when should i apply for opt if i complete my course in january

They are:

1. You are allowed to apply for OPT a maximum of 90 days before your course completion date and a minimum of 60 days after your course completion date.
2. Your package, with all the documents, must reach USCIS within 60 days after your course completion.

Full Answer

How far in advance can I apply for OPT?

May apply up to 90 days before you complete your degree, but no later than 60 days after you complete your degree.

What is the best time to apply for OPT?

Q: When is the best time to apply the OPT? An F-1 student can apply for OPT as early as 90 days prior to program completion to as late as 60 days after their program completion date. Due to long processing times at USCIS (several months), it is best to apply early. 90 days before your graduation or defense date.

How do I choose my OPT start and end date?

Your OPT start date is generally based on your employment start date (as long as it is within 60 days after your program end). If your employment start date is longer than 60 days after your program end, your OPT start date will still be 60 days after your program end, as this is the latest date possible to select.

How long does it take to get OPT approved 2022?

Processing times vary greatly, but you should expect USCIS to take about 90-120 days to approve your STEM OPT Extension application.

Is it easy to get a job during OPT?

International students in the US usually apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) when they intend to continue working in the USA and receive a full – time job. However, it is not as easy to get a full – time job on OPT for international students. There are a lot of factors that determine your job security.

Can I stay in US while waiting for OPT?

Yes, as long as you filed for OPT before the end of your grace period, you can stay in the U.S. until your application has been processed, even if that goes beyond the 60 day grace period.

Can I apply for OPT after 60 days?

In conclusion, OPT applicants apply as early as 90 days before the graduation date. To successfully file the OPT application, USCIS should receive the application no later than 60 days from the graduation date and no later than 30 days from the date that DSO enters OPT recommendation into her or his SEVIS record.

Can I work while waiting for OPT approval?

OPT Card: No. The employee cannot work while waiting for the OPT card.

How long does it take to get OPT Card 2021?

From point of approval, USCIS says it can take 30 days beyond to receive your EAD card; however, most cards arrive within 7-10 days after approval. In total, it is likely for your OPT application to take 90-120 days.

Can I stay in US while waiting for OPT?

Yes, as long as you filed for OPT before the end of your grace period, you can stay in the U.S. until your application has been processed, even if that goes beyond the 60 day grace period.

What is the OPT end date?

The student's OPT or 17-month OPT extension ends on or after April 1.

Can you apply for OPT without a job offer?

If you're thinking about working in the U.S. after graduation, you must apply for Post-Completion OPT. The good news is, you can apply for OPT without having to worry about having a job offer. This is because regular 12-months of OPT is not tied to any particular employer.

How long before you need to apply for OPT?

So guarantee yourself absolutely about when you can apply for OPT. You need to apply for pre-realization OPT on any occasion 90 days before you need your OPT to start.

How long to apply for OPT on I-20?

You can apply for OPT as long as 90 days prior and as long as 60 days after your normal program fulfillment date.

How many hours can an international student work in the USA?

Post-completion OPT allows International students to work in the USA for full-time that is 40 hours a week directly in the significant area of their studies. During post-completion OPT, the international student is eligible to work for multiple employers, but they all should be related to the substantial area of study.

How long does it take to get an I-20?

The processing time for Form I-20 (certificate of eligibility for nonimmigrant student status) is around 1 to 2 weeks. But, in order to get Form I-20, you need to submit Form I-765. So, I guess you might have understood by now, that you have to complete a series of formalities for receiving approval for OPT.

How long can you be unemployed under OPT?

The first principle is that you cannot waste precious time on/of OPT. Second principle is you cannot remain unemployed for more than 3 months under OPT. Third, you need to apply for EAD under OPT.

How long does it take for USCIS to process an OPT application?

USCIS should get your full and complete OPT application close to 60 days after your normal program fruition date. Likewise, USCIS should get your application within 30 days of when BIO suggests your I-20 for OPT. You should be truly present in the United States at the time USCIS gets your OPT application.

What is an OPT visa?

OPT is the Optional Practical Training given to international students studying in the USA. The students on F1 visa can work in their field of expertise during and after completion of their degree through OPT. OPT allows international students to work for 12 months in their area of expertise.

How long do you have to apply for OPT?

You are allowed to apply for OPT a maximum of 90 days before your course completion date and a minimum of 60 days after your course completion date.

What happens if you get rejected for OPT?

If your OPT application gets rejected, then you won’t be able to get back into the USA using an F-1 visa anymore.

What are the work authorizations available under F-1 Visa?

International Students and other foreign workers who wish to work in the USA need to apply for the work authorization in USA. Working without work authorization can lead to severe circumstances, inclusive of termination and even deportation.

What are the work authorizations for F1?

If we talk about F1 visa, the available work authorizations are OPT, CPT, and on-campus employment. If you are enrolled in a STEM subject, you may apply for a STEM OPT extension and continue working after the tenure of OPT employment is over.

What is an OPT RFE?

In the case of an OPT RFE (Request For Evidence), you need to take action within a limited period of time.

What is an OPT?

OPT is Optional Practical Training. It is a work authorization provided to a student in F1 visa status. Under OPT work authorization, a student is allowed to work up to 12 months. The main criteria is you must be working in a field that is directly connected to your major area of study.

Can I work before the EAD date?

You cannot begin working until your approved EAD start date, regardless of the requested date on your I-20. If you start your job before the date given on OPT EAD, it will cause a legal issue. This might also cause your visa to be terminated and you permanently being deported from the States.

What degree do you need to get into STEM OPT?

Have earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a school that is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency and is certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at the time you submit your STEM OPT extension application.

What form do employers need to complete for STEM OPT?

As part of the STEM OPT extension, employers must complete the appropriate parts of Form I-983, Training Plan for STEM OPT Students. In this form, employers attest that: They have enough resources and trained personnel available to appropriately train the student;

What is a site visit for STEM OPT?

As noted above, DHS, at its discretion, may conduct a site visit of any STEM OPT employer to ensure that the employer possesses and maintains the ability and resources to provide structured and guided work-based learning experiences consistent with the Form I-983. See 8 C.F.R. 214.2 (f) (10) (ii) (C) (11). Consistent with this provision, during a site visit, DHS may verify that the employer that signs the Form I-983 is the same entity that provides the practical training experience to the student and ensure compliance. For ICE to effectively conduct these site visits as part of its oversight responsibilities, it is important that employers report any change in a student’s employment address. As indicated above, the employer and student must report such a material change by submitting a modified Form I-983 to the DSO at the earliest available opportunity.

How to report material changes of STEM OPT student?

Report material changes of the STEM OPT student’s employment by submitting a modified Form I-983 to the DSO at the earliest available opportunity.

When will USCIS extend the I-765?

ALERT: On Feb. 26, 2021, USCIS extended flexibilities to certain foreign students affected by delayed receipt notices for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. These flexibilities apply only to applications received on or after Oct. 1, 2020, through May 1, 2021, inclusive. Read more here: USCIS Extends Flexibilities to Certain Applicants Filing Form I-765 for OPT .

How long does it take to get an extension for F-1?

Certain F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion optional practical training (OPT). Close All Open All.

Can an employer assign STEM OPT training to a third party?

Moreover, a STEM OPT employer may not assign, or otherwise delegate, its training responsibilities to a non-employer third party (e.g., a client/customer of the employer, employees of the client/customer, or contractors of the client/customer).

How long after the end of the program can you start an OPT?

Thus, if you have a job that starts more than 60 days after your program end date, you cannot select your job’s start date as your OPT start date; the latest OPT start date you could select is the 60th day after the program end date on your Form I-20.

How long do you have to be in F-1 to apply for OPT?

To be eligible to apply for OPT, you must: (1) have been in full-time student status for at least one academic year by the requested start date of your OPT, (2) be maintaining valid F-1 status at the time of the application, and (3) have not used OPT at the same degree level previously.

How many days can you use for unemployment on an F-1?

F-1 OPT students are permitted a maximum of 90 unemployment days between the start and end date on their EAD card. The SEVIS database automatically calculates unemployment days based on the information students submit in their SEVP Portal account. Students may use unemployment days in increments of any size before, between, or after OPT activities.

How long does it take to get an OPT?

Authorization for OPT is granted by USCIS and processing takes an average of 3-5 months. Therefore, it is important that you apply for the authorization well in advance of the date you wish to start working. You may apply up to 90 days before completion of studies and no later than 60 days after.

What is OPT before completion?

Before completion of studies, OPT may be used for short periods of time referred to as Pre-Completion OPT. After completion of studies, it may only be used as a single block of time (minus the difference of any previously-used OPT periods).

How long does it take for a doctoral dissertation to be accepted by USCIS?

Doctoral students may submit no later than 60 days from the last day of the month in which they submit their dissertation to the Graduate School.

How long is an I-9 receipt valid?

This receipt is valid for 90 days from the date of hire (meaning, first day of work for pay) or in the case of re-verification, 90 days from the date employment authorization expired. Within 90- days, the employee must show you the replacement document for which the receipt was given.