Situations in which students may be eligible to apply for OPT are limited to:

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

1. Employment during Summer Vacation - if the student is enrolled in the spring semester and intends to register for the fall semester. Employment may begin after the final day of the spring examination period and must end before the fall semester start date. Employment may be part-time (up to 20 hours per week) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week).

2. Employment during Academic Year - while school is in session, students may only apply for part-time OPT (up to 20 hours per week). 

3. Employment after Graduation/Commencement - after completion of course requirements and thesis. Your OPT must be full-time and you must work 20 hours or more per week.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

1. Employment during Summer Vacation - if the student is enrolled in the spring semester and intends to register for the fall semester. Employment may begin after the final day of the spring examination period and must end before the fall semester start date. OPT can be full-time (more than 20 hours per week) or part-time (20 or less hours per week). Your OPT eligibility and the number of hours you can work is determined by the Graduate School employment policy. 

2. Employment during Academic Year - students may generally apply for part-time OPT (up to 20 hours per week). However, your OPT eligibility and the number of hour you are allowed to work is determined by the Graduate School employment policy. 

3. Employment after Completion of Course Requirements, Prior to Thesis (PhD Students Only) - immigration regulations allow these students to apply for either full-time (more than 20 hours per week) or part-time OPT (20 or less hours per week). However, you must comply with the Graduate School employment policy. 

4. DCE Students -  immigration regulations allow these students to apply for either full-time (more than 20 hours per week) or part-time OPT (20 or less hours per week). As per the Graduate School policy, DCE wishing to work full-time off campus must change their status to ET/DCC. 

5. Employment after Enrollment Ends (ET/DCC) - for immigration purposes, the ET/DCC effective date is considered as the program completion date. Students must apply for full-time OPT and must work 20 hours or more per week to maintain F-1 status.

6. Employment after FPO/Graduation - students must apply for full-time OPT and must work at least 20 hours per week to maintain F-1 status.

NOTE: Visiting Student Research Collaborators (VSRC's) and visiting/exchange students are NOT eligible to apply for OPT. Only students pursuing a degree (Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD) at Princeton are allowed to apply.

• Students in valid F1 student visa status
• Application must be submitted from within the U.S., not from outside the U.S. The F-1 regulations require a student to be in F-1 status to apply for OPT, and a student is not in any non-immigrant status while outside the U.S. (even though their SEVIS record is active). Also, the questions on Form I-765 assume that a student is residing in the U.S. If you are studying abroad and wish to apply for OPT, you must return to the U.S. to apply for OPT. If you will be studying abroad in the Spring but are also planning to work in the U.S. during the Summer, please make an appointment with your International Student Advisor to discuss your options.
• Students enrolled for at least one full academic year (or two semesters).
• A job offer is not required to apply for OPT, but during Post-Completion OPT, you are expected to work or be actively seeking employment in your field of study after the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is issued.
• Bachelor's students must declare their concentration prior to beginning pre-completion OPT

Standard OPT:  F-1 students are allowed an aggregate period of 12 months of full-time OPT for each  degree level (Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate).   You may use portions of your 12-month OPT during studies or vacations or you may wait and use the entire 12 months after graduation.  Pre-Completion part-time OPT accrues at a rate of 50% (example: 6 months of Pre-Completion part-time OPT is counted as 3 months toward the total 12 months you are allowed).  Pre-Completion full-time OPT accrues at a rate of 100% (example: 6 months of full-time Pre-Completion OPT is counted as 6 months toward the total 12 months you are allowed).

STEM OPT Extension:  Students in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields may be eligible for an additional 24-months post-completion OPT if they meet the required STEM OPT criteria.

As long as the internship meets the unpaid internship criteria set by the U.S. Department of Labor, an employment relationship does not exist and therefore you are not required to apply for OPT. Please consult the Department of Labor Internship Programs Under the Fair Labor Standards Act for detailed information about guidelines for individuals seeking an unpaid internship.

Please note:

1. Make sure that your prospective supervisor is aware of these federal regulations and that you have assurances (preferably written) to that effect before you accept the internship.

2. We also recommend that you obtain a letter confirming that there was not any type of compensation provided in any form during the dates you were participating in the unpaid internship.

3. Just like with a paid internship, you should obtain approval from your academic advisor to participate in the internship because the unpaid internship must also be directly related to your major field of study.

Federal regulations require that OPT employment be directly related to a student’s major area of study [8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(A)]. For immigration purposes, the major area of study is the field of study that the student will receive their degree in, as noted on the Form I-20.

Students on any approved period of OPT will be required to provide a brief description outlining the direct connection between their employment and major area of study. Should the information provided not provide a clear nexus between the job duties and major area of study, please note that the Davis IC may request additional documentation to certify the relationship. If you have concerns regarding this requirement, please contact your International Student Advisor.

How does a student show that employment is directly related to his or her degree program? 

The student should maintain evidence for each job documenting the position held, proof of the duration of that position, the job title, contact information for the student's supervisor or manager, and a description of the work. If it is not clear from the job description that the work is related to the student's degree, the student should obtain a letter from his or her supervisor or academic advisor stating how the student's degree is related to the work performed. See this document for samples of OPT employment descriptions. 

Post-Completion OPT: 

USCIS will accept post-completion OPT applications no sooner than 90 days before the program end date. The Davis IC will accept your application 10 days before the 90-day eligibility date. Program end dates are as follows:

• Bachelor's and master's students: The date of commencement.
• PhD students: Generally the last day of the month of your FPO with some exceptions. Please check with your international student advisor if you are unsure what your program end date will be.

Pre-Completion OPT During Summer Vacation or During Studies: 

The earliest USCIS will accept your application is 90 calendar days prior to your employment/Pre-OPT start date. You may submit your OPT application to the Davis IC no earlier than 10 days before the 90-day eligibility date.

The F-1 regulations require that you complete one full academic year before your OPT start date. However, you may still apply for OPT up to 90 days prior to that OPT start date. Undergraduate students must have their major declared when the OPT dates are effective, but are eligible to apply prior to declaring.

APPLY EARLY!

The USCIS may take 90 days or longer to process OPT applications, so we recommend that you apply for OPT as early as you are eligible to. For students applying for post-completion OPT, although it is allowed according to the F-1 regulations, we strongly recommend that graduating students do not apply during the 60-day grace period following your completion of studies. Doing so may result in the loss of some OPT employment time due to USCIS application processing delays.  Students who choose to apply during the 60-day grace period following graduation must submit the application from within the U.S. and should remain in the U.S. until the OPT application is approved.

Processing Times:

USCIS processing times are not guaranteed or standard for all OPT applicants. You may find the average current USCIS processing times by going to the USCIS Check Case Processing Times page.

Premium processing is now available for OPT applications. You can pay an additional fee to have USCIS take “adjudicative action” on the case within 30 business days, as outlined on USCIS’s website. The premium processing fee ($1685) is in addition to the I-765 filing fee ($470). The request for premium processing can be submitted online through your USCIS online account when you first submit your OPT application to USCIS or while it is pending. 

IMPORTANT:

DO NOT pay the I-765 application fee until your application has been reviewed by the Davis IC and new I-20 has been issued with OPT recommendation on page 2. Once you pay the fee on the pay.gov prompt, your application will be considered complete and submitted to USCIS. Failure to include the scan of the OPT I-20 signed by you in blue ink before you submit to USCIS will result in denial of your application without refund of payment. To obtain your OPT I-20, please visit Item 7 and follow Step 1.

STEP 1:  Go to TigerNav. Click “Login.” Use your university netid and password. In the left-hand column, click “F-1 Practical Training” and then either “Pre Completion OPT Request” (for OPT prior to graduation) or “Post OPT Request” (for OPT after completion of your program/end of enrollment). Click “Start a New Request” and complete all of the required E-Forms in order. Please note that you will not be able to save your application as a draft and return to submit it later. You should ensure that you have all of the materials as listed in the instructions form prior to beginning the application itself to avoid complications.

USCIS will not accept your OPT application earlier than 90 calendar days prior to your program completion date (for Post-Completion OPT) or OPT start date (for Pre-Completion OPT). The earliest you can submit the e-form request for your application to Davis IC is 10 business days prior to the 90-day eligibility.

STEP 2:  Davis IC sends an electronic I-20 to the student. Student makes any necessary amendments to application materials based on feedback in the email.

STEP 3:  Student compiles final OPT application, and files an online application using USCIS My Account.

STEP 4:  Students who file their application online will receive an automatic receipt notice in their USCIS My Account, and/or a physical receipt notice mailed to the address the student lists on the I-765.

STEP 5:   UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: When your OPT has been approved and your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) has been received, the Davis IC will notify you by email to come and pick it up. NOTE: You must have your approved EAD card in order to begin employment.

GRADUATE STUDENTS: When your OPT has been approved, USCIS will mail your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to the mailing address you provided on the I-765 Form. NOTE: You must have your approved EAD card in order to begin employment.

Pre-Completion OPT: Your OPT employment start should be the date your employment offer begins. In order to avoid processing delays, you may choose to apply for OPT before you have an offer of employment. In this case, you will need to estimate the date your desired employment will begin.

Post-Completion OPT:  Your OPT employment start can be any date between your program completion date and 60 days following your program completion date.  When indicating your start date, you will need to consider the date your employment offer (if any) begins and the date in which you apply for OPT since it may take USCIS 90 days or longer to process OPT applications.  You may not begin working until you have the OPT approval in the form of an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

IMPORTANT! HAVE YOU RECEIVED YOUR OPT I-20?

Do not pay the I-765 application fee until your application has been reviewed by the Davis IC and new I-20 has been issued with OPT recommendation on page 2. Once you pay the fee on the pay.gov prompt, your application will be considered complete and submitted to USCIS. Failure to include the scan of the OPT I-20 signed by you in blue ink before you submit to USCIS will result in denial of your application without refund of payment. To obtain your OPT I-20, please visit Item 7 above and follow Step 1.

Filing Online to USCIS AFTER receiving new I-20 from Davis IC

1. When you receive your I-20 electronically, please review the dates on page 2 to confirm that they are correct. If they are, print, sign and date page 1 in blue ink and scan a copy of the I-20 to be uploaded to your OPT application. If the dates are incorrect or you have any questions, please email me.
2. Follow the steps below to officially submit your OPT application to USCIS through the USCIS.gov website.
3. Compile all electronic copies of your documents and upload them to the appropriate sections on the USCIS.gov website:  

• Recent passport-style photo that meets the U.S. Department of State Photo Tool requirements.
• Current electronic I-94 arrival page printed from Customs and Border Protection. Do not use the Travel History list. If your I-94 record does not list your class of admission as F-1, or if your most recent entry date is incorrect, stop and email your International Student Advisor and do not submit your OPT application to USCIS until resolved.
• Scan of your new OPT I-20 signed by you in blue ink on page 1 with OPT recommendation on page 2. Make sure you have printed and signed the I-20 on page 1 in blue ink before uploading.
• If applicable, scans of any I-20s from your current level of education or any prior programs in the U.S. with approved CPT or OPT listed.
• Identity page(s) of passport, including expiration date OR if previously engaged in OPT or other employment authorization through USCIS, scans of the front and back of any previous EAD card(s).
• IMPORTANT: The Advisor Recommendation Form is an internal Davis IC form and should not be included in the online application to USCIS.

4. Form I-765 - Application for Employment Authorization

• Please complete using the Davis IC USCIS Online Application Overview as well as USCIS’s I-765 instructions
• Please note that it is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that the form I-765 is fully completed, and the information provided is accurate. Incorrect or incomplete information on the I-765 may result in serious consequences including application delays, rejections, requests for further evidence, or denials.
• Thoroughly review your application to ensure it is complete and accurate prior to submission. Missing documentation or incorrect/incomplete information may result in serious consequences including application delays, rejections, request for further evidence, and/or denials.

5. After completing the final review of your application for completeness, complete your online application, upload all required evidence, and submit your application within 30 days of when the I-20 was issued. After hitting submit, applicants will be directed to pay the fee at a U.S. Government safe and secure website called pay.gov. You may pay the fee by a withdrawal from a checking or savings account or by a debit or credit card. You will be prompted for information needed to pay the fee according to the payment method selected. Save a copy of the payment receipt for your records.

IMPORTANT:

• Do not submit your application to USCIS earlier than 90 days prior to your program completion date as noted on the OPT recommendation I-20.
• USCIS must receive your application within 30 days of the date that the I-20 was issued. 
• You must be physically present in the United States when USCIS receives your application. Any travel plans after USCIS receives your application should be discussed with your International Student Advisor prior to travel. 
• Also note that your on-campus work authorization will end as of your program end date on your OPT I-20.

Pre-Completion OPT: If you are on Pre-Completion OPT, you may travel and re-enter according to the general travel requirements for F-1 students.

Post-Completion OPT (prior to degree completion): If your OPT application has not been approved yet, but you are returning to the U.S. to resume your studies, you may travel according to the general travel requirements for F-1 students. 

Post-Completion OPT (after degree completion, during 60-day grace period): Traveling abroad before your OPT is approved and you have the OPT EAD in your hand may be risky. The F-1 regulations do not directly address this issue and, although some students with OPT pending during this time have had success re-entering the U.S. with a copy of the USCIS OPT Receipt Notice, others have had difficulties and have been turned away. Please consult with your international student advisor at Davis IC before making travel plans.

Pre-Completion OPT:  Students may travel according to the general travel requirements for F-1 students.

Post-Completion OPT (prior to degree completion):  If your OPT has been approved before you graduate, and you are returning to the U.S. to resume your studies, you may travel according to the general travel requirements for F-1 students. 

Post-Completion OPT (after degree completion, during 60-day grace period): The following documents are needed to re-enter the U.S. after you graduate and your I-20 has expired: 

• Valid passport.
• Valid F-1 visa in the passport (Canadians are exempt from the visa requirement).
• The most recently issued I-20 with a valid travel signature on page 2. The signature may not be older than 6 months. 
• OPT EAD (Employment Authorization Document).
• Proof of employment in the form of a letter from your employer stating the job title, job description and salary. 

Students on Post-Completion OPT who need a new F-1 entry visa must schedule an appointment at the U.S. Consulate abroad to apply for an F-1 visa to return to the U.S. to begin or resume OPT.  The documents listed above will be required for the F-1 visa application.  It is important to NOTE that it may be more difficult to obtain a student visa while on OPT as the issue of non-immigrant intent with the intention to return to the home country at the completion of the OPT could be more difficult to prove once the student has obtained a degree and is working in the U.S.

On August 8th, 2017, the U.S. Department of State issued a revised guidance to consular officers regarding the issuance of student visas, stressing that the officer must be "satisfied that applicant intends to depart the U.S. upon completion of the approved activity." The consular officers are instructed that they must refuse the visa if they are not satisfied that the applicant's present intent is to depart the U.S. at the conclusion of his/her study or OPT. If the consular officer determines that you have intention to abandon your home country and remain in the U.S., s/he will be required to deny your visa application. 

We strongly advise all F-1 students on post-completion OPT, but particularly those with expired F-1 visas, to exercise caution in choosing whether to travel. If you are asked to travel for business, you should ensure that your employer is aware of the risks. We also strongly advise you to consult with an immigration attorney regarding your risks in obtaining a new visa. 

All OPT employment must be in a job that is related to the student's degree program. This employment may include:

Paid employment: You may work part-time (at least 20 hours per week while on Post-Completion OPT) or full-time.

Multiple employers: You may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to your degree program and for Pre-Completion OPT cannot exceed the allowed per week cumulative hours.

Work for hire: This is also 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 the Department of Homeland Security, you must be prepared to provide evidence showing the duration of the contract periods and the name and address of the contracting company.

Self-employed business owner: Students on OPT may start a business and be self-employed. In this situation, you must work at least 20 hours a week or more. You must be able to prove that you have the proper business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to your degree program.

Employment through an agency or consulting firm: Students on post-completion OPT should be able to provide evidence showing they worked an average of at least 20 hours per week while employed by the agency.

Unpaid employment: Students on OPT may work as volunteers or unpaid interns, where this does not violate any U.S. labor laws. The work must be at least 20 hours per week for students on Post-Completion OPT. If requested by the Department of Homeland Security, you must be prepared to provide evidence from the employer that you worked at least 20 hours per week during the period of employment.

Remote employment: All work that is done physically from within the U.S., even if the work is online or for a company located outside of the U.S., requires work authorization. Additionally, work that is done remotely from the Princeton campus for an outside organization or company may not count as on-campus employment and likely requires work authorization. Fully remote employment should be discussed with your International Student Advisor before engaging in the opportunity. 

You cannot start working prior to receiving your EAD card and the OPT start date on the card has been reached. 

If you have been approved for OPT but your card has been lost, you may be able to begin your employment while your application for the replacement card is pending. However, you must clear this with your employer. More information about this is available on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. 

Pre-Completion OPT periods of unemployment:  A job offer is not required to apply for Pre-Completion OPT. There is no penalty if you do not actually work during Pre-Completion OPT except that you will lose that time from your 12-month OPT eligibility and you will lose your $470 filing fee. 

Post-Completion OPT periods of unemployment:  Although a job offer is not required in order to apply for Post-Completion OPT, students are advised that  "during Post-Completion OPT, F-1 status is dependent upon employment," and there is an aggregate limit 90 days of "unemployment" that can be accrued while on Post-Completion OPT.

Each day (including weekends) during the period when OPT authorization begins and ends that the student does not have qualifying employment counts as a day of unemployment. OPT authorization begins on the employment start date as shown on the student's EAD.

For students reaching the limit of unemployment time, the SEVP Policy Guidance (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) suggests that, "prior to reaching the limit on authorized unemployment the student should prepare to transfer to another SEVP-certified school, change educational level, depart the United States, or take action to otherwise maintain status in the United States".

The Guidance also states that "a student who exceeded the period of unemployment while on Post-Completion OPT has violated his or her status unless he or she has taken one of the following actions:

• Applied to continue his or her education by a change of educational level or transferring to another SEVP-certified school;
• Departed the United States;
• Taken action to otherwise maintain legal status.

All students must abide by the following reporting requirements while on Post-OPT:

• Any change in your personal information or address
• Any change in your employer, employer name, or site of employment
• Any interruption or end of employment
• Any change of status
• Your departure from the U.S. without intent to return in F-1 status and resume OPT

This information must be reported within 10 days of any change.

All updates MUST be reported through the Davis IC forms and NOT through the SEVP Portal.

DAVIS IC ONLINE REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

To report updates to the Davis IC, visit TigerNav. At the bottom of the login page, click the link for “Post-Completion Practical Training Students/New Scholar Login” to access limited services. If you do not yet have your limited services access pin (referred to as your password), you may use the link on the next screen to have this emailed to you. Log in using your University ID, Date of Birth, and Limited Services Pin/Password.

Once logged into TigerNav, in the left-hand column, click “F-1 Practical Training” and then “Post-OPT Reporting.” NOTE: Only one request can be active at a time. If there are any changes or updates while Davis IC processing is underway, please email your International Student Advisor.

Reporting new employment, end of employment, or changes in employer name or the state of employment will result in new I-20 issuance within 10 business days of complete submission. The Davis IC will send the I-20 electronically to the personal email (non-PU) email address reported in the submission within 10 business days of a complete submission.

Report a Change in Immigration Status or Intent to Not Utilize OPT

Please notify your International Student Advisor if you change from F-1 status to another visa category while on OPT and upload proof (e.g. copy of H-1B visa, copy of H-1B Approval Notice, copy of a PR card, I-94 etc.) using the Student Document Upload form in TigerNav under the Student Services category.

If you have departed the country and do not intend on utilizing the remainder of your approved OPT, please reach out to your International Student Advisor for further guidance.

Full-Time Employment Requirement

Students on post-completion OPT must work at least 20 hours per week. For the purposes of reporting, please follow the definitions noted here for employment hours. If you have concerns regarding meeting the 20 hours per week minimum, please reach out to your International Student Advisor.

• Part-time: 20 hours or less per week
• Full-time: More than 20 hours per week 

Unemployment Limit

Students are permitted a maximum of 90 days of unemployment. Please review section 9 for more information on this regulation and reach out to your International Student Advisor if you have any questions or concerns.

SEVP Portal

SEVP launched the SEVP Portal which allows those on Post-OPT and STEM-OPT access to update employer and address information themselves in their record. To ensure full compliance with federal regulations and SEVP guidance, all updates must be submitted to the Davis IC directly and not through the SEVP Portal. 

Failure to Report - Immigration Implications

Not complying with the OPT reporting requirements and/or accumulating more than 90 days of unemployment is considered a violation of F-1 status and may have severe consequences for your current F-1 and other future immigration benefits (i.e. H-1B application, "green card", etc.). Additionally, your SEVIS record may be terminated, and you will no longer have valid immigration status in the U.S.

I-20 Issuance

Any change in employment that results in a material change to the I-20 (i.e. employer name, employment dates, change in state/city of site of employment) will result in the issuance of an updated document reflecting the update reported. Please note that your employer name will be listed on your I-20 in the same manner that you report it.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has issued guidance permitting schools to issue electronic I-20s. This I-20 will be your current, valid I-20 and may be used for all purposes associated with the Form I-20 document.

Your updated I-20 will be sent to you electronically at the permanent email address on file within 10 business days.

Please allow 10 business days from complete submission for your new I-20 to be issued for an employment update. 

Yes, the Davis International Center strongly encourages you to attend any of the OPT information sessions offered multiple times each fall and spring semesters.

The "H-1B cap-gap" is the period of time between the end of your OPT and the beginning of your H-1B status. If you have authorized OPT and have filed a timely application for change of status to H-1B with an employment start date of October 1, your OPT employment authorization will be automatically extended while the change of status application is pending through October 1 or is approved. 

You are eligible for H-1B cap gap if:

• Your employer files an H-1B petition for you on or after April 1, and requests a change of status to H-1B to begin October 1. 
• You are still within your OPT authorization period when your employer submits the H-1B petition on your behalf (on or after April 1).

If your change of status application is denied, rejected or revoked, and your OPT EAD is still valid, your work permission will expire on the OPT EAD end date.

If your OPT has expired and you are on cap gap, your work permission will be terminated on the rejection, denial, revocation, or withdrawal date. 

To apply for a cap-gap extension I-20, please do the following:

• Update your employment and address information through Davis IC website. NOTE: Not having accurate employment and address information in SEVIS will significantly delay the issuance of the cap-gap I-20. 
• Send one of the following documents to Davis IC. You may submit your documents using the Student Document Upload form in TigerNav under the Student Services category. 

1. For cap-gap extension through June 1, a statement from your employer that a change of status H1B application has been properly filed on your behalf and proof of delivery to USCIS, OR 
2. For cap-gap extension beyond June 1, please submit either a scanned copy of the USCIS receipt OR a proof that the H-1B petition has been wait-listed.  Please note: When Davis IC can issue an I-20 with cap-gap employment notation depends on whether your SEVIS record contains information on the H-1B petition your employer has filed on your behalf.  

Davis IC will notify you via e-mail when your new I-20 is processed. Please allow up to 5 business days for the processing your new I-20. 

Notes: The 90-day unemployment limit continues during the cap-gap extension period.

Traveling abroad during Cap-Gap

You must have a valid EAD CARD, along with a valid passport, F-1 visa, signed I-20 and employment letter, to re-enter the U.S. during the Cap-Gap extension. If your EAD card has expired, you will not be eligible to re-enter the U.S. during the cap-gap extension period.

Traveling abroad during this time, even if your EAD card is still valid, may interfere with the processing of your H-1B petition. Make sure that you consult with your employer and/or immigration attorney regarding any travel abroad during this time. 

There is information on traveling outside the U.S. during Cap-Gap on the Study in the States website available here.

Pending H-1B Petitions After 9/30

Cap-Gap work authorization expires on 9/30. Therefore, students whose H-1B petitions are still pending must stop working as of 10/1. Failure to do so will result in accumulation of unlawful presence. For more information, please see the USCIS notice.

IMPORTANT: Notify your International Student Advisor about any lost or stolen cards immediately.

To apply for the EAD replacement card, you must follow the general OPT filing instructions, including the fee payment, with the following exceptions:

1. Check box for Replacement of Lost Employment Authorization Document at top of Form I-765;

2. In addition to all I-20s previously issued to you that include work authorizations (CPT or OPT), including the I-20 issued after you applied for OPT, the Davis IC must also issue a new I-20. You must contact your International Student Advisor to coordinate issuance of an I-20 before filing for the replacement card with USCIS. Do not submit the replacement application to USCIS until you receive an updated I-20 from the Davis IC.

As soon as you receive your OPT EAD, please check if all information on the card is accurate. Pay special attention to start and end dates.  If you find any errors, please do one of the following:

• Currently enrolled students - please make an appointment with your international student advisor and bring your card with you.
• Students on Post-Completion OPT or STEM OPT - report the error to Davis IC at [email protected] and we will advise you what to do next. Please do not send a copy of the card in the email. 

If you are a Doctorate student and still working on the dissertation, you can continue to be enrolled until you hold the FPO. However, please note that you would still remain subject to the 90-day unemployment rule. 

Transferring your SEVIS record to another institution or changing your educational level at Princeton (e.g. from Bachelor's to Master's or Doctorate) will automatically cancel your OPT. It is very important that you plan your transfer out date carefully. 

Taking a class or classes that may later be used to satisfy new degree program requirements is not recommended. As per the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance, recreational and avocational classes are permissible.