To learn more about the new features of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) Employment Reporting App, please visit its page on the International Center website.
While on your post-completion OPT and STEM OPT periods, you are required to make reports to the International Center as part of maintaining your F-1 status. It is important that you follow these reporting requirements to avoid falling out of status.
Please see below to understand how these requirements affect you.
For students currently on an initial 12-month OPT
- You are required to submit a copy of your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to icenter@iit.edu
- You are required to complete the Optional Practical Training (OPT) Reporting Survey within 10 days of any of the following changes:
- Employment (initial employment or change of employer)
- Unemployment
- Name
- United States address
- Immigration status
- Permanent departure from the U.S.
Post-Completion OPT employer eligibility requirements:
- Employment must be related to field of study
- Must work at least 20 hours a week
- Employment can be paid or unpaid
For students currently on a 24-month STEM OPT extension
- You are required to submit a copy of your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to icenter@iit.edu
- You are required to complete the Optional Practical Training (OPT) Reporting App within 10 days of any of the following changes:
- Employment (initial employment or change of employer)
- Unemployment
- Name
- United States address
- Immigration status
- Permanent departure from the U.S.
- You are required to complete validation reports to the OPT Reporting App every six months after the beginning of your STEM OPT period (even if no changes have occurred):
- Six-month validation (Six months after the beginning of your STEM OPT period)
- 12-month validation (12 months after the beginning of your STEM OPT period)
- 18-month validation (18 months after the beginning of your STEM OPT period)
- 24-month validation (24 months after the beginning of your STEM OPT period)
- You are required to submit the self-evaluations from Form I-983 every 12 months after the beginning of your STEM OPT period and at the end of any employment, in addition to the 12- and 24-month deadlines. Evaluations that should be submitted to icenter@iit.edu:
- Evaluation of Student Progress—Form I-983, Page 5 (12 months after the beginning of your STEM OPT period and at the end of any employment on STEM OPT)
- Final Evaluation of Student Progress—Form I-983, Page 5 (24 months after the beginning of your STEM OPT period)
- You are required to resubmit a new Form I-983 if there are any material changes to your training plan under your current employer or if you change employers. New Forms I-983 should be submitted to icenter@iit.edu.
OPT Opt Employment Reporting App
STEM OPT employer eligibility requirements:
- Employment must be related to field of study
- Must work at least 20 hours a week
- Employer must be e-verified
- Employment must be paid
- A completed Form I-983 training plan must be completed
- Must be a bona fide employee of the employer completing the Form I-983 training plan