Optional Practical Training
Earn practical training to complement your education
As you earn your degree at Dakota State you have the opportunity to include practical training. This means you can gain on the job experience in your field of study. Optional Practical Training is run through the Student and Exchange Visitor program (SEVIS).
As SEVIS continues to update and add more reporting requirements and functions, DSU Alumni on OPT and the STEM Extension should be prepared to comply with any update requests from the International Programs Office and/or SEVIS.
Students on OPT whose employment information is not complete, or reflects more than 90 days of unemployment, may have their SEVIS record automatically terminated.
To maintain F-1 status during OPT comply with US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employment and reporting requirements.
DHS requires students to report to their school all periods of employment and unemployment while authorized on OPT and changes of address.
Updates must be reported within 10 days of the start of your OPT work authorization and within 10 days of any subsequent change.
- All F-1 students on OPT within 10 days of the start of your period of OPT work authorization and within 10 days of any subsequent change, you are required to report the above, plus the following:
- Current US address
- Change of your official name
- Start or end of employment
- Change of your employer’s address
- Change of your employer’s name
- While you are on your initial one year of OPT all of the above changes can be made by the student on the SEVIS portal
- The IPO will not make any changes to the portal. This is the student’s responsibility
- All students with an OPT STEM Extension – you are required to report all the above plus the following:
- Employment status, six months after your extension start date, even if your information has not changed
- Employment status, 12 months after your extension start date, even if your information has not changed
- Updates to the following information will result in the IPO issuing an updated I-20:
- Change of your official name
- Start or end of employment
- Change of your employer’s address
- Change of your employer’s name
- While on your OPT extension students are not allowed to make changes to employer information. This can only be done by the IPO once a new I-983 has been submitted to the IPO. You will also need to submit the previous I-983 with the final employer’s evaluation on the last page.
Single employer
Provide the employment dates and your employer’s name and address.
None - actively seeking employment
If you have been unemployed for more than 10 days since your OPT start date, indicate those dates. To remain in the US, you must be actively looking for relevant employment. In order to maintain your visa status, you must limit unemployment while on OPT to a total of 90 days or 120 days if you have been approved for the 24-month extension.
Work for hire (contract employment)
Provide the employment dates and your employer’s name and address. If requested by DHS, you must be able to provide evidence that you worked an average of at least 20 hours/week.
Unpaid volunteer or intern
Provide the employment dates and your employer’s name and address. If requested by DHS, you must be able to provide evidence that you worked an average of at least 20 hours/week and that the work was related to your OPT degree. This option is not available to students in the 17-month OPT extension period.
Self-employed US business owner
List your company’s, or “self-employed,” and the business address. This location may be the same as your personal address, if appropriate. If requested by DHS, you must be able to provide evidence that you have proper business licenses, the business is related to your degree and that the business keeps you full-time employed.
Students in Initial OPT Period – Maximum of 90 calendar days allowed during the 12-month OPT period.
Students with an OPT STEM Extension – An additional 60 days applies, for a maximum of 150 calendar days allowed during the STEM Extension period.
More details on the OPT STEM extension
In August 2015, a US District Court decided that the current STEM OPT and Cap Gap OPT employment benefits which allow F-1 graduates of certain STEM degrees additional time remain in the US and work in their fields would expire in February 2016. That court has now extended the expiration date of those employment benefits until May 10, 2016. The extension was granted to allow DHS time to finalize new rules about employment benefits. Based on the proposed rules they published in October 2015, these benefits are likely to be broader than what currently exists.
F-1 alumni may continue to file, if eligible, for the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension. Please review this document and set up a meeting with Nicole.claussen@dsu.edu.