Optional Practical Training Reporting Requirements – Office of International Student Services

Students on Optional Practical Training are required to report to a DSO while on OPT in all of the following situations:

Periodic verification (every 6 months) to verify current address and employment information
Changes in address and/or employment information

Prior to exceeding days of unemployment to discuss options
Prior to traveling outside the US

Changes in immigration status (i.e., H1B)
Documentation received from USCIS (i.e., Requests for Evidence, Approval Notices, EAD cards)

Change in Employment Information

Due Date	What is Due
Within 10 days of the change	Change in OPT Employment Information, including copy of employment offer letter

Post-Completion OPT Verification

Due Date	What is Due
6 months after OPT start date	Post-Completion OPT: 6-Month Verification
12 months after OPT start date	Post-Completion OPT: 12-Month Verification

STEM OPT Verification

Due Date	What is Due
6 months after STEM start date	STEM OPT Extension: 6-Month Verification
12 months after STEM start date	STEM OPT Extension: 12-Month Verification, including completed I-983 (all pages) with completed self-evaluation at the top of page 5
18 months after STEM start date	STEM OPT Extension: 18-Month Verification
24 months after STEM OPT start date	STEM OPT Extension: 24-Month Verification, including completed I-983 (all pages) with final evaluation at the bottom of page 5

How to Report

To fully report your OPT employment information at various stages of your practical training, please follow these steps:

1. Review your SEVP OPT Portal information by logging in at: https://sevp.ice.gov/opt/#/login
2. Make any necessary changes in the portal, if you can. Some changes can only be made by a DSO, including email address, or STEM OPT employer information.
3. Work with your employer to receive any supporting documents (i.e., offer letter or Form I-983 if on STEM OPT).
4. Submit the appropriate form that applies to your situation (see chart above).
1. Wait for ISS to review your request and supporting documents. Processing times are generally 2-3 busiess days. If additional documents or information is needed, you will receive an additional RFI email. If your request is approved, you will receive an email to notify you that your request is processed and how to receive your I-20.

On the first day of active OPT, students will receive an email from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) with instructions on how to activate the SEVP Portal Account. Be sure to follow instructions as the link provided will expire.

Through the portal, post-completion practical training students in F-1 or M-1 status will be able to update their physical home addresses, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, employer information and monitor their employment authorization. *

* STEM OPT students are not be able to add a new employer or change the start date with their employer but can update other information about an employer already in the system. The Form I-983, “Training Plan for STEM OPT Students,” requires DSOs to add new employer information directly into SEVIS for STEM OPT students, because DSOs must verify the form has been completed and submitted. (https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevp-portal-overview)

SEVP Portal Login

SEVP Portal Help
SEVP Portal Student User Guide
Top Questions about SEVP Portal

If you cannot access your SEVP Portal account, you may request that the Office of International Students reset your portal account by completing the following form:
SEVP Portal Link Request

It is vital that students on OPT timely report any change of employment within 10 days of the change, including but not limited to:

Employer
Position title
Salary
Job description
Hours worked per week
Employer address
Site location address (where student reports for work)
Position start date
Position end date
Any other substantial changes in employment information

If you are on Post-Completion OPT and are reporting a change in employment, you will need to take the following steps

Update your employer information through the SEVP Portal
Submit the Change in OPT Employment Information Form, including the following documents as attachment:
- OFFER LETTER
- COPY OF CURRENT EAD CARD

Tips on Updating Employment Information through the SEVP Portal

If you are on STEM OPT (approved or pending with USCIS) and are reporting a change in employment, you will need to take the following steps

Submit the Change in OPT Employment Information Form, including the following documents as attachments:
- PREVIOUS I-983 (all pages) WITH FINAL EVALUATION (bottom of page 5) FOR PREVIOUS EMPLOYER
- NEW I-983
- OFFER LETTER
- COPY OF CURRENT EAD CARD

*If your STEM OPT case is pending with USCIS, the Office of International Student Services will email a copy of your updated I-20 to the USCIS Service Center to properly report the change.

Prior to traveling outside the United States, be sure to submit a Request for a Travel Signature.

OPT Travel Chart

Be sure to notify ISS of any changes in status by emailing iss@marshall.edu. To request a cap-gap I-20, submit the Request for a Replacement I-20.

Periods of Unemployment

While on active post-completion OPT, students are permitted 90 aggregate days of unemployment. These 90 days of unemployment may be used during the period indicated on your post-completion OPT EAD card.

While on STEM OPT, students are permitted 150 aggregate days of unemployment for the duration of the post-completion OPT plus the STEM OPT.

Exceeding the allowed number of days of unemployment will result in a violation of F-1 status and automatically cancel the OPT.

Frequently Asked Questions

Updates to a student record in SEVIS are usually available to view in the SEVP Portal within several business days after your request is reviewed by the Office of International Student Services. If your information is not correct within one week, please let us know by emailing us at iss@marshall.edu.

If you are having problems accessing the SEVP Portal, you may submit a request for a DSO to reset your SEVP Portal link.

Yes. Always review your SEVP Portal and make sure your personal information is up to date when you submit your OPT Validation form. If you are on Standard Post-Completion OPT, please also make sure that you employment information is correct and make any needed changes if you are reporting a change in employment.

Yes. Once your request is reviewed and approved, you will receive a new I-20. Be sure to sign the new I-20 and do not discard any prior I-20s.

Failure to timely report employment information while on OPT may result in a violation of F-1 status, termination of the SEVIS record, and immediate departure from the United States. See SEVP Enforcement of OPT Employer Information Requirement.

Exceeding the number of permitted days of unemployment will result in a violation of F-1 status, termination of the SEVIS record, and immediate departure from the United States. See SEVP Enforcement of OPT Employer Information Requirement.

Yes, follow instructions outlined in Reporting Changes in Employment section above. The Office of International Student Services will email a copy of your updated I-20 to the USCIS Service Center to properly report the change.

Be sure to contact the Office of International Student Services to confirm that the position is directly related to your major field of study and acceptable while on post-completion and/or STEM OPT.