Graduates on OPT

While on OPT, you must keep the International Student Advisor at Gettysburg College updated with the most current contact information. This includes the following:

• Address
• To maintain status students must notify the International Student Advisor within 10 days of a change of address 
• Phone numbers (land and cell)
• Email address

Information can be emailed to Victor Arcelus at varcelus@gettysburg.edu or you can call in the information by calling Victor at 717-334-6324.

The ideal scenario is to have uninterrupted employment during the OPT period. If you are finding difficulty finding a job, or if you lost your original OPT job, you should dedicate your full effort to looking for a job, and keep documentation that can demonstrate the job search. For example, you should keep a list of employers you have contacted, resumes you sent, calls you made, and time spent researching companies. If the Department of Homeland Security ever evaluates gaps in employment, such documentation will be expected.

Travel and Reentry After Graduation:

Many of the same F-1 procedures used while studying apply. One common overarching regulation is that you can only leave the US temporarily (less than 5 months) in order to be readmitted to resume employment for the remainder of the OPT period.

• If you have your EAD, in order to travel and return you must have:
  • A Form I-20 that is endorsed by the International Student Advisor within the preceding 6 months.
  • An unexpired EAD card.
  • Must be returning to resume employment or begin a job for which you have an offer - travel with a letter from employer verifying your employment or the offer of employment
• It is not recommended that you travel if you have not secured a position. If you choose to travel and have not yet secured a job:
  • You may be questioned on whether or not you are returning to the US to continue or start a job.
  • The longer you have had an EAD but have not been working, the greater the likelihood you may encounter difficulties.
  • If you are not employed you should be prepared to explain the substantial steps you have taken to secure employment.
• If you do not have your EAD, you may travel while your OPT application is pending but there is some risk because you are traveling after your coursework is completed but before you are officially authorized to work in the US after graduation. If you must travel, in order to return you must have:
  • A Form I-20 that is endorsed by the International Student Advisor within the preceding 6 months.
  • Your I-765 receipt
  • Documentation that demonstrates that you will be resuming your search for employment.