO), please select and

complete 2.

 3. You must enter your phone number or NONE (only if you do not have a phone

number)

 4. Enter either your number or NONE

 5. Enter your e-mail or NA

 7.a. Sign (by hand) in BLACK ink. Do not type or use a stamp

Page 4: Part 4

 1.a.-2. Write NA in each box

ISSO | Psychology Building, 4

Floor | 410 704-2421 | isso@towson.edu | www.towson.edu/isso

Page 5: Part 4

 Draw by hand a diagonal line across

the page and write N/A (see

example)

Page 6: Part 5

 Draw by hand a diagonal line across

the page and write N/A (see

example)

Page 7: Part 6

 Have you been previously

authorized for CPT or OPT, or have

you had other SEVIS numbers?

o If No:

 Draw by hand a diagonal line

across the page and write NA

o If Yes:

 For CPT, OPT, or SEVIS #, you

will need to document these

in sections 3-7. See our

attached sample page. If you

have only one of these, add it

to section 3, and leave the rest of the page blank

 For CPT Authorizations, indicate the Employer, the dates of the authorization

period, whether it was part-time or full-time, and the degree-level at which

you completed the CPT

 For OPT Authorizations, indicate the dates of the authorization, the level at

which it was completed, and the type of OPT (pre-completion, post-

completion, or STEM)

 For previous SEVIS ID numbers, indicate the SEVIS number, the program start

and end date, and the category (e.g. Intensive English Language, Au-Pair,

Bachelor’s Degree, etc.)

Page 5 Example

ISSO | Psychology Building, 4

Floor | 410 704-2421 | isso@towson.edu | www.towson.edu/isso

ISSO | Psychology Building, 4

Floor | 410 704-2421 | isso@towson.edu | www.towson.edu/isso

OPT Photo & Check Guidelines

Photo requirements

You should confirm that your photo meets all the below requirements before you leave the store.

 Neutral expression (no smile)

 Head centered within frame

 2 inches by 2 inches

 Height of head (top of hair to bottom

of chin) should measure 1 inch to 1

3/8 inch (25-35 mm)

 Make sure eye height is between 1

1/8 inches to 1 3/8 inches (28-35

mm)

 Write your name and I-94 number on

the back of the photos and place

them in an envelope

Actual size sample photo (if printed on 8.5” x 11” paper)

I-765 Fee Payment

 If using a personal check, a name and address must be printed on the upper left of the check.

 Check or money order should be made out to Department of Homeland Security: do not abbreviate

this.

 Make sure you write the following on the check or money order:

 Name

 I-94 number

 “for OPT application”

2 inches

1 – 1

inch

–

inch

2 inches

Memo

Dollars

Pay to the

order of:

Date:

1234

>: 12345678910 >: 9876 543 21<: 1234

Account Holder’s Name

Account Holder’s Address

Department of Homeland Security

410.00

Four hundred and ten dollars and 00/100 cents

I-94: 1234567890

For OPT application

Account-holder signature

Jan 1, 2018

Your name (if not account holder)

This sample is a

check. It may look

different if it is a

Money Order or

Cashier’s Check.

Ask us if you have

questions about

how to complete it.

ISSO | Psychology Building, 4

Floor | 410 704-2421 | isso@towson.edu | www.towson.edu/isso

OPT Application Document Checklist

Documents required for OPT Application



1. Form G-1145, available at: https://www.uscis.gov/g-1145 . This form is not required, but if

you include this form, you will receive an e-mail or text message when your application has

been received by USCIS.



2. Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), available at:

https://www.uscis.gov/i-765. Please complete the writeable PDF and print it out.



3. Personal check, money order, cashier’s check, or completed G-1450 Authorization for Credit

Card Transaction form for $410.00

 made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” Do not abbreviate.

 include your name, I-94 number, and “OPT application” on check, money order or

cashier’s check

 G-1450 Authorization for Credit Card Transaction form available at

https://www.uscis.gov/g-1450 if you choose to pay by credit card



4. Two (2) U.S. Passport-size photos, with your name and I-94 number on the back of the

photos



5. Photocopy of your new Form I-20 with OPT recommendation (please sign your new I-20

before you make a copy). Remember that USCIS must receive this I-20 within 30 days of its

creation.



6. Photocopy of your passport



7. Photocopy of your visa



8. Photocopy of your most recent I-94 (previous I-94s are not required)



9. (Optional) Photocopies of all of your previous I-20s, including, if applicable, those from

other schools



10. Photocopies of any previously-issued EAD cards (if applicable)

ake a copy of your application before you send it!!!

Sending your application

We recommend that you send your application with some sort of delivery confirmation or tracking –

either by registered mail or by express mail – so that you may confirm that your application was

received by USCIS.

Before mailing, make a copy of your entire application to keep for your records.

If using USPS (Post Office), then mail to:

If using FedEx or UPS, then mail to:

USCIS PO Box 660867

Dallas, TX 75266

USCIS, Attn: AOS

2501 S. State Hwy 121

Business Suite 400

Lewisville, TX 75067

ISSO | Psychology Building, 4

Floor | 410 704-2421 | isso@towson.edu | www.towson.edu/isso

OPT (Post-Completion)

I-20 Request Form

Before submitting the request form, you must attend the in-person OPT Workshop or complete the online version

of the OPT Workshop. With this form, the ISSO will provide you with a new Form I-20 recommending post-

completion OPT. You must submit a copy of this I-20 to USCIS along with the other required application materials.

To be completed by the student (please write legibly)

Last Name:

First Name:

ID#:

Please indicate your desired employment start and end date:

Start Date:

________ / ________ / _________

Month Day Year

End Date:

________ / ________ / _________

Month Day Year

Please select one:

 I attended the in-person OPT workshop on this date: ________ / _______

Month Day

 I completed the online version of the OPT workshop on Blackboard

Non-Towson e-mail address (please type):

By signing below, I understand that while on OPT:

 I must inform the ISSO of my employment information and submit any updates to my employment,

address, etc, within 10 days of the change.

 I am only allowed 90 days of unemployment.

 I may not begin my OPT employment until I receive the EAD card and the dates are current.

Student Signature:

Date:

To be completed by Faculty/Academic Advisor/Program Director

In order to process the request for employment authorization, the ISSO needs to confirm when the student is

anticipated to complete their degree.

Student’s anticipated completion date: (circle one)

January May August December 20_______

Advisor Signature:

Date:

Phone Ext:

Advisor Name (Printed):

Department:

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