Overview

This article outlines the steps to add an OPT Employer to a student's existing OPT record via the SEVIS batch.

Step 1: Record Creation

Student-Initiated

You may allow students to initiate an OPT Employment Update (F/M) request online. You can create a button or link that can be placed on a Terra Dotta page, an external webpage, or even an email that a student can click to be redirected to Terra Dotta to create an OPT Employment Update (F/M) record.

Staff-Initiated

Admins may create an OPT Employment Update record for a student. To initiate this action, go to Records > New Record, enter student information, and click Search. A Search Results box will appear below, click Add next to the appropriate user, then select OPT Employment Update (F/M) from the dropdown menu and click Create.

Step 2: Find the OPT Employment Update Record

Navigate to Record > Search.
Enter the name of the student whose OPT Employer information you would like to report to SEVIS.
On the results page, find the student's OPT Employment Update (F/M) record.

Step 3: Complete and/or Review SEVIS-Required Question Items

SEVIS Admin clients may configure their site in one of two ways:

Allow students to complete the OPT Employer SEVIS-mapped question items.

Edit the OPT Employer questionnaire to remove it from the student view. By removing it from the student view, only Admins can complete the SEVIS-mapped question items. To complete this action, go to:

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

Depending on how your site is configured, Admins should review, edit, or complete the bold, required SEVIS-mapped Question Items in the user's record.

Employer Name
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
City
State
Zip Code
Employer Identifier Number
Note: Employer Identifier Number is an optional field; however, if you enter the EIN, SEVIS requires 9 digits.
Self-employed Indicator
Relevance of Employment to Course Work
Full or Part-Time Employment with Employer
Employer Start Date
Employer End Date
Supervisor First Name
Supervisor Last Name
Supervisor Phone Number
Supervisor Phone Extension
Supervisor Email
Student Job Title
New Employer Name
New Employer Start Date
New Employer End Date

When you have completed the necessary fields, click Submit.

Step 4: Create SEVIS Update Record

See the KB SEVIS Admin: Creating a SEVIS Update Record for detailed instructions about this step.

For next steps, see SEVIS Admin: Assigning a SEVIS Update to a Batch.

Articles in this section

SEVIS Admin: F/M Student Action > OPT Employer > Add Follow