OPT - Optional Practical Training Information (initial 12-month) (PDF) **Read this first before applying**

STEM OPT Extension Information (24-month)(PDF)  **Read this first before applying**

If you plan to apply for OPT soon, we encourage you to sign up for a MyUSCIS account here: https://my.uscis.gov/

There are many benefits to filing online - including immediate receipt notices, and being able to send secure messages and respond to a request for evidence online, and you will be able to pay immediately online with a credit card or ACH check (no long waiting periods for your money to be withdrawn from your account).

When you file the I-765 online for OPT, you must still complete our OPT application first. Once you receive an I-20 from us, then you can then submit the I-765 online. Do NOT submit your I-765 online before receiving that OPT/STEM OPT I-20 with your OPT requested printed on it.

Please read carefully and make sure you clearly understand these reporting requirements that you agreed to comply with, when you applied for OPT.  It is your sole responsibility to comply with them as part of your practical training benefits.

• While on Post-Completion OPT or the STEM OPT extension, you are still legally required to report certain information to the International Student & Study Abroad Services office.  The time it takes to process these reports by our office will never be an excuse for the non-compliance of this requirement by the student in a practical training period and in certain cases the SEVIS record could be terminated.
• It is your responsibility to keep track of your SEVIS record through the SEVP Portal.  Our office will only contact you if something is missing in your report or if you do not comply with reporting.  No acknowledgment of receipt or status updates will be sent.
• We are aware of the reporting deadlines by monitoring in SEVIS; please,always report on time and be patient while your report is processed.  OPT Report processing will not be expedited under any circumstances.
• While you are on Post-Completion OPT or STEM OPT, allthe following must be reported to SEVP and the ISSAS office within 10 days of the event through both, the SEVP Portal and the NDSU ISSAS OPT Reporting Form on our Forms page.

Questions about completing your I-765?

Completing the I-765 is the sole responsibility of the student.  The DSO cannot fill it out for the student, completely or partially, as it could have certain legal implications.  If you require assistance to complete the I-765 application, or if you are interested in having the I-765 application reviewed, you are encouraged to speak with a qualified immigration attorney who is licensed to practice immigration law and offer legal counsel on USCIS petitions.

You must always inform us of any OPT update - and, make the updates in the SEVP Portal.  The details of this is explained in the following two sections on this page.

For All F-1s on any type of OPT

1. When reporting, always use one OPT Reporting Form per employer or situation.
   • The form is located on our Forms page: www.ndsu.edu/international/iss/forms 
2. When filling out the OPT Reporting Form, alwaysinclude complete information. 
   • OPT Reporting Forms with incomplete or partial information will not be processed.
3. Upload a copy of your EAD card as soon as you receive it using the NDSU OPT Reporting Form.
4. What must be reported?
   • Changes to your name, residential/mailing address, email address, and US phone number
   • Changes in employment information:  Number of hours worked, supervisor information, employment address, EIN, etc.
   • When your OPT or STEM OPT employment authorization begins (after USCIS has approved the OPT/STEM OPT), even if employment information has already been reported prior to receiving authorization, and even if there are no changes.
   • Every time a job ends (with full information) using one OPT Reporting Form per employer.
   • Changes to another immigration status (H-1B, etc.)
   • If you decide to leave the US and not begin or continue OPT.
5. Understand what the SEVP Portal is and the importance of using it.

Specific Rules about STEM OPT reporting

1. You must file and upload (using an OPT Reporting Form) an I-983 for each new employment you start.  Never send it by email.
2. At the start of a STEM OPT period, if you have continued uninterruptedly with the same Post-Completion employer, use the start date corresponding to the start of the current STEM OPT Extension. 
   • Do not use dates corresponding to your original Post-Completion OPT when reporting for STEM OPT.
3. You must file and upload an I-983 (using an OPT Reporting Form) Final Evaluation on Student Progress every time employment ends. 
   • Be sure to always indicate which employer the evaluation is for.  Never send it by email.
4. Every 6 months you must confirm your personal address and employer information even if there are no changes. 
   • Do not send information by email for this as they will not be processed. Always complete an OPT Report Form for this and be sure to include a note clarifying what your report is about.
5. At the end of the first 12 months, you must complete and upload the Evaluation on Student Progress (on the I-983 STEM OPT Training Plan, for every job as appropriate). 
   • Be sure to always indicate which employer the evaluation is for.
6. At the end of the 24 months of STEM OPT you must complete and upload the I-983 Final Evaluation on Student Progress. 
   • Be sure to always indicate which employer the evaluation is for.

See more information on STEM OPT reporting requirements from the Study in the States website.

1. If an event date is not reported in the SEVP Portal within 10 days of it, the SEVP Portal will not allow the update and you will have to wait for our office to do so after you have submitted your duly completed OPT Reporting Form. It is the student's responsibility to make their report on time both through the SEVP Portal and the ISSAS OPT Reporting Form.
2. Report processing will not be expedited under any circumstances.
3. We are aware of the reporting deadlines by monitoring in SEVIS; always report on time and be patient while your report is processed.  No acknowledgment of receipt or status updates will be sent.  We will only contact you if something is missing in your report or if you do not comply with reporting.
4. Some changes warrant a new updated I-20 Form being issued while others do not.  You will be notified only if a new I-20 Form is issued.
5. Please keep track of your SEVIS record through the SEVP Portal. Because you can verify your information on your own through the SEVP Portal, you will not receive email confirmations from our office when you report, unless more clarification is needed.
6. Never send any reporting information or documents by email, as it will not be processed.  You must utilize the OPT Reporting Form (a Qualtrics survey).
7. Employment must be directly related to your major of study.
8. Failure to meet reporting requirements (within 10 days of the event) may result in the termination of your OPT by SEVP.
9. Students applying for the 24-month OPT STEM Extension:
   • On the required I-983 form, you must enter the "start date of employment" as the date when your STEM Extension will begin (do not use a date from within your first year of initial OPT). Also, when you are initially applying for STEM OPT, do not complete the "Evaluation on Student Progress" on page 5 - it should remain blank and only be completed once you have completed your first year of STEM OPT.

If ever in doubt, review this page, and the instructions and application to the corresponding Practical Training as well as the other US government links that we have included here.  The student is responsible for understanding F-1 rules regarding Post-Completion OPT/STEM OPT Extension, and properly maintaining F-1 status.

No, our office staff cannot legally assist with completing the I-765 application. We can determine if you are eligible to apply for OPT and issue the I-20 with the OPT recommendation - but we do not have the authority to assist with completing USCIS forms. It’s your petition as an individual, so it is the responsibility of the applicant. If you were told something incorrect, it could harm your application, so we must be very careful when offering any advice about the form. You should also be careful about getting advice from friends or blogs online. USCIS does routinely make updates to the form, and to the instructions - so it is impossible for most to keep up with all of those changes - so you should get your advice from official government websites (such as USCIS or Study in the States). If you have concerns about particular areas on the I-765, you should obtain the advice of an experienced immigration attorney.

All USCIS forms have a page where you can find details about the form and how to file - and, it guides you in how to fill out the form, in general. For example, here is the USCIS page for the I-765. Scroll down to the "Forms and Document Downloads" section for the Instructions document.

Step 1. Complete this survey to record that you have read the Mandatory OPT Reading Material on this page, including any PDF documents we have included. We will keep this information on file to review upon application for practical training or for advising requests.

Step 2. CLICK HERE if you completed the Mandatory Reading Material and are ready to apply for OPT. This link will take you to our Forms page, where you will find the OPT request forms.

Click here to return to the main F-1 Off-Campus Employment page.