Maintaining Status on OPT
Once you graduate and begin Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), the rules for maintaining your F-1 status change. While enrolled at Millersville, your status was tied to your program start and end dates. On OPT, your status is now tied to the OPT authorization dates listed on your Employment Authorization Document (EAD). To remain in status, it is essential that you follow the regulations for OPT.
Important Reminder: If you filed your OPT application on time and received an I-797 receipt notice from USCIS, you may remain in the U.S. while your application is pending—even beyond your 60-day grace period. However, you cannot begin working until USCIS approves your application and you have received your EAD card.
To maintain your F-1 status while on OPT, you must:
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Work at least 21 hours per week (part-time employment is not permitted).
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Ensure all employment is directly related to your major field of study—you should be able to clearly connect your work to the coursework in your completed degree program.
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Report any changes in employment, residential address, or contact information to IPS within 10 days through the SEVP Portal (or MyGlobalMU if on STEM OPT).
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Avoid exceeding 90 days of unemployment during the 12-month OPT period.
There are several types of employment that qualify under OPT (paid employment, multiple short-term gigs, self-employment, contract work, etc.), as long as each position meets the requirements above.
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Types of allowable employment while on OPT
Paid Employment
You may work for pay while on Post-Completion OPT. Note: Working 21 or more hours per week on OPT is considered full-time employment by DHS.
Multiple Employers
You may work for multiple employers, but all employment must be related to your field of study and your total hours must add up to at least 21 hours per week across all employments.
Work For Hire
You may perform services on a contractual relationship with an employer, rather than be hired as their regular employee. You should maintain evidence of every contractual job you accept.
Self-Employment
You may start your own business and be self-employed. In this situation, you must work at least 21 hours per week and able to prove you have proper business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to your degree program.
Employment Through an Agency
You must be able to provide evidence showing that you worked at least 21 hours per week while employed by the agency. You should report the name of your actual employer and the site location where you physically work.
Unpaid Volunteer Employment
Yes, you can do two types of volunteering:
True Volunteer Work:
Completely volunteer in the spirit of service, good examples of this include volunteering at a place of worship, hospital, or school. This is not considered employment in any way. You do not need to report this to the Office of International Affairs or immigration. You should NOT report this in your SEVIS Student Portal.
Avoiding Unemployment:
Volunteering as a means to avoid hitting your 90-days of unemployment while on OPT limit. In this case, your volunteer work must adhere to the same OPT employment guidelines as employment to count as employment for immigration purposes:
Must be related to your field of study
Must be for at least 21 hours per week
Be aware, volunteer work must be unpaid for anyone else doing the same type of work. If you are unpaid but someone else is paid, this is a violation of labor law.
It is your responsibility to evaluate your own volunteer opportunity and ensure that it is truly volunteer work. You are also responsible for keeping track of your duties and hours worked. Questions on both could come up in a future benefit request (like an application for STEM extension or H1-B application).
Only report this type of volunteer work to the Office of International Affairs or the SEVIS Student Portal if your work is directly related to your field of study.
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Update IPS With Changes to Your Employment and Personal Information
Even while on OPT, you are required to keep International Programs & Services (IPS) informed of any changes to your local address, email, or telephone number. Because your Millersville email account may be deactivated after graduation, we strongly recommend that you provide a personal email address to ensure you continue receiving important immigration communications from IPS.
You must report any changes to your residential address or contact details within 10 days of the change. Updates can be submitted through the 'Address Update" request in MyGlobalMU.
Once your OPT is approved and begins, you will gain access to additional e-forms in MyGlobalMU to report employment. Use the OPT Employment Update form under “F-1 Practical Training” to add or update your job details. Remember, you must report all employment changes—including new jobs, job endings, or changes in hours or location—within 10 days.
IPS staff will review your submission to ensure your record in SEVIS remains accurate and compliant.
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Limit of 90 Days of Unemployment
F-1 students approved for Post-Completion OPT are allowed a maximum of 90 days of unemployment during the 12-month authorization period. The unemployment “clock” begins on the OPT start date listed on your EAD card.
Important details to remember:
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Time outside the United States still counts toward unemployment unless you are actively employed and maintaining status.
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Employment must be at least 21 hours per week in your field of study. Working fewer hours will still count as unemployment.
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Failure to report employment in SEVIS also counts as unemployment.
If you approach your 90th day of unemployment, you must take action to remain in legal status. Options include:
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Departing the U.S. before your unemployment limit is reached.
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Applying for a change of status to another visa category.
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Gaining admission to a new academic program and requesting a transfer of your SEVIS record.
⚠️ Warning: SEVP may automatically terminate the SEVIS records of students who accrue more than 90 days of unemployment or who fail to report employment. Termination ends both your SEVIS record and your OPT authorization.
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What are the Available OPT Extensions?
If you are an F-1 student whose OPT is based on a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a STEM field, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), you may be eligible for a 24-month extension of OPT.
Learn more about the OPT STEM extension »
If you are an F-1 student whose employer has sponsored you for an H-1B work visa and your work authorization will begin after your the OPT end date listed on your EAD card, you may qualify for the Cap-Gap extension.