International Student Program

To be eligible for any of the options listed below, you must currently be on an F-1 visa and have studied at least nine months in the United States at a higher education institution on a valid non-immigrant visa (e.g., F, J, H, E, L, M)

CPT is the employment authorization used for an internship in which you receive academic credit.

Limits
You are limited to 12 months of full-time CPT. However, you may accumulate the 12 months throughout your Macalester undergraduate experience. Additionally, there is no limit to the amount of time you may work part-time.

Time to Complete Authorization Process
Approximately 1 day (plus time to find internship).

This authorization allows a F-1 student to work in a job related to the student's field of study. You may receive monetary compensation or academic credit during your practical training. Students may engage in OPT while school is in session, during vacations or after graduation. Part-time practical training, 20 hours per week or less, shall be deducted from the available practical training at one-half the full-time rate. Applications may be submitted 90 days before employment begins.

Time to process OPT applications vary depending on the amount of applications the Nebraska Service Center receives. Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. You can go to this link to check out the I-765 forms that they are currently processing. If your application was sent before the date shown, you should allow 30 additional days to receive your OPT card.

Q: When should I file for post-graduation Optional Practical Training work option?
A: My recommendation is that you apply for OPT by February 14. If you file by this time, you will be guaranteed at least a temporary work authorization card by the time you graduate.

Q: When must I file by?
A: If you don't file by July 12 (for May graduates), you must return home within 60 days from graduation unless you are enrolled to begin graduate school program in the subsequent term. Your F-1 visa status with Macalester ends upon graduation.

Q: How long does OPT allow me to work?
A: It allows you to work up to 12 months full-time. It has to be completed within 14 months of your graduation.

Q: I have been offered a job after graduation and my employer has agreed to sponsor my H1-B Visa. Do I still need to file for OPT?
A: H1-B visas are not issued until October. Unless your job begins later than October, you need to file for OPT in order to begin working before October. Under the current system you cannot file for an H1-B.

Q: Do I need a job to apply for OPT?
A: No. Unfortunately, a regulation states that OPT without a job is not sufficient to permit you to leave and re-enter the United States.

A: If you are unemployed for a cumulative of 90 days from the OPT start date, you must leave the country. During your employment period, you must work or volunteer in your major field of study for at least 20 hours a week to qualify as employed. However, if your employment is terminated or interrupted in some way and no more than 10 days passes in between starting a new job, no time will be deducted from the 90-day clock.

Q: I have applied to enter graduate school in the fall. Should I apply?
A: I highly recommend you obtain the OPT authorization as a back-up plan. Even if you are going to grad school, you can still work the summer with it.

Q: Can I leave and return on OPT?
A: Ask Aaron or Bruce about your specific situation. There are a lot of answers depending on if you have a valid visa, a job, job offer, length of stay, graduate school plans, and others that are more nuanced.

A: You must report EVERY change of name or address (personal and employment) within 10 days of the change.

80-100 days: To process applications and complete the authorization process.

90 days: Days after receipt notice that I can request OPT card to be expedited.

90 days: Cumulative number of days you may be unemployed until you have to leave the country.

20 hours: Amount of time in a week you must work or volunteer in your major field of study to be considered employed.

10 days: If your employment is terminated or interrupted in some way and no more than 10 days passes in between starting a new job, no time will be deducted from the 90-day clock.

February 14, 2012: Recommended date to apply for OPT in order to receive your temporary work authorization card by the time you graduate.

July 12, 2012: This is the last date that you can apply for OPT and the application must arrive by this date. You must return home if you don't file by this date unless you are enrolled to begin a graduate school program in the fall.

You are only required to take the amount of credits that are required of you to graduate your final semester (i.e., 1 credit if that is all you need). However, you must report it to Aaron, Nienke or Bruce.

To facilitate visitor visas for your family members, send relevant information and request a letter to intlstudent@macalester.edu.

If you are going to grad school, you need to start the process of transferring your visa status with your new institution. Typically, your new institution will have a downloadable 'transfer release form' online. Aaron, Bruce or Nienke will need to transfer you within 60 days of graduation unless you have OPT. Once you transfer your visa status, you cannot work on OPT.

If you are neither working on OPT, nor going to grad school, you have 60 days to leave the United States. Once you leave, you cannot legally enter with your student visa even if there is still validity listed on it.

You may apply for SEH if something unforeseen has happened to your financial situation (e.g., significant devaluation of your currency, loss of a sponsor, or an unexpected change in your family's income).

Limits
Authorization is for one year and it is renewable. Authorization allows you to work 20 hours or less while school is in session and full-time during the breaks (i.e., between semesters, summers and spring break).

Steps	Procedures
1	Write cover letter to USCIS explaining the unforseen financial hardships beyond your control which necessitate applying for Severe Economic Hardship
2	Complete Form I-765 (pdf form)
3	Get two immigration photos at Walgreens or Media Services
4	Decide the dates you wish to be employed
5	Visit Aaron or Nienke at International Student Programs to have information entered into SEVIS. Bring check for $380 made payable to "Department of Homeland Security"
6	Mail Form I-765, photos and check to: USCIS P.O. Box 21281 Phoenix, AZ 85036