What else counts as “employment” for OPT?
Several kinds of work count as “employment” while on your original 12-month post-completion OPT, but it must be at least 20 hours per week and related to your degree program to count. 1. Paid employment for one or multiple employers (all must be related to your degree program). 2. Self-employment, if you start your own business, have the proper busines slicenses, and are actively engaged in a business related to your degree program. You must be very careful to document full-time work. 3. Employment through an agency 4. Unpaid (volunteer) employment as interns or volunteers provided this does not violate any labor laws. Your “employer” must provide evidence that you worked at least 20 hours per week during the period of employment. 5. Work for hire – that is, work you do based on a contract rather than an employment relationship.
