Reporting employment updates and reporting OPT participation are an important part of maintaining status during Post-Completion OPT. Students authorized for OPT remain in F-1 status and maintain the status by:
- Maintaining a valid passport
- Maintaining a valid I-20
- Using the SEVIS OPT Portal or ISSAlink to report these changes:
- 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
How to Report Employment and Address
You may use either the SEVP Portal or ISSAlink to report; you do not need to report through both sites.
- Using SEVP OPT Portal allows you to manage and confirm accuracy of information directly.
- Using ISSAlink gives ISSA an opportunity to provide an updated I-20 with the relevant changes.
The F-1 status and SEVIS record are the student's responsibility to manage, but the Portal and ISSAlink are tools to effectively manage the mandatory reporting requirements.
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. Contact ISSA with questions about reporting after 10 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 F Status Form (under F-1 Student Services)
- 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.