International Students and Scholars Office

Any change of U.S. address or employer while on F-1 Post-Completion Optional Practical Training must be reported in the SEVP Portal within 10 days of the change.

As of March 23, 2018, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) launched the SEVP Portal. The portal is a tool that F-1 students on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) can use to report changes to their home address, telephone number and employer information. You will receive an automated email from SEVP with an invitation to create an account after your OPT has been approved. For more information about the SEVP Portal, visit the Study in the States website.

We recommend that you login to the ISSO Portal to request a print of your I-20 after submitting an employer update to the Portal to receive an updated I-20 with your new employer information. 

Please note: students will only have access to the SEVP Portal for up to six months after their OPT ends. SEVP strongly encourages students to print or save a copy of their portal record for future reference, including their Event History.

Any change of employer while on J-1 Academic Training (sponsored by Brandeis University) must be approved in advance by the ISSO, including any change to the current employer, position, salary, location, job description, etc. All changes must first be approved by the ISSO prior to the change occurring. 

The process to change employers under J-1 Academic Training requires a completely new application for Academic Training Work Authorization. There may not be any gap in employment between a current and a new employer.

To apply for a new J-1 Academic Training Work Authorization, please login to the ISSO Portal.

This process does not apply to alumni whose J-1 visas are sponsored by an outside agency (i.e. Ford Foundation, Fulbright, etc.). For alumni whose J-1 visas are sponsored by an outside agency, please contact your J program sponsor for additional information.

Any alumni who have been granted a change of immigration status (i.e. from F-1 to H-1B) must report the change to the ISSO within 10 days of receiving an approval notice from USCIS. 

To report a change of immigration status, please submit the Change of Visa Notification request through the ISSO Portal.

Any alumni who depart the U.S. during an authorized period of OPT or Academic Training and remain outside of the U.S. for 5 or more months must report this occurrence.

To report a departure from the U.S. during an authorized period of OPT or Academic Training and remaining outside of the U.S. for 5 or more months, please email us.

Any alumni who return to the U.S. in an immigration status other than F-1 or J-1 during an authorized period of OPT or Academic Training must report this immediately upon entering the U.S. 

To report your return to the U.S. in an immigration status other than F-1 or J-1 during an authorized period of OPT or Academic Training, please email us. 

NOTE: Entering the U.S. in an immigration status other than F-1 will cancel any remaining OPT. Entering the U.S. in a visa status other than J-1 will cancel any remaining Academic Training.

Any alumni who currently work on an approved 24-Month STEM Extension on F-1 Post-Completion OPT must complete the STEM OPT Check-In process every 6 months while on STEM Extension. 

This requirement is mandated by the U.S. federal government. Alumni who do not comply with this requirement will lose their STEM Extension approval.

To submit your 6-month STEM check-in, or to submit an annual or final evaluation for the 12-month and 24-month mark of your STEM OPT, please complete the STEM OPT Check-in request in the ISSO Portal.