We want to help you get the coveted Employment Authorization Card! So, we have laid out an easy checklist to assist you in completing and filing the I-765 form and eventually receiving your EAD. Follow these tips and tricks, and you are one step closer to working as a waiter, interning as a production assistant, or beginning your apprenticeship.
Step 1: To apply for CPT or OPT you must be an F-1 student. If you are uncertain, the quickest way to check this box is to ensure your US Visa in your passport says “F-1 Visa” under Visa Type.
Step 2: Request that your designated school official (DSO) at your institution recommend an OPT. This can be done by the DSO endorsing your I-20 form and notating the recommendation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). You are eligible to submit your I-765 form once your DSO has entered the information into your SEVIS record!
Step 3: Set aside an hour to look over our website, create an account, and browse the questions on the I-765 form. We know you are busy, but it only takes a coffee and thirty minutes of concentration to get this done. You will be so thankful that you did!
Step 4: Gather all essential papers. You probably have stray documents lying around your house or dorm room, and they may contain some valuable information we can use! Of course the form contains the obvious questions like birthplace, name, and gender, but it also includes, if applicable, an Alien Registration Number, a USCIS Online Account Number, and a current I-94 number. After making an account you can easily click through and add your answers one at a time to the I-765 form.
Step 5: Required documents upload. Like we mentioned before, having important documents on hand will make your life easier! If you have been issued an EAD before, please upload a copy of it. Other documents you will need to upload are a copy of your Form I-94, a printout of the electronic version, your passport (cover to cover), and other travel documents. If you are represented by an attorney, it will be useful to submit your Form G-28.
Step 6: Submit for attorney review and approval!
Step 7: We compile the documents for you and give you a file to print and mail to USCIS.
It’s as easy as that — 7 simple steps and you have done all the hard work! Once the bundle of documents has been filed with USCIS, all you have to do is wait and check in on your status. Start preparing now — our OPT application launches tomorrow!
