Report All Changes While on OPT or AT
For alumni currently in the U.S. on F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) or J-1 Academic Training (AT), you are required to report the following changes as mandated by the U.S. federal government:
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Any change of U.S. address or employer while on F-1 Post-Completion Optional Practical Training must be reported in your Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) OPT Portal within 10 days of the change.
The SEVP launched the OPT Portal on March 23, 2018 for students to make changes to their address and employer information. All Brandeis students on Active F-1 OPT will be able to create an SEVP OPT Portal account. The email address associated with your SEVIS record is your Brandeis email.
For more information regarding this or any specific questions you may have about SEVP, please visit the Study in the States website.
After you have updated your employer information, you may request a reprint of your I-20 from the ISSO showing your updated information.
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 email the ISSO.
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 visa 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 visa status, please send a scanned copy of the visa status approval notice to the ISSO via email.
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 to the ISSO.
Any alumni who return to the U.S. in a visa 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 a visa status other than F-1 or J-1 during an authorized period of OPT or Academic Training, please scan your new I-94 record confirming your new visa status and send it via email to the ISSO.
NOTE: Entering the U.S. in a visa 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 "OPT STEM 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 complete the "OPT STEM Check-In" for approved 24-Month STEM Extension on F-1 Post-Completion OPT, please complete the STEM OPT 6-Month Check-In Form.
To submit your evaluation form for the 12-month and 24-month mark of your STEM OPT, please complete this online form.