hello!

hello

hello from SF

Hello

Hello, students! Thanks for joining us! If you have not already, please say hello in the chat pod and let us know where you are joining from. :)

Hi from SF

hello from sf

Students, as I mentioned before, when typing in the chat, please click the drop down and select “Panelists and Attendees”, so that other students can see your question/comment, which will help connect the replies provided by our panelist/presenters. Thanks!

Hello from Bay Area

Also, students please hold any questions you have until after the presentation. Thanks!

hello from sf!

yes

yes

yes

yes

yea

yes

yes

yes

yes

https://my.academyart.edu/content/dam/assets/pdf/int-stud/opt-online-tutorial.pdf

https://www.uscis.gov/i-765

https://my.academyart.edu/aau-forms/international-admissions/opt-i-20-request-form

International Student Services email: intlservices@academyart.edu

AAU Career Services email: careerdevelopment@academyart.edu

https://my.academyart.edu/students/my-academy/student-resources/international-student-resources#OPT-Reporting

International Student Services email: intlservices@academyart.edu

https://www.sevp.ice.gov/opt/#/login

https://www.e-verify.gov/

International Student Services email: intlservices@academyart.edu

Website: https://www.academyart.edu/admissions/international-student-resources/

How do I know if my company is E-verify?

Can we work for multiple employers while on OPT?

What about OPT for fine artists? We’re not always employed, but sometimes just working on paintings for a future show. Is this ok? Would I need a business license in this case, since I wouldn’t have a contract yet?

What are the method of payment I can use? Only check?What if I want to travel in between end of the semester and beginning of new employment?

If we want our OPT to start 2 month after completion are you allowed to stay in US until our OPT start date ? Are we able to travel outside the US and come back before our OPT start date ?

Is it possible to get a H1B visa after OPT?

Can I travel after applying for OPT and before I receive EAD card?

@dandan yes, you have regular OPT, and STEM, STEM is an extension of OPT

If I am graduating on August (summer is my last semester) when the best time to apply for OPT?

The part time needs to have a minimum of 20 hours?

Or the 20 hours are cumulative?

Hi, I know my question is not smart. If my company is not in US, but they allow remote work. Does this situation work for OPT?

You mentioned CPT approval in the last semester may cause a delay in applying for OPT. So is it not recommended for me to look for internships anymore?

im graduating this summer instead of the spring semester, so should I still apply my OPT 90 days before my summer semester ends, which is not on the May29th. thank you.

Hi, My question is. I’m in a situation were my visa is expired and couldn’t go home due to covid to renew, but i want to go home this February to renew it, is it going to affect my process, i guess i have till the ending of July?

how important is my previous OPT and CPT documents, if I no longer have a copy of them, what should I do?

If I am a freelancer working on commissions, would a written contract with the commissioner be good to prove it? Would commissions from overseas be acceptable?

@Linda you may get a check or other compensation like transportation fee or insurance, or etc....

How can I visit my AAU email? What can I do if I forget my password?

@Valeria you may start to apply for OPT in MAy, 90 days before the program end date

Do I have to sign my OPT I-20 before I sent out my application?

Do we need to obtain SSN card after receiving EAD?

Do I need to report to AAU Employment form and the US website or can I just do at AAU and you update for the government?

@Ting: for issues with your AAU email and password, please contact Online Help Desk: Phone, U.S. only (toll-free): 1.888.431.2787 (ARTS) Phone, International: +1.415.618.3545 Email: online@academyart.edu

if OPT students do not find employment, can the OPT students freelance?

for change of employment, do we report to uscis, the school or both?

If we’re still in the bay, can we schedule an appointment to review the package in person before we submit it?

@Linda you must have 20 hours per week average

The 90 days unemployment period, is that a cumulative counts towards STEM, does that continue towards the STEM program? or are they separate things? Which means it will be a brand new 90 days in the STEM program?

I think I will apply for OPT in the last week of March. Will it be too late? I’m worried about the delay because of the Covid.

@Atila, yes, please work with your company to apply for H1B

The H1B lottery is held in March every year. Our different majors are allowed to work at different OPT time. I am Fine Art Major. If I get an EAD card in May, can I work until March of the following year?

Can I get an updated I-20 (after applying for OPT) be delivered at one address and the OPT approval documents including EAD card be delivered on the other address?

@Yuan your OPT company has to be based on the US

@Ka wing, yes, you need to apply 90 days before Summer ends

Thank you Cherry

thank you Cherry!

@Halimat, you can apply for OPT with expired visa. THe visa is only for re-entry permit to the US, it's fine to have expired visa in the US as long as you maintain your F-1 status.

Do we have someone to help us within the documentation process? If we have doubts while answering the questions and applying for the OPT

@Luiza, your OPT company has to be based on the US. Commission payment is OK.

@Ting, if you forget your password, please click the link to reset your password when you log in on AAU website

This is my second time apply for OPT, is there any different than the first time I apply? Thank you !

@Fiti, yes, you need to sign on your OPT I-20

John said to qualify for OPT we need to have been enrolled for an entire academic year meaning 9 month so Fall, Spring and Summer ?

@Valeriya When you apply for OPT, you also apply for SSN. SSN card will be mailed separately after you get the EAD card by mail.

If while on the OPT you have an expired visa but a valid f-1 Status, i-20 and passport can you leave the US?

@prachedes when you update on AAU website, we also update on SEVIS, so you can just report to school.

If my start date is picked for July for example, but I received my EAD card earlier, can I begin my work earlier?

Thank you Cherry

@Lina, when you get the green card, please send the green card copy, so we can update your student status, it wont' affect on OPT application

@Tanavi, yes, you can freelance while on OPT

It’s my second time applying for OPT, should I include all I20, OPTs of my undergrad when mailing the packet?

@Nathaniel when you change the company, you nee to report to school.

As a fine artist, can I be self-employed and sell my work without working for a company?

Do we have 90 days to find a job after sending the documentation to SEVIS? It starts counting when I apply for it?

@Sam we work remotely, please send your documents to us to get reviewed

what if the freelance work is not hired by a company, but from a private client? Like for example one regular person commissions a painted portraited of themselves and in this case, I would work painting it by myself without a supervisor. How would I report it?

On the AAU OPT Online tutorial, it mentions “Employees may present their USCIS Approval notice as a document for I-9 until Feb 1, 2021. Are they planning to extend this policy?

If my start date for OPT is 2 months after my graduation date, does the 2 months count towards my 90 days unemployment period? when does the unemployment period start counting?

will we cover about tax filing as well?

@KS while you are OPT, you have 90 days for unemployment, and while on STEM 60 days for unemployment. You can carry unused unemployment time to STEM.

@Heesun, last week of March is still fine to apply for OPT

Thank you Cherry

@Haiping OPT is for 1 year, if your OPT ends after APril 1st, you can apply for H1B in that year.

Thank you Cherry!

Does our AAU email last forever? how long can we still have access to the email after graduation?

@Manali when you apply for OPT to USCIS, you need to write the mailing address for OPT card. so if you want us to mail the OPT I-20 to different address, that's fine

do you receive a new SSN when changing from CPT to OPT?

@Nghi 90 days prior to program end date

Thank you @cherry. One more question, can I travel after applying for OPT and before I receive EAD card?

@Chih 90 days unemployment time is for total time of OPT. So if you used 30 days already, you will have 60 days left, for example, it does not reset

@KS: Alumni will have access to email for one year after graduation.

@Prachedes please ask us the questions anytime

@Wa you need to check the "renewal" on I-765 and include your previous EAD & previous OPT I-20 in the application.

@Camille, you need to complete at least 1 academic year of Spring & Fall semesters.

Thank you Cherry

can OPT students work for an employers who doesn't have a e-verification number?

@Maria You must have a valid F-1 visa in order to return the US, please renew it before you return

@KS, you must begin to work on your OPT EAD card start date

I am Currently in my last semester and currently volunteering with a company. how can I record that.

The part time needs to have a minimum of 20 hours? Or the 20 hours are cumulative?

Like with different part time jobs

@Kim, while on OPT, you can be self-employed and freelance.

@Prachedes your unemployment time starts on the start date on your EAD card

how do I report employment if i'm self-employed or freelancing?

Thank you Cherry

@Cherry if I’m self-employed, how do I report on the form without a company or supervisor?

@Luiza, you report to school as a freelancer or contractor. Also you can be self-employed

@Fifi no updates about it as of now.

After submitting for the OPT how long is normally taking to receive the EAD card? Is the covid affecting in any way?

@KS your unemployment time start on the start date on your EAD card

what if my EAD card arrives way too late?

@Sayaka, let's say, you have 3 jobs and one is 5 hours per week, another one is 7 hours per week, last one is 8 hours per week, that's fine as total hours are 20 hours per week.

-what if I can get a part time job for some time that guarantees less than 20 hours while I am looking for another part time to add to that? Would that be considered unemployment?

Thank cherry for the answer before! I didn’t see it

@Nathaniel you need ask CPA or your company about taxes.

@Linda SSN is for your life time, no need to get another one

If I get an unpaid internship, without any compensation before EAD arrives, can I take the internship?

@Manali after your program ends, you must have EAD card in order to return the US.

So once you have completed an MA and used OPT you can't get later an MFA and apply fot OPT again?

@Tanavi, yes, while on OPT, E-verify doesn't matter. only it's required for STEM company

How do I report employment if the company doesn't have an e-verify number?

@Hasthi Volunteering is OK since it's not paid. If you want to apply for CPT, please contact us.

Thank You Cherry

@Linda it's for total hours. You can add all hours from all jobs and average 20 hours per week.

@Nghi yes. you can start to apply for OPT starting from 03/01/2021 as no 02/29/2021 in 2021.

It is too late to apply for CPT during your last semester and later for OPT? How long does CPT application takes?

@Tanavi please report using OPT reporting form. it's in the OPT tutorial

Thank You Cherry

@Yoonhwa yes, including weekends & holidays

If I set the start date of my OPT for after the 60 days grace period after graduation, do I still have 60 days at the end of the OPT to leave the country?

So is the ealiest date to apply for OPT is Feb, 29?

@Prachedes it takes about 3-5 months nowadays

ok

Thank you, Cherry

@Nathaniel if USCIS delays the processing, they normally put the start date when they issue your EAD card. Please contact us if there are any issues.

@Linda, 20 hours is minimum work hours by the OPT law. However, due to COVID19, you may work less than 20 hours for now, but we recommend to work 20 hours per week to be safe.

@Minseo There are immigration law & labor department law. We recommend you to wait till you start to work as there could be a conflict.

@Jocelyn OPT is given one time per degree level. so you get OPT after MA, you can't get another OPT after MFA.

I am still confused about what they consider unemployment vs. freelance in the case of fine artists working by themselves on developing paintings for a show, for example. Considering that in this case, there would not be a contract between artist and gallery

@Tanavi, E-verify is not required for OPT.

Thank You Cherry

@Jocelyn If you are qualified for CPT, you can apply for CPT, it takes about 3 business days once we have job offer letter & director's approval.

thanks Cherry

@Luiza Yes, let's say your OPT start date is 07/28/2021, and you maintain your OPT status, you will have 60 days grace period after 1 year of OPT.

this is my final semester when is the right time to apply for the OPT also which do I apply for STEM or OPT ?

When I am self employed am I allowed to work with foreign client only? I would like to help a foreign company launch their apparel collections in US.

@Nghi there's no 02/29/2021, so 03/01/2021

If I didn't find work in 60 days, can I use 90 unemployed days to continue to find work?

@Lucky you may apply for OPT from 03/01/2021 and 07/27/2021, we recommend to apply as soon as you can.

Thank you! it is clear now for me regarding fine artists

@Lucky you apply for OPT now and apply for STEM before your OPT ends.

What if I’m a self employed fine artist and sell through my own website, is that considered unemployment?

@Yue you have only 90 days for unemployment days

Dose a paid or unpaid internship also can consider as employed?

Can I contact the career department for help with resume and to find a job?

thanks Cherry

@Prachedes yes please contact career development center

@Hasthi you can apply for OPT in your last semester and you need work in your major filed. doesn't matter to get paid or not.

That you Cherry, thank you all for the information provided.

Thank you, all!

thanks all!

Thanks John and Charry

Thank you!

Please feel free to let us know if you have any questions

Thank you!

thank you

Thanks to the students that attended today and asking great questions! Thank you to our International Student Services panelists for the wonderful presentation, all the great resources, and answers in the chat! Have a great Spring semester and be well!

Thank you so much

Thank you!

stay safe

thank you!

Thank you

Thanks

Thank you Anna, John, Cherry, Polly~!!

thank you