You're not alone. Read on for answers to our most frequently asked questions. First, we recommend that you have someone you know and trust monitor your mail in the US if you choose to travel. If you do not reply to them by their specified deadline, your application would then be at risk for being denied. If the denial occurs when you are outside of the US, then you would be unable to reapply for OPT until and unless you enter back into the US in F-1 status.
Additionally, if you are outside of the US after you complete your program but do not have all of the required travel documents for while you are on OPT , you may face difficulties in reentering the US.
Because international travel and restrictions are unpredictable during this time, even if you plan to travel back to the US before your program ends, you may not be able to do so. We are continuing to process OPT I requests while our office is physically closed. You still need to have a handwritten signature with a pen--not a digital or electronic signature. USCIS has not provided any guidance on this till now. They could potentially interpret any days the employee is on furlough as contributing to days of unemployment, therefore we believe it safest for students to try to secure some other volunteer work consisting of at least 20 hours per week in their field of study to prevent the accrual of further potential unemployment days.
They have not specified a minimum number of hours that must be worked. Therefore, we recommend you continue to adhere to the current rules on maximum days of unemployment. If you are unable to leave the US due to travel restrictions, please schedule an online advising appointment so that we can discuss your options.
See this guidance from the US government for further details. US government guidance has indicated that there is not currently any flexibility on extending the grace period for F-1 students.
All students in F-1 status who have not yet accrued ninety days of unemployment during the post-completion OPT time period have up to sixty days after their OPT end date to remain legally in the United States. If you are currently on post-completion OPT and you have an employer interested in sponsoring you for an H-1B work visa, you may also be eligible to apply for a Cap Gap Extension.
If, however, neither of these options are possible for you, we encourage you to schedule an online advising appointment to discuss whether changing from F-1 to another status in the United States may be a viable option for you. You can start applying for your OPT 90 days before either your proposed employment start date if you are applying for pre-completion OPT or 90 days before your program completion date if you are applying for post-completion OPT. If your I is ready before the 2 weeks processing time, we will let you know.
Check the US government processing times. It is best to plan ahead and apply as early as possible because the US government only rarely expedites applications see USCIS expedite criteria.
For December graduates, that means you should apply by mid September; for May graduates, by mid February. By applying early, you can avoid the risks that come from an OPT request being denied after the grace period has ended. In addition, delaying your application will not allow you to stay longer in the US. It is important to carefully select the dates you request for your OPT because you will not be able to change these dates after you apply. If you are applying for pre-completion OPT , you should select the date that is your desired start date of employment.
Keep in mind that it can take up to 3 months before you will be able to start working. If you are applying for post-completion OPT , your start date should be one to sixty days after your completion date. For example, if your completion date is May 20, your OPT can start anywhere from May 21 at the earliest and July 18 at the latest.
However, if you think it will be challenging to find a job, you should select a later start date to ensure you do not waste your OPT time. If you have a trusted roommate or family member at the address listed on your OPT application and that person will be able to check your mail and will contact you immediately if anything arrives, ensure that you can still receive mail there and if so keep that address.
However, if not, you should call the National Service Customer line to ask for your address to be updated. You can find this phone number on your receipt notice. They will be give you details on how to change your address. To correct the error, follow these instructions. The US government has specific criteria for expediting an application.
Employers should submit the petitions on behalf of the F-1 visa holders as soon as the application window opens at the beginning of April. If the petition is approved, the F-1 student will be able to adjust his or her status to an H-1B visa and begin working under that status beginning in October. Because of this problem, the U. The cap-gap extension is a grace period that starts on the date that the OPT employment authorization expires and lasts until the start date of their H-1B employment.
F-1 OPT participants who receive the cap-gap extension will be allowed to extend their OPT employment authorization from the date of expiration until Oct.
If the F-1 visa holder that received the cap-gap extension receives a denial of the H-1B petition before the Oct. The same periods apply if the sponsoring employer withdraws the H-1B visa petition for the F-1 visa holder. If your H-1B visa application is denied based on willful misrepresentation or fraud, you will be required to leave the U.
If the H-1B visa petition is denied after Oct. The cap-gap extension does not extend beyond Oct. This means that you will not have a grace period if your H-1B visa petition is denied after Oct.
You can choose to leave the U. If you want to remain in the U. Make certain to comply with the requirements of your F-1 visa and the grace period. If you violate your visa status, you will have to leave the U. This makes it important to not overstay your visa in the U. The F-1 visa and OPT programs offer excellent opportunities to international students who wish to study and to receive training in the U. F-1 visa holders who participate in OPT must pay attention to the grace period rules.
The grace periods provide you with additional time in the U. Being approved for an F-1 visa can be exciting. While you are preparing to travel to the U. You should know that the credit record that you have built up in your home country will not transfer to the U. Since landlords, banks, and lenders in the U. Nova Credit offers a global credit passport. The company translates your credit record in your home country to a score that can be used by lenders, landlords, and banks to make credit decisions.
By getting your Nova Credit score , you can have an easier time getting started with your new life as an F-1 student. You can then work on your academic studies and work in an OPT program without worrying about meeting your needs while you are in the U. Check if you're eligible to use your international credit history to apply for a U. Some credit cards don't require an SSN to apply. The best credit cards for international students. How international students can get financial aid.
Student loans for international students. The original, timely filed application was received on or after Oct. Refiled applications must be received by May 31, , for USCIS to treat the application as though filed on the original received date. Applicants refiling an application should include a copy of the rejection notice with the refiling application.
Applications with missing or deficient signatures are generally rejected at the lockbox. Skip to main content.
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