OPT Training Opportunity for F-1 Visa Holders (Students)
OPT Training Opportunity for F-1 Visa Holders (Students)
What is F-1 Visa?
The F-1 Visa is issued to foreign student (academic student) that allows the applicant to enter the United States as a full-time student at an SEVP-certified educational institutions such as college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or a language training school. To qualify to apply the F-1 visa, the applicant must be enrolled in the above-mentioned program or course of study that must be authorized by the U.S. Education Department or DHS to accept foreign students.
Employment Opportunity Based on F-1 Visa Holders
According to DHS regulations, the F-1 students are not permitted to work off-campus during the first academic year, but they may accept on-campus employment if they meet the certain conditions and restrictions. After the first academic year, those students may engage in off-campus employment.
What does it mean of “OPT” for F-1 Visa Holders?
According to USCIS, the OPT stands for “Optional practical training” is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Specifically, those 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). The most important thing is all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
According to USCIS, there are two classifications of OPT: the first one is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) OPT and its extension, and the second one is non-STEM field OPT. In addition to the two classifications, there are two circulations (time counting of OPT) such as “pre-completion” and “post-completion” of academic study. The F-1 visa holders may also be eligible to work off-campus on a case-by-case basis as a result of special situations such as severe economic hardship or special student relief. However, M-1 (will discuss in the future postings) students may engage in practical training only after they have completed their studies. Specifically, both visa holders (students) of any off-campus training employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized prior to starting any work by the Designated School Official and DHS.
Types of OPT
For an F-1 student, they may be eligible to participate in OPT in two different ways below.
Pre-completion OPT — The eligible students may apply to participate in pre-completion OPT after they have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year at a U.S. educational institution that has been certified by Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). According to DHS, the students can be qualified for the “one full academic year” requirement even if they had another nonimmigrant status during that time. However, even if the applicants are authorized to participate in pre-completion OPT, they may work up to 20 hours or less per week while school is in session. But they may work full time when winter or summer break time.
Post-completion OPT — The students may apply to participate in post-completion OPT after completing their studies. If those students are authorized for post-completion OPT, they must work part time (at least 20 hours per week) or full time.
STEM field OPT Extension — If students have earned a degree in certain STEM fields (STEM Designated Degree Programs), they could apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization.
Note: This information is for generally educational or informational purposes only and it does not constitute legal advice.
