Employment and Taxes (2024)

USCIS announcement (3/6/2023): Premium Processing for Certain F-1 Students Seeking OPT

OPT Application Process

Application Window

USCIS can accept your application as early as 90 days before your program completion date (not graduation date) and no later than 60 days after your program completion date.

To apply for OPT, please follow these steps:

F-1 students now have the option to apply for OPT/STEM OPT (I-765 Application) by paper mail or online. Please note that the online method is still a new process and we are still learning more information about the online filing method.

Step One | Apply for an OPT I-20 from the ISS Office

Before applying for OPT, please review theOPT Workshop PPT or attend anOPT Workshop. In order to obtain an OPT I-20,you need to submit the following documents to the ISS office internationalstudents@ucr.edu. Please allow 10-12 business days.

1. OPT Request Form - Signed bythe student’s Academic Advisor (Undergraduate Students) or Graduate Advisor (Graduate Students)
2. Optional Practice Draft-Form I-765 - ASample I-765 is available online
   Please Note: Do NOT submit the I-765 Form to USCIS until you receive the OPT I-20 from the ISS
3. Copy of most recent I-94
4. (If Applicable) Copies of previous CPT I-20(s), EAD cards, OPT I-20, I-20 with different SEVIS number, or any other documents needed.
   

Useful OPT Resources

• OPT Application Checklist
• OPT Workshop PPT

Step Two | Assemble the Required OPT Documents to Submitto USCIS

Online Application

Before filing your OPT application online, please set up a USCIS Online Account:

1. Go to theI-765 Website
2. Scroll down the I-765 page and click ‘File Online’
3. CreateUSCIS Online Account.For online help guides for filing online, please refer to uscis.gov/file-online.
   

Afterreceiving your OPT I-20, please assemble the application documents to upload to your OPT application. Please double check if the documents have accurate information and are signed. If you submit the application after this 30 period the application will be denied.For more information, please check out theOPT Workshop PPT.

1. Digital copy of 1 passport-style (2 x 2 inches) photo (see the U.S. Department of State Passport Photo Guidelines for details)
2. Digital copy of OPT I-20 (signed by you and P/DSO)Please Note: The OPT I-20 Recommendation on Page 2 expires 30 days from the date the International Student Advisor (P/DSO) makes the recommendation in the Student & Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS). It must be submitted to USCIS with the completed OPT application within the 30 days. If you submit the application after this 30 period the application will be denied.
3. Digital copy of most recent Form I-94
4. (If related) Previous copies of EAD cards, OPT I-20, CPT I-20 with different SEVIS number, or any other documents needed.
5. USCIS I-765 Fee (Credit Card Only)
   • Application fee amounts may change. The most current amount can be found on the USCIS I-765 website.
   • Important note: Once you make your payment, your application will automatically be submitted, and you cannot make corrections.
     

Formats of digital documents

• Photos: JPG, JPEG, or PNG
• Documents: JPG, JPEG, PDF, TIF, or TIFF
• Foreign language documents must have English translation
• Maximum size: 6 MB per file
• Do not use special characters for the file name

Step Three | SubmitOPT Application Documents to USCIS

Online Application

Once you submit the payment online, your I-765 application will automatically be submitted. You will receive confirmation (including your receipt notice) that your form was submitted.Notices and updates (including biometrics notice, Request for Evidence (RFE), decision letter) will be posted to your account. Generally, USCIS will take around 3-5 months to review your case. USCIS will mail the final decision to your mailing address and to your online USCIS account.

Useful OPT Resources

• OPT Application Checklist (Online and Paper Filing)
• OPT Workshop PPT

OPT Reporting Requirements

OPT Reporting requirements PDF

After Approval

Once you are approved for Post-Completion OPT, you are required to register and report your information through the SEVP OPT Portal or to the UCR ISS office to maintain legal F-1 I-20 status. Failure to report any changes during the OPT period may result in a loss of F-1 status. If any changes occur, it will be the student’s responsibility to report any changeswithin 10 daysincluding:

• Personal Information
• Employer Information

If reporting beyond 10 days of the position start date, please contact the ISS office (internationalstudents@ucr.edu).

When reporting your employment information in the SEVP OPT Portal, you must provide a detailed description on how your employment position is directly related to your field of study. The description should clearly demonstrate a clear connection between your employment position and your field of study by including your position title, job duties/responsibilities, employment start date, and company information.

Examples of a direct relationship per the 2019 SEVP Guidance on Practical Training:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
  I work full time as an Electrical Engineer at ABC Corp., a government contractor. In my job, I analyze client requirements for electrical systems and provide them with cost estimates of such systems. My work requires understanding of electrical circuit theory, which I studied in-depth at the University of ABC. dissertation.
  
• Master's degree in Kinesiology
  I am working 25 hours a week in a health food store as a consultant for Self-Made Inc., designing and teaching exercise classes that are incorporated into a customer's overall nutrition and exercise plan. My designs and customer instruction draw upon my studies and classwork in exercise therapy and physical reconditioning.
  
• PhD in Computer Science
  I am employed as a full-time Computer and Information Research Scientist at ABC Research Institute. I work as part of a team of scientists and engineers that designs experiments to test the operation of various software systems. My work builds on research in complex algorithms and machine learning, which I studied as part of my dissertation.

SEVP OPT Portal

TheSEVP OPT Portalis an important and convenient tool to fulfill the legal OPT reporting requirements during the OPT period. This portal is only available for students approved for OPT. Around the start date of the EAD card, SEVIS will email an SEVP OPT Portal link to the student’s UCR email address. If the SEVP OPT portal link has expired or has locked, students should contact the ISS office (internationalstudents@ucr.edu) to reset the link. If the link cannot be located, students should check their spam mail. For technical issues, please contact the SEVIS Help Desk 1-800-892-4829.

Unemployment Rule

Unemployment days are counted from the start date on your EAD card. For Post-Completion OPT students, the maximum period of unemployment is 90 days. Students are required to report their employment in the SEVP OPT Portal within 10 days of the position start date. If there is no employment information listed in the SEVP OPT Portal, it will be seen as unemployment. Please note that exceeding 90 days of unemployment will result in the violation of your F-1 status and may result in a loss of your F-1 status. If you are at risk of exceeding the 90 days of unemployment time, please contact the ISS office (internationalstudents@ucr.edu).

Allowable OPT Employment during Post-Completion OPT

Please make sure to have a copy of your employment offer letter in the case that the Department of Homeland Security requests that you provide evidence of your employment at the company/institution.

Employment positions must meet the following criteriafor the 12-month Post-Completion OPT:

• Must be directly related to your field of study
• Part-Time (20 hrs. per week) or Full-time (more than 20 hrs. per week)
• Allowable Employment Types include:
  • Paid, Unpaid, or Volunteer
  • Self-Employed Business Owner
  • Multiple Positions
  • Short-term Positions
  • Work for Hire
  • Through an Agency

Useful OPT Resources

• OPT Application Checklist
• OPT Workshop PPT