Thanks for the compliment. You learning, taking action, and succeeding based on my content you consumed is more than enough support for me. I'm here to give as much value as I can, so stay tuned for more. Cheers!
Thank you so much , I will apply now. I would like to ask you that I should look for a job now? What if I have a job offer during this time. Which I dont have the EAD card yet?
Yes, you should start looking for a job as early as possible. This is a pretty tough US economy, so you need to be strategic in getting a job. 👉 Get our new Career Guide E-book we recently launched for F1 students to get ahead of your competition this Fall (70% OFF Limited Offer): sojourningscholar.com/career-guide/
Thanks buddy for providing the minute details. I have a question. What will happen if my OPT card doesn’t arrive my OPT start date? How should I plan for that scenario?
In the case that you have received a job offer and you were expecting to begin work on your OPT start date, the only thing you'll have to worry about is informing your employer that you would not be able to start on the date you expected. Apart from that, you need not worry about accruing unemployment days. You only start accruing OPT unemployment days after: (1) You have physically received the OPT EAD card, AND (2) The OPT start date listed on the EAD card has been reached. I break down this issue in this video: ua-cam.com/video/LKRX4Smbg0M/v-deo.html
@@SojourningScholar Thanks man. A couple of more questions. 1. Do I need to send the copies of all previous I-20s or the copy of recent I-20( having OPT mentioned) would be enough? 2. Can I send personal check instead of money order?
I graduate this December and I have a full-time offer. I would like to start as late as possible. Can I still apply 90 days before graduation and select my start date around February, within the 60 days framework? Thank you, your channel is amazing
Thanks!! Sure if you want to start late, you can choose the 60th date after graduation as your start date. But I will highly recommend you apply once your 90 day window opens, since you're in a great spot having a full-time offer already! Cheers!
Thank you very much for this amazingly organized overview video! I am going to apply for pre-completion OPT in the next days. What should I select as my start date, as I do not know how much time the process will take? (could be 1 week, like a friend recently, but it says online it could take 3-5 months...) I would be glad if you could help :)
These are the current filing locations for I-765 (www.uscis.gov/i-765-addresses). For foreign students filing OPT, paper form I-765 should be sent to Chicago lockbox facility. In the alternative, you can file your STEM OPT online. In that case, you don't need to worry about mailing any documents to USCIS. In any case, make sure you've got the right documents.
Great video! thanks for sharing the information Do you have any information about applying for OPT with a dependent? Do I have to include the same documentation for the F2 dependent?
I'm glad it was of value to you. Not with USCIS as the OPT is filed by the F1 primary applicant. F2 dependents don't get any work privileges. When requesting OPT from your school, you would need to contact your DSO to update the I-20 for your dependents as well. This way their completion date would end when your OPT ends.
@@SojourningScholar thank you so much for your quick answer. Do you think is necessary to add the i-20 from the dependent to the OPT documentation that is going to be sent to USCIS?
I have a question. My program end date is May 7. I have a job offer which will begin sometime around May 16. Knowing that I haven’t applied already for the EAD since it’s march 20, should I put my start date as June 1 in order to not get my opt time wasted? Since the processing times for EAD are very long, I don’t want my opt time to go wasted if I put my OPT start date as May 16, but my application doesn’t get processed by then. I hope it makes sense
Yes it makes sense. For F1 students without a job offer, I would recommend choosing a start date that begins on any weekday between Day 45 - Day 60 from the date your program ends. Search for videos on OPT on this channel, there's so many videos I've made discussing the best tips to follow in this case. Best of Luck!
Could you please tell me the difference between program end date written on I20 and graduation date? Is program end date would be considered as my graduation date?
Yes in most cases the program end date on the I-20 will be the same as the graduation date. The one exception is for PhD students where their program end date on the Form I-20 would be the day they defend their PhD dissertation, which may not be the same as the date of the University's graduation date.
How long should I know that my application is received and approved? Because it has been 2 months I haven’t heard anything from USCIS about receiving or not. I have my Fedex tracking number said that it has been delivered. I only have one month til my grace period is over. What should i do?
Hi nhung b, USCIS has reported significant delays with issuing receipt notices due to COVID 19, you can see their latest update released today here www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-lockbox-updates
USCIS must receive the application for OPT within 30 days from the date the OPT I-20 is as issued. Does it mean the day the USCIS gets in the mail delivered or the day they open the mail and confirm they received it ?
@@SojourningScholar thank you so much ! Is there a way for them to keep track when it was delivered to them. Probably a stamp or something on the mail ?
@@nadaelmaliki I am not entirely sure how USCIS handles the receipt of applications. But as long as you can confirm that your OPT application was delivered to USCIS within the 30 day window, you should be fine. Keep a copy of this delivery confirmation for your own records.
Hi have a doubt. I received initial ead card this month. Hv a start date from january... so my 90 days unemployment will start from the start date mentioned on d card right?
Yes. 90 Days unemployment starts when (1) You get the EAD card AND (2) The Start Date on the EAD card has been reached. Check out our video on how to stop racking up unemployment days here: ua-cam.com/video/JLKYPfRGJlg/v-deo.html
here is my doubt that i applied for post completion OPT & sent the documents and USCIS received the documents on from my tracking number i come to know 22 jan 2021 after all the process from my DSO but because of pandemic uscis running slow so i am worried because my 60 days grace period of post completion OPT ending on 4 feb 2021 , so wat if they are not reply till that? is i will be out of status or any other thing ?
@harshel vaidya sorry to hear of your unfortunate circumstance with this OPT receipt notice delay, let's hope that things get sped up at the USCIS lockbox facilities very soon. As for your question, the answer is No. You won't be out of status just because you have not received your I-797 C Receipt Notice from USCIS by the end of your 60 day grace period on February 4th. However, if your OPT application is DENIED by USCIS after February 4th, only then would you be considered out of status. You can watch this video, where I explain the grace period of F1/J1 international students: ua-cam.com/video/AZeLm0JIyf0/v-deo.html I hope this helps you!
@@SojourningScholar thank you so much for your valueable reply but how i come to know that application is received by uscis ? because for the intial receipt like some sort of confirmation they are taking long time. so now i only have the fed ex receipt and the signature of person who accepted my package wer i want to deliver it thats it , nothing else so how i come to know that my package is reached in proper hands?
@@harshelvaidya2101 Absolutely fantastic. You've done your part in making sure your OPT application got to USCIS on time. Now it's time for USCIS to do their job and provide you with a receipt notice.
Can I file form I-765 (Post-Completion OPT) online instead of mailing it to the USCIS service center? I’m planning to file by the end of September 2021. One more question. I have electronic I-94 record which shows my last entry and travel history but there is no admission stamp on my passport. Do I need electronic I-94 only or photocopy of my passport’s page having entry stamp on it is also necessary? Thanks in advance
Yes you can file the OPT online, but only after you have obtained your Form I-20 approved for OPT from your DSO. The electronic I-94 printed from the CBP website is what you need to present.
Hello do they reject the application if the passport is expired? Because of this pandemic l didn’t get my new passport by the time of application. Thank you
Applying with an expired passport increases the likelihood of rejection by USCIS. That's why I suggest applying with a passport valid for at least 6 months into the future when you apply for OPT to eliminate this risk.
OPT has a Use it or Lose it policy. So unfortunately, it can't be carried over. However, after completing your 2nd degree, you would have another OPT opportunity as well.
@@SojourningScholar I clearly need to schedule a chat with you. Is that okay? The Director of international students at my university last week told me I wouldn’t be eligible for a second OPT if I did a second Master’s.
That is correct, OPT and STEM OPT can be used once per degree level. So if you mean using OPT after your first masters degree and then getting a second OPT after your second masters degree, that's not possible. But if you have not used OPT after your first masters degree and you pursue another master's degree right after the first degree, you should be able to use OPT after that second mater's degree.
You can google the consulate office or embassy of your home county in the US, and look up the process for renewing your passport. The Nigerian embassy for example is in Washington D.C, with consulates in New York City New York and Atlanta Georgia. You can look up the website for each consulate you wish to obtain your passport from when the time comes.
**UPDATED VIDEO: Learn How To File OPT Online: ua-cam.com/video/CmboasUaVRc/v-deo.html
bro thank you for this, you YT channel is great and keep producing these great informational videos for international students
I appreciate that! There's more coming on this channel, so stay tuned!
Agreed! Applying for my OPT this October and will be watching all your videos!
wow i am very happy for finding your YT Channel, very clear and informative
Welcome aboard!
Comprehensive and precise information,thank you sir.
You are welcome!
Thanks bro. can you make a video to show how to apply online (not by mail)
I've got that video coming soon. Stay tuned.
Hey, I was wondering if you came out with the video ?
My man thank you so much! God bless
Glad it helped!
Thank you very much.
You are welcome!
hi I need help please I have questions about my i765 expedition request I'm going to lose my job
Incredible video! Thank you! How can i support you?
Thanks for the compliment. You learning, taking action, and succeeding based on my content you consumed is more than enough support for me. I'm here to give as much value as I can, so stay tuned for more. Cheers!
@@SojourningScholar my man u proved u r the real international deal out thr . Most important information for free
Glad to be of service in this space!
Thank you so much , I will apply now.
I would like to ask you that I should look for a job now?
What if I have a job offer during this time. Which I dont have the EAD card yet?
Yes, you should start looking for a job as early as possible. This is a pretty tough US economy, so you need to be strategic in getting a job.
👉 Get our new Career Guide E-book we recently launched for F1 students to get ahead of your competition this Fall (70% OFF Limited Offer): sojourningscholar.com/career-guide/
Thanks buddy for providing the minute details. I have a question. What will happen if my OPT card doesn’t arrive my OPT start date? How should I plan for that scenario?
In the case that you have received a job offer and you were expecting to begin work on your OPT start date, the only thing you'll have to worry about is informing your employer that you would not be able to start on the date you expected.
Apart from that, you need not worry about accruing unemployment days. You only start accruing OPT unemployment days after:
(1) You have physically received the OPT EAD card, AND
(2) The OPT start date listed on the EAD card has been reached.
I break down this issue in this video: ua-cam.com/video/LKRX4Smbg0M/v-deo.html
@@SojourningScholar Thanks man. A couple of more questions.
1. Do I need to send the copies of all previous I-20s or the copy of recent I-20( having OPT mentioned) would be enough?
2. Can I send personal check instead of money order?
I graduate this December and I have a full-time offer. I would like to start as late as possible. Can I still apply 90 days before graduation and select my start date around February, within the 60 days framework?
Thank you, your channel is amazing
Thanks!! Sure if you want to start late, you can choose the 60th date after graduation as your start date. But I will highly recommend you apply once your 90 day window opens, since you're in a great spot having a full-time offer already! Cheers!
Please do something like this for CPT. And provide a free guide.
We touched on CPT here: ua-cam.com/video/s0aCEI1CM5c/v-deo.html
📕 Get your FREE F1-OPT DOWNLOADABLE CHECKLIST: sojourningscholar.com/free-5-...
hello i cant able to access it the material , neither it is on my email address , m waiting for tht twice i did
@@harshelvaidya2101 Try checking your SPAM folder.
@@SojourningScholar yes i checked everything nothing is der
Thank you very much for this amazingly organized overview video! I am going to apply for pre-completion OPT in the next days. What should I select as my start date, as I do not know how much time the process will take? (could be 1 week, like a friend recently, but it says online it could take 3-5 months...) I would be glad if you could help :)
Check out our video on how to choose OPT start date. We designed a cool calculator on our website for that here: sojourningscholar.com/opt-calculator/
What is the current filing address for STEM-OPT ? In USCIS site it is showing Chicago lockbox for C3C,,, Thanks
These are the current filing locations for I-765 (www.uscis.gov/i-765-addresses). For foreign students filing OPT, paper form I-765 should be sent to Chicago lockbox facility. In the alternative, you can file your STEM OPT online. In that case, you don't need to worry about mailing any documents to USCIS. In any case, make sure you've got the right documents.
Great video! thanks for sharing the information Do you have any information about applying for OPT with a dependent? Do I have to include the same documentation for the F2 dependent?
I'm glad it was of value to you. Not with USCIS as the OPT is filed by the F1 primary applicant. F2 dependents don't get any work privileges. When requesting OPT from your school, you would need to contact your DSO to update the I-20 for your dependents as well. This way their completion date would end when your OPT ends.
@@SojourningScholar thank you so much for your quick answer. Do you think is necessary to add the i-20 from the dependent to the OPT documentation that is going to be sent to USCIS?
Your dependent can't work on OPT. You should submit the OPT is the primary applicant on an F1 visa.
@@SojourningScholar thanks for the information. All your videos are very helpful.
Can I apply for opt after associate degree then another opt after graduation
bachelor's and graduate degrees only for OPT.
Do we need to send both new passport and old passport copies or just new passport?
Just the newest passport copy. Best if it is valid for 6 months into the future at the time of applying.
@@SojourningScholar my passport will expire in 5 months. Should I renew it and then apply for opt?
We can file 2023online Right
Yes see the updated video in the description section!
I have a question.
My program end date is May 7. I have a job offer which will begin sometime around May 16.
Knowing that I haven’t applied already for the EAD since it’s march 20, should I put my start date as June 1 in order to not get my opt time wasted?
Since the processing times for EAD are very long, I don’t want my opt time to go wasted if I put my OPT start date as May 16, but my application doesn’t get processed by then.
I hope it makes sense
Yes it makes sense. For F1 students without a job offer, I would recommend choosing a start date that begins on any weekday between Day 45 - Day 60 from the date your program ends. Search for videos on OPT on this channel, there's so many videos I've made discussing the best tips to follow in this case. Best of Luck!
I am online student in a university from USA. I am in Peru now. Can I apply for OPT?
Have to be in the USA
Could you please tell me the difference between program end date written on I20 and graduation date? Is program end date would be considered as my graduation date?
Yes in most cases the program end date on the I-20 will be the same as the graduation date. The one exception is for PhD students where their program end date on the Form I-20 would be the day they defend their PhD dissertation, which may not be the same as the date of the University's graduation date.
How long should I know that my application is received and approved? Because it has been 2 months I haven’t heard anything from USCIS about receiving or not. I have my Fedex tracking number said that it has been delivered. I only have one month til my grace period is over. What should i do?
Hi nhung b, USCIS has reported significant delays with issuing receipt notices due to COVID 19, you can see their latest update released today here www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-lockbox-updates
USCIS must receive the application for OPT within 30 days from the date the OPT I-20 is as issued. Does it mean the day the USCIS gets in the mail delivered or the day they open the mail and confirm they received it ?
It would mean the date of delivery of the mail to USCIS.
@@SojourningScholar thank you so much ! Is there a way for them to keep track when it was delivered to them. Probably a stamp or something on the mail ?
@@nadaelmaliki I am not entirely sure how USCIS handles the receipt of applications. But as long as you can confirm that your OPT application was delivered to USCIS within the 30 day window, you should be fine. Keep a copy of this delivery confirmation for your own records.
@@SojourningScholar thank you so much you are awesome keep doing what you are doing !! You are helping a lot of students like this!
Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad to be of help to you and all others in this space.
Hi have a doubt. I received initial ead card this month. Hv a start date from january... so my 90 days unemployment will start from the start date mentioned on d card right?
Yes. 90 Days unemployment starts when (1) You get the EAD card AND (2) The Start Date on the EAD card has been reached. Check out our video on how to stop racking up unemployment days here: ua-cam.com/video/JLKYPfRGJlg/v-deo.html
@@SojourningScholar thank u for replying...helpfull
here is my doubt that i applied for post completion OPT & sent the documents and USCIS received the documents on from my tracking number i come to know 22 jan 2021 after all the process from my DSO but because of pandemic uscis running slow so i am worried because my 60 days grace period of post completion OPT ending on 4 feb 2021 , so wat if they are not reply till that? is i will be out of status or any other thing ?
@harshel vaidya sorry to hear of your unfortunate circumstance with this OPT receipt notice delay, let's hope that things get sped up at the USCIS lockbox facilities very soon.
As for your question, the answer is No. You won't be out of status just because you have not received your I-797 C Receipt Notice from USCIS by the end of your 60 day grace period on February 4th. However, if your OPT application is DENIED by USCIS after February 4th, only then would you be considered out of status. You can watch this video, where I explain the grace period of F1/J1 international students: ua-cam.com/video/AZeLm0JIyf0/v-deo.html
I hope this helps you!
@@SojourningScholar thank you so much for your valueable reply but how i come to know that application is received by uscis ? because for the intial receipt like some sort of confirmation they are taking long time. so now i only have the fed ex receipt and the signature of person who accepted my package wer i want to deliver it thats it , nothing else so how i come to know that my package is reached in proper hands?
@@harshelvaidya2101 Absolutely fantastic. You've done your part in making sure your OPT application got to USCIS on time. Now it's time for USCIS to do their job and provide you with a receipt notice.
Can I file form I-765 (Post-Completion OPT) online instead of mailing it to the USCIS service center? I’m planning to file by the end of September 2021.
One more question.
I have electronic I-94 record which shows my last entry and travel history but there is no admission stamp on my passport. Do I need electronic I-94 only or photocopy of my passport’s page having entry stamp on it is also necessary?
Thanks in advance
Yes you can file the OPT online, but only after you have obtained your Form I-20 approved for OPT from your DSO. The electronic I-94 printed from the CBP website is what you need to present.
Hello do they reject the application if the passport is expired? Because of this pandemic l didn’t get my new passport by the time of application. Thank you
Applying with an expired passport increases the likelihood of rejection by USCIS. That's why I suggest applying with a passport valid for at least 6 months into the future when you apply for OPT to eliminate this risk.
Hi
Halo!
could a graduate studies student apply for OPT? or is it strictly for undergrad students? thanks for the vid:)
Any F-1 student (undergraduate or graduate) can apply for OPT after completing 1 year of studies in their program.
If I enroll in a second degree and haven't used up my OPT, can I carry it over and use it after completing my second degree?
OPT has a Use it or Lose it policy. So unfortunately, it can't be carried over. However, after completing your 2nd degree, you would have another OPT opportunity as well.
@@SojourningScholar Oh I thought I read somewhere that you can't have a second OPT.
Not if you change your education level or pursue another course of study at the same level.
@@SojourningScholar I clearly need to schedule a chat with you. Is that okay? The Director of international students at my university last week told me I wouldn’t be eligible for a second OPT if I did a second Master’s.
That is correct, OPT and STEM OPT can be used once per degree level. So if you mean using OPT after your first masters degree and then getting a second OPT after your second masters degree, that's not possible. But if you have not used OPT after your first masters degree and you pursue another master's degree right after the first degree, you should be able to use OPT after that second mater's degree.
So what happens when my passport is expired before then?
You would need a valid passport when applying for OPT. You could get a new passport from your home country's embassy or consulate in the US.
@@SojourningScholar okay
@@SojourningScholar can you tell us the processes?
You can google the consulate office or embassy of your home county in the US, and look up the process for renewing your passport. The Nigerian embassy for example is in Washington D.C, with consulates in New York City New York and Atlanta Georgia. You can look up the website for each consulate you wish to obtain your passport from when the time comes.