OPT Applicants should expect a 3 to 5 month wait for USCIS to issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Applicants may not begin working until they have the EAD card in hand. Applicants will need to complete an I-9 with Shelley Biagas or Elizabeth Gonzalez in the HR Tax and Compliance department [ fntnvo.lryyruf+ryczrg+hqr; [click-for-email]].

Departments do not need to add the applicant to DestinyOne.

The types of employment allowed during the initial 12-month period of OPT include (these DO NOT apply to the STEM Extension):

• Paid employment.
  Students may work part time (at least 20 hours per week when on post-completion OPT) or full time in a job related to their field of study.
• Unpaid employment.
  Students on the initial 12-month OPT may work as volunteers or unpaid interns, where this does not violate any labor laws. The applicant may not "volunteer" for a position that is normally paid. The work must be at least 20 hours per week. These students must be able to provide evidence from the employer that the student worked at least 20 hours per week during the period of employment.
• Multiple employers.
  Students may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to the student’s degree program.

Please note that to be eligible for a STEM OPT extension, the student's employer must be registered in E-Verify and must use the system to verify all new employees. While Temple University is registered in the E-Verify system, Temple does not use the system to verify all new employees, only those that are working on a Federal Contract. This means that Temple does not allow individuals to work here using a STEM OPT Employment Authorization Document as proof of US Work Authorization. This is not an ISSS policy but rather a Temple University Human Resources matter. Department Chairs with questions regarding STEM OPT Employment can speak with Karen Ward in HR for clarification.

8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(5)

(5) Employer qualification. The student’s employer is enrolled in E-Verify, as evidenced by either a valid E-Verify Company Identification number or, if the employer is using an employer agent to create its E-Verify cases, a valid E-Verify Client Company Identification number, and the employer remains a participant in good standing with E-Verify, as determined by USCIS. An employer must also have an employer identification number (EIN) used for tax purposes.

If the employer participates directly, it will have an E-Verify company identification number; if the employer participates through an E-Verify Third Party Agent, the employer will have an E-Verify client company number. After enrolling in E-Verify, an employer must use E-Verify to comply with its I-9 and employment verification obligations for all new hires, U.S. as well as alien.