What, when and how to report?

F-1 regulations require you to report any changes in your biographical and employment details to NJIT’s Office of International Students and Faculty (OISF) while on your post-completion OPT. 

You MUST report these changes within 10 days. 


Address Change

Please report any changes of local and permanent address by visiting Highlander Pipeline at http://my.njit.edu.


 Name Change

Please go to http://www.njit.edu/registrar/forms/pdf/Name.pdf.

1. Print "Request to Change Name" form

2. Complete form

3. Submit to OISF in person along with a copy of your passport showing your new name, or fax to (973) 596-5450


 Employment Information

 All employment information MUST be reported by visiting Highlander Pipeline at  

 http://my.njit.edu.  Select the "Student OPT Employment Information" link and complete all  

 required fields. 


Employment Information includes

1. Start date of employment

2. Employer name

3. Employer Address

4. Change from one OPT employer to a different OPT employer

5. Unemployment of more than 10 days

6. Employment end date (if you are unemployed for more than 10 days)

7. Change in worksite


Change in Immigration Status

Please send an email from your NJIT email account to opt@njit.edu including “Change in Immigration Status” in the subject line.  Attach a copy of supporting evidence e.g. Form I-797 approval notice.


Permanent Departure from U.S.

Please send an email from your NJIT e-mail account to opt@njit.edu including “Permanent Departure from U.S.A.” in the subject line.  Please include your name,  

 SEVIS ID#, NJIT ID# and date of permanent departure.


Types of Employment

What types of employment are allowed for standard/initial post-completion OPT?

Post completion OPT employment must be in a job that is related to your degree program.  This employment may include:

Paid employment.

Multiple employers.  You may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to your degree program.

Short-term multiple employers (performing artists).  Students, such as musicians and other performing artists may work for multiple short term employers (gigs). You should maintain a list of all gigs, the dates and duration.  If requested by DHS, students must be prepared to provide evidence showing a list of all gigs.

Work for hire. This is also commonly referred to as 1099 employment where an individual performs a service based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship. If requested by DHS, you must be prepared to provide evidence showing the duration of the contract periods and the name and address of the contracting company.

Self-employed business owner. Students on OPT may start a business and be self-employed. In this situation, you must work full time. You must be able to prove that you have the proper business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to your degree program.

Employment through an agency.  On post-completion OPT, you must be able to provide evidence showing you worked an average of at least 21 hours per week while employed by the agency.

Unpaid employment. You may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern, where this does not violate any labor laws.  The work must be at least 21 hours per week for students on post-completion OPT.  You must be able to provide evidence from the employer that you worked at least 21 hours per week during the period of employment.


Unemployment

Students on standard/initial post-completion OPT are limited to a maximum of 90 days of unemployment.

What counts as time unemployed?

You must report each day during your period of authorized standard/initial OPT when you do not have qualifying employment. The only exception is periods of up to 10 days between the end of one job and the beginning of the next job.  These days will not be included in the calculation for time spent unemployed.

What is the effect on a student’s status if you exceeds the period of unemployment?

A student who has exceeded the period of unemployment while on post-completion OPT has violated his or her status unless he or she has taken one of the following actions:

• Applied to continue his or her education by a change of level or transferring to another SEVP-certified school

• Departed the United States

• Taken action to otherwise maintain legal status

How will DHS enforce this provision?

You may be denied future immigration benefits that rely on your valid F-1 status if DHS determines that you exceeded the limitations on unemployment.

Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), may examine the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems (SEVIS) data for an individual, a selected group, or all students on post-completion OPT and terminate your record if it fails to show you maintained the proper period of employment.  In such cases, you will be given an opportunity to show that he or she complied with all OPT requirements, including maintaining employment.

How does travel outside the United States impact the period of unemployment?

If your approved period of OPT has started,  travel outside of the United States while unemployed will count as unemployment against the 90-day limit.

If you travel while employed (either during a period of leave authorized by an employer or as part of their employment), the time spent outside the United States will not count as unemployment.

Reminder:  You are required to report unemployment to NJIT’s OISF if you are unemployed for more than 10 days.   To report, visit Highlander Pipeline at:  http://my.njit.edu.


Documents to Keep

For each job or unpaid employment opportunity SEVP recommends that students maintain evidence of the following:

• position held

• proof of the duration (start and end date) of that position

• the job title

• contact information for your supervisor or manager

• and a description of the work

If it is not clear from the job description that the work is related to your degree, SEVP highly recommends that you obtain a signed letter from the employer’s hiring official, supervisor, or manager stating how your degree is related to the work performed.

For additional details, see “Types of Employment” section above. 

NJIT's OISF recommends that you also document authorized periods of vacation/leave, while employed.  Also, keep accurate records of all periods of unemployment.