Process Overview
Job offers are not required in order to apply for OPT, although the prospective employment must be directly related to the student's field of study. It is recommended that students apply for OPT well in advance of the start dates of their anticipated employment. In most cases, provided the student has obtained the required endorsement from an advisor in the HIO, OPT is not denied by the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (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 Card (EAC) mentioned below. There are several basic steps to obtaining F-1 OPT employment permission:

• Student completes forms and prepares materials to submit to the HIO.
• Student schedules an appointment with his/her HIO advisor via the online appointment system (see What to Bring to Your OPT Appointment).
• HIO advisor enters the OPT recommendation in SEVIS and issue a new Form I-20.
• Student mails application to a regional USCIS center with the $340 filing fee & photographs.
• USCIS mails student a receipt notice to the address listed on the I-765 application form.
• USCIS mails student the EAC to the address listed on the I-765 application form.
• After obtaining the EAC, student may be employed within the dates listed on the card. See Travel After Graduation for details on travel issues.

STUDENTS WHO APPLY FOR POST-COMPLETION OPT AND THEN FAIL TO GRADUATE ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THEIR APPLICATION RISK VIOLATING THEIR VISA STATUS AND POSSIBLY FORFEITING THEIR PRACTICAL TRAINING. DO NOT APPLY FOR POST-COMPLETION OPT UNLESS YOU ARE REASONABLY CERTAIN YOU WILL GRADUATE