Reporting Requirements for post-completion opt

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overview and definition

F-1 students on an approved Post-Completion OPT are required to report any changes/updates to USCIS through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program Portal (SEVP Portal).  Students will automatically receive an e-mail from SEVP with instructions to set up their portal account within a few days of the start date listed on the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card. 

sevp portal student user guide
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Reporting Requirements

 

The following must be reported to the SEVP Portal within 10 days of the change or update. Once the update has been made the student is encouraged to submit an "I-20 Reprint Request" e-form found in UAtlas:

Address or Contact Information

Moving to a new address or a change to a phone number must be reported by the student within the portal. This report does not require an I-20 Reprint. 

New Employment

Students starting a new job must report the new employer within 10 days of starting that job.  To add a new employer click on, "Add Another New Employer" DO NOT delete your old employer. Requirements include:

• Name of Company
• Address of Company (Not Remote Address)
• Start and End Dates (if applicable) with Company
• Description of how the work is tied to your program of study.
• EIN (Employer Identification Number) is not required but highly recommended. 

Changes to Current Employment

The student has the option to make changes or edits to the current employer. DO NOT delete employers.

Ending Employment with Company

The student can edit the "End Date" of that employer. Students should not delete the employer from the portal. 

 

icon If for any reason the student is not able to report changes through the SEVP Portal or having issues logging in, please submit one of the following e-forms in UAtlas :

Post-Completion OPT: Employment Update e-form

This e-form is for individuals who are unable to report the employment themselves or have gone past the 10 day reporting window. 

Documents Needed:

• Offer Letter

  • Your offer letter must have the following information: 

    • Must be on the employer’s letterhead
    • Have your official name 
    • Employer name
    • Employer address
    • Your job title
    • Your job description
    • Start date of your employment
    • Number of work hours/week (cannot be just “part-time” or “full-time”)
    • Employer's signature 

SEVP Portal Login/Password Request e-form

This e-form is for students who need to register for the SEVP Portal or requesting to reset their account.

SEVP Portal: Change E-mail Address e-form

This e-form is for students who need to change their e-mail for the purposes of the SEVP Portal login. 

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Additional reporting requirements

The students are also responsible if any of the following apply to their situation:

Discontinue OPT and Departing the U.S.

This e-form is for students on Post-Completion OPT and are reporting that they are no longer pursuing OPT AND are departing the U.S. 

Change Status from F-1 to Another Status

This e-form is for students who are reporting a change of their status from the F-1 visa to any other type of visa or permanent residency category. 

Begin a New Program of Study at the University of Utah or Transfer to Another School

Students must update their employment end date in the SEVP Portal. Afterwards, the student will need to either transfer their SEVIS record to the new school or will work with the Office of International Admissions if admitted to a new program at the Unviersity of Utah. More information about transferring SEVIS records can be found on our Transfer-Out page. 

icon The transfer out or the issuing of an I-20 for a new program of study at the U must occur before the student's OPT grace period ends. If you would like to transfer out or start a new program before your OPT ends, please talk with an ISSS advisor.

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Unemployment during post-opt

 After receiving an approved Post-OPT, students are permitted to have 90 days of unemployment (during the dates of authorization listed on the EAD Card). If the student is close to using up all 90 days of unemployment, and cannot find full-time employment they must prepare to depart the U.S. Students who use up all 90 days will not receive a grace period. The 90 days of unemployment will start accruing from the start date listed on the EAD card and will stop once the student begins working a full-time job and report their employment in the SEVP Portal. 

icon Remember, students may work unpaid on OPT as long as the employment does not violate labor law.

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