Students authorized for OPT remain in F-1 status and must continue to maintain their F-1 status, which means:
- Maintain a valid passport
- Maintain a valid I-20
- Use the SEVIS OPT Portal or ISSAlink to report these changes within 10 days of the change:
- change of U.S. address
- all employment information and changes
- change in immigration status
- If traveling outside the U.S.:
- Travel signatures must be valid within six months of reentry
- Valid F-1 visa is required for re-entry
- Enter the U.S. in F-1 status for the duration of OPT
The F-1 status and SEVIS record are the student's responsibility to manage, and SEVIS has made it easier by launching the SEVP OPT Portal, which allows ACTIVE F-1 students on OPT to manage their mandatory reporting requirements directly through the SEVIS website. Through the portal, the student can add/edit their phone number, add/edit their address, and add/edit their employer information, including the initial employment.
Note: students cannot report employment start dates more than 10 days after the start date. Any late reporting will result in the accrual of unemployment days.
Student reporting responsibilities include:
- Monitor unemployment. Students cannot accrue more than 90 days of unemployment during standard post-completion OPT. If SEVIS registers that a student has exceed the unemployment limit, they can terminate the SEVIS record and the student will need to exit the U.S.
- Notify ISSA if student permanently departs the U.S. before OPT authorization period ends by submitting End of Status Form.
- Notify ISSA if student plans to begin a new full-time academic program before the end of the OPT. This will end the OPT authorization.
- Monitor work eligibility. After the program end date on page 1 of the I-20, the student may not work on campus unless they have received their EAD card, the start date has been reached, and the employment is related to your program of study.
- Pursue appropriate employment. All employment while on OPT must be related to the student's major/s and fall within the authorization dates printed on the EAD card.