Ending OPT Early

A student who has exceeded 90 unemployment days while on post-completion OPT has violated his or her status. Prior to reaching 90 days of unemployment consider taking one of the following actions:

Abandoning OPT

If you decide to abandon your F-1 OPT for any of the reasons below, you must submit a Departure Form request via our M-Passport portal Links to an external site..

  • Departure from the U.S. with no intention to return to the U.S. to resume OPT employment
  • You have reached 90 days of unemployment under OPT

Submission of the departure form will allow us to complete your F-1 SEVIS record, corresponding F-2 SEVIS record for any dependents, and end your U-M Blue Care Network IHI plan. If you do not submit this form prior to your U.S. departure, you will continue to be billed for and responsible for paying U-M Blue Care Network IHI if you have not obtained a waiver of the International Health Insurance plan from our office. Failure to timely complete your F-1 status may also result in the accrual of unlawful presence in the U.S. if you have reached more than 90 days of unemployment.

Change of Status While on OPT

If you have changed to another immigration status, you must contact the U-M Registrar’s office Links to an external site. to formally notify the university before we can complete your SEVIS record.

If you do not notify the U-M Registrar’s office regarding your new immigration status and your F-1 SEVIS record has not been completed, you will continue to be billed for, and must pay, health insurance if you are under the U-M Blue Care Network IHI plan.

Please also submit documentation of your new status to the International Center so that we can make sure your SEVIS records are updated accordingly.

Transfer F-1 SEVIS Record to a New Institution While on OPT

If you decide to start a new full-time program of study at a different SEVP-certified school before the end date of your OPT, you must speak with an International Center advisor to plan a timeline for your F-1 SEVIS transfer. The F-1 departure form should NOT be submitted for a SEVIS transfer. Please note your OPT employment authorization will end on the day before the SEVIS transfer to your new program regardless of the end date listed on your EAD.

*You must start the new program within 5 months of ending your OPT to be eligible to transfer your SEVIS record to a new institution.

Change of Education Level or Change of Program at U-M While on OPT

If you decide to start a new U-M program before the end date of your OPT, the admissions office will issue a new I-20 to you. The issuance of this new I-20 does not end your OPT immediately. However, if your program has started or you complete an immigration check-in for the new program, whichever is earlier, your EAD is permanently void for future use.

 

If you decide to end your OPT early, we recommend that you consult Links to an external site. an advisor with the International Center if you have any questions or concerns.