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Optional Practical Training Checklist

Please read all information carefully and submit all items (UNSTAPLED) to the Davis International Center/ Office of Visa Services in the following order, with photos and a check attached on top:

• Two (2) Identical Color Passport-style Photographs of yourself taken within 30 days of the application: 

  The photographs must be a full frontal face position and meet the specifications for full frontal/passport photos. For more information on photo standard, Visit the Department of State website.

  Photos may be obtained within walking distance: CVS Pharmacy Photo, 172 Nassau Street (683-1391) Princeton Photo Lab, 126 Nassau Street (683-1211), Pryde Brown, 180 Nassau Street (924-9792).

  Print your name and I-94 number in pencil (so the number does not smear) on the back of each picture. The I-94 number is your tracking number at the USCIS Service Center.

• $380 check or money order made payable to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

• Academic Advisor Recommendation Form. This form must be completed and signed by your advisor prior to submitting your OPT application (dates, signatures, etc). No additional letter from your advisor is necessary.

• OPT Student Confirmation Form.Your OPT application cannot be accepted and processed if you do not complete all items on this form including OPT start and end dates.

Note for students applying for post-completion OPT: Your OPT start date can be any day within 60 days after your program completion date. The expiration date of your I-20 is not necessarily the completion of your program. If you are an undergraduate or a master’s student in a 1 year or a 2 year program, your program completion date will be Commencement day. If you are a PhD student, the end of the month in which you hold your FPO will be the completion of your program at Princeton. For example, if your FPO is on March 15th, then the end of March will be your completion date and not the end date on your I-20.

• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization

When filling out the form, please follow the following instructions:

Check the Permission to accept employment box.

- Complete items 1-16, sign and date. BLUE INK!

- The codes for item 16 are:

(c)(3)(A) for Pre-completion OPT

(c)(3)(B) for Post-completion OPT

- ADDRESS: You may use your residential or your department address in item 3 of the I-765. Please note that your address must be valid for at least 90 days. The USPS will not forward government mail even if you change your address with the post office and/or sign up for the forwarding mail service.

• Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance optional

When you file the I-765 form, you will have the option to receive an e-mail and/or text message informing you that USCIS has accepted your application or petition. If you provide your e-mail address and a cell phone number, you will receive both types of electronic notification (e-Notification) messages.

• Photocopies of the following:

• The F-1 visa stamp in your passport (except for Canadian citizens).
• Both sides of your I-94 card (small, white card stapled in passport).
• The identity page(s) of your passport, including the expiration date.
• 1st and 3rd pages of ALL previously issued I-20s (Princeton and/or other institutions*) and make sure that all I-20s have been signed in item 11.

*If you were an F-1 student at another U.S. institution prior to starting your program at Princeton, but you don’t have your old I-20, please contact your previous school to request copies of your I-20s. USCIS requires copies of all I-20s ever issued to you, and your OPT application may be delayed or denied if you don’t have these copies. If your school does not have copies, ask them for a letter stating that you were a student there during a specific period of time plus, if applicable, any time on OPT. In addition to that letter, you should write a letter stating that you didn't’t keep the old I-20s and that you could not get copies from your previous school. 

• Photocopy of previous employment authorization document (if applicable)

if you have ever received an employment authorization document (EAD) from the USCIS in the past, you will also need to include a photocopy of that card with your OPT application.