{"id":31500,"date":"2023-11-21T05:02:26","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T05:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interstride.com\/?p=31500"},"modified":"2024-06-27T21:45:13","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T21:45:13","slug":"what-is-form-i-765","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interstride.com\/blog\/what-is-form-i-765\/","title":{"rendered":"What is form I-765?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As an international student seeking OPT in the US, you will need an <\/span>Employment Authorization Document<\/a><\/strong> (EAD). Once you are approved and receive your EAD, you will be able to legally work in the US, and prove such to potential employers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To obtain an EAD, you must complete \u201c<\/span>form I-765<\/strong><\/span><\/a>,\u201d also known as the \u201cApplication for Employment Authorization.\u201d United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses form I-765 to determine a foreign worker\u2019s eligibility for a work permit in the US. If you are hoping to work while in school as an international student, or after graduation, you will need to complete form I-765.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who can file form I-765?<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are several categories under which a form I-765 can be filed, but the categories of international students that can file form-I765 include:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. F-1 students seeking <\/span>Pre-Completion or Post-Completion OPT<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. F-1 students seeking a <\/span>STEM OPT<\/a><\/strong>\u00a024-month extension.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. F-1 students who are offered off-campus employment, while being sponsored from a qualifying international organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. F-1 students seeking off-campus employment due to unforeseen economic hardship.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. M-1 students seeking Post-Completion OPT after completing education.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Interstride Tip! If you are also applying for a green card, you must wait to receive your green card and use that as proof of US work eligibility. You can\u2019t apply for an EAD while also applying for a green card.<\/span><\/b><\/div><\/div>\n

    Key components of form I-765<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Depending on the category you are filing the form under, it\u2019s important to follow the specific <\/span>instructions given by USCIS<\/a><\/strong> in filling out form I-765. The form itself is fairly straightforward and has six different parts:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. Reason for Application: <\/b>Here you will indicate your reason for applying<\/span> (e.g. applying for OPT for the first time, applying for STEM OPT extension, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Identification Information:<\/b> In addition to biographical identification information (name, gender, address, etc.), you will also specify the <\/span>category code<\/a><\/strong> you are filing the form under (e.g. F-1 students seeking pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT, STEM OPT, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Statement and Signature:<\/b> You will sign and date the form in this section, as well as indicate if you received assistance from an interpreter.<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Interpreter\u2019s Contact Information:<\/b> If applicable, you will include your interpreter\u2019s contact information here.<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Statement and Signature of Person Who Prepared Forms:<\/b> If you received assistance in the form of a preparer (such as a lawyer, your interpreters, etc.), they will have to sign and date here.<\/span><\/li>\n
    6. Additional Information: <\/b>If there are any parts of the form you wish to expand on, things you feel are important to mention, or you simply run out of space with any previous answers, you can provide any additional information here.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      Interstride Tip! <\/b>Part 6 of the form is only one page. If you feel you need more than that, you are allowed to make photocopies of Part 6. Note that you must sign and date each additional page, as well as indicate the page, part, and item numbers on each page.<\/span><\/b><\/div><\/div>\n

      How to file form I-765?<\/b><\/h2>\n

      Form I-765 can be filed online, via the <\/span>USCIS portal<\/a><\/strong>, or through mail, via paper, though it\u2019s not recommended. Depending on your circumstances, you may have to include specific documents. However, international students should be prepared to submit the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n