Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Welcome!
You are about to participate in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) online
workshop. During this workshop, you will learn everything you need to know about
how to apply for OPT and how to maintain your F-1 status once you’re authorized to
work in the U.S.
You will receive all the necessary application documents at the end of this
workshop.
Note: This workshop does not discuss pre-completion OPT. If you are interested in
applying for pre-completion OPT, please read the information on the Berklee ISS
webpage: https://www.berklee.edu/international-student-services/pre-completion-
opt
* 1.
Are you graduating at the end of this current semester? (This does
not mean that you are walking in the graduation ceremony this
semester. This means that this is your final semester of required
studies, and you are completing all graduation requirements now.)
Yes, Finally!
1
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Heads up!
This workshop is geared toward students who are completing all graduation
requirements in the current semester. If you are not completing all graduation
requirements in this semester, you’re welcome to participate in the session so that
you can start planning ahead, but you will need to do it again during your final
semester of study.
OPT dates are semester specific, and the regulations may change.
Note: You can submit your OPT application documents to ISS no earlier than the
dates listed in the chart below. We will not accept applications earlier. F-1
regulations do not permit post-completion OPT recommendations more than 90
days prior to a student's I-20 end date.
2
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
3
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
OPT is a benefit of your F-1 student status. OPT is an application to the U.S.
government to allow you to work because you have met all of the eligibility
requirements attached to your F-1 status. While participating in OPT, you will still be
in F-1 student status and use your F-1 visa and I-20 to enter the U.S.
While on OPT you are required to maintain valid F-1 status. More information on how
to maintain status is provided in this presentation.
4
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
You are eligible to apply for post-completion OPT if you meet all of the following
criteria:
1. You are currently in valid F-1 status.
2. You have maintained valid F-1 status for at least one academic year prior to the
desired start of OPT.
3. You will be completing ALL of your Degree or Diploma requirements by the end
of the current semester (including required internships or practicums).
4. You must be listed as "graduated" in Berklee's system no later than 21 calendar
days after final grades are available online.
5. You have not exceeded 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training
(CPT) authorization (part-time CPT does not affect OPT eligibility)
6. You have not had previous USCIS-approved OPT authorization at the same
degree level
5
Berklee and are now completing a master's program at Berklee, you are eligible
for OPT for your graduate program.
6
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
You may only work in a field directly related to your studies at Berklee, and you
must be able to make a logical connection between your studies and your
employment.
OPT is not employer specific; you can change employers and/or have multiple
employers.
You do not need a job offer to apply for OPT. You may be employed by a
business, have an internship, volunteer (unpaid positions still count as
employment), and/or be self-employed.
Many Berklee students on OPT are self-employed musicians. You are considered
self-employed if you do any of the following, whether collaborating with others or
working on your own material:
Freelance
Give lessons
Gigging
Busking
If you are self-employed, time spent preparing materials for work, rehearsing for a
gig, auditioning, making phone calls, and sending emails all count as employment.
This is all part of a musician's career!
7
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
No.
No
8
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
9
10
11
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
You may volunteer in an area not related to your studies, if you are otherwise
maintaining valid F-1 status (working 20 hours a week in an area related to your
studies) and are not receiving any compensation for the volunteer position.
What is volunteering?
A volunteer position is one that has historically been unpaid, and is a role that
serves the community. An example of volunteering is playing music for patients in
the hospital, helping at an after school program for children, or serving food at a
soup kitchen for homeless people. See our web page for more information about
Volunteering vs Employment.
12
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
You are required to work at least 20 hours per week between your USCIS-approved
start and end dates; however, you can work more if you want, and you can spread
out these 20 hours per week however you want. For example, you can work five
hours each day, or you can work 20 hours all in one day.
13
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
If you do not report your employment on time, this will also count as
unemployment.
Travel outside of the U.S. is considered unemployment unless one of the following
conditions apply:
You are traveling abroad as part of your employment, and you will
subsequently re-enter the U.S. to resume employment.
You are traveling outside the U.S. during time off authorized by your employer,
i.e., for vacation.
Even doing volunteer work in your major field of study counts as employment. It
doesn't need to be paid work. For example, performing at your church or teaching
free music classes at a community youth program counts can be reported as OPT
employment.
If you are unemployed or out of the U.S. for more than 90 days, your OPT will
automatically be cancelled.
14
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
* 4. Since I can have more than one job, can I have another job that's not
related to my studies at Berklee but makes me more money, like
driving for Uber?
Yes, sure!
No way!
15
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
No!
You cannot do miscellaneous jobs such as drive for Uber, babysit, or work as a
bartender. Any job that you have while on OPT must relate to your studies at
Berklee or the Boston Conservatory and require a music, dance or theater degree!
16
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Self-employment
While on OPT, you must work at least 20 hours per week. If you are self-employed,
you will report your employment as "self-employed" – you do not need to report
each individual gig/job you take that make up your self-employment.
For your own records (and future work visa applications), keep a record of all of your
jobs and the work that you do to support that job, such as auditioning, rehearsing,
traveling to gigs, buying instrument parts, tuning your instruments, emailing,
promoting yourself on social media, etc.
Even if you are between gigs, but are doing these things, this this is all part of a your
career, and can be considered employment.
False
17
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Self-employment
The U.S. is very relaxed in its self-employment laws, so you don’t need to have an
established business. Your job just needs to relate to your studies. However, be
sure to keep records of payment because you will be required to file taxes on your
income!
* 6. I'm a musician, but I'm not gigging every day. How do I show
employment?
I just report my three-hour weekly gig, and I’m good to go.
I need to record all of the work that goes into gigging, including auditioning, rehearsing,
emailing for self-promotion, and buying equipment for my instrument, as well as the actual
gig itself.
18
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Consider what you use in your day-to-day life to keep track of your engagements:
Google calendar events, emails with people you're working for or collaborating with,
your daily to-do lists, etc.
You may also like to keep a journal detailing the hours that you worked and the
payments that you received.
Keep all of your receipts related to your work, including those for traveling to
and from a gig, audition, rehearsal, etc; or for buying instrument-related
equipment.
Keep a physical record of all payments received. If you were paid by check,
make a copy of it before you cash it. If you were paid in cash, ask for a receipt.
Are you playing gigs that are promoted online or in print? Keep a copy of it!
Even if your name isn't on the promotional material, keep a copy anyway, and
ask the person who hired you to write a short letter confirming the date(s) you
worked with them and what your job was.
If you have questions about record keeping, the Berklee Career Center is a good
resource. Read more what the government requires of musicians here.
Once your OPT is approved and you begin working, report your employment here.
Don't worry, we'll email you this link and remind you of your obligations to report
employment once you get your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in the
mail.
19
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
F-1 students may travel and re-enter while their post-completion OPT application is
pending with USCIS.
While ISS has a rigorous protocol in place to support the success of your OPT
application, ultimately it is your responsibility to make sure that your OPT
application is correct, complete, and filed within the appropriate time frame. If you
are outside the U.S. and your application is rejected or denied, it may not be
possible for you to return to begin or resume your OPT. If you choose to travel while
your application is pending, be sure that you are monitoring your Berklee email and
USCIS Case Status online. Contact ISS right away if there is a problem with your OPT
application.
You must mail your OPT application to USCIS before you leave the U.S. If you leave
the U.S. without mailing your OPT application to USCIS, you will permanently lose
the opportunity to apply for OPT at your current education level.
Always re-enter the U.S. using your F-1 visa, I-20, and EAD (after OPT has been
approved). If at any point during your OPT you choose to enter the U.S. using a
different type of visa, such as ESTA or tourist), you will lose your OPT and may
potentially be found in violation of those visa regulations.
20
5. If you are outside of the U.S. when your OPT is approved, ISS will email you a
scanned copy of your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and/or I-797
Notice of Approval and you may use this to re-enter the U.S. You should also
bring proof of upcoming employment or job interview; immigration officials may
or may not request to see it when you re-enter.
Don't worry if you're not in Boston when you need a new travel signature. Email
iss@berklee.edu – we can issue a new I-20 to you with an updated signature, and you
can complete a shipping label online so we can mail it to you. Bookmark this page on
our website for future reference: https://www.berklee.edu/international-student-
services/travel-while-opt/getSig
21
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Travel outside the U.S. is permitted between your USCIS-approved OPT or STEM OPT
start and end dates as long as you have not exceeded the maximum unemployment
time allowed under OPT.
22
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
It is okay to stay in the US after your F-1 visa expires, as long as your I-20 is valid. If
you want to travel outside the U.S. after your visa expires, you will need to apply for
a new F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country before you re-
enter.
Before applying for a new F-1 visa, make sure your OPT has been approved by USCIS.
23
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Now that I know everything there is about OPT, when should I apply?
You can apply as early as 90 days before your final semester end date. If you wait to
submit your OPT application until after the semester ends, the process will take
longer. USCIS may take 110 days or longer to process your application, so plan
accordingly. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible!
The latest USCIS can receive your application is 59 days after the semester end date.
However, the longer you wait to submit, the less OPT time you may be approved for.
Warning: if you leave the U.S. after your last semester but before applying for OPT,
you will lose eligibility for OPT!!
24
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Berklee students: Prior to submitting your OPT application to ISS, carefully review
each section of your degree audit. If your degree audit is incorrect, contact the
Office of the Registrar to confirm what you need to do to have it updated.
Boston Conservatory students: if you have missing credit(s) for graduation, you
must obtain a letter from your Division Dean explaining how the missing credit(s)
will be accounted for.
25
26
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
How do I apply?
27
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
No worries! You can send us your application via email to iss@berklee.edu. Once we
review the application materials, we will mail them to an address of your choice.
Note: Don't forget that you must be in the U.S. when submitting your OPT
application. You cannot submit it from abroad, you must mail it to USCIS before
leaving the U.S.!
28
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
You must select the date within the 60 days after your I-20 program end date (your
60-day grace period) that you would prefer to start working. ISS will enter the date
in SEVIS and it will appear on page 2 of your I-20.
**Note: Music Therapy majors will have different OPT dates depending on their
internship dates. Please reach out to ISS for more info.
29
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
30
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
31
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Application Materials
Your complete OPT application will include all of the items listed below.
The Application for Post-Completion OPT and Form I-765 with instructions will be
available at the end of this workshop.
32
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
I-765 Form
You will need to complete the new I-765 Form. On the last page of this training, you
will find a link to the I-765 instructions and form.
33
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
I-20s
Try to find all of your I-20s. Maybe even look under your bed! ISS does not keep
copies of old I-20s.
Don't worry if you find that you are missing any past I-20s – USCIS no longer requires
submission of ALL previous I-20s. However, we recommend that you submit copies
of any previously-issued I-20s that you have.
YOU MUST MAKE PHOTOCOPIES OF YOUR DOCUMENTS to submit for your OPT
application. ISS will no longer make photocopies for students.
34
35
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Retrieve and print your most recent electronic I-94 record here . Carefully check
whether the "Most Recent Date of Entry" in the I-94 is the actual date of your entry
to the U.S. and that you were entered in F-1 Student status.
36
37
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Remember when we said that you are still on F-1 student visa status? When you
apply for the OPT benefit, ISS will issue you a new OPT I-20 which shows that you are
still in F-1 Student status.
This is what your new I-20 will look like with the OPT request on it. Be sure to send
the copy with your application, and keep the original.
Note: unlike your old I-20s, the travel authorization signature on your OPT I-20 is
only good for 6 months.
38
39
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
ISS will take no more than 2 weeks to process your OPT documents and email you
when they are ready to be picked up. Your packet will contain detailed instructions
for your next steps and three sets of documents:
1. Your original OPT recommended I-20, which you will use to travel. Do NOT mail
this to USCIS.
2. A copy of your OPT application for your own records.
3. Your OPT application that you will mail to USCIS. You will need to include a
$410 check or money order made payable to “Department of Homeland
Security and two passport photos.
Mail your completed OPT application right away! There will be mailing instructions
included. Make sure you save your mailing receipt/tracking number to verify when
USCIS receives your application!
40
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Passport Photos
As we mentioned, you need to submit 2 passport-sized photos when you mail your
application to USCIS ( not when you bring it to ISS)
41
42
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
ISS will receive a Receipt Notice from USCIS approximately 30 days after USCIS
receives your OPT application. We will scan and email you a copy of the receipt
notice. Check it carefully for any errors, such as the spelling of your name or your
birthday. If anything is incorrect, contact ISS immediately.
You can follow the progress of your case online using the number assigned on your
receipt notice.
Remember that USCIS takes 110 days or longer to process your OPT
application.
43
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Communication
All mail regarding your OPT application, including your EAD card, will be sent to
Berklee's ISS Office. We will email you with any updates.
Here is the information for Berklee graduates to activate their alumni accounts.
Note: Boston Conservatory students email will not change to an alumni address
44
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Once your OPT application is approved, you will be issued an EAD (employment
authorization) card. The card will be mailed to Berklee, and we will email you once it
arrives to our office. You can either come to ISS and pick it up, or we can mail it to
you, even if you are out of the country.
If you are outside of the US, you will need your EAD card along with your OPT I-
20 to re-enter. The original card or a scanned copy of your card are acceptable.
If you are not in Boston, we recommend having the card sent via UPS express
mail. Regular mail does not have tracking and can be slow and unreliable. If
your EAD card is ever lost, you must pay another $410, and wait another 90 days
for the card.
You must wait to start working until you have your EAD card in your hands.
You will be informed about how to report your OPT employment.
* 7.
I see on MyUSCIS.com that my OPT has been approved. Can I start
working now?
Sure, go ahead!
45
46
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Once you physically have your EAD card in your hands, AND the start date of your
OPT as listed on your EAD card has arrived, you can start working!!
Explain to your employer that you are waiting for your immigration benefit to be
processed and you cannot start working beforehand. Working before you have your
OPT approval is considered unauthorized employment and can jeopardize both you
and your employer!
47
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
End of OPT
Once your OPT end date passes, you have a 60-day grace period in which you can:
leave the country
transfer to a new school
request a change to your immigration status (from F-1 to a different status)
travel and finally enjoy the U.S.!
If you choose not to apply for OPT after completing your studies, you still have the
60-day grace period from the date of graduation.
* 8. I love my job. Can I continue working in the U.S. after my OPT ends?
Yes.
No.
48
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
No! Once your OPT work authorization ends, you must stop working. If you continue
working, your SEVIS record may be terminated for “unauthorized employment,”
which could result in your deportation from the US.
You are allowed to stay in the US for 60 days after your EAD card expires.
Some students may have an opportunity to transition to another type of work visa
which permits employment beyond the expiration of their OPT. Every semester ISS
invites an immigration attorney to speak about employment visa options. Check the
iss@berklee.edu calendar for any scheduled events.
Note: Choosing to work without authorization may hurt your chances for future visa
applications or Change of Status petitions!
No.
49
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Starting Summer 2018, graduates from the following majors may be eligible for the
STEM Extension to extend their OPT for an additional 2 years:
Contemporary Writing and Production
Electronic Production and Design
Film Scoring
Music Production and Engineering
Graduates of these majors must apply first for their initial year of OPT as outlined in
this workshop. Then 90 days before their EAD expires, they would be eligible to
apply for the STEM Extension.
Application details are on the Berklee ISS page here:
https://www.berklee.edu/international-student-services/stem-opt
50
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Students who have pending or approved UCIS approved Optional Practical Training
qualify for the insurance plan offered through Gallagher Student Health & Special
Risk (Gallagher) at the published student rates.
Berklee’s student health insurance is Blue Cross Blue Shield and can be used
throughout the United States and abroad (except in a student’s home country).
51
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Some internships may also require college credit, while others will not. If you do
need to enroll in Berklee to get college credit for an internship, you will also need to
request part time.
52
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
53
54
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Almost Finished!
14. Our online OPT workshop is still pretty new! Is there anything you
would like our office to know about the workshop? (Keep in mind that
you will get a pdf of this presentation for your reference and the OPT
application documents on the next page!)
55
International Student
Services
2019-2020 OPT Workshop
Next Steps
Congratulations, you're ready to apply for post-completion OPT! Here's what you need to
do:
1. Download the Berklee Application for Post-Completion OPT. Click here to download.
2. Follow the checklist on Page 1 of the application to prepare your application.
3. Download Form I-765 and follow instructions in the presentation to fill out each
question on the form accurately. Click here to view the instructions and download
the form.
4. After you've completed all of your application documents as listed on the
Application Checklist, bring your application to ISS during drop-in hours, or make an
appointment with your advisor.
A PDF of this presentation can be found here! Save this PDF for your future
reference.
**Completing this workshop does not mean that you have applied for OPT. You will need to fill out the
documents above and submit them to ISS to apply for OPT.**
56