Travel While OPT or OPT STEM Extension is Pending
Travel during the OPT application process is allowed, but not recommended as it poses certain risks
.
How can you request a travel signature?
- Most recent copy of your Passport.
- Most recent copy of your Visa.
- Most recent copy of your I-94.
- Most recent copy of your Form I-20 or DS-2019.
- The above is also required for dependent(s) who will need travel endorsements on their documents.
How long is I-20 travel signature valid on OPT?
Travel Signature Requirement
You must have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 to return to the U.S. after travel abroad. Each signature is valid for one year. (F-1 students on OPT: the travel signature is valid for
six months
).
What happens if my I-20 is not signed?
If your travel plans do not allow enough time for us to ship a new document to you, then
you must either change your anticipated return date, or travel without a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019
.
Is OPT part of f1 visa?
OPT is a benefit of your F-1 visa status and not a separate work visa or visa category
. You continue to be in F-1 student visa status while you are on OPT and must abide by all F-1 regulations during your period of OPT.
Can I travel while my OPT is pending?
IMPORTANT NOTE:
A student can travel outside the U.S. while an OPT application is pending as long as they re-enter the U.S. before their program completion date
.
Can OPT students travel to USA from India?
The requirements related to the Indian travel ban are met by OPT students, because they are treated as returning students, who can travel like other continuing students no earlier than 30 days before August 1, 2021. The second set of requirements is common to all OPT holders: You must have a valid passport and F-1 visa.
Can I leave USA on OPT?
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
.
Can I travel while my EAD application is in process?
The same rule applies to F1 and L2 biometric appointments in the USA. Can I travel While H4 EAD is pending?
You can travel out of the country while your standalone H4 EAD application is pending with USCIS
. Note that H4 EAD can be denied if your H4 COS or an extension is also pending with the EAD application.
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 work remotely on OPT?
Students currently participating in OPT, including STEM OPT,
may work remotely if their employer has an office outside the United States or the employer can assess student engagement using electronic means
. Students participating in STEM OPT do need to submit an updated Form I-983 to report remote work.
How many days can you be unemployed on OPT?
Students on post-completion OPT may have
up to 90 days
of unemployment. The 90 days start counting from your approved OPT/EAD start date (not the recommended start date nor the program end date on your I-20) and are cumulative. If you accumulate 90 days or more of unemployment, you are in violation of your F-1 status.
What happens if you dont have a travel signature?
What happens if I try to enter the United States without a valid travel signature? If you arrive at a US port of entry without all the required documents,
the customs officer may deny you entry into US
. As an alternative, the officer may issue you an I-515A. This document allows you temporary admission into the US.
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 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.
Can OPT have two jobs?
Are multiple OPT jobs allowed?
Multiple post-completion OPT jobs can be carried out once you complete your studies in a college or a university
. You may work for more than one employer or job, but all employment must be related to your degree program. The cumulative number of hours should be 20 or more in a week.
Can I travel internationally during my 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)
This card authorizes parole, not admission, to the U.S. Parole is not an admission or “entry”. If you obtain this card,
you may use it to travel abroad and return to the U.S.
Upon arriving at a port-of-entry, you should present the card to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer to request parole.
Can I travel abroad on stem OPT?
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);
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 renew my F1 visa on OPT?
Can I renew my F-1 student visa while on post-completion OPT or the STEM OPT Extension?
Yes. Students who are on OPT may apply for an F-1 student visa.
Is F-1 student NRI?
In the US for instance, as a student on an F1 visa,
you are considered to be a non-resident of the US for the first 5 calendar years that you are on this visa
. If you are on a J visa, this period is 2 years.
