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Declaration of Responsibility

Please note that you [the applicant] are solely responsible for ensuring your application is correct, complete, and submitted appropriately to USCIS. ISSS is not responsible for ensuring completeness or accuracy of the application.

Application Deadline

Your OPT application must be received and receipted by USCIS no more than 30 days after your OPT recommendation is made on your new I-20 OR before the expiration of your OPT application period whichever deadline is first. If your application is received after the deadline, the OPT application may be initially accepted by USCIS but will be denied upon adjudication.

In the event that your OPT application is (1) not submitted in a timely manner (2) not received by USCIS in a timely manner or (3) returned/rejected, consult with ISSS before submitting the same application again. Failure to do so could lead to denial of your OPT application by USCIS.

Application Receipt

After submission of your application online, USCIS will issue a receipt number, confirming that yourapplication is in process. You can view a PDF of your receipt in the Documents section of your MyUSCIS account the day after you submit your application. A paper receipt (I-797) will also be sent to the mailingaddress in your OPT application. In the event that you do not receive a receipt notice from USCIS regarding your OPT application, you should consult with ISSS.

Copies of Documents

If you utilized a non-ISSS mailing address, you are advised to provide copies of your I-797 receipt notice >and OPT authorization card to ISSS to ensure accuracy of university and government records. Make copies of OPT receipt and approval notices as well as your employment authorization document (EAD) for your personal records. Download and save copies of all I-20s from your ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University email account before you lose access.

Accrual of Unemployment

If approved for OPT by USCIS, you may not accrue more than 90 days of unemployment throughout the duration of your OPT work authorization. In the event you accrue 90 or more days of unemployment OR fail to report employment that meets OPT requirements in a timely manner, your F-1 status (I-20) may be terminated by the government.

Reporting Employment, Address, and Contact Information or Ending OPT

F-1 regulations require you to report any changes to your employment information (starting/ending a job, new office address, job title change, etc.), updates to your contact information (address and phone), and/or plans to end your OPT early within 10 days of the change. Submit updates to ISSS by logging into InterLink and completing the "Optional Practical Training Report" e-form. An ISSS advisor will review your information, update your government record, and notify you when your report is complete. You also need to report any change to non F-1 visa status by submitting the "Report Change to Non F-1 status" e-form in a timely manner.

If your OPT application is approved, SEVP will email you from do-not-reply.sevp@ice.dhs.gov inviting you to create an account in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) portal. You need to report any changes in InterLink, even if you submit updates via the SEVP Portal.

Caution in regard to Scams

Note: After you have paid the application fee, there are no other required costs associated with your OPT application. Be knowledgeable of scams and contact ISSS before providing financial or identification information by phone or text if you receive a request.