News
Keep Records of your Post-OPT Employment — Future You Will Thank You
While you are on Post-Completion OPT, it is very important to keep records of your employment. Many students may not think about this until gathering the documentation is time sensitive; however, it is important to consider now as you may be asked to provide evidence of your Post-OPT employment in the future.
What Records Should You Keep?
We recommend saving copies of documents that show proof of:
Your employer
- Job offer letters
- Employment verification letters
Your job details
- Job descriptions or position descriptions
- Any documents explaining how your job relates to your major
- Any documents on tasks or projects performed
Your dates of employment
- Pay stubs
- Employment contracts
- Timesheets or invoices (for contract, self-employment, unpaid positions, etc.)
Your immigration history
- Previous I-20s
- Your EAD card(s)
- Your F-1 visa
It is a good idea to save digital copies of these documents in a safe place.
How Long Should You Keep These Records?
It is important to ensure you keep your Post-OPT employment records even after your Post-OPT ends.
Many students may need to keep these documents for several years, because they may be needed for future immigration benefit requests within the U.S. For as long as you plan to apply for benefits within the U.S., you should keep records of your time spent in the F-1 immigration status, including Post-OPT.
Why These Records Matter
You may need to show proof of your Post-OPT employment if you later apply for other immigration benefits such as:
- 24-month STEM OPT Extension
- H-1B work visa
- Permanent residency (green card)
In some cases, immigration officers may ask you to prove that your Post-OPT employment was related to your major and met Post-OPT requirements.
These documents may help you while traveling, as well. When re-entering the U.S., if the port of entry officials ask for proof of your employment, having various types of evidence could be very helpful.
Final Tip
Think of this as keeping your own personal immigration file. Saving these documents now can help protect your status and make future immigration applications much smoother.
Please remember that it is your responsibility to keep records of your OPT employment and immigration documents. The ISSC does not keep copies of your employment records, pay stubs, or other proof of work nor can we guarantee we will have copies of all previously issued I-20s.
Keeping these records organized now can make future immigration applications easier. Future you will thank you if you are ever asked to provide proof of your Post-OPT employment.