Philadelphia Immigration Lawyer Blog

Just a reminder that the USCIS has revised the I-765 Work Authorization form (the revision date is April 8, 2008) and the new form, which is filed by foreign nationals to obtain an EAD (Employment Authorization Document) must be used as of March 31, 2008. The new, revised I-765 include a change that is relevant to F-1 students seeking OPT-based employment authorization and the change is a result of the recently announced Rule that provides for a 17 month extension for certain OPT students.

Here are the new USCIS instructions for the revised I-765.

The prior eligibility code (c)(3)(i) will no longer be used on the I-765. It has been replaced with the following three codes: (c)(3)(A) for pre-completion OPT; (c)(3)(B) for post-completion OPT; and (c)(3)(C) for a 17-month extension for an F-1 student who has received a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM), that appears on the STEM designated Degree Program List published on the SEVP website.

If you are filing as a STEM student requesting the 17-month extension of your currently authorized optional practical training under (c)(3)(C), you must state on the new I-765 your degree, you must now include the employers name and E-Verify id number and you must submit a copy of your degree that must indicate your major field of study.

The new Form I-765 also eliminates the option of filing due to replacement of an EAD that was never received, and for re-issuance of an EAD that was issued with incorrect information due to a USCIS error. If you require a new EADs for either of these two specific reasons, you must contact the specific office that processed the initial EAD or call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.