SEVP Policy Guidance 1004-03
Update to Optional Practical Training
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6.1. What are the restrictions on the requested start date for post-completion OPT?.................. 13
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6.2.
What are the restrictions on the requested end date for post-completion OPT?...................
6.3. What employment dates will be authorized for post-completion OPT? .................................
6.4. Can a student apply for OPT prior to his or her program end date and continue that
employment after the program end date?..............................................................................
6.5. In SEVIS, what distinguishes pre-completion OPT from post-completion OPT?...................
6.6. If a student receives an EAD for 12 months of pre-completion OPT but finishes his or her
course of study early, can the student continue to use the EAD issued for pre-completion
OPT after the program end date? ..........................................................................................
6.7. Can a student in a graduate-level program who has completed all program requirements,
aside from thesis or equivalent, apply for either pre-completion OPT or post-completion
OPT?......................................................................................................................................
6.8. If a student does not complete his or her thesis/dissertation during the 12 months of post-
completion OPT, what steps must he or she take? ...............................................................
6.9. What happens if a student (excluding those students who have completed all program
requirements aside from thesis or equivalent) applies for post-completion OPT before his or
her program end date and subsequently fails to complete the requirements for his or her
program?................................................................................................................................
6.10. How does a transfer or change of education level impact the period of OPT? .....................
7. Limits on Periods of Unemployment During a Period of Authorized OPT.............................................
7.1. Limits on periods of unemployment .......................................................................................
7.1.1. What are the limits on periods of unemployment? .................................................
7.1.2. Do the limits on unemployment apply to any periods of unemployment prior to April
8, 2008?..................................................................................................................
7.1.3. Do the limits apply to students who had post-completion OPT approved before
April 8, 2008?..........................................................................................................
7.1.4. Is a student who splits OPT between two degrees at the same education level
limited to a total of 90 days of unemployment?......................................................
7.1.5. How many hours does a student need to work per week during post-completion
OPT (including the 17-month extension) to be considered employed? .................
7.1.6. What counts as time unemployed? ........................................................................
7.1.7. If a student does not receive the approved EAD, the missing EAD is not returned
to the USCIS Service Center, and the student applies for a replacement EAD,
when does the student begin accruing unemployment? ........................................
7.1.8. How does travel outside the United States impact the period of unemployment?.
7.2. Employment allowed while on OPT .......................................................................................
7.2.1. What types of employment are allowed for regular pre- and post-completion OPT?
7.2.2. What types of employment are allowed for students during a 17-month extension
of OPT? ..................................................................................................................
7.2.3. Can a student work multiple jobs during a 17-month extension of OPT? ..............
7.2.4. How does a student show that employment is directly related to his or her degree
program? ................................................................................................................
7.3. Reporting employment and unemployment (other than students with a 17-month extension)
7.3.1. What should a student report to ensure that his or her status does not expire due
to excessive unemployment time? .........................................................................
7.3.2. How should a student report employment/unemployment information and changes
to that information to his or her DSO?....................................................................
7.3.3. How should DSOs report periods of employment in SEVIS?.................................
7.4. Consequences of exceeding the period of unemployment....................................................
7.4.1. How should a DSO advise a student who is close to reaching the limit on
authorized unemployment? ....................................................................................