Frequently Asked Questions

You may not lawfully begin employment, or pre-employment training, until you receive your EAD and the start date has arrived. If you work before or after your EAD authorization dates, you would be in violation of your F-1 status.

Department of Homeland Security has ruled that acceptable employment during OPT can include standard employment, contract employment, self-employment and volunteer positions. All employment must be directly related to your degree and must be at least 20 hours per week. Please refer to the following chart for more details.

Single Employer

Working in a paid position with an employer.

Multiple Employers

A student may work for more than one employer, but all employment must meet the requirements for OPT (directly related to the degree program and at least 20 hours per week).

Work for Hire (Contract Employment)

Commonly referred to as 1099 employment, where an individual performs a service based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship. If requested by DHS, you must be able to provide evidence that you worked an average of at least 20 hours per week, as well as evidence showing the duration of the contract and the name and address of the contracting company.

Employment Through an Agency or Consulting Firm

If requested by DHS, you must be able to provide evidence showing that you worked an average of at least 20 hours per week.

Unpaid Volunteer or Intern

A student may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern, where this practice does not violate any labor laws. If requested by DHS, you must be able to provide evidence that you worked an average of at least 20 hours per week. This option is not available to students during the STEM OPT extension period.

Self-Employed U.S. Business Owner

On the ISS OPT Reporting Form, list your company’s name or print “Self-Employed” and the business address. This location may be the same as your personal address. If requested by DHS, you must be able to provide evidence that you have proper business licenses, the business is related to your degree, and that the business keeps you full-time employed.

During your 12 months of Post-Completion OPT, you can be unemployed for a maximum of 90 days (including holidays and weekends). It is crucial that you report all periods of employment to avoid unnecessary accrual of unemployment days. Unemployment days begin accruing on your EAD start date. Unemployment days do not accrue during the time between your graduation and the start date listed on your EAD card. Approved time off from work, such as approved vacation leave or company holidays, is not considered unemployment.

If you exceed 90 days of unemployment, you have violated your F-1 status. DHS may terminate your SEVIS record and you may be subject to deportation. You should take action before accruing 90 days of unemployment to maintain valid F-1 status. If you are unable to find sufficient employment, you can:

• Begin a new program at SEU

• Transfer your SEVIS record to another U.S. institution.

• Depart the U.S.

Yes. However, the new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. Follow the reporting procedures in the “STEM OPT Reporting” section. You may wish to contact USCIS to inform them of the change and ask if any updated documentation is needed.

If USCIS received your STEM OPT application before your Post-Completion OPT EAD end date, then you are automatically eligible for a 180-day extension of your OPT. This means you can continue to work for an additional 180 days past your Post-Completion OPT end date, pending a decision from USCIS. During this time, your employment should meet all of the requirements for STEM OPT employment.

You may submit your STEM Validation report up to 30 days before your due date and up to 10 days after your due date. If you miss your due date, submit your validation report as soon as possible. Timely reporting is part of maintaining your F-1 status. ISS can only record your validation report during the validation reporting window. If you submit a validation report late, ISS may not be able to update your SEVIS record to reflect the validation. In this case, you should keep copies of your reporting documents for your records.

• F-1 students may not volunteer for an employer during the STEM OPT extension.

• Employment must be for at least 20 hours a week.

• The employment must be compensated.

• The employer must be E-Verified.

• The employment must include a legitimate employer, employee relationship, including on-site supervision and training by experienced and knowledgeable staff.

• The employment must be directly related to the STEM degree that the work authorization was based upon.

• A student is allowed to work for multiple employers while on a period of STEM OPT. However, each employment must meet all of the student and employer requirements outlined above.

No. Your I-983 Training Plan is considered both proof of employment and proof that your job relates to your program of study.

No, volunteer or unpaid employment does not meet STEM OPT requirements.

During the first year of Post-Completion OPT, you are allowed 90 days of unemployment. Once approved for the STEM OPT extension, you are given an additional 60 days of unemployment. During the entire three-year period (Post-Completion OPT and STEM OPT) you may accrue a total of 150 days of unemployment. It is crucial that you report all periods of employment to avoid unnecessary accrual of unemployment days. Exceeding your allowed unemployment days is a violation of your F-1 status. Approved time off from work, such as approved vacation leave or company holidays, is not considered unemployment.

If you are on STEM OPT and exceed 150 cumulative days of unemployment, you have violated your F-1 status. DHS may terminate your SEVIS record and you may be subject to deportation. You should take action before accruing 150 days of unemployment to maintain valid F-1 status. If you are unable to find sufficient employment, you can:

• Begin a new program at SEU

• Transfer your SEVIS record to another U.S. institution.

• Depart the U.S.

Your validation report due dates are based on the start date of your STEM OPT period, not the start date of employment. You should complete the ___________ and I-983 Evaluation on Student Progress on page 5 with your employer. Make sure to submit your validation report no later than 10 days past the due date.

After the STEM OPT end date, there is a 60-day grace period in which you can:

• Start another academic program at SEU

• Transfer to another school

• Change to another visa category

• Depart the U.S. - Please notify ISS of your departure date so we can note your immigration record.

No, reporting in the SEVP Portal is not required. You must report all changes directly to ISS. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) portal allows active F-1 alumni on Post Completion OPT and STEM OPT to view and change some of their immigration information. The SEVP Portal shares information with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), but does not give you direct access to SEVIS. The SEVP Portal also does NOT remove the need for F-1 alumni to report changes to ISS.