Can I do an internship abroad before returning to the U.S. to complete my Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
If you intend to pursue employment in the United States, internships abroad prior to your U.S. employment are strongly discouraged. The purpose of OPT is to gain professional experience in the U.S. legal arena following your studies. Regulations provide that students may travel during this period, but absences from the U.S. should be “temporary” and you must return to the U.S. “to resume employment.” The immigration inspector at the port of entry has the sole discretion as to whether or not a student meets these conditions. Therefore, any student choosing to pursue an internship abroad prior to returning to employment in the United States may take the risk of not being permitted by the immigration inspector to return in F-1 status, thus not being able to use the Optional Practical Training. This is true even if a student has an employment authorization card valid for that period of time.
Related Questions
- What is the total time I may remain in the U.S after I complete my one year of Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
- Can I do an internship abroad before returning to the U.S. to complete my Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
- Can F-1 students work on-campus if they are participating in practical training (OPT or CPT)?
