Maintaining F-1 Status during OPT

You are not eligible to continue on-campus work at Boston University after completing your program unless:

• You are hired into a new BU payroll position directly related to your program of study,
• You have received your EAD and will work within your authorized employment dates.

If offered employment at BU post-completion, you will no longer be paid through the Student Employment Office. As a researcher, faculty, regular, or casual employee, you become an ISSO Dual Client—both a “student” and a “scholar.” You must continue working with your International Student Advisor for F-1 matters and also check in with the ISSO Scholar Advising team. Additionally, you must complete a new I-9 for BU Payroll. For details, see ISSO Dual Clients information on services and required steps.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires F-1 students with Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization to report their employer’s name and address, employment start and end date etc. within 10 calendar days, every time a change occurs.

Report all employer updates and changes through the ISSOPortal’s Request Center and select the OPT- Employer Update . The ISSO will update your SEVIS record accordingly. You can also verify your employer information in the SEVP Portal during post-completion OPT.

• Self Employment– If your valid practical training experience is a self-owned business or organization, write Self-Employment and then enter your home address.
• Periodic or “Gig” Employment– If you are a performer or have short-term employment with multiple employers during OPT, report all employers. Keep detailed records of each employer and employment dates for your records, as you may need this documentation to verify your status or eligibility for future immigration applications or benefits.

You may not exceed a total of 90 days of unemployment during the 12-month OPT period. Those with OPT extended by cap gap provisions continue to accrue unemployment days within this 90-day limit. SEVP has the right to terminate SEVIS records for exceeding the unemployment maximum at any time. It is your responsibility to keep a detailed record of and report all OPT activity.

To count as active employment, you must engage in and report to the ISSO at at least 20 hours of OPT activity per week; weeks with less than 20 hours will count toward your unemployment days.

Students approved for the 24-month STEM OPT extension may accumulate a total of 150 days of unemployment during their entire OPT period (including the initial 12-month post-completion OPT and the 24-month STEM extension).

A student who exceeds the allowed unemployment period during post-completion OPT violates their status unless they have:

• Applied to continue education through a change of level or transfer to another SEVP-certified school,
• Departed the United States, or
• Taken other steps to maintain legal status.

Students are encouraged to contact ISSO with any questions about OPT activity or reporting requirements.

While on a period of authorized OPT, you must report any changes to your U.S. or foreign address within 10 days by submitting a Contact Information Update in the ISSOPortal. The ISSO will update SEVIS accordingly. Failing to report name or address changes may violate F-1 status and could lead to OPT termination.

Before traveling outside the U.S. after applying for OPT to start post-completion, consult an ISSO advisor. Do not leave the U.S. after finishing your studies until you receive your EAD.

To reenter the U.S. in F-1 status during OPT, you must have:

• Your EAD,
• • Printed and signed I-20 with a valid OPT endorsement,
• A travel signature less than six months old dated after EAD issuance,
• A valid F-1 visa,
• A valid passport,
• Proof of employment, OPT activity, or a job offer.

If you haven’t secured OPT employment in your field, travel after degree completion is discouraged, as you may be denied reentry.

Request travel signatures via the ISSOPortal’s Request Center and check the ISSO Current Travel Advisory for updates.

If you are physically absent from the U.S. for more than five months, your F-1 status and your authorization for OPT may no longer be valid.

F-1 regulations do not permit for you to begin a new program of study during OPT. Check with your ISSO Advisor in advance as it may be permissible for you to take a non-credit online course or enroll in a vocational course. Your OPT employment authorization will automatically end if you officially transfer your SEVIS record to another school or begin study at another educational level.

If you plan to continue your education immediately after OPT, you must obtain an I-20 for the new program within 60 days of OPT’s end and start the program within five months. If your program starts more than five months after OPT ends, you must leave the U.S. during the 60-day grace period and request a new “initial attendance” I-20 to reenter for the new program.

If your status changes while on OPT, promptly notify ISSO by submitting a Report New Immigration Status through the ISSOPortal.

If you plan to stay in the U.S. after OPT without enrolling in full-time study, you may be eligible to apply for a change of status. Your ISSO advisor can provide general guidance on eligibility for statuses like H-1B, TN, or F-2. For detailed information, visit the USCIS website.

Your F-1 status and OPT employment authorization are automatically extended if you are the beneficiary of a timely filed H-1B petition requesting a change of status with an employment start date of October 1 of the next fiscal year. This applies to all students on post-completion OPT. The extension ends if the H-1B petition is rejected, denied, or revoked. Make an appointment with your ISSO Student Advisor before your OPT expires to discuss how to use the cap-gap provisions.

After completing post-completion OPT, you may stay in the U.S. up to 60 days to prepare for departure. Employment is not allowed during this period. Travel within the U.S. is permitted, but leaving and reentering the U.S. in F-1 status is not. Departing the U.S. ends your F-1 grace period.

Should you choose to end your OPT early and depart the U.S. you must submit an End OPT request through your ISSOPortal to properly close your SEVIS record to avoid discrepancies in your immigration record