OPT Request Approved Template Email

Dear %firstname%,

Your OPT request has been approved. As the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has stated that digital I-20s will be permanently recognized, your OPT Request I-20 has been issued to you as a PDF file. Please find attached also a copy of your SEVIS Employment Information sheet.^*

Make sure to print and hand-sign in blue or black ink the "student attestation" section of the attached I-20 and make a single-sided, black and white copy of it to mail to USCIS for your OPT application if you will apply by mail. If you are e-filing (myUSCIS account registration required for first-time e-filers) scan your hand-signed I-20 afterwards to upload to your online I-765 application.

*You won’t receive one if you have never been authorized for CPT or OPT prior to this application. If you have previously been authorized for CPT and/or OPT under a different SEVIS ID, it is your responsibility to gather documentation relating to those CPTs and OPTS and provide them according to the application filing method chosen (see end of section on Form I-765 Corrections for e-filing evidence submission procedure).

Double-check your I-20

• DSO signature on page 1.
• DSO signature on page 2.
• OPT recommendation on page 2, under "Employment Authorizations."

Attachments (Both are required for your application to USCIS)

• OPT I-20
• SEVIS Employment Information Sheet (if applicable)

General Reminders

• Check your I-20 to ensure the OPT recommendation is on page 2.
• Use only USCIS' Form I-765 direct link to ensure that you download and file with the correct form edition.
• Check the fee amount on the USCIS website and make sure you are paying the correct amount.
• Include 2 passport-sized photos, taken within the last 30 days, in your application. You need to write your full name and I-94 number on the back of each photo if applying by mail.
• All handwritten sections on the I-765 must be written with a black pen. You cannot use a blue pen on the I-765.
• When signing page 5, sign your name by hand with a black pen and keep your signature completely within the box, without touching the lines. You cannot use digital/electronic signatures on a paper-filed I-765 application. 

Form I-765 Corrections

Before mailing a paper I-765 application for OPT, it is your responsibility to ensure you've used the most recent version of the I-765 from USCIS' I-765 webpage

• Page 1
  • Part 2, 1.a-b.: Your response to 1.a. regarding your surname should be your response to 1.b. regarding your given name and vice versa. So, swap your responses here for each other--i.e., enter 'Moratinos Aguerrebere' as your response to 1.a., and move 'Luis Fernando' next to 1.b.
• Page 2
  • Part 2, 5.a.: Leave blank since you indicated below (in item number 6) that this is also your physical address. 
  • Part 2, 18.a.: Enter your country of citizenship. 
• Page 3
  • Part 2, 27: Format as follows: ([c])([3])([B])
• Page 4
  • Part 3, 4: If the number entered in item number 3 directly above is a cell phone number, duplicate that here instead of leaving it blank.
• Page 5
  • Part 3, 7.a.: Sign your name by hand with a black pen. Keep your signature within the box. Do not touch or cross the lines.
  • Part 3, 7.b.: Change the signature date to today's date.
• Page 7
  • Part 6, 1.a-c.: Enter and format your name as on p. 1, pt. 2, 1.a-c. of your submitted I-765.
  • Part 6, 3.a-c.: Reference as follows:
    • 3.a.: Page Number 2
    • 3.b.: Part Number 2
    • 3.c.: Item Number 12
  • Part 6, 3.d.: In the first line, enter Case No. IOE9401707754 (Filed Mar. 26, 2022). In the lines following (staying inside 3.d. still) explain briefly that you'd independently applied for OPT without obtaining an OPT Request I-20 first, and was consequently denied "without prejudice to consideration of subsequent applications for employment authorization filed with USCIS." Skip a line (still keeping your additional information contained in 3.d.) and enter See Attached Decision letter.^**
  • Part 6, 3.a-c.: Reference as follows:
    • 3.a.: 3
    • 3.b.: 2
    • 3.c.: 27
• Part 6, 3.d.: Enter See attached SEVIS Employment Information sheet.^***

^**Note that if applying online, you won't be able to upload your Denial Notice in the same place where you provide your explanation. You must do this in two parts:

1. In your online I-765, toggle the Additional Information menu item on the left-hand side, then in the Section, Page, and Question dropdown menus, select, respectively: Getting Started, Reason for applying, Have you previously filed Form I-765? You will then enter your explanation in the Additional Information textbox that appears.
2. To upload a scan of your original Denial Notice, submit your completed application first after having filled out everything else, including the Additional Information section pertaining to your Denial Notice as directed above. Afterwards, log in to your myUSCIS account, find this application you've just submitted, then upload it as Unsolicited Evidence.

^***E-filers have a dedicated upload section in which to attach their SEVIS Employment Information sheet. See the screenshot below for reference:

Mailing Instructions

Once you have all documents, please assemble your application packet according to our instructions. You will then need to mail the packet to USCIS. It should be receipted by USCIS within 30 days of the I-20 issuance date and before the end of your F-1 grace period (60 days after I-20 program end date). After your application has been mailed, you should receive a Form I-797C Notice of Receipt in the mailing address indicated in your Form I-765 within 2-3 weeks.

We recommend that you use a mailing service that provides tracking and delivery confirmation (e.g., FedEx, UPS, USPS Priority) so you have a record that your application was delivered while you wait to receive your I-765C notice.

You can track the status of your application with USCIS. Please contact USCIS if you encounter problems with your application.

Should you need assistance with this, reach out to our office by emailing hotline@austin.utexas.edu or scheduling an appointment.

Required F-1 OPT Reporting

After your EAD card is approved, you will need to upload a copy through your myIO portal. While on OPT, you are required to report any new employment or changes in employment within 10 days through the SEVP Portal.

Note: You will not receive a link to register until all conditions below have been met:

• Your OPT application has been approved, &
• Your approved OPT start date, as indicated on your Form I-797 Approval Notice or EAD, is today or in the past.

Be sure to whitelist "do-not-reply.SEVP@ice.dhs.gov" while waiting to be approved. If it's past your approved OPT start date and you have already received your EAD, check your spam folder if it hasn't been more than 2-3 weeks since your start date.

Links that are more than 14-days old automatically expire and you will need to contact our office to have a new SEVP Portal account registration link request sent to SEVP on your behalf. This process is usually instantaneous (after we submit the request), and your new registration link will be sent from the SEVP email address shown above to your email on file.For further reading on navigating your SEVP Portal account or to troubleshoot issues, see the SEVP Portal Student User Guide.

You are also required to update your physical address/phone number/email address within 10 days of any change through myUT. Please do not update your contact information in SEVP Portal alone; such updates must be made either through myUT only or through both SEVP Portal and myUT, and never SEVP Portal alone.

Be sure to log into SEVP Portal at least once every 90 days to keep your account active. If you are unable to access SEVP Portal, please email hotline@austin.utexas.edu for assistance.

IMPORTANT: Please review the detailed instructions on OPT reporting requirements here (see page 2) and all linked resources carefully. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to write back.

Kind Regards,

Charles Adversing

C.S. Adversing, International Student Advisor
International Student and Scholar Services
Texas Global | The University of Texas at Austin
512-471-2477 | global.utexas.edu/isss