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Post-Completion OPT Reporting

To maintain F-1 status during OPT comply with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employment and reporting requirements. DHS requires students to report all changes of address and periods of employment and unemployment while authorized for OPT. To meet your reporting obligations, you must report the information to ISSO. Alternatively, you may also make the updates yourself using the SEVP Portal.

Updates must be reported within 10 days of the start of your OPT work authorization and within 10 days of any subsequent change. Please email International.Services@utsa.edu or call (210) 458-7202 if you have any questions.

What to Report

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 U.S. address
  • Change of your official name
  • Start or end of employment
  • Change of your employer’s address
  • Change of your employer’s name

All Students with an OPT STEM Extension
You are required to report all of the above. In addition, you must validate your employment every 6 months by submitting your OPT-STEM Employment Report request in the international student portal.

  • Employment status, 6 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 ISS 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

For changes in your name or residential address submit a Contact Information Update request via the international services portal. The International Services Office will report your changes to Homeland Security.

The International Services Office will email you when the I-20 is ready to download.

How to Report

Submit the OPT-STEM Employment Report request via the international student portal. 

 

Maintaining Your Immigration Status While on OPT

While you are pursuing your degree, you maintain your F-1 immigration status by pursuing a full course of study. However, while you are on OPT, you maintain your F-1 status by seeking and maintaining appropriate employment.

Beginning Employment

You may not lawfully begin employment, or pre-employment training, until you receive your EAD and the start date has arrived. If you work during a gap between previous work authorization (for example, CPT authorization, or on-campus work authorization) and the start of your OPT authorization, you violate your F-1 status.

Acceptable Employment

DHS has ruled that acceptable employment during OPT can include standard employment, contract employment, self-employment, and volunteer positions. All employment must be appropriate to your degree and must be at least 20 hours per week. Please refer to the following chart for more details.

Type of Employment Instructions
Work for Hire (contract employment) Provide the employment dates and your employer’s name and address. As requested by DHS, you must be able to provide evidence that you worked an average of at least 20 hours per week.
Unpaid Volunteer or Intern Provide the employment dates and your employer’s name and address. As requested by DHS, you must be able to provide evidence that you worked an average of at least 20 hours per week and that the work was related to your OPT degree. This option is not available to students in the 24-month OPT extension period.
Self-Employed U.S. Business Owner List your company’s name or print “Self-Employed” and the business address. This location may be the same as your personal address, if appropriate. As 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.

Unemployment Limits

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 24-month OPT period. It is crucial that you report all periods of employment to avoid unnecessary accrual of unemployment days. Student must report to ISSS if they have reached their 90 days of unemployment for their OPT time and report the end of every employment.