Overview

This article outlines the steps to edit an Optional Practical Training (OPT) request successfully recommended by the DSO in SEVIS, but which has not yet been adjudicated by USCIS.  

If USCIS has already processed the OPT request, do NOT use this action.

USCIS permits DSOs to edit just four fields in an OPT record that has been updated in SEVIS, but not yet approved by the USCIS. These four fields are:

• New Full or Part-Time Employment
• Finished One Year Requirement? 
• Student Remarks 
• Remarks

Important: If SEVIS prohibits you from editing a specific field in this action, you must first cancel the OPT request, then create a new Add OPT request. 

If you attempt to edit and batch OPT data that SEVIS does not permit to be edited, the batch update will fail and will be returned with a SEVIS batch error.

• Step 1: Find Optional Practical Training Record
• Step 2: Review SEVIS-Required Data
• Step 3: Complete Required SEVIS Data
• Step 4: Create a SEVIS Update Record

Step 1: Find Optional Practical Training Record

1. Navigate to Record > Search.
2. Enter the name of the student whose OPT record you would like to edit in SEVIS.
3. Click on the OPT record associated with the student name.

Step 2: Review SEVIS-Required Data

SEVIS Admin clients may either:

Allow students to complete SEVIS-mapped Question Items for their OPT record

OR 

Edit the questionnaire to remove it from the student view for the OPT request. By removing it from the student view, only Admins can complete the question items.  To complete this action:   

1.  Process > Questionnaires > OPT Employment Information > Click the edit pencil > Select 'Yes' to 'Is this an internal-use questionnaire?' > Update
2.  Select the checkbox to the left of the Application Cycle(s) you want the questionnaire to be deployed to > Select Apply.

Step 3: Complete Required SEVIS Data

Depending on how your site is configured, Admins should review, edit, or complete the required SEVIS-mapped Question Items in the record.
Again, the USCIS permits DSOs to edit just four fields in an OPT record that has been updated in SEVIS, but not yet approved by the USCIS. These four fields are marked with * below:

• Start Date - this information was already batched to SEVIS,  do not edit.
• End Date - this information was already batched to SEVIS,  do not edit.
• Full or Part-Time Employment - this information was already batched to SEVIS,  do not edit.
• New Full or Part-Time Employment* -  this information >will be batched to SEVIS - This information can be edited in this update action.
• Finished One Year Requirement?* - this information was already batched to SEVIS. This information can be edited in this update action.
• Pre-Completion or Post-Completion - this information was already batched to SEVIS,  do not edit.
• Student Remarks* - these are the student remarks that were already batched to SEVIS. This information can be edited in this update action.  You may replace it with a remark related to the Edit.
• Remarks* -  these are the remarks that were already batched to SEVIS.  This information can be edited in this update action.  You may replace it with a remark related to the Edit.

Important: If SEVIS prohibits you from editing a specific field in this action, you must first cancel the OPT request, then create a new Add OPT request. 

If you attempt to edit and batch OPT data that SEVIS does not permit to be edited, the batch update will fail and will be returned with a SEVIS batch error.

Step 4: Create a SEVIS Update Record

When all fields are complete, you will create a SEVIS Update Record. For instructions on how to do this, see SEVIS Admin: Creating a SEVIS Update Record.