Getting ready to work in the United States

I am now in that part of my Masters program where the courses have gotten less hectic but the paperwork and the documentation I need to do so that, once I graduate this December, is getting confusing and mind boggling. But I have somehow, figured my out of it and thought that I'd let my other fellow graduates know of the process. At least you guys can have an easier time :)While this process mainly pertains to people graduating from Texas A&M University, I am guessing the overall process is pretty much the same for any graduate from any university across the university. However, I beg of you to consider this blog only as a reference and nothing more than that. It is always better to double check with the concerned authority before you make a decision :) ( Yea, that's me trying to save my ass so that, you don't hold me accountable later on )The instructions below are mainly for Masters MIS students passing out of MAYS Business School, Texas A&M University - College Station. The first step to getting your EAD (Employment Authorization Document) is getting the OPT approved on our I20. This work is done by the ISS (International Student Services) and takes anywhere between 5 and 20 business days. The sooner you submit the documents, the better.THINGS TO DO TO GET ISS TO ISSUE A NEW I20 with OPT APPROVAL ( You don't need an offer letter to do this)1. Visit the following link - OPT Page to get a list of all the forms that need to be submitted to the ISS. The type of OPT we will be applying for is "Post-Completion Optional Practical Training" because, the OPT will be applicable only after we graduate. This is valid for 12 months from the begin date that is mentioned by us.2. The three forms that need to be downloaded from this page are - the post completion checklist, post completion student form and the post completion  department form.3.  We will be graduating with a Masters (Non-thesis) degree and in the checklist, there will be an option of applying for OPT with either a Letter of completion or applying based on graduation. You need to check the 'Apply based on graduation' option. Apply for graduation by going to HOWDY -> My Records -> Apply for graduation4. You will be filling up the student form and for filling up the department form, get in touch with the department and they can guide you better. Also, have ready in hand, all the documents mentioned in the checklist.5. Apart from this, you need to also do an online workshop recommended by the ISS. Without completing this, you will not be able to apply for an OPT. The online workshop link is here - OPT Online Workshop. Once this is done, you will get an email confirmation to your tamu ID. A print out of this confirmation needs to be submitted along with the other documents for your OPT to be approved.6. Once all this is done, submit the documents to the ISS and they should issue your new I20 with the OPT start and end date mentioned on the 3rd page of the I20.Suggestion: Make sure that the OPT start date is within 2 months of graduation and as close as possible to the start date of employment. This will give you a good safety period for your OPT duration. Once the ISS approves and issues your new I20, the next step is applying for EAD.THINGS TO DO TO GET THE US GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE THE EAD1. Form I-765 (visit www.uscis.gov to download the most recent form). The same link has information on how to answer the questions/fill out the form. I suggest you read through that to make sure you don't make any mistakes. Also, when you fill out the mailing address ( this address has to be in the United States of America), make sure you will be in this address for at least the next three months because it takes that long for the EAD to be processed.2. Passport-style photos with your name printed in pencil on the back, put into a plastic bag and stapled to the upperright corner of Form I-765 (visit http://travel.state.gov/pdf/Photo-Quality-Requirements.pdf). I have heard it's preferred to take this photo at Walgreens but you can do whatever you wish as long as it meets their requirements.3. Check or money order payable to “Department of Homeland Security," stapled to the upper left corner of Form I-765. The amount for which it has to be taken is $380.4. Photocopy of your most recent I-94 (front and back). You do not need to include photocopies of any dependent I-94s.5. Photocopies of any previous EAD cards (front and back). You do not need to include photocopies of any dependentEADs.6. Photocopy of the newly updated OPT I-20 (all three pages, single-sided).7. Photocopies of ALL previous I-20s (all three pages, singled-sided, most recent on top). You do not need to includephotocopies of any dependent I-20s.8. Photocopy of your passport's picture and validity/expiration page(s). You do not need to include photocopies of anydependent passport pages.9. Photocopy of your visa. You do not need to include photocopies of any dependent visas.Most importantly, all these documents need to be couriered to the Department of Homeland Security within 30 days of getting your I20 approved by the ISS. Otherwise, the EAD will not be approved.I guess I have covered almost everything that needs to be done. If you have any questions, let me know. Happy filling out forms and getting your EADs authorized.Cheers,Karthik Venkatachalapathi