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How to apply for OPT
Types of employment permitted on Post-Completion OPT
Reporting Requirements while on Post-Completion OPT
Unemployment while on Post-Completion OPT
Travel while on Post-Completion OPT
Completion of OPT
Types of employment permitted on Post-Completion OPT
In all cases, the job must be related to the student's program of study and employment must be for at least 20 hours per week:
- Regular paid employment.
- Self-employment.
- Work for hire or contract work.
- Volunteer or unpaid work (Note: for students on 17-month STEM extension, employment must be paid employment, and although volunteering or unpaid activity is permitted, it will not be counted towards the employment requirement as it is for standard post-completion OPT.
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Reporting Requirements while on Post-Completion OPT
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Unemployment while on Post-Completion OPT
- Students on Post-Completions OPT must be employed at least 20 hours per week. Students who are employed for a total of less than 20 hours per week are considered to be “unemployed” for OPT/F1 status purposes.
- Students on OPT may not accrue an aggregate of more than 90 days of unemployment.
- Students who are unemployed for more than 90 days are in violation of their immigration status.
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Travel while on OPT
Students on post-completion OPT are permitted to return to the U.S. to resume employment. If you are on OPT and are outside of or plan to leave the U.S., and you do not have a job offer at the time of re-entry, it is possible you will not be permitted to re-enter the U.S. Also, if you have an I-20 with a Cap Gap notation and an expired EAD card, it is possible you will not be permitted to re-enter the U.S. The following are required in order to re-enter the U.S. to resume employment under OPT:
- A valid passport.
- A valid F-1 visa (unless you are a Canadian citizen).
- Your current original I-20 with a valid travel signature (no older than 6 months). If you need a new travel signature, please notify ddelgado@cmc.edu well in advance of your anticipated travel date.
- Your Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
- Evidence of a job or job offer.
You may experience difficulties or even denied re-entry if you try to return to the U.S. without any of hte above items. It may also be helpful to travel with your documentation of financial support and a copy of your transcript or other academic record.
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Completion of OPT
- F-1 students can remain in the U.S. for the 60-day grace period after the OPT period ends.
- Employment is not permitted during the 60-day grace period.
- Upon departure from the U.S., re-entry durig the 60-day grace period as an F-1 student is not permissible.
- Students who have reached a total of 90 days unemployment do not have a 60-day grace period and must leave the U.S. immediately.
- Upon completion of, or at any time during OPT, students may transfer their F-1 status to another U.S. institution. It is important to note that a transfer of F-1 status prior to the OPT end date automatically cancels any remaining OPT time. Students who want to transfer F-1 status at the end of their OPT simply need to send to ddelgado@cmc.edu a copy of their notice of admission to the new program and the name and contact information for the international student advisor at the new school.
- Students who have been approved for H1 status and who have a Cap Gap notation on their I-20 are permitted to remain in the U.S. beyond the 60-day grace period.
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