are you an EMPLOYER

GoffWilson can help you with a broad range of immigration matters, such as obtaining appropriate visas for your foreign-born employees here or around the globe, managing compliance issues, and more.

Fueling growth with talent from abroad Brian Testa of KBACE Technologies relies on GoffWilson to secure H-1B visas for the highly skilled workers the company needs to grow.
see how we help employers

BLAWG entries

06/20/2024New Immigration Actions Strengthen Families and the Economy

01/22/2024Prepare for Success this H-1B Season

09/25/2023Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela Extended for 18 Months

Go to the BLAWG »

SERVICES

» H-1B Specialty Occupations
» L-1 Intracompany Transfer
» Permanent Resident Cards
» I-9/E-Verify
» E-1/E-2 Treaty Trader/Investor
» TN Visa

See more employer services

RESOURCES

» US Department of Homeland Security
» Visa Bulletin
» Labor Certification Processing Times
» US Department of State
» Civil Surgeons Locator

See all resource links »

Employer

are you an EMPLOYEE

Today’s global economy offers a wealth of opportunities to develop your talents and advance your career. We can help you obtain the right visa for employment or permanent residency in the U.S., establish a business, and tackle new challenges wherever they are.

Easing the path from employee to entrepreneur

When Daniel Baloche decided to start a business in the US, he turned to GoffWilson to streamline the E-2 visa process and help him get up and running.
see how we help employees

BLAWG entries

06/20/2024New Immigration Actions Strengthen Families and the Economy

01/22/2024Prepare for Success this H-1B Season

09/25/2023Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela Extended for 18 Months

Go to the BLAWG »

SERVICES

» H-1B Specialty Occupations
» L-1 Intracompany Transfer
» EB-5 Investor
» E-1/E-2 Treaty Trader/Investor
» Permanent Resident Cards
» TN Visa

See more employee services »

RESOURCES

» US Department of Homeland Security
» Visa Bulletin
» US Customs and Border Protection
» US Department of State
» Civil Surgeons Locator

See all resource links »

Employee

does your FAMILY need immigration help?

We have helped many families overcome complex legal barriers to marry or bring loved ones from other countries to the United States. We are professionals at helping families to establish residency in the U.S. and facilitating the journey from immigrant to citizen.

Bringing sisters back together in America

Mona Smith and Zaleha Osman, originally from Singapore, credit GoffWilson with navigating the complex process that led to permanent residency.

see how we help families

BLAWG entries

06/20/2024New Immigration Actions Strengthen Families and the Economy

01/22/2024Prepare for Success this H-1B Season

09/25/2023Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela Extended for 18 Months

Go to the BLAWG »

SERVICES

» Permanent Resident Cards
» EB-5 Investor

See more family services »

RESOURCES

» US Department of Homeland Security
» Visa Bulletin
» US Customs and Border Protection
» US Department of State
» Civil Surgeons Locator

See all resource links »

Family

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updates via email

Past Articles

2024

New Immigration Actions Strengthen Families and the Economy | 06/20/2024 Prepare for Success this H-1B Season | 01/22/2024

2023

Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela Extended for 18 Months | 09/25/2023 USCIS Announces a New Form I‑9 and Remote Verification Options | 07/27/2023 Temporary I-9 Flexibility Set to Expire | 05/09/2023

2022

The DHS Announces TPS Extension | 12/07/2022 Immigration Update: H-2B Visa Expansion and I-9 News | 10/19/2022 DHS Extends Guidance Relaxing I-9 Rules | 04/26/2022 Temporary Policy for Expired List B Identity Documents is Set to End | 03/18/2022 DHS Designates Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status | 03/04/2022 H-1B Visa Registration is Around the Corner | 02/01/2022 It's Not Too Late to Register for Our Latest I-9 Seminar | 01/21/2022

2021

An Extension of Increased I-9 Flexibility Announced | 12/17/2021 Immigration Settlement Clears Certain L-2 and H-4 Spouses for Work | 11/11/2021 DHS Extends Form I-9 Requirement Flexibility Again | 09/02/2021 USCIS Introduces Online Filing for OPT Applicants | 04/14/2021 The DHS Extends I-9 Flexibility and Expands its Scope | 04/05/2021 Biden Administration Lets Worker-Visa Ban Expire | 04/01/2021 H-1B Visa Electronic Registration is Almost Here | 02/18/2021

2020

I-9 Requirement Flexibility Extended | 12/28/2020 DHS Extends TPS for Six Countries | 12/08/2020 H-1B Visa Changes Are on the Way | 10/23/2020 Federal Judge Blocks Big Hikes in Immigration Fees | 10/02/2020 I-9 Flexibility Extended Once Again | 09/16/2020 I-9 Flexibility Extended an Additional 30 Days | 08/20/2020 White House Rescinds Rule Restricting International Students from Studying Online | 07/15/2020 Temporary COVID-19 Form I-9 Policies Continue | 07/01/2020 The Trump Administration Continues Restrictions to Legal Immigration | 06/24/2020 The USCIS Announces Office Reopenings | 06/03/2020 USCIS Updates its Temporary Policy for List B Documents | 05/04/2020 An Up-to-Date Immigration Resource | 04/29/2020 The White House Immigration Proclamation: The Invisible Wall | 04/24/2020 I-9 in the Age of COVID-19 | 04/07/2020 GoffWilson: A Helpful Hand in Uncertain Times | 03/24/2020 I-9 Workshop Postponed | 03/12/2020 Injunction Ordered in Accrual of Unlawful Presence and F, J, and M Nonimmigrants | 03/02/2020 USCIS Issues a New Form I-9 | 02/17/2020 Exploring the USCIS H-1B Cap Registration Update | 01/23/2020

2019

USCIS Implements a New Electronic H-1B Registration Process | 12/12/2019 ICE Begins Enforcing STEM OPT Compliance with Site Visits | 09/29/2019 The DHS Extends TPS for Syria | 09/25/2019 USCIS Announces Changes to the Current Naturalization Test | 08/08/2019 Understanding the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019 | 07/16/2019 Increased Fees for International Students, Exchange Visitors, and SEVP-Certified Schools | 06/03/2019 Former DSO Official Guilty of Visa Fraud | 05/20/2019 There’s Still Time to Register for Our Latest I-9 Seminar | 04/24/2019 GoffWilson Announces a May I-9 Event | 04/08/2019 What the New DHS H-1B Process Means for Employers | 02/03/2019 Have You Started Thinking About Filing for an H Visa? | 01/22/2019

2018

A Step Forward for the H-1B Visa Application Process, Or Is It? | 12/14/2018 ICE’s Worksite Enforcement Strategy Could Affect Your Company | 07/27/2018 Big Changes Coming for F, J, and M Nonimmigrants | 05/14/2018 Only a few seats remaining for 5/17/18. Register Today! | 05/04/2018 H-1B Visa Reminder | 02/23/2018 H-1B Visa Filing Frenzy is Just Around the Corner | 02/14/2018 Do You Have a Response Ready for ICE’s Worksite Enforcement Strategy? | 01/11/2018

Back to blawg »

USCIS Introduces Online Filing for OPT Applicants

4/14/2021

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that certain F-1 students seeking optional practical training (OPT) can file Form I-765 online beginning April 15, 2021. This creates a more user-friendly option for eligible students and will help increase the efficiencies for adjudicators.

USCIS has made news recently for lengthy OPT delays and in February, 18 international students filed a class-action lawsuit against USCIS and ICE in response to delays.

What is OPT?

OPT is a temporary employment option that allows F-1 students to work in positions related to their area of study. Eligible students can apply to work for up to 12 months before completing their studies (pre-completion OPT) or for 12 months after completing their academic program (post-completion OPT). F-1 students graduating with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math ) degrees are eligible to apply for an additional 24-month OPT extension.

Who is Eligible to File Online?

Online filing is limited to F-1 students filing Form I-765 for OPT. F-1 students eligible to file online fall into one of three categories:

Pre-Completion OPT
Post-Completion OPT
24-Month Extension of OPT for STEM graduates

Filing online is not mandatory. USCIS will continue to accept the latest paper version of Form I-765 by mail.

Benefits of the Online Option

The option to electronically file Form I-765 offers students a handful of benefits over the traditional paper form. Students filing online have 24/7 access to the status of their case and expedited communication with USCIS—notices are sent online, eliminating mailing time. Form I-765 applications are processed in order of arrival, and while online submissions aren’t prioritized over paper forms, filing online will get you in the queue more quickly.

Increasing Online Access

The move to allow the filing of Form I-765 is a positive step toward increasing electronic options at USCIS. According to Tracy Renaud, Senior Official Performing the Duties of USCIS Director, “USCIS remains committed to maximizing our online filing capabilities.”

GoffWilson Immigration

GoffWilson solely practices immigration law and has a decades-long history of helping businesses, institutions of higher education, and students navigate ever-changing and complex immigration laws. If you have a question about the new online filing option, STEM OPT compliance, or any other immigration questions, contact GoffWilson today. Immigration isn’t just what we do, it’s our passion!

Filed under:Immigration Law