Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,
New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Oklahoma,
Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, or West Virginia
STEP 4: Wait for the EAD
Within one month of sending the application to the USCIS, you should get a standard receipt notice. If you do not get this notice within 6 weeks contact an OIE advisor
for more information. The “Receipt Number” in the top left corner of this receipt notice can be used to check the status of your case on the USCIS website at
www.uscis.gov or by calling the phone number indicated on the receipt. Keep in mind that this information is updated infrequently.
Other Important Information
Reporting Requirements and Limitations on Unemployment
F-1 regulations REQUIRE you to report any change in your residential address, your personal contact information, your employer’s address and
supervisor contact information within 10 days to immigration: https://www.sevp.ice.gov/opt.
o However, for any other changes, email oie@Andrew.cmu.edu for next steps. Material Changes may require updated documentation being
emailed to OIE!*
Additionally, you must report to OIE every 6 months, within 10 business days, to confirm that the employer information you submitted with this
request is still correct. The first report is due 6-months after the end of your 12-month OPT period. After that, the report is due every 6 months (refer to
your 24 month planning tool) until your STEM OPT ends, or you change status or depart the US. Send STEM reports and evaluations (page 5 of the I-983)
when due to oie@andrew.cmu.edu.
Periods of “unemployment” are limited to 150 days while on STEM OPT. This dates back to the start of your initial 12-month OPT period days (90 days on
Post-OPT, plus an additional 60 days on STEM OPT).
You must report status changes directly to OIE (oie@andrew.cmu.edu) while you are on STEM if:
o If you apply for and are granted a change of status from F-1 (OPT) to H-1B or any other status.
o If you leave the US and make a new entry in another status.
o If you leave the US permanently before the end date of your EAD card.
o If you plan to return to CMU as a student or continue studies elsewhere after STEM.
Authorization May Not be Rescinded. Once authorization to engage in OPT is granted, it may not be rescinded or canceled. This means that after OPT is
authorized by the USCIS, it is impossible to have it canceled and restored at a later date. If you do not use the work authorization, it is forfeited.
Change of Employer after STEM OPT has been Authorized: You must report any change of employer within 10 days directly to OIE. This CANNOT be done
through the Immigration Portal. If you change your employer during STEM OPT, you must submit a new STEM OPT Extension Request Application to OIE. You will
also need to submit the final evaluation (page 5 of the I-983) from your old employer. You will do this by emailing the materials to oie@andrew.cmu.edu. OIE will
then update SEVIS and you will receive a new I-20.
Social Security and Other Taxes: In general, F-1 students who have been in the US fewer than five tax years are “nonresidents for tax purposes” and are exempt
from Social Security (FICA) and Medicare taxes (see Internal Revenue Service Publication 519, “US Tax Guide for Aliens”). However, your earnings are subject to
applicable federal, state, and local taxes. Beginning in the sixth tax year, most students in F-1 status become “residents for tax purposes” and employers should
withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes. Tax returns must be filed on or before April 15 each year for the previous calendar year, for both “nonresidents” and
“residents.”
Traveling Outside of the US While on OPT:
Reentry provisions of the regulations require students who have graduated and are on authorized OPT to present the following documents to reenter the US:
STEM OPT I-20 signed (page 2), within the last 6 months. Should you require an updated travel signature and are no longer in Pittsburgh, email OIE for next steps
(oie@andrew.cmu.edu).
Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
A valid passport.
A valid F-1 visa stamp (e.g. unless traveling to contiguous territory for less than 30 days - see travel page).
A job offer letter/proof of employment. F-1 regulations allow for travel and reentry in order to “resume employment.”
Dependent Travel: Since dependents do not receive an EAD, an F-2 dependent must carry copies of the F-1 student’s I-20 with OPT recommendation, EAD card and job offer letter,
in addition to the F-2 I-20 when traveling.
Employment Authorization with a Pending H-1B petition (“Cap Gap” employment authorization)
All students on OPT who have a pending or approved H-1B petition with a request for change of status will have their F-1 status and OPT authorization
automatically extended if the employer has filed a timely H-1B petition with a change of status request with a requested October 1 start date.
Should your employer require a new Cap-Gap I-20, contact oie@andrew.cmu.edu
The OPT employment authorization automatically ends if the H-1B petition is denied, rejected or withdrawn (although the student can continue working until
the end date indicated on the OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The F-1 would have a 60 day grace period with no work authorization after
the end of OPT.
Other Key Changes to the New Regulation:
Students granted a 24-month OPT extension may not accrue an aggregate of more than 150 days of unemployment dating back to the start of the initial 12-
month OPT period. (90 + 60 = 150 TOTAL)
A student meeting the eligibility requirements for a 24-month STEM extension may request an extension of employment by filing Form I-765 up to 90 days
prior to the expiration date of the student’s current OPT employment authorization.
The student seeking the 24-month extension must properly file the I-765 with USCIS within 60 days of the date the DSO recommends OPT in the SEVIS
system.
Students may not be their own (sole) employer or provide employer attestations on their own behalf. Additionally, there must be an employer/employee
relationship with the employer providing training on site, which means that people will typically need to be employed directly by the company, not employed
by a third party or temp employment agency. The government guidance is that the “employer that signs the Training Plan must be the same entity that
employs the student and provides the practical training experience.”
To qualify for the STEM OPT extension, the position must be at least 20 hours per week or more. Employment with multiple employers is only possible if
both positions will be at least 20 hours per week and if both employers comply with all of the STEM OPT regulations, including completing and signing the I-
983 Training Plan.