F-1 Students: Optional Practical Training
Overview
At the conclusion of a degree program, eligible students in F-1 visa status may apply for an employment authorization card (EAD) in their degree field valid for up to one year. This authorization is called Optional Practical Training (OPT). UW employs a number of academic personnel who start their appointments in OPT before transitioning to other visas, usually H-1B.
The F-1 student must work with their international students office to submit an I-765 Application for Employment Authorization to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to obtain the EAD. The student remains in F-1 student status for the duration of the EAD and will have a 60-day grace period when it ends. The student may not be unemployed for an aggregate of 90 days during this period or they risk falling out of status.
If a UW unit is considering offering an appointment eligible for permanent residence to an F-1 student trainee, the unit must submit an H visa request to move that student to an H-1B as soon as possible.
Please contact ISO if you have questions about hiring a trainee for a permanent appointment. Trainees on a UW-sponsored F-1 visa may also wish to review the UW International Student Services page on OPT.
F-1 STEM OPT
OPT may be extended for an additional 24 months (for a total of 36 months) if the trainee currently has all of the following:
- OPT authorization
- a degree in a qualifying science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) field
- a job or job offer from an E-Verify employer
STEM OPT employment requires that the trainee and employer complete and sign a Form I-983 Training Plan. (This form is not required for regular or initial OPT).
The trainee provides the training plan to their international students office and submits a second I-765 Application for Employment Authorization to USCIS. The trainee will need to list UW’s E-Verify employer number, 293411, on the form.
STEM OPT trainees must not replace a full-time or part-time temporary or permanent U.S. worker and the terms and conditions of the STEM OPT opportunity, including compensation and benefits, must be commensurate with similarly-situated U.S. workers. The student may not be unemployed for an aggregate of 150 days during the total OPT period or they risk falling out of status.
Completing the I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT Trainees
Note: This information is only applicable for UW campus units.
The trainee should fill out Section 1 (“Student Information”). The supervisor should fill out Section 3 (“Employer Information”). The trainee and supervisor should fill out Section 5 (“Training Plan for STEM OPT Students”) together. The trainee should sign at the bottom of page 1. An employer official with signatory authority (i.e. someone at the department chair level or above) should sign at the bottom of pages 2 and 4, and on each Evaluation on Student Progress.
Suggested entries for I-983 Training Plan Page 2, Section 3: Employer Information
Employer ID Number (EIN): 91-6001537
Employer’s Full-Time Employees in the U.S.: Refer to the most recent UW Annual Financial Report
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 611310
Fees for F-1 Optional Practical Trainees
Applications for F-1 OPT and STEM OPT require that students pay the I-765 filing fee, currently $410, to US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Under UW’s collective bargaining agreement with the UAW-4121 Postdoctoral Scholars, UW units shall reimburse this filing fee for any postdoctoral scholar on F-1 OPT or STEM OPT who paid the I-765 fee after June 20, 2023. Postdoctoral scholars seeking reimbursement for these fees should contact their payroll coordinator for more information. Guidance for units on how to process reimbursements in Workday is available at https://finance.uw.edu/ps/how-to-pay/reimbursements.
J-1 Students: Academic Training
Graduates in the J-1 “student” category may be eligible for a period of Academic Training employment authorization at the conclusion of their degree program. Academic Training must be authorized in writing by a Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) in the international office at the university where the student is graduating. Academic Training applications are not processed through USCIS, nor does the trainee receive an EAD card. The official letter from the RO, along with evidence of valid J-1 status (DS-2019, I-94, and passport) satisfy I-9 employment eligibility requirements. Academic Training may be granted for a period up to 18 months. For postdoctoral training, the overall limit is 36 months.
If a UW unit is considering offering an appointment eligible for permanent residence to an J-1 student trainee, the unit must submit an H visa request to move that student to an H-1B as soon as possible.
Transitioning to an Employment Visa
Optional Practical Training (F-1 student) and Academic Training (J-1 student) provide temporary employment authorization. Before hiring a trainee in an academic personnel title, consult an ISO advisor to determine whether options exist for the UW to provide visa sponsorship to continue the employment beyond the expiration of the training period.