EAD Correction or Replacement of Lost or Stolen EAD Card

USCIS issues Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) as evidence that you are authorized to be employed in the United States for a specific time period.

This is what your EAD may look like:

Eligibility to engage in on-campus employment is “incident” to F-1 status. This means that anyone currently maintaining F-1 status may engage in on-campus employment at the institution that issued his or her current Form I-20, within the limitations outlined below, without requesting formal authorization from either a DSO or USCIS, and without updating their SEVIS record.

Obtaining a Social Security Number

Eligibility and Requirements

• Pre-completion OPT is OPT for which you are authorized before you complete your program of study. It is available after you have completed one academic year of study.
• The application process is very similar to the process for applying for post-completion OPT. For pre-completion OPT applications, the code with USCIS is (c)(3)(A).
• You may apply for pre-completion OPT up to 90 days before your chosen start date.

From time to time unexpected and unavoidable situations arise that cause sudden changes to the level of an international student’s available economic support. On these rare occasions, the regulations governing employment allow for students to apply to the USCIS for an Employment Authorization Document.

This will allow the student to work off-campus. The rules are very strict, and students should not apply for an EAD based upon Economic Hardship unless they are certain that their situations meet all the criteria.

The student must:

Paper Application Process For OPT

1. Complete the OPT Advisor’s E-Form (via iStart) which will be electronically signed by your academic advisor. Check UIS Enterprise prior to submitting the E-Form – make sure your address and emergency contact are up to date, all holds have been removed, and you have completed your graduation application.

The OPT STEM Extension is a full-time, 24 month extension of Post-Completion OPT. Students must have a degree in a qualifying major from the fields of Science, Engineering, Technology, or Mathematics. You must apply during your last 90 days of Post-Completion OPT and work for an e-verify employer.

Post-Completion OPT

OPT is a privilege provided by the U. S. government to international students who desire to gain employment experience in their major field of study. Most students avail themselves of this privilege following completion of their program of study. However, OPT may also be used during a vacation period if a student intends to register for the following session, or part-time while school is in session.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is training (internships, practicums, etc.) expected of all students who are completing a specific program of study or are enrolled in a course requiring an internship. Because it is part of the educational program, the US government allows F-1 students to participate even though that status does not normally permit off-campus employment/internship.  You must remain enrolled in the internship course for the duration of your training and CPT is only allowed during the duration of the course.