Can I travel outside the United States during practical training?
A. If you are considering travel outside of the United States while you are an applicant for OPT authorization you will want to read this article on our website: http://isss.binghamton.edu/emp/OPT_Travel.html An F-1 student who has timely filed an application for Post-Completion OPT may travel outside the United States while the OPT application is pending, provided that the F-1 student can present their USCIS Processing Center Receipt, proving their OPT application has been filed with USCIS. However, once the EAD card for Post-Completion OPT is issued to the F-1 student, and the student decides to travel abroad, the student can only re-enter the United States to resume employment. The F-1 student does not need to have already begun actual employment before leaving, as long as the student has a job offer. The best general advice is that a F-1 student on OPT, who has received the EAD card, and has to travel abroad should make sure that there is documentation from his or her employer conf
