International students and designated school officials (DSOs) must remember to report student employer information related to optional practical training (OPT) in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Without this information, students could be viewed as having failed to obtain employment and potentially be considered out of status for exceeding permissible periods of unemployment while participating in OPT.

Regulations require that international students work with their DSO to ensure information captured in the SEVP Portal and SEVIS are accurate. Federal law limits how long F-1 students on post-completion OPT or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT can be unemployed. The limits are:

• Post-completion OPT: 90 days.
• STEM OPT: 150 days, which includes any days accrued while on post-completion OPT.

For more information, reference the OPT Student Reporting Requirements page or the Unemployment Counter page. DSOs may also contact their local SEVP field representative with any questions.