Left the country but need OPT

Flora Iton

New Member
Jurisdiction
Pennsylvania
Can I file my OPT from my home country?
Our college let out early, so I had to leave the country in a hurry because of the COVID pandemic and I hadn't started filing my OPT yet.
Now that I am back in my home country (Latin America), I hear I can no longer file my OPT because I have to be on US soil to do that.
Can I come back on my F1 Visa, even if I will only be able to return after my graduation date has passed. Obviously we forfeit an official graduation since we all had to go home.
 
Can I file my OPT from my home country?

The institution of higher learning might be able to advise you further.

Why not make a phone call or two in an effort to see what you can learn from the university/college about how you should next proceed?

I am hearing through the grapevine that SOME universities are waiving or excusing additional requirements beyond successfully completing the required coursework.
 
You have 12 months from the point you completed your program of study to perform OPT. That clock ran from the time you ceased attending classes (the "formal" graduation is immaterial). If you want to come back and work before those 12 months are up, I see no reason why that wouldn't be permitted.

If you want an exception to allow you to arrive after twelve months or work OPT longer than 12, that would depend on all sorts of details you've not expressed (and whether the government decides to give any covid-specific relief).

As suggested, the first place to start was the school's international students office.
 
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