Optional Practical Training
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary employment that provides students on the F-1 Visa with the opportunity to gain experience in your field. You're eligible for 12 months of OPT for each degree completed, and work needs to relate to your major. International student insurance is available, but you must apply and enroll directly through the insurance company, not through our office.
The OPT start date is determined based on your employment start date. It begins within 60 days of academic program end date and ends 12 months after. Even if your employment start date is later than the 60 days after the program ends, your start date will still be the 60th day.
How to Apply
You can apply 90 days before the end of the program or semester (I-20s will have exact program end dates). The latest applications can be received by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is 60 days after program end date.
- Create or login to USCIS account
- We recommend submitting the application online, so you don’t have to worry about the application getting lost in the mail or not making it on time.
- Submit color scanned copies of these documents:
- New I-20 with OPT endorsement.
- USCIS needs to have I-20s within 30-days of issuance, so the application needs to be received within those 30-days. If you file outside of the 30-days, your application can be denied.
- Most recent I-94
- 2x2 photo
- Copy of old I-20(s)
- Copy of passport ID page
- Copy of F-1 visa
- Copy of previous Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- New I-20 with OPT endorsement.
- Pay ($410) application fee.
You'll receive confirmation that USCIS received your application. Average processing time is 90 days. USCIS may request more information; contact advisor if you need help.
Employment Options
There are multiple types of employment options open to you, but it must be in your field. It's important to keep a record of your employment history to maintain lawful status if you apply for future immigration benefits.
Employment must be a minimum of 20 hours per week, paid or unpaid, to maintain legal F-1 OPT status. You should be able to provide evidence from your employer to verify that you worked at least 20 hours per week.
Limitation on Unemployment
If you don't start work on your OPT start date, you have up to 90 days within the 12-months of the card that you can be “unemployed” and still keep your status. If you need to use unemployment, update your OPT and report employment to International Education to stop the unemployment.
Options After OPT
After your training ends, you can:
- change your visa status.
- apply to a different University or add another degree on.
- return home.
You may receive a H1-B (temporary work visa) from employer.
Questions? We Can Help
Getting your education in a different country is an incredible opportunity, but it can be complicated to get everything in order. If you have questions, our office is always here for you.