In some cases, F-1 students who meet certain requirements may qualify for off-campus employment (OPT), as long as it is related to their field of study.

Eligibility

• Post-completion OPT

  • You do not need a job offer to apply for post-completion OPT.
  • You need to be a degree-seeking student who has been in full-time student status for at least one academic year
  • Exchange students do not qualify for OPT, as they will not obtain a degree from BSU.

• Pre-completion OPT

  • Federal regulations do not required you to have a job offer to apply for pre-completion OPT. However, the IPC strongly recommends that you do not apply for pre-completion OPT without a job offer, as you risk wasting your post-completion OPT time if you are not able to find a job.
  • You need to be a degree-seeking student who has been in full-time student status for at least one academic year
  • Exchange students do not qualify for OPT, as they will not

Maintaining your Status while on OPT

Remember, while you are in the U.S. on OPT, you are still in student status. Therefore, you must keep in contact with your DSO in order for her to keep your status up-to-date in SEVIS.

You must inform the DSO within ten days of any of the following changes:

• Change in address or contact information
• change in employer’s address or contact information
• any change in employment status or employer