Prior to Graduation.
You may travel abroad and reenter while your I-765 OPT application is pending without your departure canceling your OPT application
. You must reenter the U.S. before the graduation date on your I-20.
Can I travel internationally while waiting for OPT?
International travel while an OPT application is pending can be risky and is not generally recommended
. If you have an OPT application pending and believe you must travel, you are required to have the following to return: Passport (valid for six months after you plan to re-enter the US)
Can I use OPT before graduation?
Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.
Can I apply for OPT a month before graduation?
An F-1 student can apply for OPT
as early as 90 days prior to program completion
to as late as 60 days after their program completion date. Due to long processing times at USCIS (several months), it is best to apply early. 90 days before your graduation or defense date.
Can I travel while my OPT extension is pending?
Yes, traveling outside of the U.S. while on an approved STEM extension is permitted
. You must have the following documents to reenter the US or apply for a new F-1 visa: A STEM OPT I-20 signed on page 2 by an ISSO advisor within the last 6 months; A Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD);
Is it safe to travel on OPT?
Absolutely NO!
Travel is not recommended
. Your departure from the U.S. prior to the approval of your EAD card will cancel your OPT application.
Can I get new i20 after OPT approval?
During your final quarter, after you submit your Post-Completion OPT application. You can travel and reenter the U.S. as a student during your final registration quarter.
You will use the new I-20 with the OPT recommendation printed on page 2, along with the other regular travel documents
.
Can I stay in US while waiting for OPT?
Yes. though you can remain in the U.S. while your OPT is pending, even beyond the expiry of your grace period
. Example: If your completion date is May 19, your grace period expires July 18, and you chose a start date of July 18 for OPT.
What happens to OPT if you don't graduate?
What happens if I apply for OPT but don't graduate? Once an OPT application is approved, it cannot be cancelled.
Undergraduate students who do not graduate must enroll in the next semester to complete their degree
.
Can you travel after submitting OPT?
You may travel abroad and reenter while your I-765 OPT application is pending without your departure canceling your OPT application
. You must reenter the U.S. before the graduation date on your I-20. To reenter you must have the following documents: Valid passport.
How long does it take for OPT to be approved 2021?
Average processing time is
3-5 months
.
What happens if you are unemployed for more than 90 days on OPT?
If you exceed the 90 days of unemployment,
you will no longer be in a valid immigration status
, and this can both affect your ability to remain in the US, and may mean ineligibility for future immigration benefits (such as a change of status to H-1B), or denial of a future visa application.
Can I get OPT twice?
A student may participate twice in the STEM OPT extension over the course of their academic career
. Students may not apply for STEM OPT extensions during the 60-day grace period following an initial (usually 12-month) period of post-completion OPT.
Can I travel while my i 765 is pending?
It may take up to three months for USCIS to approve the I-131 and I-765 applications.
Nonimmigrants holding H or L status do not need advance parole authorization to travel outside the United States while their AOS application is pending
.
Can I travel to Canada while on OPT?
Travel to Canada while on Post-Completion OPT or the OPT STEM Extension is permitted
. Please review our travel information for students on OPT to learn more.
Can I travel during h1b lottery?
You must not travel outside of the U.S. while the petition is pending
. Leaving the country while USCIS is reviewing your petition will cause USCIS to consider your petition for a change of status to be abandoned.
Can you travel while waiting for EAD?
Students who have an EAD card for post-completion OPT and evidence of either a job or a job offer are allowed to leave and re-enter the U.S. during their OPT period
. Of course, re-entry to the U.S. is never guaranteed.
Can I go to Mexico on OPT?
The best case scenario for traveling abroad while on OPT is that
you have a valid passport, valid F-1 visa, valid EAD, and I-20 with a recent travel signature
, and you are coming back to work on your OPT.
How long is unemployment for OPT?
Days Allowed: Total number of days allowed for unemployment, during the entire employment period: Post-completion OPT-only:
90 days
. Post-completion OPT and STEM OPT: 150 days.
Can I study while on OPT?
Because your primary purpose is to pursue employment/an internship/practical training,
any study while on OPT must be incidental
. This means you cannot be studying full-time and you cannot be obtaining a new degree or certificate. If you enroll in such a program, your OPT will automatically terminate.
What is EAD card for OPT?
What is OPT EAD Card? An EAD card is
your physical proof that you have employment authorization in the U.S. Being granted
an OPT EAD card specifically gives someone like an F1 visa student (who isn't an American citizen), the right to hold a job while they are on OPT.
Can I travel inside the US with my EAD card?
As the list indicates, the TSA accepts a variety of forms of documentation for domestic flights. Notably for many foreign nationals,
permanent resident cards and employment authorization cards are both acceptable forms of documentation for domestic flights
.
Can I work on CPT while waiting for OPT?
You can work on CPT either full-time or part-time. CPT requires a signed cooperative agreement or a letter from your employer.
If you have 12 months or more of full-time CPT, you are ineligible for OPT, but part-time CPT is fine and will not stop you from doing OPT
.
Can I travel on CPT?
CPT is authorized with the understanding that you will be working during the entire listed employment period, therefore
it is best to limit travel to before or after your CPT dates
. Before traveling outside the U.S. you should discuss your travel plans with your employer.
