While you are on OPT you remain in F-1 status. During this time, you have an obligation to report certain pieces of information to OIS. Reporting should be done via GlobalHome and can be viewed in GlobalHome or the SEVP Portal.

GlobalHome OPT Dashboard

While on 12 month post-completion OPT, you must report the start and end of your employment in GlobalHome within 10 days of the change. Once updated, you will be able to view your employer information in the OPT Dashboard section of your GlobalHome account.

How to Report Employment Information in GlobalHome

1. Access the OPT Employment Reporting Form in GlobalHome.
2. You can use the form to submit a new OPT Employer OR edit an already submitted OPT Employer. If you need to edit multiple employers or add multiple new employers, submit a new request for each update you are reporting.
3. You must confirm your US address is correct and that you have uploaded a copy of your EAD card. If you have just updated your US address, it may not be reflected in your dashboard yet, but you can continue with the Reporting form.
4. By submitting the form with accurate information you have met the OPT reporting requirement to report the information to OIS. We will review the information and submit the changes in SEVIS.
5. After we report the changes to SEVIS, the updates will be visible in the OPT Dashboard and in your SEVP Portal. These updates can take 2-4 days.
6. This form is only used for employment reporting during the first 12 months of Post-completion OPT. Any employment reporting during the STEM OPT Extension must be submitted through the STEM Extension Reporting Form.
7. You should collect and retain all documentation (offer letters, time sheets, paycheck stubs,  etc.) related to your employment while on OPT. You may need it when applying for future benefits or changes of status.

Address Reporting on OPT

Physical addresses should be submitted in GlobalHome using the Update US Address form within 10 days of an address change. You can view your updated address in the Account Information section in GlobalHome.

Qualifying Employment on OPT

All OPT employment is required to be in a job that is directly related to the student’s degree program. Employment under pre- or post-completion OPT may include:

• Full time / Part time:
  • Pre-completion OPT can be part time (20 or less hours per week) or full time. 
  • Post-completion OPT must be full time (more than 20 hours per week). 
• Unpaid employment: Students may work as volunteers or unpaid interns, where this practice does not violate any labor laws. The work should be more than 20 hours per week for students on post-completion OPT. A student should be able to provide evidence, acquired from the student’s employer, to verify that he or she worked more than 20 hours per week during the period of employment.
• Multiple employers: Students may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to each individual student’s degree program and for pre-completion OPT cannot exceed the allowed per week cumulative hours.
• Short-term multiple employers (performing artists): Students, such as musicians and other performing artists, may work for multiple short-term employers (gigs). The students should maintain a list of all gigs, the dates and duration.
• 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, students should 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 standard OPT may start a business and be self-employed. The student should be able to prove that he or she has the proper business licenses and is actively engaged in a business related to his or her degree program.
• Employment through an agency or consulting firm: Students on post-completion OPT should be able to provide evidence showing they worked more than 20 hours per week while employed by the agency.

Important note for STEM eligible students: the above mentioned types of employment apply to pre-completion OPT and the first year of OPT only. Employment requirements for the STEM extension differ from the first year of OPT in many ways. Please review our STEM pages for more information. 

Unemployment Time

Students are permitted to be unemployed temporarily during their OPT period. Students have 90 days of unemployment during their OPT period. Employment time is recorded based on the information in the SEVP portal. For this reason, it is important to make sure that the employment information in the SEVP portal is always up to date.

Note for STEM eligible students: Any unemployment time not used during your first year of OPT rolls over to your STEM extension period.

The SEVP Portal

The SEVP Portal shares information with SEVIS, but does not give students direct access to SEVIS. Only OIS advisors have direct access to your SEVIS record.

While on the 12 month post-completion OPT, you must report the start and end of employment in GlobalHome within 10 days of the change. You will be reporting and updating your employment information directly in GlobalHome. OIS recommends setting up your SEVP Portal to use as a way to view information only. You are required to report your employment information through OIS using the forms in GlobalHome.