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Not every job counts as valid employment during Post-Completion OPT. While on Post-OPT, all employment must be directly related to your major field of study, and you must meet the minimum employment requirements to avoid accruing unemployment days.

Before reporting a position as Post-OPT employment, make sure you understand what is required.

Your employment must be directly related to the degree program you completed and used to qualify for OPT.

Imagine you are speaking with a U.S. immigration officer and they ask:
 

You should be able to clearly explain what you do in the position, what knowledge and skills from your degree you use, and how your degree prepared you for the work.

The connection should be based on your overall degree program—not simply one or two classes you completed. If the connection is difficult to explain, consider carefully whether the position meets the requirements for valid Post-OPT employment.

To be considered employed for Post-OPT purposes:

• You must work at least 20 hours per week.
• You may have more than one qualifying job at the same time.

• If you have multiple jobs, your hours may be combined to meet the 20-hour-per-week re

  quirement. 

   

• Each position must be directly related to your major.
  • Only hours worked in jobs related to your major count toward the 20-hour-per-week requirement.
  • All work during Post-OPT must be related to your major. You cannot work in an unrelated position, even if you already have another job that meets the Post-OPT requirements.
     

Unpaid employment may qualify during Post-OPT in certain circumstances, but calling a position “unpaid” or “volunteer” does not automatically make it valid OPT employment.

The position must still be directly related to your major and involve genuine work that complies with applicable employment and labor laws. You should also be able to document the position, your duties, your hours, and the nature of your relationship with the employer or organization.

• Is this position directly related to my major?
• Can I clearly explain how my job duties use the knowledge and skills from my degree?
• Am I performing genuine work for this employer or organization?
• Do I have appropriate supervision?
• Am I working at least 20 hours per week, either in this position or combined with other qualifying employment?
• Could I provide documentation of this employment if requested?
   

Remember: Reporting a position in the SEVP Portal does not mean that ISSC or the U.S. government has reviewed or approved the position as qualifying Post-OPT employment.

ISSC can provide information about Post-OPT employment requirements, but ISSC cannot determine or guarantee that a specific position qualifies as valid Post-OPT employment. We are not familiar with the details of every ASU academic program or every potential job opportunity, and ISSC does not have the authority to make a final determination about whether employment meets Post-OPT regulatory requirements.

You are responsible for determining whether your employment is directly related to your major field of study. When reporting employment in the SEVP Portal, you must provide an explanation of how the position relates to your degree. You should be able to explain this connection clearly, accurately, and honestly.

Whether employment meets OPT requirements may ultimately be evaluated by U.S. government agencies, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or the U.S. Department of State, including U.S. embassies and consulates.

Taking time to understand the requirements, evaluate your employment carefully, and keep documentation can help you maintain your F-1 status during Post-OPT and be prepared to explain your employment when asked.