[Intl-stu] Students in last registered semester and post completion OPT

Fri Feb 18 17:57:05 CST 2005

SUBJECT: Students in last registered semester and post completion OPT

If Spring 2005 is your last semester to register for classes and you want to
obtain post completion OPT authorization (EAD card), you must apply for it
before the semester ends. Post completion OPT must be applied in your last
registered semester. This semester may or may not be your graduating
semester. Your post completion OPT application package must reach the
immigration adjudicator before the last day of the semester (May 14, 2005).
Your OPT application will be rejected if your package is received after May
14. To allow for mailing time, and assure that your OPT application reaches
the immigration adjudicator in time, the last day for an appointment to
apply for post completion OPT with one of the international student is May
6. Please call in advance for an appointment. Forms and instruction for OPT
application can be downloaded from
 http://www7.tamu-commerce.edu/international/OPT.htm
<http://www7.tamu-commerce.edu/international/OPT.htm> 
On your appointment day, please bring all required items with you and be on
time. Forms must be completed in advance before you arrive for your
appointment.
It can take up to 90 days after the application before you receive your post
completion OPT authorization (EAD Card). However, based on our experience
with the previous students, majority of our students have received the EAD
card within 30-60days after the application. You may not start your
employment before the OPT authorization date.

I want to point out that OPT application is optional, NOT mandatory. Some
students may not want to obtain OPT authorization- that is your choice. If
you do not want to obtain post completion OPT after you complete your
studies, you have 3 other options: change to another visa category, transfer
to another school to begin a new degree, or prepare to depart the US.
Whichever option you choose, you must take action within 60 days after the
last day of the semester or you will be out-of-status. Employment is not
allowed during these 60 days grace period.

Questions/answers many students have asked:

1. What is the difference between the "final registered semester" and the
"graduating semester"? Are they the same?
Answer: These two terms do not always have the same meaning. 
The Immigration uses the "final registered semester" to determine the ending
of your full time F-1 status, it does not matter whether you have filed for
graduation or not. If you want to remain in the US on legal F-1 status, you
must apply for post completion OPT before this semester ends and you must
move into post completion OPT  F-1 status after this semester ends. Students
who have registered for all courses but have not fulfilled all requirements
to graduate or who have not filed for graduation by the deadline MUST apply
for post completion OPT in this last registered semester and can later file
for graduation in the following semester when all requirements are met.
The university uses the term "graduating semester" to determine when you
have met all requirements to graduate. This is the semester that you will
actually receive a diploma and your degree.
For students who have fulfilled all requirements to graduate and have filed
for graduation by the deadline, the "last registered semester" and the
"graduating semester" will have the same meaning and they will take place in
the same semester.
.

2. What should I do if I registered for classes in my last semester but at
the end of the semester I cannot complete my courses so I cannot file for
graduation in this semester?
Answer: As soon as you know that you will not be able to complete the
courses by the end of that semester, you must contact your instructor and
request for incomplete grades; you must also apply for post completion OPT
before the deadline and before the semester ends if you want to remain in
legal F-1 status in the US.  You can work on the incomplete courses while
you are on post completion OPT authorization and file for graduation in the
following semester when you complete your courses. Without post completion
OPT registration in SEVIS, you will be out-of-status for not registered in
class as a full time student. The immigration regulations only require that
you apply for post completion OPT in your last registered semester, which
may be prior to your graduating semester. 

3. If I am on CPT in my last registered semester, can I apply for post
completion OPT in the same semester?
Answer: Yes.  In fact, this is what we advise you to do. Because it takes up
to 90 days for post completion OPT to be approved after your timely
application, when your CPT ends at the end of the semester, your post
completion OPT authorization will become effective.

Noi Prapan
Director, International Student Services
Texas A&M University-Commerce
P.O.Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429
Phone: 903-886-5097
FAX: 903-468-3200
Noi_Prapan at tamu-commerce.edu

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