GRADUATING	OISS: Office of International Student Services
OPT TRACKING	OFFICE | NEW | CURRENT | GRADUATING | LINKS
OPT FAQs presentation OPT SP’09 Handout	Graduation Date Undergraduates, if you enter the college as a first-time freshman you are normally given 48 months to complete your degree. If you would like to complete it earlier, there is an approval process through Academic Advising with a rationale (finances alone are not usually a good enough reason). Undergraduates and Graduates OPT Application Process Optional Practical Training (OPT) gives you a 12-month window to work and live in the United States. You must apply for OPT prior to your graduation. We suggest 90-120 days before graduation in order to allow for adequate processing. Typically this is the week following Spring Break. It is up to you to choose the date your 12-month calendar will begin “ticking.” It must begin no later than 60 days after graduation. You do not need a job offer in order to apply for OPT. However, you have only 90 days to find employment after your EAD start date. In order to apply for OPT, you must supply: 2”x2” passport style photos (2 of them) A check or money order for $340, made out to “US Department of Homeland Security” Every I-20 you have ever had A valid passport Our office will assist you in completing the I-765 application form. Once you have a Notice of Receipt you can check the status of your case here. 17 month OPT Extension for STEM Majors Students with STEM Majors (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) with current OPT/EAD card have the ability to extend the OPT if they are currently employed by an E-Verfied employer in their field of study. The student will need to contact the OISS for the application process. There will be another I-765 requiring another fee and more photos. All student on the STEM Extension needs to contact the OISS every six-months during the OPT period. Similar to the check-in we did during your time on campus. Reporting Data during OPT We are now required to report data to the Department of Homeland Security during any period of OPT. Therefore students student on OPT must report their home address, email address, place of employment and employer during their OPT period. You must also report ANY changes within ten (10) days of the change. We have a link to assist in this process. OPT TRACKING DATA – you also have ONLY 90 DAYS to find employment. NAFTA - TN Status Graduating students from Canada and Mexico have another option available to them called TN status. It is directly related to specific career paths, and it is closely monitored due to high level of abuse in the past. To learn more, about this career-based status, come to the OISS or click here. Finding a place to live: For internationals, graduating also means having to find a new place to live in the U.S. Begin this process as early as possible and try to build a network of friends or extended family members who could share an apartment or let you share their home-base for at least a short while as you begin your search for a job. Finding a job: Presumably your resume and cover letters are in good shape. If not, polish them up in the early spring semester. Responding to ads is one part of the strategy, and you should also research companies on your own. Career Services holds mock interviews and career fairs; make sure to take advantage of them. Insurance after graduation Your Manhattanville health insurance policy will end after graduation. If you do not have benefits or a job, you should purchase health insurance on your own from a reputable company. www.ushealthnetcare.com and http://www.isoa.org/ are some good options. Income Taxes after Graduation There is an odd tax related "test for presence" -- if you have been in the U.S. longer than five year (no matter what your status) you are treated as a resident for tax purposes and you must file like a U.S. Citizen - we suggest purchasing one of the many tax prep software packages on the market. If however, you have graduated in the normal four years and you are on your year of OPT - email us in February and we will give you a password to CINTAX. Sashes for commencement Many students want to buy a sash of their home country flag to wear at commencement. Graduate School If you are going directly to graduate school, you need to contact the OISS so that we can transfer your immigration record to your new institution.
	MANHATTANVILLE COLLEGE 2900 Purchase Street, Purchase, NY 10577 USA Phone: 914.323.5168 Fax: 914.323.5494 Email: oiss[at]mville.edu