Report your Employer and Contact Information
Be aware of the 90 Day Unemployment Rule
During the period of OPT authorization, a student should be working or actively seeking employment. If you decide to quit your job, or if you do not find a job, keep the unemployment rules in mind. Normally if you are employed less than 20 hours/week, you continue to accrue unemployment time.
- Students on post-completion OPT are eligible to accrue up to 90 days of unemployment (including weekends). The 90 days start counting from the start date on OPT/EAD card (not the recommended start date nor the program end date on your I-20) and are cumulative.
- If you accumulate 90 days or more of unemployment, you are in violation of your F-1 status. You are expected to leave the U.S., transfer to another school, or change your visa status before the 90th day.
- If you accumulate 90 days of unemployment, SEVP will mail you a letter to your personal address. If you had gained employment during the 90 days and failed to report, you have 15 days from the date of the letter’s issuance to report your employment to SIUE using the OPT Reporting Form, or your record would be automatically terminated by SEVP. Students must leave the U.S. within 15 days of SEVIS record termination.
SEVP Portal Information
When your OPT start date begins, you will receive an email from SEVP to create an SEVP Portal account. Emails will ONLY come from Do-Not-Reply.SEVP@ice.dhs.gov. If you do not receive this email within 1-2 weeks check your SPAM or junk email folder and add this email address to your safe sender list. Always double check the sender address before entering your information. At this time, we ask that you do not update your own information in the SEVP Portal. All changes should be submitted to ISSS through the OPT Reporting Form. Please use the SEVP Portal only to monitor your information for accuracy.
Resetting your password and what to do if you SEVP Portal Account is Locked.
You will have access to your SEVP Portal six months after your OPT End Date. Student's who are five months or more beyond their OPT End Date will receive two emails from SEVP:
| Email Timing | Summary of Email Content |
| Five Months after OPT authorization ends | Portal access will end in 30 days. Make a copy of the portal record for future reference |
| The day portal access ends | Portal access has ended |
In preparation for account closure, SEVP strongly encourages students to print or save a copy of your portal record for future reference, including your Event History.
