International Students

• Apply for Admissions
• Once you have been accepted to VSU, the Office of International Education will reach out to begin working on your immigration documentation. You will need to provide a picture of your passport, proof of financial support, and any other necessary documentation depending on your unique circumstances.
• Once all this documentation has been provided, you will be issued with you I-20. This will allow you to book your visa appointment, if necessary. You will schedule your appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you live.

• Complete your Attestation Form
• Schedule a meeting with your DSO
• Employment as an F-1 Student: As an F-1 student you have restricted working access. F-1 students are eligible to work in Student Employment and other positions that are considered on-campus jobs, such as summer research on campus with a VSU professor, without authorization from the international student advisor. International students are not permitted to accept off-campus employment without authorization. There are strict regulations regarding working off-campus.  F-1 students typically need to apply for optional practical training or curricular practical training to work off-campus. Please schedule a meeting a meeting with your DSO if you need more information.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an opportunity for F-1 students who have been enrolled for one full academic year in the United States to work in a position directly related to their academic studies. Students retain F-1 visa status while using OPT.
Learn more about OPT eligibility on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.

OPT must be authorized by a Designated School Official (DSO) in the Office of International Education. To apply, please do the following:

Attend an OPT workshop (times and dates will be sent via email)

At the workshop, you will receive detailed instructions about completing the following forms and submitting your application to USCIS.

USCIS Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization

OPT Request Form

STEM Extension Regulations

An F-1 student currently engaged in a period of post-completion OPT who has been awarded a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approved STEM field and works for an E-Verify employer is eligible to apply for the 24-month STEM extension.

24-Month Extension

Eligibility

An F-1 student is allowed two 24-month extensions total. Each extension must be used after the completion of a qualifying higher-level degree program and cannot be combined. The extension can be based on a previous STEM degree as long as the following apply:

The student is currently in a valid period of 12-month post completion OPT, even if the OPT is based on a non-STEM degree the previous STEM degree was obtained within 10 years of the STEM extension application date from an institution that is U.S. Department of Education accredited and Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at the time of application the previous STEM degree is on the current STEM Designated Degree Program List at the time of application the work being done for the STEM extension relates to the previous STEM degree. Volunteering and self-employment are not allowed and students must work at least 20 hours per week in a paid position for an E-Verify employer.

Timing

Students should submit their application to USCIS 90 days before the end of their current OPT period and within 60 days of the DSO’s STEM OPT recommendation date on the I-20. USCIS MUST receive the application by the OPT end date. Students may NOT apply during the 60-day grace period following the OPT end date. A 180-day automatic work authorization extension will be granted while the application is pending. No extensions beyond 180 days are possible.

Application

Students must include as part of the application a new I-20 from VSU with the STEM extension recommendation. Please submit the following documents electronically to bennettoie@vsu.edu to receive a new I-20:

DHS Form I-983 Mentoring & Training Plan Instructions for students and employers on completing the form are available on this website.

OPT Request Form completed with STEM extension dates and employment information. There is no application deadline to submit these documents to the Office of International Education.

You will need to file USCIS Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization to apply for the STEM extension once you receive the new I-20 from VSU. For more information, visit the USCIS webpage on STEM OPT or DHS’ Study in the States STEM OPT Hub.