As an F-1 student, you are entitled to up to 12 months of optional practical training for each degree level you complete. (Unless you have used 12 months or more of curricular practical training, which disqualifies you from receiving any optional practical training.) You may obtain authorization for optional practical training either before or after completion of a course of study, but all authorized practical training will be counted toward your 12 month limit. (If, however, you complete one academic program and leave the United States for more than five months before returning to begin a new academic program you are given a new 12 month period of optional practical training.)

Please note that optional practical training requires authorization from the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which typically takes two to three months and can sometimes take as much as three months to obtain. The US Post Office will not forward Immigration mail containing your EAD card (employment approval). Thus, if there is a chance you may move from you present Dayton area address within the next 120 days, you must use the UCIE address, please record it in the following fashion in Item # 3 on the I-765 application form: C/O UCIE International Office, Wright State University, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Dayton, OH 45435.

Optional Practical Training Before Completion of a Course of Study

To be eligible for pre completion optional practical training you must (1) have been in student status for at least one academic year, (2) currently be maintaining a full-time program of study and valid F-1 status, and (3) intend to work in a job directly related to you major field of study.

If you meet these eligibility requirements, you may have pre-completion optional practical training authorized in any of the following circumstances:

1. During the school year: In this case optional practical training will be authorized for only 20 hours per week and the period authorized will be deducted from your 12 month total at a rate of one half month for each month authorized (all part-time optional practical training authorization will be counted in this way).

2. During vacation periods: In this case optional practical training authorization may be either part-time or full-time.

3. After completion of all course requirements for a degree: In this case, too, optional practical training authorization may be either part-time or full-time. This situation arises most often after completion of all course requirements for a Ph.D., when a student is registered for dissertation (dissertation registration is considered to be full-time study), but may arise in other cases as well.

You do not have to have a job offer to have pre completion optional practical training authorized. In most cases, however, you will not want to apply without a job offer or firm job prospect because periods of optional practical training can not be rescinded once the period requested has begun. If you have requested a period of optional practical training but do not work, that period is still deducted from your 12 month total.

Pre Completion Application and Authorization Procedures

To apply for a period of optional practical training before completion of a course of study please bring the following items to UCIE:

•  the "Academic Departmental Certification" form must be completed by your academic or faculty adviser.
  completed INS Form I-765 (available from UCIE web site)

• a copy of your original Form I-20 (an UCIE advisor will endorse the I-20 for practical training and make a copy for your application to the Immigration and Naturalization Service; you will not have to give up your original I-20)

• You must submit TWO identical photos with full front view of your face taken within the past 30 days. The photos must comply with the following specifications:

• BACKGROUND: plain light (white or off-white)

• PAPER: thin, glossy paper and not retouched.

• SIZE: 2 X 2 inches, with the distance from the top of the head to just below the chin between one inch and not more than 1-3/8”.

• If you wish your photos to be made on campus, please call ahead and make an appointment at the Center for Teaching & Learning (phone: 775-3162), 023 Dunbar Library. (There is an $11 photo fee charged.)

• You should print your name lightly in pencil on the back of the two photographs (include the number on your previous EAD if you have one from an earlier period of optional practical training)

• a personal check or money order for $340 payable to Department of homeland Security (a certified check from your bank is preferable because, if necessary, you will be able to determine if it has been cashed.)

• a photocopy of the front and back of your I-94 card (white card, usually stapled in your passport)

• a photocopy of your passport information page (and the page including your photograph, if different)

• a photocopy of the visa page in your passport (except Canadian citizens, who have no visa)

• if you have had a previous period of optional practical training, a photocopy of your Employment Authorization Document (photo ID card) authorizing your previous practical training.

After reviewing these documents to confirm your eligibility, a UCIE advisor will endorse page three of your Form 1-20 recommending the requested period of part-time or full-time optional practical training. It usually takes 2-3 weeks for UCIE to process your application, which will be submitted by mail to the regional office of the CIS (Immigration) in Lincoln, Nebraska for processing. INS will first mail a receipt to you, to the address you wrote on your Form I-765, and will later mail your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to the same address. Please note that INS processing usually takes 60 to 90 days from the date they receive your application so we suggest you apply for OPT 120 days before start date of employment. You may not begin employment before you receive your EAD from INS; working before receipt of your EAD constitutes illegal employment that renders you illegally present in the U.S.

Optional Practical Training At Completion of a Course of Study

To be eligible for post completion optional practical training you must (1) have been in student status for at least one academic year, (2) currently be maintaining valid F-1 status, and (3) intend to work after completion of your studies in a job directly related to you major field of study.

Please note that you do not have to have a job offer before applying for post completion optional practical training and that you must in any case apply a minimum 30 days before completing studies. Also, optional practical training must in all cases end no later than 14 months after your completion of studies date.

All post completion optional practical training is full-time practical training. You may have post completion practical training authorized for any period of time that you wish, up to the maximum amount of optional practical training remaining to you at the time of completion. If, for example, you have not previously used any optional practical training you may have the full 12 months authorized after completion of a course of study. You could choose instead, however, to have fewer months authorized in order to save some optional practical training for use after a future course of study at the same degree level. At a higher degree level you have a new allotment of 12 months OPT available.

Post Completion Application and Authorization Procedures

To apply for a period of optional practical training, which begins  after completion of a course of study please bring the following items to UCIE no earlier than 120 days before and no later than 30 days before your completion of studies date:

• the "Academic Departmental Certification" form must be completed by your academic or faculty adviser.

• completed INS FormI-765 (available from UCIE web site); write "(c)(3)(i)" in item 16 of Form I-765 and use an address on Form I-765 where you can receive mail over the next one to three months

• a photocopy of your SEVIS  I-20 Form

• You must submit TWO identical photos with full front view of your face taken within the past 30 days. The photos must comply with the following specifications: BACKGROUND: plain light (white or off-white)  PAPER: thin, glossy paper and not retouched.

•     SIZE: 2 X 2 inches, with the distance from the top of the head to just below the chin between one inch and not more than 1-3/8”.

• You should print your name lightly in pencil on the back of the two photographs (include the number on your previous EAD if you have one from an earlier period of optional practical training).

• a personal check or money order for $340 payable to Department of Homeland Security (A cashiers check from your own bank is preferable because, if necessary, you    will be able to determine if it has been cashed.)

• a photocopy of the front and back of your I-94 card (white card, usually stapled in your passport)

• a photocopy of your passport information page (and the page including your photograph, if different)

• a photocopy of the visa page in your passport (except Canadian citizens, who have no visa)

• if you have had a previous period of optional practical training, then you must also include a photocopy of your Employment Authorization Document (photo ID card) authorizing your previous practical training.

After reviewing these documents to confirm your eligibility, a UCIE advisor will print a new I-20 page three and endorse it recommending the requested period of full-time optional practical training. Your application will then be submitted by mail to the regional office of the CIS (Immigration) in Lincoln, Nebraska for processing. Immigration Office will first mail a receipt to you, to the address you wrote on your Form I-765, and will later mail your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to the same address.

Please note that CIS processing usually takes 60 to 90 days. You may not begin employment before you receive your EAD from INS; working before receipt of your EAD constitutes illegal employment that renders you illegally present in the U.S.

Please note, as well, that the application deadline is 30 days before the completion of studies date is an absolute deadline. After date of completion of the degree you are in an 60-day F-1 "grace period" and therefore ineligible to submit an optional practical training application to UCIE or the Immigration Service (to avoid possible deadline problems, your post completion optional practical training application should actually be received by the CIS before your degree completion date, so apply well in advance). Your completion of studies date is usually the March, June, August or November graduation date at the end of  your last term of enrollment. You may if you choose, however, use an earlier dissertation defense date or thesis submission date as your completion of studies date.

Non Cancellation of Optional Practical Training

Once your authorized practical training has begun you may not rescind or cancel it. An unexpected delay in completing degree requirements, inability to find an appropriate job or loss of a job does not allow you to take back or adjust a practical training authorization even if this means you will lose time when you would otherwise have been eligible to work under optional practical training.

Social Security Numbers

If you plan to work in the U.S. you will need a valid Social Security number (your WSU ID is not a valid Social Security Number). To apply, please obtain instructions and directions to the Social Security Office from UCIE. The Social Security Administration will process your application and a number will be sent to you in about one month.

Taxes

In general, F-1 students who have been in the U.S. in less than six calendar years are exempt from social security (FICA) and Medicare taxes. You should be sure to bring this to the attention of your employer because many employers are not familiar with this provision of the tax laws. If you need more information about the F-1 social security and Medicare tax exemption, please contact UCIE.

Students in F-1 status are subject to all other taxes that may apply: federal, state and local (but check with UCIE to see if your country is one of the few that has a tax treaty with the U.S. allowing students to exclude a limited amount of earned income from federal taxation). Also, you may be able to treat a period of post completion practical training as an extended business trip and substantially reduce your federal taxes by deducting "travel expenses" (amounts for housing, transportation and a per diem food allowance) from you income. (You should consult an accountant or tax attorney to see if you can deduct travel expenses in your circumstances.)

Employment Eligibility Verification

Within the first three days of beginning work you and your employer must complete a form entitled Employment Eligibility Verification (INS Form I-9). This form will be kept on file by your employer and must be updated each time you receive a renewal of your work permission.

Travel Abroad and Reentry to the United States While on Post Completion Practical Training

If you are on post completion practical training, travel abroad with the intention of reentering the U.S. in F-1 status should present no problem if you have all of the following: (1) a valid passport, (2)a valid F-1 visa stamp in your passport, (3) your original Form I-20 endorsed for reentry by an UCIE advisor within the last six months, (4) your original practical training Employment Authorization Document issued by INS and (5) proof that you have a job in the U.S. appropriate for practical training (such as a letter from your employer describing your job). If you do not have all of these documents you should not travel abroad without first consulting with an UCIE advisor. (An expired F-1 visa poses a particular problem; it may be difficult or impossible to renew your F-1 visa while you are on practical training.)

Failure to Comply with Employment Regulations

It is your responsibility to comply with all immigration regulations which apply to F-1 students, including employment regulations. Working without the proper authorization is a serious violation of your student status. If you fail to comply with your responsibilities, you may not be eligible for benefits normally granted to F-1 students and, in some situations, may be subject to deportation. Prior to accepting any employment in the U.S., we strongly urge you to consult with the UCIE office.