Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT & STEM Reporting

Immigration regulations require F-1 students on post-completion OPT and STEM OPT to report any change in their employment details, employment relationship to major, change in status and personal contact information on or after their approved OPT start date. All updates must be reported within 10 days of the change. To request a new I-20 showing new employer information, or for change of status to H1B, etc. submit a New I-20 Request Form.

The OPT reporting form is for students who are on their first year of OPT.

The STEM OPT reporting form is for students who are in a (STEM) degree on their 2nd and 3rd year of OPT.

SEVP Portal Information

When your OPT start date begins, you will receive an email from SEVP to create an SEVP Portal account. Emails will ONLY come from Do-Not-Reply.SEVP@ice.dhs.gov. If you do not receive this email within 1-2 weeks check your SPAM or junk email folder and add this email address to your safe sender list. Always double check the sender address before entering your information. 

At this time, we ask that you do not update your own information in the SEVP Portal. All changes should be submitted to ISSS through the OPT Reporting forms. Please use the SEVP Portal only to monitor your information for accuracy. To ensure your employer information is accurate, we ask that you log into your SEVP Portal account regularly and view your empoyer and contact information.

SEVP Portal Help

You will have access to your SEVP Portal six months after your OPT end date. Students who are five months or more beyond their OPT End Date will receive two emails from SEVP:

In preparation for account closure, SEVP strongly encourages students to print or save a copy of your portal record for future reference, including your Event History.