On-line workshop: Filing for 12-month initial EAD card
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is adjudicated (approved) by the United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Office of International Services (OIS) is the Designated School Official (DSO) for USC graduates. The end result of filing for either the 12-month initial OPT or 17-month OPT extension is an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) which shows dates you are able to work legally in the United States. Please note that the entire process from filing your application to USCIS issuing your EAD card on average takes 3 -4 months. However, this estimate is contingent upon your timely returning to sign your OPT I-20 and may be exceeded due to current processing volume at the USCIS California Service Center.
Handing in your OPT application
OIS will begin accepting OPT applications for Fall 2008 graduates on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th.
All OPT hand-ins should being during group hand-ins sessions which will be EVERY Wednesday starting September 10th till November 26th.
Location: GFS 118
Time: 2 – 3 pm (No sign-up is necessary)
If you are unable to come to group hand-ins on Wednesdays, please call the OIS front desk to schedule an OPT take-in appt. with an advisor at 213-740-2666. OPT applications should be submitted to OIS no less than 3 weeks before graduation or by the week of Thanksgiving break.
**It is important you return to OIS to sign your OPT application I-20 no later than the date written on your OIS receipt. OIS has only 30 days from the date of I-20 issuance for your application to reach USCIS otherwise the application will be cancelled.
