If you are graduating by the Fall of 2006 (undergraduates and graduate students) and would like to apply for OPT (employment authorization) please read the following message:

• You must complete and submit an application to USCIS before the end of the semester. Students MUST submit their OPT request before their graduation date. The SEVIS program does not allow a student to submit OPT requests after graduation.

• To facilitate the process, Office of International Students and Scholars will hold a series of workshops, where OPT will be discussed in detail. Please sign up in advance to attend the workshops (maximum of 5 people per workshop).

• Even if you are graduating in the late semester, be sure to sign up for an OPT workshop as soon as possible.

• J-1 holders should disregard this message because they are not eligible for OPT.

NOTE: The last day to sign-up will be 2 days prior to the workshop. Notification will not be sent if the workshops are cancelled if no-one signs up on time.

Workshop Dates for Fall 2006 Graduates ONLY

Bring the following originals and photocopied documents to the workshop

• Passport

• Current I-20

• Any and all Previous I-20

• Original I-94 card

Please visit our website at:http://www.uri.edu/iss/forms/f1_forms_employ.htm to get more information on OPT. Do not complete the OPT forms until we meet. We will complete these forms during the workshop. For questions, please contact Dr. Dania Brandford-Calvo at brandford@uri.edu.

Appointment Request for OPT Workshop