Optional
Practical Training (OPT) is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students
with F-1 status who have completed or have been pursuing their degrees for more
than nine months are permitted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) to work for at most one year on a student visa without needing
to acquire a work H-1B visa towards getting a practical training to complement
their field of studies. F-1 students are permitted a total of 12 months towards
practical training, on being certified by the advisor of the usefulness of the
work towards goals of the degree, which can be distributed between Curricular
Practical Training (CPT) and OPT. M-1 students are also permitted to engage in
post-completion OPT. They are entitled to one month of training for every four
months of study, with a maximum length of six months.
On April 4, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
released an interim final rule extending the period of OPT from 12 to 29 months
for qualified F-1 non-immigrant students. The extension will be available to
students who are employed by businesses enrolled in the E-Verify program.
E-Verify is a free internet-based system operated by USCIS in partnership with
the Social Security Administration which determines a new employee's
eligibility to work. To be eligible for the 17-month OPT extension, a student
must have received a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics degree.
Optional practical training is the most common approach to
working in the U.S. for international students. The U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Service (USCIS) – formerly known as the Immigration and
Naturalization Service or INS allows F-1 students to obtain permission to work
for one year.
Pre- and Post-Completion Optional Practical Training:
Optional practical training is available both during and after the completion of your academic program. These are called pre-completion and post-completion optional practical training, respectively. However, keep in mind that the total amount of practical training permitted is 12 months. For example, if you are authorized for three months of pre-completion optional practical training during the holidays, you will only be eligible for nine more months of post-completion optional practical training after you have completed your degree. Also, any time spent in curricular practical training reduces the amount of time you may work in optional practical training.
Optional practical training is available both during and after the completion of your academic program. These are called pre-completion and post-completion optional practical training, respectively. However, keep in mind that the total amount of practical training permitted is 12 months. For example, if you are authorized for three months of pre-completion optional practical training during the holidays, you will only be eligible for nine more months of post-completion optional practical training after you have completed your degree. Also, any time spent in curricular practical training reduces the amount of time you may work in optional practical training.
Pre-completion optional practical
training may be any of following:
* A part-time or full-time job during an annual vacation.
* A part-time or
full-time job after completion of all coursework, but while working on your
thesis, dissertation, or project.
* During the academic
year, while pursuing a full course load, only part-time jobs are allowable.
Post-completion optional practical training:
* Work as a full-time employee
* Work for as many companies as you want
* Work as an independent contractor
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