Office of International Programs
Division of Student Affairs
www.sa.utep.edu/oip
The
University
of
Texas
at
El
Paso
500 W University Ave
Union East Bldg. Room 203
Phone: (915) 747-5664
Fax (915) 747-5794
[email protected]
OPT Application for F1 – F3 Students
Name :
UTEP ID# : 8
Email :
SEVIS ID# : N00
Date to begin OPT :
Date to end OPT :
Optional Practical Training (OPT) enables you to accept employment after graduation.
The work does not need to be for credit, but MUST BE MAJOR RELATED. Instructions and explanations are on page 2.
 Do NOT begin working until you have received authorization from the Immigration Service (USCIS)!
 Do NOT work past your program end date! (See pg. 1 of I-20 item 5). Illegal employment is a violation of your visa
status!
CAN YOU APPLY? :
Are you eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT)? To be eligible you must:


Not have completed 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for the current level of study.
Have had valid F-1 / F-3 student status for one academic year at the time you would begin OPT. Audit, correspondence and
in absentia course registrations do not fulfill full-time student status requirements.
Unlike CPT, you do not need to have a job offer in place before applying for post-completion OPT
Enrolled in or have completed final degree requirements


WHEN TO APPLY :
If you are applying for OPT based on completion of studies (graduation), you may apply for OPT as early as 90 days before
graduation and up to 60 days after your program end date of your I-20. USCIS processing times can exceed 3 months, so it is
recommended that you apply as early as possible.
HOW TO APPLY FOR OPT RECOMMENDATION FROM OIP :
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Attend mandatory OPT Employment Workshop (http://sa.utep.edu/oip/opt-workshops/)
Apply for graduation.
Complete this application and turn it in to OIP
Pick up your I-20 with OPT recommendation and mail it to USCIS with items listed below.
MAILING YOUR PACKET TO USCIS :
Once you have picked up your I-20, mail it to USCIS with the following:
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
Form I-765 and Form G-1145 (optional) (http://sa.utep.edu/oip/f1f3-forms-2/)
Copies of current I-20, passport, visa and I-94 (front and back) or print from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html
Two passport size photos (2” x 2”), with your name and I-94 # written on the back of each photo
Application fee of $380 (check or money order) to “Department of Homeland Security”
Your application must be received at USCIS within 30 days from the time the new I-20 is signed and before the end of your
60 day grace period.
RV. 04/30/15
Office of International Programs
Division of Student Affairs
www.sa.utep.edu/oip
The
University
of
Texas
at
El
Paso
500 W University Ave
Union East Bldg. Room 203
Phone: (915) 747-5664
Fax (915) 747-5794
[email protected]
MAINTENANCE OF STUDENT STATUS AND ELIGIBILITY DURING OPT :
To maintain your immigration status while on OPT:
 Seek employment related to the degree which you have just completed. You should work at least 20 hours or







more each week.
Understand that the U.S. federal government still considers you a student and that the OPT is a work authorization
for practical training which is granted to you through your F-1 / F-3 student visa.
Do not have more than 90 days of unemployment during the 12 months. If you are unemployed for longer than
this, then realize that you will lose your F-1 / F-3 student status as well as the remaining portion of your OPT
authorization.
Report the name of your employer and your employer’s address to the UTEP Office of International Programs by
submitting the OPT Notification Form. http://sa.utep.edu/oip/f1f3-forms-2/
Report any change of jobs, additional jobs, or leaving a job (unemployment).
Report any changes in your residential and/ or mailing address to the UTEP Office of International Programs within
10 days of the change in order to comply with federal regulations for non-immigrants in the United States. You
must also report any changes to your name.
Revalidate your personal and employer information every 6 months even if your information has not changed by
reporting it to OIP.
OPT is cancelled if you transfer to another institution or begin the next level of study.
OFFICE USE ONLY:
Overall GPA:
Major in BANNER:
Level of study in BANNER:
Accumulated Full-Time CPT:
Graduation Date in BANNER:
Date attended Workshop:
______/______/______
Does major in ISSM match
Banner? ( If no, correct)
Yes _____ No_______
If no, date corrected________
Term:
Hour:
Term:
Hour:
Term:
Hour:
Term:
Hour:
Term:
Hour:
Term:
Hour:
Term:
Hour:
Term:
Hour:
Note:
RV. 04/30/15