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As of March 23, 2018, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) launched the SEVP Portal. This is a tool that F-1 students on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) can use to report changes to their address, phone number, and employer information. It will be accessible from your mobile device and computer.
You will receive an email from [email protected]. This email will contain instructions on how to create your Portal account. It usually comes close to the start date of your OPT. I recommend adding this email address to your list of email contacts so it goes directly to your In-Box. If you not see the email by the time your OPT begins, check your spam or junk mail folder. If it is not there, please contact me and I will request SEVP to send the email sent again.
NOTE: The portal account is NOT the same as the online account you have with USCIS where you are checking on the status of your OPT. It is a completely separate account.
The SEVP Portal will allow you to:
As soon as you have created your Portal account you can start entering employment information. Please see the section below on what type of employment is allowable.
It is imperative that you log in and create a Portal account and begin to enter your employment information as soon as your OPT starts, particularly because there is a 90-day maximum of unemployment for the duration of your 12-months of OPT (please see the following section).
IMPORTANT! You must enter all employment within 10 days of the start date or else the system will not let you enter it. Please do not forget to enter each gig in a timely manner.
If you have any questions about the portal or need assistance with password resets, call the SEVP Response Center at 703-603-3400.
Students with a 12-month Post-Completion OPT authorization cannot be unemployed for more than 90 days. This does not have to be consecutive. This is the total number of days allowed. If you have not worked for the first two months of your OPT and have accrued a total of 60 days of unemployment, then you would only be allowed another 30 days of unemployment for the remaining 10 months of your OPT before you risk violating your immigration status.
While you are on OPT, you should engage in activities, paid or unpaid, in your field of study for at least 20 hours per week.
USCIS has a broad definition of what constitutes as employment which includes the following:
Notify Immigration of any changes to your employment, address, or phone within 10 days by updating this within the SEVP Portal.
Keep documentation of all your employment (e.g., job offer letter, volunteer confirmation letter, supervisor letter, etc.) as proof that you have not exceeded the 90-day unemployment rule.
*While students may engage in volunteer work and unpaid internships while on OPT, they must still be in compliance with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor laws.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will terminate immigration records for students who have exceeded 90 days of unemployment. If your immigration record is terminated, you must leave the US immediately; there is no grace period.
If you exceed 90 days of unemployment, you will no longer be in valid F-1 status. Exceeding 90 days of unemployment can also:
The best advice is to engage in activities outlined above and keep good documentation of your employment. If you are on OPT and will soon exceed the 90 days of unemployment, and you have no plans to work, volunteer, or intern in your field, then you should consider: