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Update For Students on F-1 OPT

As of March 2012, The Scripps Research Institute is an E-verify employer.

How does this impact you? Quite positively.

As an F-1 visa holder currently completing 12 months of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), you are now eligible for an ADDITIONAL 17 months of Optional Practical Training without having to change to a different visa category.

Before the end of your OPT you will need to:

  1. Request the additional 17 month STEM extension from your Ph.D. granting institution
  2. File an I-765 extension of your EAD card with USCIS

Please contact the International Office of your Ph.D. granting institution and follow their instructions for requesting the 17 month OPT/ EAD extension.

Your Ph.D. granting institution will issue an amended I-20 reflecting the new end date 17 months beyond your current end date. This amended I-20 is required in order to file the I-765 with USCIS for your 17 month extended EAD card (Work Authorization Card).

Upon receiving an I-797 Receipt Notice from USCIS indicating you have filed an I-765 extension of your EAD card, bring your amended I-20 (showing the new end date) as well as the I-797 Receipt Notice to TSRI's International Office.

So long as you file for the 17 month EAD extension BEFORE your current OPT ends, you are granted an AUTOMATIC 180 days of work authorization while you wait for your new EAD card to arrive. In other words, you do not have to be taken off payroll or stop your research while waiting for your new EAD card providing you filed in a timely manner.

NOTE: You will need to provide your school with TSRI's full name, address and Federal Employer E-Verify ID #. Your Ph.D. granting institution's International Office will need this in order to complete page 3 of your I-20. (To obtain the TSRI ID #'s, contact tsriglobal@scripps.edu)

REMEMBER:

  • Contact the International Office of your Ph.D. granting institution to follow up on this benefit.
  • Complete these steps BEFORE your current OPT expires. Please do not put it off or forget.
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