Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) Tutorial
Points to Remember
- After receiving your application, USCIS will issue a receipt notice confirming your OPT application was received and is being processed. USCIS correspondence will be sent to OIE if you chose to list our mailing address when filing the Form I-765 online. We will open, scan, and upload OPT-related documents to your student file. We will email you instructions on how to receive your original documents. If you did not use our mailing address on the Form I-765, we recommend that you scan and email a copy of all USCIS correspondence to iss@wichita.edu so that we can ensure your SEVIS record has been properly updated. Please note that in the upper left-hand corner of the Receipt Notice will be a Receipt Number with which you can check the status of your application on the (details on application status will also be available within your USCIS account).
- Keep in mind that OPT processing time can vary greatly (6 weeks to 4 months). We recommend applying as early as possible to ensure your EAD arrives in a timely manner.
- You must have the EAD in your possession and must have reached your OPT start date to begin working.
- While on OPT, you are still in F-1 status and must report address changes and employment information to WSU within 10 days. Information about how to report these changes after your OPT authorization begins is available at OPT Resources.
- Once your OPT has been approved and the start date on printed on the card has passed, you will receive an email from do-not-reply.SEVP@ice.dhs.gov inviting you to create an optional SEVP Portal account. This is completely separate from your USCIS Account. If you choose to create an SEVP Portal account, it will allow you to electronically report changes to your address and employment information. We strongly recommend reporting your employment information directly to our office and using the SEVP Portal as a tool to ensure the accuracy of the information recorded in SEVIS. Please note: use of the portal does not eliminate the requirement to send evidence of the relationship between your employment and major area of study to OIE.
- Students with certain STEM degrees (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) may qualify for an extension of OPT. To learn more about the STEM OPT extension, please visit the separate STEM OPT Extension Tutorial. The tutorial includes a link to a list of eligible majors.
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Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) Tutorial!
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