opt reporting, how your employment is related to your course of study?

by Lew Morissette 10 min read

By submitting this OPT reporting form, you confirm all of the information provided above is true and accurate, all work which you do is directly related to your major field of study, you work 20 hours or more per week (even if through multiple employers), and you understand you cannot exceed 90 cumulative days of unemployment throughout the Standard OPT.

students are responsible for providing a description of how their job relates to their job relates to their major area of study, which the DSO must review and retain. To sum, OPT and STEM OPT participants should work in a position that is directly related to the major.Dec 1, 2020

Full Answer

What information do I need to report while on opt?

Dec 01, 2020 · To sum, OPT and STEM OPT participants should work in a position that is directly related to the major. When the OPT participants update the SEVP portal and when the STEM OPT applicants work on the Form I-983, they need to illustrate how practical training is related to the major area of study. The following three factors, which could be found ...

When to request employment authorization for practical training under opt?

Students must explain how this employment is related to your course of study. For additional information see the Employment Reporting Resources and Examples. OPT STEM Extension Reporting Requirements; Students on active OPT STEM are required to report all employer and contact information within 10 days of any change and every 6 months (even if ...

Is the opt position “directly related to the major”?

Sep 29, 2020 · OPT Types. There are three general types of OPT: OPT : For students engaged in post-secondary schools or at conservatories. Twelve months of Regular OPT is available for each higher level of study. (For example a student may have 12 months for a bachelor’s degree and another 12 months for a master’s degree).

What is Optional Practical Training (OPT)?

Employment must be directly related to your course of study. Must report new employment and changes to employment to the International Center; Limitation on Unemployment for the STEM OPT Extension. ... Use the examples below when completed your OPT Employment Update form. Below are examples about how to write this information, if you do not ...

How should a student report employment during OPT?

Note: While on OPT, the student must report to the DSO within 10 days any changes in the student's name or address, and employment information. The DSO must update SEVIS within 21 days with the employment information and any name or address changes.

How do you write OPT relation to field of study?

The written explanation should include the student's job title, employer name, major area of study, whether full-time or the average hours worked per week, and a brief explanation of how the job is directly related to the student's degree/major field of study.

What are your reporting requirements once you are employed on OPT ?*?

Start of employment (ideally you should report as soon as possible once your OPT is approved to prevent SEVIS counting days of unemployment) End of employment. Change of employers. Current employer changes name and/or address.

Does OPT have to be related to degree?

All OPT employment must be directly related to the student's major field of study and commensurate with the degree level. The following types of paid and unpaid experiences are considered valid OPT activities according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and should be reported to the ISSO.

What does an employer need to do for OPT?

As noted above, to be eligible to employ a STEM OPT student, an employer must have and maintain a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student. The employer must attest to this fact by signing the Form I-983, Training Plan for STEM OPT Students.Feb 26, 2021

How do I write OPT job description?

To sum, OPT and STEM OPT participants should work in a position that is directly related to the major.
...
Examples of writing how OPT position is related to major
  1. Employer information, position title, and type of employment (full time or part-time)
  2. Main responsibility.
  3. Applicable coursework or theory from the major.
Dec 1, 2020

What can I report in OPT?

OPT Reporting Requirements
  1. Changes to your name, residence, or mailing address.
  2. Any employment changes (ending a job, changing jobs)
  3. Names and addresses of all OPT employers.
  4. Start and end dates of all OPT employment.
  5. New immigration status (change to H-1B, for example)

How do I change my employer on OPT?

Changing Employers While on OPT STEM
  1. Confirm your new employer is enrolled in E-Verify.
  2. Confirm your new employer is willing to complete and sign the Form I-983.
  3. Submit the following to CIE. ...
  4. CIE will update your SEVIS record with the new employer information and issue you an updated I-20 if requested.

What happens if you don't report OPT?

If you do not report your OPT activity, the U.S. government could terminate your F-1 SEVIS record 90 days after the OPT start date printed on your EAD card. A terminated SEVIS record cancels OPT authorization and requires you to leave the U.S. The U.S. government could deny future benefits based on late reporting.

How do I go self-employed on OPT?

Self-employed business owner

Students on OPT may start a business and be self-employed. In this situation, the student must work full time. The student must be able to prove that he or she has the proper business licenses and is actively engaged in a business related to the student's degree program.

Can I work for two employers on STEM OPT?

You may work for more than one employer on STEM OPT, but each employment occurrence must be related to your stem STEM field of study, and must be for at least 20 hours per week. Each separate STEM OPT employer must provide an I-983 Training Plan.

Can OPT student receive 1099?

The following types of employment are authorized while on OPT and STEM OPT: Self-employment (must have the business set up and be enrolled in E-Verify for STEM OPT) Employment as an independent contractor (1099 employment as opposed to being on the payroll)Aug 14, 2014

OPT Reporting

If you do not comply with the OPT reporting requirements or/and you accumulate more than 90 days of unemployment while on OPT or an additional 60 days unemployment while on OPT STEM extension your SEVIS record will be terminated and you will no longer have valid immigration status in the U.S.

Post-Completion OPT and OPT STEM Extension Reporting Requirements

If you do not comply with the OPT reporting requirements or/and you accumulate more than 90 days of unemployment while on OPT or an additional 60 days unemployment while on OPT STEM extension your SEVIS record will be terminated and you will no longer have valid immigration status in the U.S.

What is an OPT degree?

OPT : For students engaged in post-secondary schools or at conservatories. Twelve months of Regular OPT is available for each higher level of study. (For example a student may have 12 months for a bachelor’s degree and another 12 months for a master’s degree).

How long can a student be unemployed after completing OPT?

A student on post-completion OPT can be unemployed for a total of 90 days.

What are the different types of OPT?

OPT Types. There are three general types of OPT: OPT : For students engaged in post-secondary schools or at conservatories. Twelve months of Regular OPT is available for each higher level of study. (For example a student may have 12 months for a bachelor’s degree and another 12 months for a master’s degree).

How many months of OPT are there?

There are three general types of OPT: OPT : For students engaged in post-secondary schools or at conservatories. Twelve months of Regular OPT is available for each higher level of study. (For example a student may have 12 months for a bachelor’s degree and another 12 months for a master’s degree).

Can SEVIS request overlapping OPT?

SEVIS will not allow DSOs to request overlapping segments of OPT. You must specify if the OPT is pre-completion vs. post-completion OPT and must be either full vs. part time.

How many hours can you work on OPT?

Employment must be over 20 hours per week. Employment must be directly related to your course of study. Limitation on Unemployment for the STEM OPT Extension. Students approved for the 24-month STEM OPT extension may not accrue more than a total of 150 days of unemployment throughout their entire 36 months on OPT.

How long is the extension for STEM?

Students approved for the 24-month STEM OPT extension may not accrue more than a total of 150 days of unemployment throughout their entire 36 months on OPT. Time spent outside the United States, if not employed by a U.S. employer, is counted towards the 150-day period of unemployment.

What is an OPT extension?

Any employment changes (ending a job, changing jobs) Names and addresses of all OPT employers. Start and end dates of all OPT employment. You decide to leave the United States, so you will not start or continue your OPT STEM extension.

How often do you submit a STEM OPT report?

3 Submit a STEM OPT report every six months. Your first report is due six months after the start date of your STEM EAD. You must submit the reports within 10 days of the due date. Learn more about your required STEM OPT reports below.

When are STEM OPT reports due?

Your first report is due six months after the start date of your STEM EAD. You must submit the reports within 10 days of the due date. Learn more about your required STEM OPT reports below.

How many days can you go without work while on STEM?

While on STEM OPT, you can have no more than 150 days without employment. The total of 150 days includes any days of unemployment that accrued during the time you were on regular OPT.

How long after STEM EAD do you have to confirm your address?

Six months after the start of your STEM EAD, you must confirm your personal address and employer information. Even if there has been no change in your situation, you must complete the OPT Employment Report.

image