SEVP Issues Reminder for School Officials to Assist F-1 Students with Filing Form I-765
/On November 15, 2021, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a reminder that designated school officials (DSOs) are to ensure that F-1 students file their Forms I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," for optional practical training (OPT) within the 30-day period after the DSO:
Authorizes the student for OPT in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), and
Provides the student with an updated Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status," endorsed for OPT.
SEVP and USCIS also note that DSOs must complete these two steps above before the student files the Form I- 765. DSOs should ensure that students who apply for OPT are aware of these requirements and file their Forms I-765 along with all required documentation within the specified 30-day period. Additional information and resources to assist students with filing for OPT are available on the Optional Practical Training for F-1 Students page at USCIS.gov.
