X
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Community Updates
For updated information related to NJIT’s response to the Coronavirus health crisis, please see complete announcement of new measures.
For updated information related to NJIT’s response to the Coronavirus health crisis, please see complete announcement of new measures.
*Students must review the requirements outlined for OPT employment and determine if their position meets these criteria. The OGI is not able to approve/disprove employment for OPT students, and it is the responsibility of the student to enter all employment information in a timely manner in the SEVP Portal. You may find instructions about OPT Reporting HERE.
**There is no longer be an option to report initial OPT employment or change of employment for 12-month post-completion OPT in the Highlander Pipeline.**
Students must follow the instructions for OPT reporting HERE in order to comply with federal OPT employment requirements.
Additionally, students may find information about the SEVP Portal HERE.
If your program of study has ended:
Unless it is an emergency, do not travel while your OPT is pending if your I-20 program of study has ended.
You will not be able to re-enter with an I-20 if your program end date has passed until your OPT is approved. Additionally, USCIS might send you a Request for Further Evidence (RFE) to your U.S. address while you are abroad, which requires answering as soon as possible. If your OPT is approved while you are outside the U.S. you will be required to have your EAD in hand to re-enter the country. USCIS cannot mail your EAD outside of the U.S. If you leave the U.S. after your I-20 has expired but before your OPT is approved, you will have to wait until your OPT is approved and you have received your EAD before returning to the U.S. Someone will have to mail you your EAD to your home country (consider the risks of losing the EAD in the mail).
If you have not yet completed your program of study:
Students may choose to travel and re-enter the US prior to their program end date while their OPT application is pending with USCIS at their own discretion. Travel will not cancel a pending OPT application, however, if you are outside of the US and USCIS send you a Request For Evidence, you will not be present to address this request in a timely manner and may jeopardize your OPT application. Additionally, travel and re-entry so close to the end of your program may raise questions with Customs and Border Patrol, and students may wish to carry copies of course syllabus, class schedules, etc in order to demonstrate to CBP that their return to the US for the last few weeks of their program is critical for their graduation and completion of their degree.
In order to reenter you must have your EAD in hand, your I-20 with a valid travel signature, valid passport and visa, and proof of employment.
Travel signatures are valid for only 6 months while on OPT.
If you exceed your 90 days of unemployment while outside the U.S., CBP can deny your reentry.
Employer approved vacations are not considered "unemployment", as this is an earned vacation benefit. If you are continuously employed while on vacation, you will not be accruing unemployment days.
OPT employment authorization is automatically terminated when student begins study at another educational level, regardless of the approved dates listed on the EAD card.
Students MAY NOT continue employment, in any capacity, after starting coursework for a new program, unless they receive prior authorization to do so.
Additionally, OPT employment authorization is automatically terminated the day a student's SEVIS record is transferred to another institution. if you will be transferring to another school, plan your SEVIS transfer release date accordingly with your employer and new institution in order to avoid status violations.
Recreational and avocational classes are permissible. Recreational and avocational classes are those done to pursue a hobby or personal interest, but will not lead to another degree at any level.