OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING RULES REGULATIONS PreCompletion OPT Can

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING RULES & REGULATIONS

Pre-Completion OPT • Can be requested for no more than 1 year at a time (2 years max. ) • May only work part-time (20 hours per week), unless requested to work during summer break (more than 20 hours) • Must report employment related to major • Must maintain F-1 status towards a degree • Pre-Completion OPT time will take away from Post-Completion OPT at half the rate • If in 2 nd semester, may apply for OPT 90 days before semester ends

Post Completion OPT • Can be requested for no more than 1 year • Must be in final semester of completing degree or certificate • Must work more than 20 hours per week after approved and report employment related to major • Need to submit copy of petition to graduate signed by counselor

What is needed to Apply • Log into GPS account to create OPT Request (Answer questionnaire, upload copy of petition to graduate, read Learning Content) • Complete the I-765 Form application • Collect clear photocopies of all previous I-20 s • Clear photocopies of your passport, visa, and your most recent I-94 arrival/departure record • Take 2 passport photos • Previous Employment Authorization Documents (If necessary) • $410 fee to “Department of Homeland Security” • Complete form G-1145 to receive E-Notifications of Application

After Documents are Collected Schedule appointment with Drew Gephart, International Services Manger, by emailing dgephart@peralta. edu. The earliest you may apply is 90 days before your program ends. Please bring all documentation and a new OPT I-20 will be created for you to email to USCIS. Students who are finishing program this semester can apply February 25, 2019.

After you Apply/Approval Process • Receive a Receipt (I-797) in 2 -3 weeks • Check status of application online using receipt # (I-765 status) • Receive Employment Authorization Document/Approval Notice (2 -3 months) • • Upload a copy of your EAD card, I-797 C, Notice of Action (Receipt) to the Documents Center in your GPS OPT Record Receive Social Security Card if you don’t have one already

Employment Requirements • SEVP Portal Account • May not begin work until the date on the EAD Card • Report your employment related to your course of study within 10 days of being hired in the SEVP Portal • Not permitted to be out of employment for more than 90 total days during your approved OPT period • Post-Completion: Must work more than 20 hours per week (may include multiple jobs if necessary) • Receive a new I-20 with Approved I-20/Updated Employment

Travel while on OPT • It is not advisable to travel outside of the U. S. while your OPT authorization is pending or if you have been authorized for OPT but do not have a job to begin/resume • Please check with a DSO before traveling while on OPT. • If you do travel… • Need I-20 signed for travel, EAD Card and letter of employment (recommended)

When OPT is completed • 60 day grace period once OPT End Date is reached • Transfer out to another school, must begin new program within 5 months of OPT End Date • Return to Peralta Colleges for next available term – Need to apply for a new program with a new Student Education Plan • Return to home country prior to end of 60 day grace period

CPT Curricular Practical Training

What benefits does CPT provide? • Work Off-Campus • In your Field of Study (Academic Program) • Part-Time or Full-Time o 20 hours or less = Part-Time o 21 hours or more = Full-Time • No Government Application • No CPT Application Fee o Must Enroll in COPED Course

Field of Study • CPT allows you to work in the major area listed on your I-20 • If your Program Major is Cosmetology can you work at Starbucks? • If your Program Major is Computer and Information Science can you work for Uber? • If your Program Major is Business can you work at a restaurant? • Depends on your job description

CPT Employment Letter • To apply for CPT, please provide a letter from your potential employer with the following information: q. Company Name q. Company Contact Information q. Company Location q. Job Description q. Hours Per Week q. Part-Time or Full-Time q. Start Date and End Date • Provide on Company Letterhead

Requirements • Completed one academic year studying full time in a SEVIS approved school • Full-Time Enrollment (Minimum 12 units) o No Reduced Course Load during CPT semester • Complete CPT Application through GPS • Provide Letter of Employment to International Office • Enroll in a Cooperative Work Experience Education (COPED) • o o o Upload Letter to GPS COPED 450 (General Work Experience) COPED 451 (Occupational Work Experience) COPED 468 -484 (Program Specific Work Experience) § EX: Paralegal Studies, Biotechnology, Security Administration, Multimedia

What is COPED? • Cooperative Work Experience Education Supervised employment to assist in acquiring desirable work habits and attitudes, increase educational motivation, and develop improved human relations skills. Employment need not be related to educational or occupational goals. • Requires Course Orientation with Instructor • • 1 -3 unit course • Each unit requires a minimum of 10 working hours, Ex: o 1 unit, students must work at least 10 hours o 2 units, students must work at least 20 hours o 3 units, students must work at least 30 hours § HOWEVER, with only 1 unit, students can work up to 40+ hours

Limitations of CPT • Students may only work during their COPED course session o EX: COPED 450 for the Spring 2019 semester Starts January 22, 2019 § Ends May 24, 2019 § q Students may only work during that time period q The next session starts June 19, 2019 for summer q No paid employment can occur from May 25 – June 18, 2019

Impact of CPT on OPT • Full-Time CPT After 365 days of Full-Time CPT students are ineligible for OPT • 364 days is ok, 365 days cancels OPT • • Part Time CPT No Limit to Number of Semesters • Does not impact OPT • Student can only enroll in each COPED course 3 times max • • There at least 2 different COPED types (6 semesters of CPT available)

Applying for the SSN 1. Proof of Fulltime Enrollment 2. SS-5 Form 3. Passport and I-94 4. Form I-20 5. Letter of Support from DSO

Applying for the SSN 1. Proof of Fulltime Enrollment 2. SS-5 Form 3. Passport and I-94 4. Form I-20 5. Letter of Support from DSO

Applying for the SSN

Economic Hardship • When an unforeseen, severe economic hardship occurs, students may apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) from the US Government • Economic Hardship allows off-campus work in any job for one year • The student is not required to have a job offer before applying • Students may reapply every year • Economic hardship permission does not affect OPT

Economic Hardship • Part-Time Employment Off-Campus • No more than twenty hours a week when school is in session • Full-time during holidays or school vacation. • Must have been in F-1 status for one full academic year • Must be in good academic standing employment • Employment authorization is automatically terminated whenever the student fails to maintain status.

How is an Economic Hardship defined? • Other employment opportunities are not available • Other employment opportunities are insufficient • Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment without fault on the part of the student • substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate • Inordinate increases in tuition and/or living costs • Unexpected changes in the financial condition of the student's source of support • Unusually high and unexpected medical bills • Other substantial and unexpected expenses.

Qualifications for Economic Hardship: • The student has been in F-1 status for one full academic year; • The student is in good standing as a student and is carrying a full course of study • The student has demonstrated that acceptance of employment will not interfere with the student's carrying a full course of study • The student has demonstrated that the employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control.

Application Process for Economic Hardship • Schedule an appointment with an International Advisor, and bring the documents listed in Documentation Needed to Apply to your appointment. • The International Advisor will review your documents. • The International Advisor will send your request to SEVIS electronically, and generate a new SEVIS I-20. The recommendation will be written on page 3 of the new I-20. • The International Office will notify you when your new SEVIS I-20 is available. • Sign your name on the I-20 immediately. • Send your request to USCIS. Refer to Submitting Your Severe Economic Hardship Request Application to USCIS below.

Application Process for Economic Hardship • Prepare and submit the following list of items to USCIS: • A copy of the new SEVIS I-20 with employment recommendation • Copies of your previous I-20(s) • Copy of Form I-94 • Copy of passport biographical information page • Copy of your F-1 visa page • Form I-765 • $410 check to USCIS • Two full-face passport style photos. • The personal statement along with any other supporting documents (Standard Processing Time is 90 days)

On Campus Employment • Create a resume • Apply to any Student Service Office on Campus • Ask to meet Hiring Manager • Request a business card • Regularly follow up with the office • Call, email, visit in-person • Offer to volunteer or intern if no paid positions are available

Resume Examples • Name • Contact Information • Education Background • Employment History • Volunteer Experience • Leadership Positions • Outstanding Awards • Relevant job skills, tech knowledge, etc

Creative Resumes are Remembered Resumes

Where to Find Employment on Campus • Office of International Education • Financial Aid • Admissions and Records • Health Center • Wellness Center • Cafeteria • Library • Counseling Center • Cashier’s Offices • Teachers Assistant • Learning Resource Center • Safety Aides • Tutoring Center

Where to Find Off-Campus Employment • Way. Up • Indeed • Glassdoor • Linkd In • Career Builder • Monster • Craigslist