Required Documents Students Must Bring to their OPT Appointment at the HIO:
OPT recommendations are done by appointment only. To schedule an appointment with your advisor please use our online appointment system. In order for your advisor to complete the OPT application, you must bring the following documents to your appointment (please separate the photocopied documents into 2 sets):

• A completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (you must sign in blue ink)
• 2 legible photocopies (including all red ink stamps) of all pages of the Forms I-20 issued to you, from all schools you attended
• OP T Date Verification Form
• 2 legible photocopies of the U.S. visa stamp page from your passport
• 2 legible photocopies of the biographical page(s) of your passport
• 2 legible photocopies of the front and back of your I-94 card
• 2 legible photocopies of USCIS approval notices from changes of status (if applicable)
• 2 legible photocopies of previous Employment Authorization Cards (if applicable)
• (GSAS STUDENTS ONLY: letter from your department stating new completion of studies date if different from what is on your I-20)
• (EXTENSION STUDENTS ONLY:?OPT recommendation letter from the Administrator of your Extension program)
• 2 U.S. passport-size photographs (can be obtained after appointment with HIO advisor)
• a personal check of $340 made out to the "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" (can be obtained after appointment with HIO advisor)

The advisor at the HIO will not be able t o recommend OPT unless you have filled in the specific dates! you wis h to be employed on the Date Verification Form for the period of OPT. Please be aware that once you submit your application to USCIS, the employment dates cannot be changed.

Students who apply for post-completion OPT and then fail to graduate on the date indicated in their application risk violating their visa status and possibly forfeiting their OPT. DO NOT APPLY FOR POST-COMPLETION OPT UNLESS YOU ARE REASONABLY CERTAIN YOU WILL GRADUATE.