1. Students who have an approved or pending H-1B application receive an automatic extension of their duration of status and employment authorization (you must apply for it through our office--contact us for details),
2. Students graduating in STEM majors and employed in related work may be eligible to extend OPT from 12 to 29 months (BYU list of majors & codes),
   
3. Students may apply for OPT up to 60 days after their completion date; however, the USCIS Service Center must receive the application before the 60 day deadline and within 30 days of the DSO's signature on the I-20.
4. Limits of unemployment:
• Students on post-completion OPT may have up to 90 days of unemployment
• Students who receive a 17-month STEM OPT extension are given an additional 30 days of unemployment for a total of 120 days.
  
5. Student Reporting Requirements through a Web form.
• Periods of employment (should keep a record of all employment information)
• Periods of unemployment
• Employer name and address
  
• Any changes in employment status
  
6. For detailed Q&As, click here.

Mastery Check

1. Are any of the countries you want to travel to on the Department of State’s Travel Warning list? BYU students and university employees cannot travel to countries listed on the U.S. Department of State Travel Warning list. If you are a university employee, a travel exception must be made to the International Vice President after clearing it with your department supervisor/department chair and college dean.
2. If you are a student going on an individual internship, ORCA or mentored grant program, or if you are going on a non-BYU-sponsored group experience to Russia or the Russian Federation, you must request an exception to travel. This request must be sent in writing to International Study Programs, 280 HRCB (Kennedy Center), before approval may be granted. Countries in the Russian Federation are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
3. Are you planning to travel to any country designated by the U.S. Department of State as a sponsor of international terrorism? These countries are: Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, and Sudan. BYU students and university employees cannot travel to these countries. If it is deemed essential travel for university employees, requests for exceptions must be submitted to the International Vice President.
4. If you are a student going on a BYU ISP program or individual experience seeking university credit, have you submitted a completed online application? You may apply under the appropriate program type by clicking on International Study Programs on the menu bar on this page. If you are going abroad under BYU direction, but not taking credit, you must register your trip on BYU's Travel Registry found on the right column of this page. All international travel by students on BYU-sponsored programs (study abroad, internships, field studies, mentored grants, ORCA grants, etc.) should be registered either through the ISP online application or the Travel Registry. If you have questions or concerns, please contact International Study Programs, 280 HRCB (David M. Kennedy Center), 422-3686, or 422-6192.