IMMIGRATION INFORMATION

F-1 Students

SEVIS Fee

Maintaining Status

Transfer Procedures

Extending Status

Change of Status

Employment

Maintaining Status

What Does "In Status" Mean?

The term "in status" means complying with the regulations governing your visa status. Students who violate any of the terms described below may fall "out of status." Students who are out of status will have to apply for reinstatement to the Department of Homeland Security and are not eligible to take advantage of any benefits that come with student status (such as on-campus employment or authorization to work off-campus). It is therefore extremely important to be aware of what you need to do to stay in status. Talk to an advisor in OIPS if you have an academic or medical issue that prevents you from fulfilling the requirements, or if you are uncertain about anything concerning your status. Maintaining your status is your responsibility. Look at your immigration documents and know what they represent and when they expire.

To Maintain F-1 Status, Students Must:

• Attend the school indicated on their I-20
• Take a full course load every semester
• Follow DHS procedures in a timely manner for changing degree levels within GMU, and transferring to other schools
• Maintain a valid passport at all times
• Apply for an extension of program before the expiration date on the I-20, if needed
• Limit on-campus employment to 20 hours a week during semesters.
• Refrain from off-campus work without authorization (this is extremely important!)
• Report changes of address to GMU within 10 days of the move by notifying both OIPS and the Office of the Registrar through Patriot Web: https://patriotweb.gmu.edu/

Very Important!!

It is very important that you notify BOTH OIPS and the Registrar's Office of your address updates. Only OIPS can change your foreign permanent address. Because Mason is using a new student database, there is not an automatic upload between the Registrar's Database and the SEVIS system. For this reason, you must notify both OIPS and the Office of the Registrar about your local address. We will notify DHS about your address change.

D/S Means "Duration of Status"

The D/S notation that appears on the I-20 or DS-2019 and on the I-94 card, when stamped by INS, stands for "Duration of Status." D/S means that you are allowed to stay in the United States until either you finish the requirements for your degree program or until the expected completion date indicated on your I-20 or DS-2019 form, whichever comes first. If your I-94 card does not have the D/S notation, meet with an advisor at OIPS immediately. If you need more time to complete your program, it is important that your I-20 or DS-2019 be extended before it expires. Please see an advisor in OIPS the semester in which your document expires. F-1 students may stay an additional 60 days after program completion, and J-1 students may remain in the U.S. an additional 30 days beyond completion of program. Please be aware that these grace periods only apply if you have completed your program.

Important Immigration Definitions

Travel and Visa Renewals

Students who plan to travel outside of the United States must bring their I-20s or DS-2019 form to OIPS for endorsement. The endorsement validates your immigration form and verifies that you are "in status" and returning to GMU to continue your studies. For this reason, you should be registered for the upcoming term before getting your I-20 or DS-2019 signed when you get it signed close to the end of the semester. Always check your entry visa before leaving to see whether it will need to be renewed. You should verify your visa expiration date and the number of entries on your visa before making travel plans. Please go to OIPS for advising if you are unsure of the visa renewal process or expect visa renewal difficulties. To re-enter the United States after a trip, students will need a valid passport with a valid visa, and a valid I-20 or DS-2019, endorsed by your international student advisor . The I-20 should be endorsed every semester that you travel. (Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter the U.S.) Please check http://usembassy.state.gov/ for links to U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world.

If your visa has expired, you will need to apply for a new entry visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country you are visiting. Visas cannot be renewed in the United States. Take your immigration documents, proof of financial support, proof of full-time enrollment, and strong proof of ties to your home country when you go to renew your visa. There are special provisions for automatic visa revalidation for travel to Canada, Mexico, and Islands adjacent to the South Eastern Coast of the U.S (except Cuba). Please consult an advisor in the OIPS office if you are planning on traveling to one of these places and your visa is not valid.

Also, please consult an advisor in OIPS before you consider applying for a U.S. visa in a contiguous territory or adjacent island. Students from some countries will need a visa to enter Canada and Mexico, while some can enter without a visa. Contact the embassy of the country to which you are traveling to find out about visa requirements. Please check www.embassy.org for the embassy of the country you would like to visit. Also please note that many U.S. embassies and consulates around the world have longer processing times than they may have previously had in the past.

Staying in the U.S. with an Expired Visa is OK

The visa is the stamp in your passport that allows you to enter the United States. It does not determine your length of stay here, your I-20 or DS-2019 form and the I-94 card do. A student visa can only be obtained at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of the United States. If your visa expires and you maintain your status, there is no need to travel outside of the United States for the sole purpose of renewing your visa.

Full-Time Enrollment

All F-1 and J-1 students are required to take and complete a full-time course load as follows:

• Undergraduate students: 12 credits per semester
• Graduate students: 9 credits (graduate level) per semester
• Graduate students with 20-hour per week internships: 6 credits (graduate level) per semester
• Graduate students only needing dissertation research credits: 6 credits of 998 or 999

Students Receiving Scholarships or Fellowships from GMU

GMU scholarship recipients must complete income tax paperwork at OIPS before payment will be issued.

Exemptions from Full-Time Enrollment

Students who have serious medical or academic reasons for registering for less than a full course load must obtain written approval from OIPS at the beginning of the semester or before reducing the course load in order to maintain their immigration status. An international student advisor should always be consulted BEFORE a student drops to less than full-time.

Students with Assistantships

Students with assistantships must bring to OIPS a copy of the offer letter from the department specifying the terms and period of appointment, and amount of salary and tuition benefits (if any).
Students with graduate assistantships of 20 hours per week need only to enroll for six credits to be considered full-time. Graduate assistants must complete employment paperwork at OIPS, including tax forms, before they begin work. Please be advised that you will need to bring a copy of your new offer letter to OIPS if your assistantship is renewed beyond the time specified in your original offer letter.

Transfer Procedures

Changing Schools

F-1 students who transfer from one school to another school in the United States must complete the transfer process within 15 days of the start date on the I-20. Even if you are changing from one academic level to another at a new school, it is considered a transfer for immigration purposes. You must have your F-1 record released to the new school within 60 days of completing a degree or Optional Practical Training. F-1 students who have not maintained status at the previous school are not eligible for an immigration transfer. See your international student advisor for complete details about the immigration transfer process. Similarly, J-1 students should also notify OIPS of their interest in transferring before concrete plans to transfer are made.

F-1 Student Transfer Eligibility Form

Extending Status

Students who are unable to complete their program by the end date indicated on the I-20 or DS-2019 must have a compelling academic or medical reason to apply for an extension of stay. Please come into OIPS to begin the extension of stay process at least 60 days before your I-20 or DS-2019 expires.

F-1 Program Extension Form

Change of Degree Levels

Students who change levels within George Mason (e.g. undergraduate to graduate, Master's to PhD, etc.), must have a new I-20 or DS-2019 issued to reflect the new program. You must be admitted to the new degree program within 60 days of completing your old program, and the program level should be changed within the SEVIS database for DHS notification within 60 days of completing your first degree. Contact OIPS as soon as possible after gaining admission to the new program. You must present new financial documentation to have a new I-20 issued.

Change of Status to F-1

Changing your immigration status to F-1 (student) can be done in two ways:

1. Remain in the U.S. and file a Change of Status application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
2. Travel outside the U.S. and apply for an F-1 student visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad and re-enter as an F-1 student

You need to meet with an international student advisor in OIPS to discuss your individual case and ascertain which method you are eligible to use and would best suit your individual situation.
In order to change your status to F-1, you will use your newly issued I-20 with the documentation listed below to apply for a change of status within the United States.

Eligibility Requirements:

To change status to F-1, you must be admitted to a degree program and show that you have sufficient funding to support yourself financially for tuition, living expenses, and health insurance for one year with the prospect of continuous funding for future years. You should not plan on traveling outside the U.S. until after your change of status is approved. Proof of funding generally comes in the form of an original bank statement that is less than six months old at the time of submission, but can also include scholarship or assistantship letters.

• Step 1: Meet with an international student advisor to get full information on change of status procedures, timelines, and recommended supporting documentation.
• Step 2: Submit an International Student Information Form, proof of funding, copies of I-94, visa, and picture and expiration pages of passport for the issuance of an I-20. At the time of submission, make an appointment with an international student advisor at least one week after you submit your documentation for a new I-20.
• Step 3: Make an appointment with an international student advisor (703) 993-2970 to go over your completed change of status application and supporting documentation. Please refer to checklist.
• Step 4: Mail the completed application packet to:
  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
  Vermont Service Center
  75 Lower Welden Street
  St. Albans, VT 05479-0001

*Note:
OIPS will first receive a receipt from USCIS, then an approval notice, including your new I -94 card for F-1 status. Your I-20 may come separately. You must have both the stamped I-20 and F-1 I-94 in order to verify employment eligibility through the I-9 Form or to obtain a Social Security card.

Please also note that if you change your status within the United States, you will still need to apply for an F-1 visa to enter the United States from overseas the next time you travel abroad. You may, however, go to Canada, Mexico and islands adjacent to the United States (other than Cuba) with an expired or valid visa from your previous status if you travel for less than 30 days; do not attempt to apply for an F-1 visa in the country visited; and you are not from one of seven countries considered by the U.S. to be state sponsors of terrorism (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Cuba, or North Korea). If you do travel under automatic visa revalidation, you would not surrender your I-94 card when exiting the U.S. for the adjacent island or contiguous territory.

• Once your change of status has been approved, you will be billed for GMU student health insurance unless you show comparable proof of coverage as soon as your status is changed.
• As an F-1 student you must register for and maintain a full course of study each semester (12 credits for undergraduate students and generally 9 credits for graduate students).

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Employment

On-Campus

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Unforeseen Economic Hardship

Internship with International Organization

Employment Workshop Schedule

On-Campus Employment

Students in F-1 status may work on campus, and do not need to apply for permission to do so. The work may either come from a GMU income source or the third party business that serves Mason students on-campus, such as the bookstore, bank, or food services. To be eligible, the student must be an "in status" current student and possess a valid I-20 form from GMU. F-1 students are allowed to work on any of Mason's three campuses. Students may work up to 20 hours per week during spring and fall semesters, and full-time during vacation periods (summer, winter, and spring breaks). Please note that students who have an assistantship of 20 hours per week cannot accept additional employment during the semesters. Students transferring from one school to another may be able to work at either the old school or the new school during the intervening summer, but must possess a valid I-20 issued by the new school before working there.

How to Apply

On-campus job openings are usually posted on GMU's Human Resources web page. It is also a good idea to visit offices which might hire students, ask about openings, and drop off your resume. The bookstore, library and Sodexho food services are examples of employers on campus that often hire students. Check the university Career Services website or information on Where to Look for On-Campus Job Openings. Students hired by a GMU department must complete form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification Form) and the Foreign National Information Form at OIPS. Tax forms must also be completed.

Off-Campus Employment

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Application Packet

Procedures

Documents Required for OPT Application

Application Tips

When You May Begin Working

Travel While OPT

After OPT

OPT APPLICATION PACKET

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), permits students in F-1 status to work in the United States so that they may reinforce what they have learned and obtain some relevant work experience in their field of study. This benefit is called Optional Practical Training (OPT), and the work must be in the student's field of study. The USCIS authorizes OPT and a job offer is not necessary to apply for OPT. One year of OPT is available for a student's continuous time as an F-1 student, and is available at every degree level (i.e. 1 year after bachelor’s, 1 year after master’s and one year after Ph.D.). The time authorized by USCIS will be deducted regardless of whether you work or not.

Eligibility

To be eligible for OPT, you must have:
1. valid F-1 status
2. been a full-time student for at least one academic year
3. an unexpired I-20 that reflects the correct, current major and degree program level
4. a valid passport

Periods of Participation

You may participate in OPT:
1. Full-time during annual school vacations
2. Full-time after completing your program of study - YOU MUST APPLY BEFORE PROGRAM COMPLETION!
3. Full-time (for Ph.D. and Master's with thesis students) after the completion of all required coursework (Ph.D. students should have advanced to candidacy.)
4. Up to 20 hours while school is in session before completion of program, while enrolled for a full course of study (12 hours per semester as an undergraduate student and 9 credits as a graduate student)

When to Apply

We recommend that you apply for Optional Practical Training at least 90 days before you plan to start working. For those wanting full-time OPT upon completion of a program, you must apply BEFORE COMPLETION OF YOUR PROGRAM. USCIS will not allow you to apply any earlier than 120 days before your requested start date. For post-completion Optional Practical Training, you may set your start date any time between your program completion date and 60 days after you complete your program. You may not begin working until you have received the card. Also, if you are applying for OPT after the completion of your program, you need to have received the card before you may leave the U.S. Also, if you would like to keep working on-campus after you complete your program, you should set your OPT start date for the day after the academic term ends to work continuously. You may not continue to work on-campus without OPT once you complete your studies at GMU.

Procedures

1. Attend a mandatory Optional Practical Training workshop if you are applying for Optional Practical Training. The schedule of workshops is available in OIPS.
2. Get Optional Practical Training Recommendation on SEVIS I-20 from an OIPS Advisor by making an appointment with an advisor by calling (703) 993-2970 to get your recommendation. Bring all of the materials from the checklist to your appointment.
3. Mail complete application packet to:
   

   U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Vermont Service Center 75 Lower Welden Street St. Albans, VT 05479-0001

* It is recommended that you send your application via certified mail or other type of mail with a return receipt.

* Also, please check with an international student advisor if you have an address outside the Washington Metropolitan area.

Documents Required for OPT Application:

• Copies of all previously issued I-20 forms, pages 3 & 4 non-SEVIS, pages 1 & 3 of SEVIS I-20s, (if you have more than one)
• Academic Advisor Recommendation Form* - (Required for Recommendation, not sent to USCIS)
• Form I-765* (use an address on the form that will be stable for the upcoming 120 days)* Please note that USCIS will not forward your mail, even if you have filed a mail forwarding request with the US Postal Service.
• One photocopy of identity and expiration page(s) in your passport (passport must be valid)
• One photocopy of U.S. visa and I-94 card (white card in passport - make sure pink stamp shows)
• If applicable, photocopy of any previously issued EAD card and mailer that came with it
• Two color passport-style photographs with name and Date of Birth printed on back (*photograph specifications on this link)
• Check or money order made payable to USCIS in the amount of $340 (starting July 30th, 2007).

*OIPS will not make the copies above. Please make sure that your application is complete when you submit it to OIPS using the checklist above. For more information regarding the increased application fee read regulatory info at NAFSA website.

Application Tips:

• Make sure your photographs are the correct pose and size, as described in this packet. Incorrect photographs cause delays with your application.
• Do not cut or staple the photographs.
• The category for OPT employment on Form I-765 is (c)(3)(i) (we’ve pre-filled this answer on your form)

When May You Begin Working?

1. After you have received the EAD Card or
2. On the beginning date as noted on the EAD Card, whichever is later

Travel While on OPT:

You may travel while on OPT. However, please keep in mind that you are still in F-1 status and that you will need the following in order to re-enter the U.S.:
1. Your I-20 signed for travel within the past six months
2. Your EAD Card
3. A letter from your employer indicating that you have a temporary job in your field of study and are returning to your employment - This requirement becomes more essential the later you are into your OPT
4. Your valid passport (passport should be valid six months into the future)
5. A valid F-1 visa to return to the U.S. from overseas. Different rules apply for travel to adjacent Islands and contiguous territories. Please see an international student advisor for more information.

*If your visa stamp has expired, you have not yet received your EAD Card, or you are not working and more than a few months have passed since the beginning of your OPT, then please see an advisor in OIPS.

AFTER OPT:

As indicated as the end date on your EAD, you will be allowed another 60-day grace period. You may not work at this time, but can remain in the U.S. to get ready to return home, get into a new degree program, or change your visa status.

Please note that full-time study at the next higher degree level automatically cancels Optional Practical Training.

Also Important!

You are still an F-1 student while on Optional Practical Training, you must notify OIPS if you change your address, e-mail or telephone number in the U.S. or address abroad. You must also notify us if you discontinue your OPT and change to another visa status or leave the U.S. before the end date on your OPT.

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Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Application Packet

Internship Class

Co-op

Independent Study

Doctoral Students Who Have Finished All Required Coursework

Procedure

CPT APPLICATION PACKET

Curricular practical training (CPT) is for students whose training program is "an integral part of an established curriculum". Such training is defined as "alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school." [Federal Regulation 8CFR 214.2(f)(10)] The training must be directly related to the student's major field of study. Part-time CPT does not subtract from your 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT), and full-time CPT does not affect OPT unless a year or more is authorized. To be eligible for CPT, a student must have been in lawful F-1 status for 9 consecutive months. Because Curricular Practical Training is specific to your academic program, you must enroll in a course that is considered appropriate to your degree program, unless the graduation requirements for your major mandate your participation in an internship. Although very few programs at the George Mason University require internship participation for graduation, such requirements should be written in official GMU publications.

Curricular Practical Training was designed by the Immigration Services to allow students to participate in work related to the student's curriculum. It is not to be used for the primary purpose of facilitating employment.

General Eligibility Requirements:
• Maintain full-time status for at least one academic year
• Hold valid F-1 status currently
• Maintain good academic standing (2.0 gpa for undergraduate students and 3.0 gpa for graduate students)

For all types of Curricular Practical Training, a job offer on company letterhead, appropriate to your major and level of study is required. The letter must include:

• Address of the workplace
• Specific beginning and ending dates
• Job description
• Amount of compensation
• Hours of work per week

Internship Class

Several undergraduate majors and some graduate majors offer internship classes, in which the course in the GMU Catalog describes work, overseen by a professor, as a necessary component of the class. These courses are most frequently offered in the summer. A few examples of these courses include:

• NURS 874 Internship in Health Care Administration/Policy/Ethics
• PUAD 794 Internship
• SOCI 416 Internship in Sociology
• HEAL 490 Internship
• AVT 393 Internship in Art and Visual Technology

Students should be registered for the class before coming to OIPS for CPT authorization. Instructor or departmental approval for course registration is usually required. Full-time registration during the fall and spring semesters is required for participation in CPT with an internship class. Full time work is not permitted with an internship course of 3 or fewer credits during the fall and spring semesters.

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Co-op

There is a separate handout explaining how you can pursue CPT through participation in the GMU CO-OP Program at the Career Services Office. Please ask for a handout on CO-OP, if you would like to get at least 640 hours worth of work experience.

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Independent Study

It may be possible for students to include a work component in an independent study for academic credit, in which a professor would oversee the student's work experience and generally would require related reading materials and papers that enhance the academic nature of the experiential learning. For this work option, a letter, on departmental letterhead, from the Professor overseeing the work experience is required. The following questions should be answered in the letter:

1. Why would the educational experience not be the same without the employment component of the independent study course?
2. Why is the course is essential to the student's program? (Will the course serve as core or elective toward the degree completion?)
3. How will the student's work be evaluated?

Full-time registration during the fall and spring semesters is required for participation in CPT under an independent study, and generally a 3 or fewer credit independent study would allow the student to work 20 hours or less during the fall and spring semesters.

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Doctoral Students Who Have Finished All Required Coursework

Doctoral students at the dissertation stage of their program may participate in CPT if the work is required for dissertation research. In this case, the student would register for an appropriate number of 998 0r 999 credits before coming to OIPS for authorization. You would need to be enrolled full-time until you finish all of your required dissertation or thesis credits for your degree. The Thesis or Dissertation Advisor should also write a letter explaining:

1. Why the work is necessary to finish the dissertation
2. The relationship between the dissertation topic and the work
3. The length of time recommended for the work
4. Whether the work should be full time or part time

There is no limit to the duration of this type of CPT as long as it remains necessary for the completion of the dissertation. However, if a year of full time CPT is authorized, the student becomes ineligible for Optional Practical Training. Full time work during the fall and spring semesters with 3 or fewer credits during the semester is not permitted.

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PROCEDURE

You will work with three parties throughout the CPT authorization process - the academic office, the employer's office, and the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS)

Student:
1. Considers which academic component (Co-op, internship class, etc) is most appropriate to his or her academic program and academic objectives
2. Gets job offer letter described above
3. Gets permission to enroll in academic component and registers for that class or program
4. Makes an appointment with the International Student Advisor by calling (703) 993-2970, and brings passport, all original I-20s, job offer letter as described above and other required documents to the appointment

International Student Advisor:
1. Reviews documents to determine eligibility for CPT
2. Makes new I-20 with CPT Authorization
3. Student may begin working only after receiving the Curricular Practical Training endorsement on the I-20 from the Advisor. Contact an International Student Advisor if you have any questions by calling (703) 993-2970.

Employment Authorization Due to Severe Economic Hardship

The U.S. Government allows F-1 students who can document severe, unforeseen economic hardship to apply for permission to work off-campus while enrolled as a fulltime student. If permission is granted a student may work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full-time during annual school vacations. It is one of the few work permits that allows F-1 students to work outside their field of study in any capacity off-campus. To apply for this benefit, the F-1 student should have been studying at George Mason University for one academic year as a full-time student in good academic standing and be maintaining F-1 status. In addition, the student would need to document how the financial support, as submitted for the issuance of the initial George Mason University I-20 is no longer available or has changed due to severe and unforeseen economic circumstances. To qualify, the student must prove that he/she has tried to find on-campus employment first. Please note that it can take 90-120 days for the issuance of the economic hardship work permit through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It is authorized by USCIS in the form of an employment authorization card, valid for one year.

For more information see Employment Authorization Application Due to Severe Economic Hardship for F-1 Students.

Internship with an International Organization

F-1 students, who have been offered employment with a recognized international organization such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, or World Health Organization etc., may apply for a special type of work permission from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (Please refer to the list of recognized International Organizations, as not all qualify). Students may work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) while school is in session and full-time during annual school vacations, provided that the student is registered for a full course load and will continue his or her studies during the following semester. International organization work authorization does not reduce the amount of curricular or optional practical training one can use. Please note that it can take as long as 90 days to receive work permission from USCIS.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Written job offer from a recognized international organization (see the list)
  • Job offer letter should include beginning and ending dates of employment, location of employment, and job description
• Good academic standing as a full-time student
• Continued full-time study in a degree program

Step 1: Student obtains job offer letter from a recognized international organization.

Step 2: Student makes an appointment with an international student advisor

Step 3: Mail completed application packet to:

US Citizenship and Immigration Services *Certified mail recommended
Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Welden Street
St. Albans, VT 05479

Student must wait for USCIS approval before beginning work. USCIS will send you a receipt notice within about a month. You can then check on the status of your application through the following website: https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/index.jsp by entering your receipt number beginning with "EAC." When approved, you still must wait until you have the EAD card in hand before you may start working.

Documents Required for International Organization Work Permit:

• Check or money order made payable to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the amount of $340 (starting July 30th, 2007)
• Two color photographs with name and date of birth printed on back *Photograph specification instructions included on following page
• Form I-765* (use an address on the form that will be stable for the upcoming 120 days)* Please note that USCIS will not forward your mail, even if you have filed a mail forwarding request with the US Postal Service.
• Written job offer letter from international organization including dates of proposed employment, job description, and location of employment
• Copies of all previously issued I-20 forms (pages 3 & 4 of non-SEVIS forms and 1 & 3 of SEVIS forms.)
• Photocopy of identity and expiration page(s) of your passport (passport must be valid)
• Photocopy of U.S. visa and I-94 card (white card in passport, make sure pink stamp is clearly visible in copy. )
• If applicable, photocopy of any previously issued EAD card and mailer that came with it

F-1 International Organization Work Authorization Handout

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Employment Workshops

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the one year of work permission that F-1 students get as a benefit of their status. Most students choose to save it for after they complete their programs of study to use full-time for one year after graduation.

OPT Workshop attendance is mandatory if you would like to be recommended for full-time OPT upon completion of studies or all but dissertation/thesis requirements for PhD students or master's thesis students. The workshops are at different times and dates to meet various student schedules. PLEASE PLAN AHEAD FOR THE TIME AND DATE THAT BEST MEETS YOUR SCHEDULE IF YOU WILL BE GRADUATING IN SUMMER OR FALL 2008.

You can apply for your OPT as much as 90 days before you would like to start working and as late as 60 days after the last day of exams for the semester in which you will complete. As it can take 90 days to get your Employment Authorization Card, we recommend you apply 90 days in advance of the date you wish to begin employment. F-1 students must have maintained their F-1 student status to apply. OPT start dates can be set as late as 60 days after the last day of exams for the semester in which you will complete.

For questions or to sign-up, please call (703) 993-2970 or send an e-mail message to oips@gmu.edu

An Arlington Campus OPT Workshops schedule: TBA

Please, be aware that OPT fee is increased from $180 to $340 on July 30, 2007.

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Other Non-Immigrant Visa Categories

For more information, please contact The Office of International Programs and Services or the Office of International Faculty and Employee Services.

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