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Information
for
International Students |
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| Optional
Practical Training (OPT) |
Optional Practical
Training (OPT) is legal F-1 employment authorization which enables
you to gain a maximum of 12 months of professional work experience
in your field of study, "Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training"
(before graduation) and "Post- Completion Optional Practical
Training" (after graduation).
**Both
types of Optional Practical Training must be recommended by the BMCC
International Student Services Office and authorized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) before you may begin working or
reenter the U.S. from another country after graduating. Information
abou the 12- Month Optional Practical Training (OPT) benifit
The 12-month Optional Practical Training benefit is available for
duration of your status. That means while you are a F-1 student
you are limited to a total of 12 months of Optional Practical Training
for all the programs of study you intend to pursue in the U.S. combined.
It will be important for you to plan how you wish to "spend"
your Optional Practical Training. Do you want to use it during your
current degree? After it? During another degree? Or after that?
Optional Practical Training is calculated on a daily basis. Part-time
employment (less than 20 hours per week) is deducted at one-half
the full-time rate. For example, four months of part-time Optional
Practical Training is deducted as two months from the total combined
twelve months.
The BMCC International Student Services Office staff can help you
to plan how you'd like to use this benefit. |
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Eligibility
and application requirements  |
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| Optional
Practical Training |
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