Watch this information in a video here: https://youtu.be/-MCAll0mr6g
We understand that this is a very difficult time for May 2020 graduates with the uncertainty of the job market, especially given the 90 days of unemployment allowed during Optional Practical Training (OPT). This academic experience is a major investment for students and their families, and we appreciate that students want to enter the job market under the best possible circumstances. Please review the regulatory options for F-1 students related to delaying graduation and considering cancelling a pending OPT application below to best understand your options and decide what is best for you.
OPT Employment Options
When considering OPT options, please remember the following factors so you understand the flexibility the OPT program offers:
- OPT allows for up to 90 days of unemployment, which begin on the start date of your OPT.
- “Employment” during OPT can be part-time or full-time, as long as it is at least 20 hours per week.
- “Employment” during OPT can be paid or unpaid. Volunteer work is permitted.
- OPT employment must be directly related to your degree program at UMBC, including volunteer work.
- OPT allows for you to easily change employers, so you can start in an internship or unpaid role, if needed, and later change to a full-time, paid position as this opportunity becomes available.
- Planning ahead for the STEM OPT Extension, if applicable, a paid position is required, but can be part-time as long as it is at least 20 hours per week.
Extending your I-20
An I-20 extension requires a student NOT to graduate, and to have an academic requirement pending to complete their academic objective. The pending requirement is confirmed with your academic advisor through an “I-20 extension application” in the student’s IES Portal account, and additional funding to support this additional time in the US needs to be documented as part of this process.
Valid reasons to extend an I-20
- Additional coursework, research or thesis work required to graduate
- Additional “academic objective” added that is not a new degree program, such as a formal certificate or concentration at the same degree level. This would need to be pursued full-time in the next semester, following usual F-1 student registration requirements.
- A student CANNOT graduate and also receive an I-20 extension. If a new degree program is started, this will be a “change of education level” for the I-20 and is a different process.
Reasons for which an I-20 cannot be extended
- Desire to delay graduation for reasons other than academic or medical necessity
- Add an elective course of study that does not lead to an additional certificate or concentration if all graduation requirements are already met (the course can be taken during OPT if desired for additional knowledge)
How to request an Extension, if you are eligible
- First, discuss the situation with your academic advisor to make sure you are eligible for an academic extension based on the eligibility requirements.
- If eligible, apply through your IES Portal following the directions here
- If you have applied for graduation, you MUST contact the Graduate School or Registrar (for Undergraduate students) to withdraw your graduation application
- IES will process your new I-20 with the extended end date and share the updated I-20 with you through your IES Portal
Cancelling a Pending OPT Application
Cancelling OPT is a complex process and should only be done in very unique circumstances, as it takes a long time and often leads to delays in the next OPT application that may be undesirable.
Please note, a refund is not issued for any cancelled OPT application, and the $410 fee will need to be included again in the next application.
The steps to cancel an OPT application are as follows:
- Make sure you are eligible for an I-20 extension first per the criteria above! If you applied for graduation, withdraw your graduation application.
- Prepare a written statement asking USCIS to withdraw your OPT application. Include your name, your birthday, and your receipt number from your OPT application.
- Mail a copy of this statement to the USCIS address listed on your OPT receipt.
- Provide a copy of the statement to IES to submit to USCIS via email.
- Timeline: It often takes about 3 months to get an OPT withdrawal processed, but this can vary. A new OPT application CANNOT be submitted until the first application has been withdrawn.
- AFTER the OPT withdrawal is processed, you can then apply again for OPT when it is appropriate to do so.
Please note, if you are trying to withdraw an OPT application for a May graduation and apply for OPT for after an August graduation, the delay in the withdrawal being processed usually results in a delayed second OPT application. You need to be comfortable with this before proceeding.