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International Student Center

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES AND IMMIGRATION

 The ISR Office offers many different services to our  international students. On this page, you will find the necessary documentation to request CPT or OPT, find information on filing your taxes, as well as obtaining a Social Security Number and a Drivers License. 

If you need additional assistance or information than what is found on this page, please make an appointment with a Designated School Official (DSO). 

CPT, or Curricular Practical Training, provides opportunities for international students to work off campus while they are studying full time. It is a great way to receive experience in your field of study and prepare for your next steps after graduating, whether that is doing OPT, going fully into the workforce, or transitioning back home. 

Important things to know about CPT

  • CPT can be done after completing a full year of study.
  • CPT is the ONLY way to legally work off campus before graduating.
  • Your CPT job must directly relate to, and be a requirement for, specific classes in your major.
  •  Doing CPT will not affect your possibility of doing OPT, as long as you remain under 12 months of continuous employment. 

How to fill out the CPT form

  • Ask your employer to fill out the first page.
  •  It is very important to indicate if the position is part time or full time.
  • Make sure to indicate the start and end date (CPTs cannot be backdated).
  • Upload or attach a job description with your CPT form.
  • Ask your academic advisor to fill out the second page.
  • Your academic advisor needs to specify exactly which classes your position relates to, with their respective class codes.
  • On the third page, provide the name and address of your employer.
  •  Once completed, email isc@oru.edu with the form and job description.
  • A DSO will review your file and authorize CPT. The DSO retains complete discretion in authorizing CPT.
  • A new I-20 will be emailed to you with the CPT authorization on it.
  • You CANNOT begin working until you have your CPT I-20.
  • Make sure to keep your previous I-20 for your own records.

CPT Form

Optional Practical Training (OPT), is a benefit that gives F-1 students 12 months of temporary employment for practica training directly related to the student's major area of study.

A job offer is not necessary to be able to apply for OPT. A new 12 month period of OPT may be authorized after completing a new degree program at a higher education level.

The Office of International Student Relations (ISR) recommends F-1 students for OPT, and the U.S. Government (USCIS) approves OPT applications. OPT is a benefit, not an entitlement, and a recommendation from the ISR Office does not guarantee USCIS approval.

How to apply

  • Attend OPT workshop through the ISR Office. You will be walked through the process and given the necessary steps to begin your application.
    • Workshops begin on 09/09/24 at the ISR Office.
    • Sign up for the workshops here
  • Prepare OPT application paperwork and materials.
    Complete the OPT Request Form with ISR Office, including OPT start date, academic advisor letter, and upload of all application materials for review.
  • Receive updated I-20 with DSO recommendation via email from ISR Office.
  • Create your USCIS account and file your OPT application (I-765 online form) within 30 days of DSO recommendation.
  • USCIS adjudicates your OPT application.
  • If approved, you will receive an approval notice and your EAD work authorization card.
  • Once you begin work, update SEVP Portal with your employment information.

Resources for OPT

If you have been employed in any way, or received any kind of income, you will need to file Federal and/or State taxes on or before the deadline, which is April 15th.

The ISR Office partners with SprinTax, the only tax company that specializes in non-resident taxes, to provide this service for all international students. As part of their services, they provide a special discount code which makes filing Federal taxes free. Please note that if you are required to pay State taxes, that carries a cost of $44.95.

What you will need to file taxes

  • A W-2 form (generally provided by your employer, and accessible through Vision if you worked for ORU).
  • A 1040NR form (accessible through SprinTax).

How to file taxes

  • Attend the Tax Information seminar hosted by the ISR Office 
  • Create a free SprinTax account here and follow the steps to upload your tax documents.
  • Once completed, SprinTax will calculate how much taxes you will need to pay, both at the State and Federal level.
  • Download and print your tax packet. It will contain links to pay your State and Federal taxes.
  • It is essential for you to mail your tax returns IN ADDITION to paying them electronically. This can be done at the ORU post office.

If you need additional help filing your taxes, SprinTax has a 24-hour chat and customer support service accessible through their website.

Websites to pay your taxes electronically

You are eligible to drive a motor vehicle while residing in the United States. However, if you wish to operate a vehicle you must successfully apply for and receive a driver’s license. Driving a car without a driver’s license is illegal. To acquire a driver’s license, you must apply for one at your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). 

Steps to Apply

  • Wait 10 days after arriving in the United States to apply for a driver's license so that your Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” information can update in all the government systems.
  • Obtain a Social Security number (SSN), if required by your state or territory.
  • Visit and submitting the proper documentation to the DMV.

The DMV may need to verify your nonimmigrant student status to determine if you are eligible for a driver’s license. To verify your status, the DMV may use the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program. To find out more about this program, please visit the Checking Your SAVE Case Status page.

Nearest DMVs to the ORU campus

Required Documentation

When you apply for a driver's license at your local DMV, make sure to bring original copies of the following documents:

  • All signed versions of your Form I-20.
  • A valid passport and your most recent student visa (Please note that you do not need a visa if you are from a visa-exempt country, such as Canada or Bermuda).
  • Proof of residence. This varies from state to state and you should check your local DMV’s website to ensure you understand what is needed to fulfill this requirement.
  • If your state requires it, an SSN card or a Form SSA-L676, “Refusal to Process SSN Application.”
  • If you are on optional practical training, bring your Form I-766, “Employment Authorization Document.” The DMV will use the A number on this card to verify your status.

Please note that to obtain a Drivers License it is important to go to a DMV AND NOT to a Tag Agency. Also, be aware that you will be required to pass a written exam and a driving test to obtain a Drivers License. 

You can study for the written exam here.

Once you have passed the examinations you will be able to obtain a Drivers License. It is normal for non-residents to receive temporary licenses, and it usually takes several weeks for the license to arrive through the mail. The DMV will issue you a temporary license until the actual one comes.

If you are planning on working while you are studying, whether on campus or CPT/OPT, you will need a Social Security Card. Addionally, the state of Oklahoma requires a SSN to be eligible for obtaining a Drivers License. 

Required Documentation

  • I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) or admission stamp in the unexpired foreign passport.
  • I-20 Form
  • Letter from a DSO confirming your status, and identifying your employer and the type of work you will be doing. You can request letter at isc@oru.edu
  • Letter from your employer stating your job, number of hours you will be working, and supervisor's phone number and email address.
  • If you are doing CPT, you need to present your I-20 with the CPT authorization on it.

Once you have all your documents, you can present them at the Social Security Office:

14002 E 21st St, Ste 900, Tulsa, Ok, 74134

(M-F 9 AM-4 PM, except for Wednesdays 9 AM-12 PM)

Please note that you are responsible for your transportation to the Social Security Office. The ISR Office is currently unable to provide transportation for you.

 

 

 

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