Submitting Your Opt Application

Once you have downloaded your OPT application or picked up a copy from OMIA, you must then complete the student/scholar portion of form I-538. The following documents must also be included in your application packet for optional practical training:

1. A copy of pages 1, 2 and 3 of the SEVIS Form I-20 issued for OPT, signed and dated by the OMIA adviser, and signed by you at the bottom of page 1. (You keep the original.)
2. Copies of all previous I-20’s including the endorsement page
3. A completed and signed Form I-765
4. A copy of your I-94 form (both sides), and a copy of the visa and identification pages from your passport
5. Two recent photographs, per the attached instructions from USCIS. You can write your name and admission number, in pencil, on the back of the photos. Do not cut to size or staple.
6. A copy of your last Employment Authorization Document (EAD), if applicable
7. A check for $180, payable to US Citizenship and Immigration Services

After making copies of all the above documents, I will send your packet by Federal Express or by certified mail, with a return receipt, to the USCIS Service Center that services the address listed on your I-765. Those with addresses in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia, your application should be sent to USCIS Service Center, 75 Lower Welden Street, St. Albans, VT 05479-0001. If other, consult with OMIA.

How will I know the USCIS has received my OPT application?

The first sign that USCIS has received your application is the cashing of your check. If the check has not cleared your bank within six weeks please contact OMIA. USCIS will then send you a notice (Form I-797), stating you need to wait for about 80-90 days to receive your EAD with the case # (EAC….) This is your receipt, so take care not to lose it. With the receipt number, you can track the progress of your application at the USCIS Web site. If you have not received your EAD card within 90 days from the date of USCIS receipt, you may be able to get a temporary card from USCIS at the Federal Plaza office in New York City.

How will I know if my OPT application has been approved?

You will receive, from the USCIS, a small photo identification card, called an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). This card will state the type, and length, of the period of employment authorized. When you receive this card, you must check it to make certain that all the information is correct. If there are errors, please consult with OMIA immediately, to determine whether the card needs to be returned for corrections.

Staying in Touch With OMIA During the OPT Period

USCIS regulations now require Sarah Lawrence to report to the USCIS student tracking system, SEVIS, any change in your address during the optional practical training period. Students on OPT can notify the OMIA of change of address at ddumas@sarahlawrence.edu. In additions, we are required to report the end of the OPT period if it ends prior to the authorized expiration date. You can report this by sending an email to ddumas@sarahlawrence.edu and or dlicht@sarahlawrence.edu.

Travel and Re-Entry While in OPT Status

Items Needed to Reenter the U.S. – please see the OPT FAQ for issues related to traveling while in OPT status. Or while your OPT application is pending.

1. Valid passport and valid F-1 entry visa
2. Valid I-20 form endorsed by an OMIA adviser within the preceding six months
3. Valid EAD and letter from employer showing temporary employment in the authorized field of study.