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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The staff of the ISSO recently attended a conference where
we were provided further guidance by USCIS on OPT reporting guidelines. <u><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>Below is clarification of the employment
and address reporting requirements while on OPT. <o:p></o:p></span></font></u></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>F-1 students on 12-month or 17-month OPT are required to
report any employment, change of employment, or change of address to the ISSO
within 10 days of occurrence. In addition to any changes in employment or
address, it is <u>mandatory</u> that students on 12-month OPT report their
current employment and address by the 180<sup>th</sup> day of OPT. <font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>USCIS has advised us that students who fail
to report their current employment and address information to the ISSO within
180 days of the start of their OPT may have their immigration record and I-20
marked as completed by USCIS. This may jeopardize all F-1 benefits
including employment. </span></font> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>It is <u>mandatory</u> for students on 17-month OPT extension
to report their current employment and address information to the ISSO by the 180<sup>th</sup>
day and by the 360<sup>th</sup> day of their OPT extension. <font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>Again, USCIS has advised us that students who
fail to report their current employment and address information to the ISSO by
the 180<sup>th</sup> day and 360<sup>th</sup> day of their OPT extension may
have their immigration record and I-20 marked as completed by USCIS. This
may jeopardize all F-1 benefits including employment. </span></font> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>This information may be reported by completing the online
OPT reporting form at <a
href="http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/forms.asp">http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/international/forms.asp</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>John Mark Jones, Director</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>International Student Services</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Texas</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">A&M</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University-</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Commerce</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>PO Box</span></font></st1:Street><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> 3011</span></font></st1:address><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Commerce</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">TX</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">75429</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Phone: (903) 886-5097</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Fax: (903) 468-3200</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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