Optional Practical Training (OPT) Students
Additional Updates July 9th, 2009
Students with Approved H-1B Applications. Students currently on OPT with approved H-1Bs have been automatically approved for the cap-gap extension.
-------Students need to contact the OISS to receive their new cap-gap I-20s. These I-20s are needed for such things as Drivers License extensions, etc. OPT is automatically extended to 09/30/2009.
------Students whose OPTs end after 10/01/2009 have had or will have their OPTs shortened to 09/30/2009.
Additional Updates June 18th, 2008
It is the student's responsibility to inform the OISS of their current employment status and employer and their current address.
1) Unemployment. The 90 employment rule applies to all students currently on OPT. For students whose OPT started before April 8th. The 90 days are not accrued until April 8th.
- A student may change jobs while on OPT. USCIS allows 10 days between the end of one position and the beginning of the next position. Any days after 10 days will be included in the 90 day employment threshold.
- A student who exceeds the 90 days of unemployment will be considered out of status. Currently there is no way to be reinstated if one becomes out of status due to unemployment.
- If employed, days spent on vacation do not count toward the 90 days of unemployment
- If students approach the 90 unemployment threshold it would be best to make plans to return to their home country or begin a new program of study. If a study chooses to begin a new program of study they will need to be admitted before the 90 employment period and have their record transferred to the new school or updated at IU South Bend.
2) Grace period OPT Application. Regulations have been changed to allow students to apply for OPT during the 60 day grace period after the program end date. ***You do not receive extra OPT time. Your OPT will still need to start during the 60 day grace period. This means that by the time you receive your EAD card, - it takes 2-3 months to process OPT applications - you will have already accumulated unemployment days.*** We recommend that you still apply for OPT prior to your program end date.
3) OPT Extension - The 17 month extension is only available to students in the STEM fields. To be eligible for the extension, the student's employer must be an e-verify employer.
Updated April 21st., 2008
As many of you have heard, on April 8th, the Department of Homeland Security enacted new regulations affecting students on Optional Practical Training.
1) H1-B Cap Gap. Now OPT students do not have to worry about the gap between employment authorization end dates in the summer and the H1-B start date of October 1st. If an employer applies for a timely change of status H1-B application for an F-1 OPT student , the employment authorization period will be extended until H1-B start date (if H1-B is approved) or until the day when H1-B is denied. If the H-1B is denied, the student will then a have 60 day grace period to leave the U.S. or be accepted into a new program and transfer their record.
2) OPT and Unemployment. For students starting OPT after April 8th 2008, they will only be allowed 90 days of unemployment during the 12 months of OPT. Students will need to inform the OISS when they are employed and unemployed.
3) Employer Information. Students now need to notify the OISS of their employer’s name and address and, as always, update us with their current address and email.
4) Extension of OPT. The 17 month OPT extension is available only to students who have earned degrees in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Students will need to apply for the extension through our office.
Information about these changes are being constantly updated. Once information has been finalized, we will email students and update our website. For more information please contact Vivian Yamoah at 574 520 4419.
