Students should consult their Designated School Official (DSO) prior to travelling. Your DSO generally works in the International Student Office. You must have a current SEVIS Form I-20 endorsed for travel and your DSO needs to be able to verify that your SEVIS record is accurate and up-to-date.

To re-enter the U.S. during your OPT or STEM OPT period, you must carry: your passport, a valid F-1 visa, your I-20 with a travel signature less than 6 months old, your EAD (or STEM receipt plus expired EAD during the 180-day extension), and a job offer or employment verification letter. DHS guidance and university best practices confirm the 6-month signature validity for students on OPT. Traveling while your initial OPT application is pending is risky; it is safest to wait until you have the EAD and proof of employment.

1. Starting work early—before receiving your EAD and before the authorized start date.
2. Missing filing windows—USCIS must receive your I-765 within the strict post-completion timeline; STEM applications must be filed before your current EAD expires.
3. Forgetting STEM reporting—The 6-month validations and 12/24-month self-evaluations are mandatory.
4. Exceeding unemployment limits—90 days for standard OPT, 150 days total for OPT plus STEM, including most time spent abroad.
5. Using 12+ months of full-time CPT—This eliminates post-completion OPT eligibility at that degree level.
6. Non-compliant STEM arrangements—Working for a non-E-Verify employer, without pay, without bona fide supervision, or failing to update the I-983 for material changes.

1. Maintain valid F-1 status; request an OPT-recommended I-20 from your DSO.
2. File Form I-765 within the required window and consider premium processing if timing is critical.
3. Wait for the physical EAD; begin work only on or after the start date.
4. Work ≥20 hours/week in a job directly related to your major; maintain a memo explaining this relationship with reference to your coursework.
5. Report all changes within 10 days: address, employment starts/stops, and employer details. On STEM, complete 6-month validations and I-983 evaluations.
6. Track your unemployment days meticulously; do not exceed the limit.
7. Keep a complete compliance file (I-20s, I-983s, EADs, I-9 proof, offers, pay stubs, W-2s).