F Visa

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit for F-1 students to work off-campus in a field directly related to their major areas of study. An offer of employment is not required to apply for OPT.

Eligibility
Eligibility for this category requires that students be in F-1 student status for one academic year. A job offer is not required in order to apply for OPT, however the eventual employment must be directly related to the student's field of study. Students are allowed a total of twelve months of full-time OPT per degree level. They may apply for periods of OPT during school terms, during summer vacation time before completion of studies, save the total twelve-month period to be used after completion of studies, or use a combination. Such employment may be full-time or part-time, and it may take place at any location in the United States.

Any periods of OPT used before completion of studies will be deducted from the total twelve-month period available. For example, full-time employment for two months during a summer vacation would leave a student with only ten months of OPT available after graduation. Students may become eligible for another twelve months of OPT when they change to a higher educational level. However, simply beginning another degree program does not automatically confer this eligibility.

Students may use OPT before completion of studies during any of the following periods:

• full-time during annual summer vacation periods
• part-time (up to 20 hours per week) while school is in session
• full-time after completion of all courses, but prior to thesis or equivalent

To be eligible to apply for F-1 OPT after completion of studies students must have been in lawful full-time student status for one academic year and apply for OPT no later than 60 days after the date of completion of studies.

When to apply
Students are encouraged to apply for either pre-completion OPT or post-completion OPT as early as four months prior to the planned start date of employment. Those applying for post-completion OPT must mail the application to USCIS no later than 60 days after the completion date of their programs which is often the graduation date.

Students applying for pre-completion OPT in their first year of F-1 visa status may submit their applications up to 90 days before the completion of the academic year. Students applying for pre-completion OPT in subsequent years may apply up to 120 days in advance of the start date of the employment.

How to Apply for OPT
There are several basic steps to obtaining F-1 OPT employment permission:

• Student schedules an appointment with his/her HIO advisor via the online appointment system
• Student prepares required materials to bring to the appointment
• HIO advisor enters the OPT recommendation in SEVIS and issues a new Form I-20.
• Student mails application to a regional USCIS.

Students are advised to apply for OPT well in advance of the start dates of their anticipated employment. Job offers are not required in order to apply for OPT. OPT recommendations are done by appointment only. To schedule an appointment with your advisor please use our online appointment system. In most cases, provided the student has obtained the required endorsement from an advisor in the HIO and has the required documents, OPT is not denied by USCIS. However, problems occur when the application guidelines are not followed (e.g. incorrect mailing address, wrong photograph format). Students do not have permission to be employed using OPT until they have obtained the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) mentioned below.

Note: Students who apply for post-completion OPT and then fail to graduate on the date indicated in their applications risk violating their student visa status and possibly forfeiting their OPT. Students who do not graduate as planned must contact their HIO advisors immediately.