Employment

A Social Security number (SSN) is necessary to receive any income for services while in the U.S. F-1 students are only eligible for SSNs if engaging in lawful employment. Therefore, a job offer letter is required while attending school. If an F-1 student has not applied for an SSN before applying for optional practical training (OPT), once the employment authorization card (EAD) is received, it can be used to support an application for an SSN in place of a letter of employment.

Individuals in J-1 status are eligible to apply for a Social Security number after arrival in the U.S. and are not required to provide any documentation of employment.

Many F-1 students wish to apply for an Idaho driver’s license or state ID card, where an SSN is required. If they do not have a job offer letter, they need to submit a Social Security Exception Letter, which can be used in place of an SSN.

For more information, please visit the Social Security Administration web-site.

To obtain a Social Security card, you must do the following:

1. F-1 students must receive a job offer letter from your department (see Word template of job offer letter) J-1 students and scholars do not need a letter to apply.
2. Bring the finished departmental letter to IPO for a “stamp” from a designated school official in the office.
3. Take your documents to a Social Security Administration representative to apply.

Where to Apply

The Social Security Administration in Lewiston is located at 1617 19th Avenue, Lewiston. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

You will need to take the following documents to your appointment:

• Job offer letter signed by your department and stamped by an International Programs Office (IPO) school official.
• I-20 or DS-2019
• I-94 card
• Visa
• Passport
• Social Security application (available at the IPO)

The Intermodal Transit Center located at 1006 Railroad Street Moscow, Idaho sells bus tickets to Lewiston. For times and reservations, call 208-883-7747.

In general, F-1 students are eligible for on-campus employment during the period of their academic program of study. The employment must be on the school premises and you must be employed by the University of Idaho or on-campus commercial firms (such as work at one of the restaurants in the food court).

You do not need authorization from the IPO or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to work on-campus. However, if you got an eligible paid on-campus job, and do not have a Social Security Number (SSN), then you will need to apply for one.

Eligibility for on-campus employment

• You must be a current F-1 student, pursuing a full course of study and your on-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session. It can be full-time during official school breaks.
• Your on-campus employment ends when you end your program. If you wish to continue your on-campus job after you graduate, it requires post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment authorization.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is off-campus employment authorization for F-1 international students who are pursuing a course of study. CPT must be an integral part of the established curriculum for your program of study and its permission is granted through the IPO and your Academic Advisor. 

CPT is required for all unpaid and paid off-campus position. You do not need to request CPT for paid or unpaid on-campus positions. 

Part-time CPT: participation does not affect eligibility for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization.

Full-time CPT: participation for one year (12 months) or more will cause you to not be eligible for OPT.

Eligibility for CPT:

• You must have been enrolled on a full-time basis for at least one academic year (2 semesters).
• You must be enrolled full-time during the term CPT is requested, or have an approved Reduced Course Load.
• You must be currently pursuing your degree; CPT cannot be authorized after completing your program.

Types of CPT:

There are two types if CPT: required and optional.

Required CPT is when the academic program mandates practical work experience for all students in order to graduate.

Optional CPT is when the training experience is directly related to the student’s field of study but it is not required to graduate. An example of an optional CPT is for a student that is enrolled in the Doctoral Research and Dissertation Course and the CPT will be integral to completion of the thesis/dissertation or research. An enrollment for credits is required for an optional CPT and your advisor must write an official letter recommending the CPT and detail how the work is integral to your thesis/dissertation research.

Renewing CPT to the Next Semester:

CPT is authorized semester by semester. If the position extends to the following semester, you will need to apply for a new CPT.

CPT during Final Term

During your final term of study, you must be enrolled at the University of Idaho to pursue CPT.  If you have completed the requirements of your degree and do not need to be enrolled full time, you may pursue CPT as long as you have received Reduced Course Load authorization from the International Programs Office.

The latest possible end date for CPT authorization during the final term of study is the last day of classes as listed on the official University of Idaho calendar.

CPT may not be used as a transition to OPT on your final semester.

Submit your request for a CPT I-20 in iVandal

• Log in to iVandal
• Go to the "Employment" tab.
• Select "Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Application
• Upload a PDF copy of your job offer letter and the Curricular Practical Training Employer Form.
• "Submit" your request.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of employment authorization for F-1 students. You can apply for OPT during your program of study, which is known as pre-completion OPT, or after you finish your program of study, known as post-completion OPT.

Students are eligible for a total of 12 months of OPT per degree level so if you are granted 4 months of full-time pre-completion OPT, you would have 8 months of OPT remaining to use after they graduate.

Part-time Pre-completion OPT deducts from the total 12 months allowed by half. For example, if you are granted 4 months of part-time pre-completion OPT, you would have 10 months of OPT remaining to use after they graduate.

Pre-completion may be an option for a student who wants to participate in employment during their program but they are not eligible for CPT (Curricular Practical Training).

Eligibility for Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)

• You must have been enrolled on a full-time basis for at least one academic year (2 semesters).
• You must be currently pursuing your degree. Pre-completion OPT cannot be authorized after completing your program.
• You can work 20 hours per week of pre-completion OPT (part-time OPT) while school is in session.
• You can apply for full-time OPT authorization during your annual vacation (usually during the Summer vacation).
• If you have any questions about CPT vs. Pre-Completion OPT, please send us an email at ipo@uidaho.edu.

Volunteering refers to donating time with an organization whose primary purpose is charitable or humanitarian in nature, without promise, expectation, or receipt of compensation for services rendered. For example, it would be acceptable to donate time with the American Red Cross. F-1 students are free to engage in volunteer work as long as it meets the criteria above.

An unpaid internship is different from volunteer work. Internships, both paid and unpaid, should be related to the intern’s major field of study. The U.S. Department of Labor has guidelines for those seeking an unpaid internship.

Please note that unpaid internships should not be used by your employer as a trial period before you receive work authorization. If you start working while waiting for your work authorization to be approved, you would be considered an employee instead of an unpaid intern or volunteer under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

If you are not sure if a job you are considering is a true volunteer or unpaid internship, please meet with an IPO advisor or email us at ipo@uidaho.edu.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of employment authorization for F-1 students. It is an opportunity to obtain work experience related to your field of study. The authorization can be used for a paid position located on-campus or off-campus.

USCIS has announced that as of April 12, 2021, the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization may be filed online, as an alternative option to sending it by mail. For more information, see this USCIS webpage. Due to this recent change, the IPO is unable to provide any assistance on this new filing option at this time. We will provide more information later.

Eligibility for Post-Completion OPT

• You must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for at least one academic year (2 semesters).
• You must be completing a higher degree level (BA/BS, MA/MBA, PhD) within the next 90 days OR you must not have completed your degree more than 60 days in the past.
• You must be physically present in the U.S. at the time of application to USCIS.
• You must not have used more than 1 year of full-time CPT during your current degree program (part-time CPT does not count).

OPT Timeline

Graduating F-1 students can apply for OPT up to 90 days before and up to 60 days after they complete their academic programs. Your Post-Completion OPT must be received by USCIS no later than 30 days after the “Date Issued” on your OPT I-20.

As there are many delays in USCIS processing, students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Please watch the Post-Completion OPT Workshop training video below and follow the instructions carefully. Although IPO provides application information, the OPT application is your application. The IPO does not approve the application or have the authority to influence the application timeline.

Request for an OPT I-20

To apply for OPT you must first obtain a new Form I-20 from the office of International Services documenting eligibility for OPT and subsequently submit an application for employment authorization to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Your OPT I-20 will be issued within 5 business days of your submitted iVandal request. A notification email will be sent to you when your OPT I-20 is ready.

• Please review your OPT I-20 carefully for accuracy.
• Your OPT recommendation is on page 2 of the I-20. Review the requested dates of the OPT period. Please sign your OPT I-20 when you receive it.
• Remember that USCIS must receive your complete OPT application no later than 30 days from the Date Issued on Page 1 of your OPT I-20, if not, your OPT Application will be immediately rejected by USCIS.
• Keep your previous I-20/DS-2019 for your records, do NOT throw it away, even when you received an updated document.

You may not begin working on OPT until you receive the employment authorization card (EAD) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Post-Completion Optional Practical Training Workshop Training Video

For instructions on how to apply for OPT and further information about rules and regulations, you must watch the Post-Completion OPT Workshop training video and follow the instructions carefully.

Guide to Apply for OPT Online

Guide to Apply for OPT by Mail

Additional Resources:

• Review USCIS Filling Tips

We recommend that you make a copy of the entire OPT application packet and keep it for your records.

Maintaining F-1 status while OPT application is pending or approved.

While your OPT Application is pending, you will receive the following documents:

I-797C Receipt Notice. USCIS will send a receipt confirming they received your application. If you do not receive this notice within 30 business days, contact USCIS Customer Service to confirm your mailing address.

I-797 Approval Notice. USCIS will send an Approval Notice usually within 90 days after receiving your OPT Application. USCIS will also process and mail the Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card). If you also applied for your Social Security Card, the Social Security Administration will mail your Social Security card.

While your OPT application is still pending, you might also receive a Request for Further Evidence (RFE). If this is the case, please read the letter carefully and make sure to reply to the RFE as soon as possible.

Types of employment allowed during OPT.

• Part-time and/or Full-time employment
• Paid employment
• Unpaid employment (as long as it does not violate the U.S. labor laws.)

Students may also work for multiple employers, short-term multiple employers (performing artists), work for hire (commonly referred to as 1099 independent contractor), self-employed business owner, or employment through an agency. Freelance employment is also allowed. However, all employment must be related to the degree program.

SEVP Portal Account

The SEVP Portal is a platform for students on OPT or STEM OPT to view details about your post-completion or STEM OPT, report changes to their home address, telephone number, employer information, and view and update data on all your employers in one place.

You will have access to your SEVP Portal once your OPT is approved by USCIS (and the start date is not in the future). You will receive an email to your non-Vandal email from do-not-reply.SEVP@ice.dhs.gov to set up your SEVP Portal account. The subject line of the email will be: “Optional Practical Training Approval – the next step. Create an SEVP Portal account.” Follow the instructions in the email. Click the link in the email, submit your SEVIS ID, and create a password to set up your user profile.

The link is unique to you. You can only use the link once. If you are unable to start the registration process, please send an email to ipo@uidaho.edu and request to have the SEVP email notice to be resent to you.

Unemployment

A student on post-completion OPT can be unemployed for a total of 90 days. Your unemployment days will start counting from the ‘Valid From’ date on your EAD card. If you exceed your 90 days of unemployment, you will be in violation of their F-1 visa status. If you are approaching your 90 days of unemployment, you must take one of the following actions:

• Transfer your SEVIS Record from the University of Idaho to a new institution.
• Change from F-1 Status to Another Status.
• Request a Change of Program Level I-20 if you are starting another program at University of Idaho.
• Depart the U.S. and report your departure date to the IPO. There is no 60-day grace period after the 90th day of unemployment.

Submit your request for an OPT I-20 in iVandal

• Log in to iVandal
• Go to the "Employment" tab.
• Select "Optional Practical Training (OPT) Application
• Complete all eForms and "Submit" your request.

The STEM OPT Extension is an additional 24 months work authorization for F-1 students who are currently on their initial 12-months post-completion OPT and have received a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields. 

USCIS has announced that as of April 12, 2021, the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization may be filed online, as an alternative option to sending it by mail. For more information, see this USCIS webpage. Due to this recent change, the IPO is unable to provide any assistance on this new filing option at this time. We will provide more information later.

Eligibility for STEM OPT Extension

• Currently in valid F-1 status and on post-completion OPT.
• Currently employed during the initial period of post-completion OPT by an employer who is registered with the U.S. government's E-Verify program; and
• Has received a degree in a STEM field and employed in a position that directly relates to that degree; and
• Otherwise maintains all of the terms and conditions of F-1 visa status.

To confirm that a STEM field of study appears on your Form I-20, please contact International Services. Visit the Department of Homeland Security website for more information on the E-Verify program.

Complete your I-983 Training Plan

A STEM OPT student and their employer must obtain, complete, and sign Form I-983 before the student may apply for a STEM OPT extension. The I-983 is a training plan which must clearly explain the STEM OPT student’s specific goals, how these goals will be achieved, and confirm the employer’s commitment to helping the student achieve those goals.

When do I submit the I-983?

Only the Training Plan section of the I-983 is submitted before the start of your STEM OPT Extension. The other 2 sections are submitted after the start of your STEM OPT Extension.

You will submit the I-983 Training Plan when requesting a new I-20 in your iVandal.

Submit your request for an OPT I-20 in iVandal

• Log in to iVandal
• Go to the "Employment" tab.
• Select "STEM OPT Extension Request” Application
• Complete all eForms and "Submit" your request.

Note: Students applying for a STEM OPT Extension will be responsible for a one-time $200 processing fee in addition to any USCIS fees. Payments must be made here.

When should I apply for the STEM OPT Extension?

You can apply for the STEM OPT Extension during the last 90 days of your post-completion OPT. USCIS must receive your application no later than the end date that is printed on your OPT EAD card and no earlier than 90 days before that date.

Waiting for USCIS to approve my STEM OPT Extension request

USCIS to take about 90-120 days to approve your STEM OPT Extension application. During this time, your work authorization and F-1 status are automatically extended for up to 180 days while the STEM OPT Extension application is pending. The 180 days count from the end date of your initial 12-month OPT as long as USCIS has received your STEM OPT Extension application before the end date on your initial 12-month OPT EAD card.

Your I-797C Receipt Notice serves as documentation of your pending STEM OPT Extension application. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(11)(I)(C) and 8 CFR 247a.12(c)(6)(iv)

STEM OPT Approved

You will receive your I-797 Approval Notice and shortly after your new STEM OPT EAD card. Once you have received your STEM OPT EAD card, you must report the following every six months thereafter to International Services:

• Current residential address and email address
• Current employer (or report an interruption in employment)
• Current employer address

Unemployment

A student on STEM OPT can be unemployed for a total of 150 days. Your unemployment days are cumulative between both your initial 12-month OPT and your STEM OPT. For example, if you used 30 days of unemployment during your initial 12-month OPT, you would have a balance of 120 unemployment days left during your STEM OPT Extension period.

There is no 60-day grace period after the 150th day of unemployment. If you are getting close to your unemployment limit, you should do one of the following:

• Transfer your SEVIS Record from the University of Idaho to a new institution.
• Change from F-1 Status to Another Status.
• Request a Change of Program Level I-20 if you are starting another program at University of Idaho.
• Depart the U.S. and report your departure date to the IPO.

Validation Report

Students approved for the STEM Extension of OPT are required to submit a validation report to IPO at the 6 month,12 month, 18 month, and 24 month after the start date of your STEM OPT. The validation report must be submitted to IPO through iVandal (STEM OPT Reporting eForm) on the due date.

SEVP Portal will send an automatic email reminders when you are due for a validation report. However, you are responsible for keeping track of when your validation reports are due. You must submit your validation report within 10 days of your due date.

What do I need to submit with my Validation Report?

• 6 months - No section of the I-983 needs to be completed at this time.
• 12 months - Upload pages 1-5 of the I-983, including the "Evaluation on Student Progress" section (top half of page 5) to your F-1 STEM OPT Reporting Form in iVandal.
• 18 months - No section of the I-983 needs to be completed at this time.
• 24 months - Upload pages 1-5 of the I-983, including the "Final Evaluation" section of the I-983 (bottom half of page 5) to your F-1 STEM OPT Reporting Form in iVandal

What should I do if I change my employer or if there any changes in my current employment/personal information?

If you have a change in your employment/personal information and you are due for one of your 6-month validation reports around the same time, you should submit both forms in iVandal.

If you change your job title or job location, please submit the STEM OPT Employment Update eForm in iVandal.

If you change your employer, you must submit a completed Final Evaluation (page 5 of the I-983) from the previous employer. The last day of employment should be clearly stated on the Final Evaluation. You should also submit a completed I-983 (attached) for the new employer.

Once we receive these two documents, we will issue you an updated I-20 reflecting the new position and employment. Please note you should submit these forms within 10 business days of the change.

How to submit my report?

• Log in to iVandal
• Go to the "Employment" tab.
• Select "STEM OPT Report”.
• Complete the eForm and "Submit" your request.

Completion of OPT

After the completion of your OPT, you have a 60-day grace period. During your 60-day grace period, you can do one of the following:

• Depart the U.S.
• Transfer your SEVIS record to another school to start another academic program.
• Request a Change of Program Level I-20 if you are starting another program at the University of Idaho.
• Change your status. If you are planning to apply for a change of status to H-1B, please check our Cap-Gap Extension page for more information.

A Cap-Gap is a time between the end of F-1 OPT or OPT STEM work authorization and the start date of the H-1B status.

To qualify for the "H-1B cap-gap extension" as an F-1 student, you may be eligible for an extension of your F-1 status through Sept. 30 if you meet the following requirements:

• Your potential employer files an H-1B petition in a timely manner with USCIS with an employment start date of Oct. 1.
• You are maintaining your F-1 status on the date your potential employer files your H-1B petition.
• USCIS receives the H-1B petition in a timely manner and issues a receipt for it.

You may be eligible for an extension of your F-1 status and authorized period of post-completion OPT (including the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) OPT extension) in the following circumstances:

• Your employer files an H-1B petition in a timely manner with USCIS with an employment start date of Oct. 1.
• You are maintaining your F-1 status on the date your potential employer files your H-1B petition.
• You are in an authorized period of post-completion OPT (including the STEM OPT extension) on the date your potential employer files your H-1B petition.
• USCIS receives the H-1B petition in a timely manner and issues a receipt for it.

The IPO will update your I-20 to reflect your ca-gap extension. A notification email will be sent to you when your document is ready.

If an F-1 student travels abroad before USCIS approves their H-1B change of status (COS) petition, USCIS will deem the petition abandoned. It means that, if a student leaves the United States before USCIS approves their H-1B COS petition, that student will not be able to re-enter the United States as an F-1 student pursuant to the cap gap extension provisions.

Note that if the above-referenced H-1B petition is rejected, revoked, withdrawn, or denied, the student's employment authorization immediately terminates and he or she enters the F-1 grace period.

For more information about the Cap-Gap, please visit Study in the States and USCIS websites.