• Complete Online Employment session by logging on to www.miami.edu/employmentsession. Also, read the handout on Optional Practical Training (OPT) which you will find in the Online Employment Session.

• Print the Completion Certificate to be handed in when you submit your application for OPT to International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). Students who have applied for off-campus employment in the past will still need to go to the Online Employment Session to download Form I-765. You can also obtain Form I-765 at ISSS.

• Request letter from your Academic Advisor (see template in the handout on OPT). This letter must be written on your academic department’s letterhead.

• Obtain two color photographs on white background. The photographs must be U.S. passport size. See the photo instructions attached to Form I-765, or visit www.travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotos/index.html

• Purchase a money order for $340.00, made payable to the Department of Homeland Security. Money Orders can be purchased at U.S. Post Offices, Publix supermarkets and banks.

• Bring the following documents to ISSS:

• Passport (must be valid for at least another six months).
• All previous and current Forms I-20.
• Form I-94.
• Completed application Form I-765.
• Two color photos on white background conforming to the Form I-765 photo instructions.
• Money order in the amount of $340.00 made payable to the Department of Homeland Security
• Letter from your academic advisor (see template in the handout on OPT).
• Completion Certificate for Online Employment Session.
• OPT start date:  A simple written statement indicating the requested OPT start date. For post-completion OPT, the requested OPT start date cannot be more than 60 days after your date of graduation. If you are requesting pre-completion OPT, please state the requested length of time, the start and end dates for the pre-completion OPT, and whether you are applying for part-time or full-time OPT.

• Please allow five business days for processing of your request for OPT. Your ISSS advisor will issue a new Form I-20 stating your requested OPT on page 3 and will submit the documents for your application for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) based on OPT to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). CIS takes at least three to four months to adjudicate an application for an Employment Authorization Document based on OPT.

• ISSS will notify you once the receipt notice for your EAD application has arrived so that you can collect the receipt notice. The receipt notice includes your application receipt number on the upper left side of the page. To check the status of your application, please go to www.uscis.gov and click on Case Status Online on the left side of the screen. Click on Finding the Status of Your Case and type in your application receipt number to find out the status of your application.

• ISSS will subsequently notify you once the EAD has arrived so that you can collect it along with a new Form I-20 showing your approved OPT on page 3. Please note that you cannot begin your employment until you receive your EAD and until the approved OPT start date shown on the EAD has arrived. Starting your employment before you receive your EAD and before the approved OPT start date shown on the EAD is illegal and a violation of your F-1 status.

• Please e-mail your ISSS advisor if you have any questions regarding OPT.